The Word of 'Na: Setting a new bar: Crown Bar

For such a petite setting—a single room with a patio view—one bar gives West Hollywood the royal treatment. Dressed in white stucco and elegant lines of black iron and wood, Crown Bar faces Santa Monica Boulevard with style and distinction. Lanterns light the terrace and front entrance, while inside, the lounge glows with tea lights and chandeliers hanging delicately over tables lining the walls. Button-pinned leather booths sit in dark shadows, leaving cream colored walls to brighten the faces of the guests in their nooks. The red fleur de lis adds texture to the walls behind a myriad of mirrors, wherein reflections of warm candle flame seem to facet light in the air, as if the space itself were a crown jewel. In the center of the room, black-stained wood supports a white marble bar top to wed the aesthetic within and outside the palace walls. The bar is a ring, guarding the heart of the establishment, where the barista realizes certain brilliant concoctions as “the Bishop,” (as pomegranates go, a drink of the gods).

But while royal treasures are usually kept in the sanctity and quiet of museum halls, a well-played DJ accompanies the bartender’s gems in the Crown Bar. Surprising the cozy setting is a spicy repertoire encompassing all decades and genres of jams, be it Saturday or Monday night. And if dancing and schmoozing works you up an appetite, the menu sings with breadth and creativity. The tastes are loud, as clever combinations of flavors meet on your tongue. From crab corn fritters and drunken watermelon, to seemingly simple beer-battered onion rings, each plating is delicate as the chandeliers overhead, each sensation as colorful, as savory, as comprehensive as a three course meal from a restaurant on Robertson.

From the creators of Winston’s and The Dime comes a classic motif of elegant yet laid-back refinery. Crown bar serves up a spot for modern day clubbing beyond the bounds of modern day décor. The fashion here is old world leisure, where you’re invited to rest your feet in a leather-cushioned nook and speculate with friends on the latest trends and fashions waltzing through the front door. But you too will want to be dressed in your city chic best, since you’ll likely be seeing a celeb or two here…