Martini Beach

Typically speaking, when Manhattan Beach comes to mind, so do yuppies, buffed bodies and Beamers. Hip lounge life would hardly describe it.

Until now.

Veteran nightclub owner Chris Pike--the guy who brought the beach cities Sangria and 12th Street Grill--recently teamed up with Joe DelReigo, a well-known local bartender--to open the Side Door, a sleek, little lounge on the edge of downtown that’s probably the best-kept secret around.

Side Door is somewhat of an addition to the 900 Club, a private cigar lounge that’s been around for a few years. The Side Door utilizes the downstairs space, while the 900 Club takes over the upstairs. They share a kitchen, a bathroom and a doorman, but otherwise are two separate nightclubs with two separate owners.

That said, Side Door is best described as being to Manhattan Beach what Voda and Flints are to Santa Monica. Or what Sky Bar is to the Sunset Strip. There’s nothing outside to indicate what’s on the inside. But if you’re in the know, you don’t have to ask.

The name might give you a hint of where to find it, as it alludes to the side entrance the place uses on 9th Street.

Candlelit Room With Hues of Blue, Aqua

Designed to look like a 1940s lounge, Side Door is an intimate room, only big enough for about 50 people, but it makes great use of its space. A plush aqua couch sits against the back, while small tables and chairs line the rest of the candlelit room. Antique martini glasses and cocktail shakers adorn the glass shelves over the bar. The bar top is blue glass, and dim blue lights complete the look.

“We felt like this was missing down here,” says Pike of his swanky 4-month-old venue. “We needed a place like this at the beach.”

The exterior is just as interesting, if not more. In fact, it doesn’t even look like a bar. The building is made of old wood that looks like it was ripped out of a barn, but it has French windows facing Manhattan Avenue. That may well be eye-catching, but it’s the huge stained-glass windows, rumored to be taken from an old church many decades ago, that make passersby take a second look.

Those who make it through the Side Door usually come back. After all, the South Bay long has lacked a trendy lounge for the well-heeled. With the exception of Pointe 705 and a few others, flip-flops are acceptable attire in most of the area’s sports bars, pubs, even dance clubs.

But a martini lounge? Where a jacket for men wouldn’t be out of place? Where surf shorts might be frowned upon? In the South Bay?

No doubt, Side Door is jumping on the martini bandwagon a few years behind schedule. But that doesn’t worry Pike a bit.

“You can order a lot more than a martini here,” says Pike, pointing to the glasses of wine, beer and mixed drinks DelReigo is serving up. “Besides, people will always drink martinis.”

BE THERE

Side Door, 900 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. (310) 372-1684. 21 and older. Full menu. Cover $3.