Rather than try to get past the velvet after 10pm, try this poolside bar for Happy Hour, or an early evening drinks and snacks (which are on par w/any decent bar) to stay to bypass the velvet. Â Good place to people watch, albeit service is abysmal at best. Stayed late one night poolside and it seemed that the only ones filling the chairs were hotel guests booked in for a cheap stay drinking water. Â There were a few "bottle" tables in the cabanas but overall, there are far better places to poolside than this (the Standard for one). Â Worth a one-stop look-see.
Review Source:The Cameo Bar is a trip, and no mistake. Â My initial visit here was on a first date back when I was doing the Match dot com thing; I had never heard of the place at the time, but the young lady in question suggested it and it turned out to be one of the more surreal evenings the internet dating scene ever tossed in my lap. Â She showed up with a friend and the three of us ended up playing drinking games back at our waiter's frat pad well into the evening (yes, I went off the rails for a bit in my early 40s but I'm feeling much better now). Â Thanks for the memories, Viceroy.
Anyway, the first thing you'll notice about the Cameo is it's Kubrick-esq decor, which is sort of British-Regency meets 2001: A Space Odyssey. Â It's done in mostly whites and greys with splashes of parrot green (yes I looked that up) here and there, and lion's crests and Fleur-de-lys on the walls. The front desk has a cool wall of framed mirrors in unusual shapes and sizes behind it, with a large oval cameo in the center (hence the bar's name). Â It's all very tasteful and chic, reminiscent of a trendy Miami hotel.
The bar itself is smallish in size, and as it gets crowded people start to bleed into the lobby and occupy the furniture there as well as the outdoor seating by the pool. Â The bar offers a small selection of appetizers (with the obligatory spring rolls and tuna sashimi) and a selection of the usual sweet/fruity club girl martinis. Â I usually just opt for Chopin up with an olive and leave the sugary stuff to the kids.
The crowd here is young and good looking, and skews mid-twenties / early thirties. There's plenty of eye candy for the people watcher in you; Lots of well dressed Hollywood posers and model-esque starlets all waiting to be discovered. Your sense of self-importance (as well as your bullshit meter) starts to rise just walking in the door. Â Well, it's actually not quite as shallow and annoying as all that (but it's close).
The loos here are interesting in that the sink taps on either side of the His/Her divide flow into a single large basin open to both sides, and while you can't see anyone on the other side, you can certainly hear them giggling. Â This little bit of naughtiness fits right in with sexy vibe, but doesn't cross the line (unlike some Vegas club restrooms).
The bar is adjacent to Whist, the Viceroy's signature restaurant. Â I've dined there a few times and it's always been very good, albeit a bit pricey. Â Worth a try if you haven't already been.
Note that both Casa del Mar and Shutters are just a few steps away, so you can come to the Cameo for a drink, grab dinner at Whist, and then head over to either of those hotels for dessert and some entertainment (both have live Jazz on Fri and Sat nights). Â And of course the SM pier and the 3rd street shops are a short walk away; Â Good for a nice after dinner stroll on a summer's eve.
Long and short: Â Metrosexual Nirvana. Â So call your agent, dress the part and make your cameo in this trendy LA scene. Â And don't forget to bring your reel (and your platinum card).
WIthout a doubt, this is probably one of the most fun places to go to watch people, make friends and get a slice of the LA scene. Â This is a pretty happening place and I was glad that we got in on time to grab a couch and chill. Â Here is what we saw:
1) Â a guy with no game
2) Â a girl that bent over a little to far at the bar
3) Â girls catching up
4) Â guys that were from out of town wearing a hat from the swap meet
5) Â a lovely couple having a good time (photo)
Food was great, amazingly was able to order drinks no problem and we really enjoyed the location. Â No rush to feel like we had to get out. Â In fact we met a cute pair of friends that we enjoyed a lively convo (irene and kim!).
aside from the pain of paying for steep parking, it was a great place to go hit and try out. Â a reminder of who we got in LA.
This may be my favorite place to get drinks in Santa Monica!
