When angels feel a bit devilish

THERE’S only one thing left that money can’t buy, and that’s cool.

And while Hollywood relies on checkbook culture as promoters and nightlife barons chase the celebrities du jour, nightclub owner Bobby Green takes a decidedly different tack.

His latest objet d’art, Saints & Sinners, is located on a decidedly uncool stretch of Venice Boulevard in Culver City. Much like his other bars -- the whimsical Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village, the Little Cave in Highland Park and Lucky Tiki in Mission Hills -- Saints & Sinners is proof that you don’t have to cater to the Lohans and Hiltons to have a hit on your hands.

“There are too many uncreative club owners in L.A. copying each other,” Green says. “I try to stay two steps ahead of anybody else.”

His latest devilish confection puts him way ahead of an increasingly ho-hum pack. Saints & Sinners is a luscious lounge with devious details.

“I was aiming for the look of a ‘70s porn producer’s living room,” says Green, whose art school pedigree is evident throughout Saints. “I had a great amount of fun with wallpaper and gold-veined mirrors.”

The custom wallpaper includes textured material that looks like concrete and a so-cheesy-it’s-groovy adornment of the backroom complete with naked ladies. A fire pit lined with white quartz stone illuminates the middle of the room, and there’s even a dangling ‘70s “rain lamp” lighting the hall to the bathrooms. Remember those from Granny’s house?

Behind the bar is a saintly spin on Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” a statue of the lovely lass complete with angel wings. Green, who owns the bar with partners Dimitri Komarov and D’mitry Liberman, also worked in some hot rod details. His pal Donnie Baird from Hot Rod Customs painted the gold-metal flake for the bar top, which he sealed with surfboard resin.

He even art-directed the bartenders. Manager “Chip” looks like a hunky volleyball player circa ’78 and server Mr. Damnit is the spitting image of Beelzebub himself (I could swear I saw a tail). Saints also stocks nightly DJs, including Monday’s hot Subbacultcha promotion of U.K./U.S. punk and Tuesdays “Bring Your Own Bleeping iPod,” when guests sign up to spin 25-minute sets unless Mr. Damnit gongs them.

Saints is a far cry from its previous incarnation as Sarna’s, a divey den that attracted all the neighborhood rummies.

“Sarna’s was a really rough place,” says Jorge Castillo, a Culver City resident who lives two blocks away. “I got to admit, I was bummed when I heard they’d shut it down, but Saints & Sinners is good for the neighborhood. It’s very Vegas, like Elvis in a miniature Graceland.”

Although Castillo is one of the locals, it’s surprising how many patrons make the trek from miles away. Like Green’s other bars, which are all off the beaten path, Saints is a destination spot for those looking for hip outside of Hollywood.

“It’s nice to get out of your safety zone and explore the city a bit,” says Paul Britton, who drives to Saints from Hollywood. “I think the whole neighborhood is gonna get a boost from the success of this bar.”

“I actually meet people here, which is so not typical for an L.A. bar,” says Chanin McClurkin, a Saints regular. “It’s not just 22-year-old supermodels who stare at the walls, but 40-year-old motorcycle guys and 30-year-old indie rockers. It’s a super-friendly crowd.”

McClurkin says she also likes the fiery cocktails.

“I have no problem spending money on a drink that comes with flames,” she says. “It adds an air of danger, which is really sexy.”

Among the flaming confections are the Angel Dust (rum, pineapple and lime juice), the Blue-Eyed Devil (Bacardi, Alize and 7-Up) and Hell Fire (cinnamon schnapps with Bacardi). They even offer Salvation Water, bottled spring water that’s supposed to be swigged between cocktails.

“We try to be good,” says Chip, his surfer-blond hair framing his chiseled face. “But we’re definitely more sinner than saint.”

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Heidi Siegmund Cuda may be reached at weekend@latimes.com.

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Saints & Sinners

Where: 10899 Venice Blvd., Culver City

When: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily

Price: No cover

Info: (310) 842-8066