Exotic lounges

It’s Friday night. You want an expertly made cocktail, a little nosh maybe, but most of all, a sexy lounge that encourages lingering and mingling. These six spots should do quite nicely.

Crustacean

A koi-filled stream runs through this swanky lounge, the copper- topped bar is accented with Asian lanterns and a silk canopy, and fresh orchids bloom on all the tables. Live music six nights a week adds to the very grown-up party atmosphere. Sip a mai tai or a Mekong colada.

* 9646 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; (310) 205-8990.

Nirvana

Don’t look for a sign -- there isn’t one -- just spot the oversized wood Buddha and step inside. You’ll find poster beds with billowy fabric, low couches and another stream underfoot. The patio, with its fireplaces and open roof, is equally enchanting. A refreshing Nirvana made with lime vodka pairs nicely with spicy crab masala on the “Foreplay menu.”

* 8689 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; (310) 657-5040.

Zen Grill

Ascend the red staircase and you’ll find yourself in the dramatic upstairs lounge, where the floor, tables and bar are all black wood. Choose among dozens of sakes or fruity sake cocktails. The menu features finger foods, including chicken satay.

* 1051 Broxton Ave., Westwood; (310) 209-1994.

Tantra

Cinnamon walls, flickering candlelight and musical grooves (often courtesy of a DJ) make this one of the Eastside’s sexiest lounges. Add vintage Bollywood films on plasma screens, an electric blue Goan Lagoon cocktail and a menu of spicy bites, and you’ll understand why many patrons park here for the night.

* 3705 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (323) 663-8268.

Oasis

“A Thousand and One Nights” meets “Saturday Night Fever” at this Mediterranean tapas spot. In the rear lounge, the walls are cobalt blue, the banquette’s gold vinyl and the cantaloupe martinis go down easy.

* 611 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 939-8900.

White Lotus

The sultry VIP rooms ($1,500 minimum) are nice, thank you. But show up before the young pretties and their suitors line up behind the velvet rope and you can sidle up to the bar on the lush, tented patio and unwind with a litchi martini.

* 1743 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 463-0060.