Kelly Wearstler sure knows how to design, and if you've been here, you know. Â Very sexy, swanky vibe. Â
Got a drink at the bar and then sat down outside by the pool. Â There were plenty of places to sit, which was great, and it was not too loud so we could chat. Â There are plenty of heat lamps in the different seating areas.
It kind of felt like I was at a fancy hotel in Miami! Â Love that.
Great spot, I totally recommend it for a Saturday night because it's beautiful, and it's so big that it didn't get packed.
Easy valet parking. Â Dress to impress.
I went here on a Saturday night with some friends and had a great time.
-No cover
-Drinks are a bit pricey, but were well made
-Staff was all very helpful and friendly (went above and beyond)
-Valet (they display the expensive sports cars out front) or street parking
-Comfy lounge areas inside
-Seats, standing area, and cabanas outside by the pool
-DJ played good mixes
-Decoration and ambiance was upscale and beautiful
-Crowd was in the late twenties to thirties
-Large place and good for parties or events
I wish someone had told me that collared shirts were the standard attire for this place. Â Just kidding, but I couldn't help feeling a little out of place wearing my Obey bomber and high-tops. Â You know the place is fancy when they use the the really thick, heavy duty paper towels in the bathroom. Â Pocket a few of them if you can. Â
I don't remember too much of the decor in the the bar/lounge area. Â But I do remember that it's dimly lit and on the nicer side of things. Â The outside area is more on the quiet side, but just as classy and as the interior. Â This is definitely a nice spot to take a date to after dinner. Â It's a bit lower key, but still classy, if a regular bar is to rough and a club is too loud. Â I personally wouldn't waste a Friday or Saturday here though.
Drinks are a little on the pricey side at around $15 per specialty cocktail. Â Otherwise they have the normal bar beer and mixed drink fare as well. Â My only real gripe here is that the whole time I was there, no server's came outside to take our drink order. Â We eventually had to go into the bar area to place an order to take outside. Â Not that big a deal but a little bit of an inconvenience.
Its truly beautiful inside. Very glamourous.
If you and your girlfriends are on the hunt for men in suits, look no further. Similar crowd to the Huntley.
The drinks were good, had a glass of red wine and one of their signature drinks (kinda like a Mai Tai punch). We ordered the flatbread which was really flavorful, and also the popcorn, which is my favorite snack... Meet me at the Gas Lite for karaoke. The troublesome thing about the food was that the ambiance felt too fancy even to eat. And that was hard for me.
You really can't park anywhere close, so you have to Valet and its $10 or $12 bucks, which kinda spoils my happy hour.
All I can say is just luxe and luxe for a night...
I came here last Saturday as one of my friends from China stayed here for the night as her stopover before she flew to Paris last Sunday, and with the rain that night limited us to just enjoy the hotel's own bar which is the Cameo Bar. Drinks are a bit expensive but very much worth it. Nice valet parking group and how convenient it is as well, especially that night when it was raining. DJ was very nice, and lounge area was amazing. Would have enjoyed the pool area if it wasn't raining.
To sum it all.. very nice experience and would love to hang out here again soon.
A typical 30,000 dollar millionaire hangout meat market.
A 5 star place however if you like...
-Multiple SUV loads of dudes bumping annoyingly loud, overplayed tracks playing exclusivity games with the Valet to see who's Escalade on 24's gets parked out front.
-Cement Spiked Hair
-The phrase "Hello" meaning: "You're trying to sleep with me, piss off", or, Â "Who you think you are bro, wanna go outside, I'll kick your ass, I'm wearing Affliction, I'm tough".
In my opinion, if one wants a ritzy and trendy bar, there's FAR better options. Because, nobody likes paying 13 dollars a drink to talk with an unemployed actor.
I've been to the Cameo Bar at the Viceroy Hotel in SM a couple times and both times the service and the drinks were excellent. Always great ambiance and always a younger, affluent crowd - which personally I prefer at the lounges I frequent.
Comfortable couches and chairs which can fill up on a Friday or Saturday night so come early or go on a less crowded evening.
I came here last Saturday evening for a close friend's birthday. Â He got himself a room there at The Viceroy so that he can crawl back to his room (or carried) when we were able to mission accomplish his belligerence. Â Good idea. Â No to drinking and driving! Â We had our own little party upstairs before heading down to join the social scene at The Cameo Bar.
