BAR 21

Perched at the tail-end of the NoHo Arts District, this tiny bar gives patrons a glimpse at speakeasy style from a bygone era. But the hip sophisticates here leave the debauchery to the Hollywood scene over the hill.Bar 21 oozes charm and class, making it the perfect alternative to the nearby dive bars and the trendy nightlife scene on Ventura Boulevard, which owner Craig Trager calls the Sunset Plaza of the Valley. Here, Trager uses the same recipe that has made his other spots—The Well and Daddy's in Hollywood and NoBar in NoHo—such enduring hits. He hires bartenders who take the time to remember everyone's name and drink, and there's never an issue at the door. (A greased doorman is a fired doorman.) Locals from the film and TV studios, theater and art galleries and residential areas take this to heart, feeling welcome because they're regulars, not because they have deep pockets. Though Bar 21 can only fit 60 people comfortably, its size only adds to the cozy, intimate vibe. With soft lighting, brick walls, red carpeting, shiny black booths and bar stools, it bares little resemblance to its previous incarnation as a fading dive bar Grady's. But the same neighborhood appeal remains. Get your layout at CustomizeMyProfile.com