NIGHT LINES

What are Angelenos craving this holiday season? New bars, apparently. After a somewhat “dry” fall, this winter brings openings aplenty, with five venues debuting this month alone. In Santa Monica tonight, Magnolia and the Bar owners Laurie Mulstay and Ron Marino debut their latest venture, Chloe (pictured above), in the former Voda Bar location (1449 W. 2nd St.). The French-inspired bar shines with Art Deco accents, low banquettes and fine cocktail tables. . . . Villa (8623 Melrose Ave.), formerly Monroe’s, officially opened earlier this month near the Pacific Design Center. Gaining entry into the plush bar appears just as difficult as Monroe’s was (for groups of men, anyway), but inside it features an actual bed on the second floor for those who prefer to fully recline with their drink, or partner, of choice. . . . Central (1710 Las Palmas Ave.) swings its doors open in Hollywood for the first time Saturday night with a VIP party. (Demi Moore, Penelope Cruz, Ashlee Simpson and others attended a private event at the bar Saturday.) The bar, owned by Shereen Arazm, is intimate yet feels spacious. . . . And up the coast, Ventura now has a new upscale spot in the form of Karma Lounge (281 W. Main St.). The interior of the small but hip DJ bar was designed in part by the same team behind Nacional in Hollywood and features light-box coffee tables surrounded by 3-D modular art-paneled walls. . . . Finally, Libertine (8210 Sunset Blvd.) held its official opening bash Friday. Here’s hoping that the bar, across the street from the Chateau Marmont, does better than its neighbor, the Beach on Sunset -- which seems to have plenty of available coastline lately.

-- Charlie.Amter@latimes.com