Joining the club? More clubs

Bars in Los Angeles had a banner year in 2008. Despite a recession, no fewer than 20 nightspots debuted around town, largely as a result of plans set in motion in 2007 during a night-life renaissance in neighborhoods such as Hollywood.

It remains to be seen which of these lounges, bars and clubs will remain hot into 2009 -- Angelenos are notoriously fickle. But the following new-ish destinations are the ones we think made the most noise in 2008, for better or worse.

Coco de Ville

Love it or hate it, 2008 was Coco de Ville’s year. The small lounge (attached to equally attractive night-life destination STK) all but stole the spotlight away from Koi last year as the destination to catch a celebrity. Paparazzi still line up outside Coco every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (the three nights the bar is open) hoping to snag a picture of a Kardashian or a Playboy playmate. But it’s not just reality TV stars and “adult” types who like Coco’s whimsical feel; David Spade, Kevin Connolly and even Jeff Bridges (a.k.a. “The Dude”) have ordered up a white Russian or two inside the One Group’s West Coast answer to Manhattan’s Tenjune.

Bardot

Formerly the Spider Club, Bardot re-launched atop the Avalon this past fall as a smart, sexy lounge that was 2008’s answer to the Green Door (the hot Hollywood bar scene of 2007). In fact, several former Green Door employees have found a home at Bardot, including doorman Tom Colley. The bar counts Prince and Paris Hilton among its fans. Monday nights feature a burlesque feel, with live music, while Wednesdays draw an eclectic hipster crowd hellbent on dancing to electro and the latest Britpop. Picture tufted banquettes against dimly lit golden ocher walls, with faux antique paintings everywhere.

Laurel Tavern

The word “gastropub” entered the collective vernacular of mainstream bar-goers last year (see the continued success of Melrose Avenue’s Village Idiot). And although Laurel Tavern’s owners insist their bar is not technically a gastropub, it certainly feels like one. Call it an updated take on the pub; whatever, it has been packed with Studio City locals since it launched in October. It seems night owls are flocking to low-key yet inviting spots such as this one, where the prices are right and the vibe is somehow recession-appropriate (without seeming drab).

Ecco

Formerly Tokio, the eco-minded dance club Ecco opened in November on the popular Cahuenga corridor, offering free valet parking to early arrivals who drive hybrid vehicles. The dance floor features energy-efficient LED lighting, and already the small lounge has landed some big DJs such as Carl Cox. Unlike other new bars on the block, Ecco seems to have a built-in crowd thanks in no small part to co-owner Danny Bitar’s long-standing connections in the house music scene. The bar adds a badly needed dose of South Beach-style night life to Hollywood and looks as if it may be a success well into 2009.

The Association

Opened in early December, this smart pub has already won over loft-dwelling hipsters downtown with its dim lights and low-key design. Co-owned by the Room’s Ashley Joyce, the Association aims to inject a bit of San Francisco’s burgeoning cocktail culture scene into L.A. via a stellar drink menu heavy on classics.

Heat Ultra Lounge

Anaheim’s Heat Ultra Lounge gave Orange County clubbers a reason to stay out of Hollywood this past year. The 11,000-square-foot venue launched big in July with DJ AM playing an opening party. Things have been hit-and-miss since summer, but the near-1,000-capacity club has fared better lately with the addition of Giant to its schedule (promoter Giant now handles the club’s Thursday night bookings). Heat recently pulled off a coup in the club world, hosting internationally known DJ Tiesto for two nights in early December.

Chloe

This nightspot won over women of all ages last year with its decidedly feminine design (think: Oriental wall panels with antiqued mirrors and chandeliers). From the winning team that brought Hollywood the Bar and Magnolia restaurant, Chloe’s menu offers up small dishes to hungry bar-goers, such as bacon-wrapped dates, cheese plates and creme brulee. The vibe at the tiny but radiant lounge is meant to inspire return visits with a warm decor and neighborhood vibe.

Foxtail

Foxtail officially made the transition from restaurant to full-on nightclub this past fall. And while many may have been unaware Foxtail even served food (the second-floor lounge portion fared much better than the ground-floor restaurant), the nightclub made a splash when it debuted this past spring. Hot nights here are now Tuesdays and Fridays.

Crown Bar

Santa Monica Boulevard’s Crown Bar, the latest venture by the team behind the Dime and Winston’s, has done well since its public debut in May, largely as a result of TMZ.com-led infamy. Samantha Ronson helmed the decks multiple times over the course of 2008, while gal pal Lindsay Lohan looked on from one of the bar’s smart brown banquettes. But locals like Crown Bar on the evenings not hosted by the Alliance promotion group (see every night except Wednesdays), when anyone can get in if they arrive early enough and the scene is much more subdued.

The Kress

This four-story dining and night-life mecca -- notable for its sheer size (38,000 square feet) -- was opened by Mike Viscuso earlier last year. Since summer, the Kress has been winning over bar-hoppers thanks to a rooftop deck with arguably the best views in town (drinkers can take in close-up views of both the Hollywood sign and downtown). And while the ground floor pan-Asian restaurant is suffering a bit, the venue remains in demand with private party bookers, who love the multiple floors the space affords guests.

Conga Room

Another new bar notable for its design is downtown’s reborn Conga Room. Arguably the only new bar at L.A. Live with any sense of style (sorry, ESPN Zone), the updated Conga (formerly on Wilshire Boulevard for years) dazzled drinkers when it debuted in December with inspired design. Mixed crowds have taken in several world music and jazz gigs since the grand opening and even endured a teased Prince gig that never materialized.

--

charlie.amter@latimes.com