Bar Lubitsch: West Hollywood's Russian Vodka Bar
Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood is the place to go if you’re looking for a low-key, crowded, Cold War era kind of good time. The drinks are strong and expensive, and locals and transplants alike favor this top establishment, as it’s one of the less pretentious hot spots in L.A.
Brought to Santa Monica Blvd. courtesy of co-owner Sean MacPherson, the kitschy, Russian-themed bar boasts upwards of 300 different kinds of vodka and honest to goodness decent cocktails, the most well known being Accarrino's Molotov. Comprised of apple juice and bison-grass vodka, it arrives literally on fire, thanks to lemon rind squirted with Bacardi 151.
Despite the best of intentions, the décor isn’t necessarily what one might describe as authentic, though the decadence of the Mao-red walls and Eastern Bloc design is undeniable. The small, dark bar almost resembles a Russian bistro, and propaganda art and soviet memorabilia abound.
The typical crowd at Bar Lubitsch is laid back and not trying too hard. As the night goes on, the bar tends to get pretty crowded without ever feeling excessive, making it a great spot for anyone looking for a slight variation to the typical L.A. club circuit.
All in all, Bar Lubitsch is perfect: dark, crowded and relaxed. With classic drinks, an ivied smoker’s patio, pizzas and a sexy dance floor named the Red Room, this bona fide L.A. bar truly has something for everyone.