I headed downstairs to join the soiree around 11 pm. Â Before I vacated the elevator to enter the lounge I heard the thumping of really good music through the elevator door, which automatically put me in a good mood. Â Once the double doors opened there was a lively social scene ready for us to intermingle in. Â The crowd was a young and rather mixed. Â The lounge stretches from the foyer to the lobby to the outside where the pool is. Â It was a beautiful sight to see the DJ right between the two glowing pools with big cabanas adjacent to him on both sides.
The outside has a mini bar and a big cabana right in the middle for the exclusive party that's willing to shell out for the best seat in the house. The inside reminds me of Asia de Cuba by having exaggerated chairs placed all around inside. Â Makes for a great photo opp which I took advantage of, of course.
I only had champagne there and specifically asked for no Veuve but the drink was still around $14-$15 (better than $20/glass for Veuve). Â Expected prices for the area.
Throughout the night the DJ played really good music from the old school to today's hip hop party and R&B music. Â I am very picky when it comes to music at venues because it can make or break the experience and this is the type of music I would look for.
I think this place is perfect for birthdays because there's no hassle to get in, it's a pretty big lounge where there's many different compartments to lounge in, and the music is good. Â I had a good time here.
The 5-9 deal is legit.
Halibut tacos, tempura, well cocktails, beer, vino...
Plush seating, people watching and no hassle.
Perhaps the place gets outta control on the weekends - but was totally manageable and very pleasant for the Wed/Thurs nights that we lounged there.
Not sure if I'd go there if I wasn't staying at the hotel - wouldn't be against it either!
I first bust into the Vice many yrs ago and i've sporadically made return sorties here for various b-day and other get-together shindigs, usually related to some ex-GF and her entourage. and yes, i've lived to tell the tales. but we won't bore you with those sordid details :O0
this time around, the occasion was meeting up with the younger bro of an old friend of mine, who was passing thru town on his way to Brazil.
yea, i know what you're thinkin', another one of those beautiful peeps jetsetting in Rio? well, i dunno about beautiful, but at least tonite, he was an 'ass model', yep that was his alias for the evening. more about that in a jiffy (without the lube). *cough* ba-dum-bump.
let me explain.
when ya come to this place, be prepared to answer multiple 'so, umm, like, what do you do?' (snotty valley-girl'esque intonation, no matter how sophisticated the lady pretenses) and the latest permutation, 'so, umm, like where do you live?'...which implies that if you don't live in certain tony enclaves of our fair city, you're deemed a ghetto-ass one-step-away-from-homeless bloke, especially if you're sporting excess non-meticulously groomed facial hair like yours truly. Clearly NOT sponge-worthy.
or, if you want to avoid such innanities, merely hole up on the back patio by the pool and cabanas and do that typical L.A. people watching thing---glance, ogle, and periodically, leer and sneer at the beautiful plastic peeps and snicker at their supposed sophistication and self-perceived high-classedness. it's a fascinating social darwinism feast right before your eyes!
in any case, i actually really like the vibe of the Viceroy/Cameo Bar, in the sense that it's a well-designed, classy, and comfortable joint if you are secure with yourself and are chill enough to not take yourself too seriously.
The back bar out on the patio is the more relaxing and less claustrophobic of the two when waiting for libations, tho the alcohol selection is far less vast than what you can get inside. i ended up making most of my lite nite of drinking at the outside spot, mostly on reasonably (for this type of joint) priced bottled beers.
yea, i did get into the mixologies for a brief bit at the inside bar. first, when i arrived, the inside bar was virtually empty, though the douchey guy next to me who bellied up well after i did  got served BEFORE i did, when one of the two bartenders inexplicably blew me off to serve him first. after i gave this guy the fraternity of men glance that's implicitly understood that, as protocol, we bros always let other bros who've been standing there first get served ahead of us. apparently, such courtesies are of a bygone era, and old-school class is replaced by new-school one-upsmanship that it is apparently cool to be cutthroat even when getting your drink on. Bond and other true gentlemen (real or fictional) would be aghast at this flagrant episode of classless doucheyness.
but i digress...
the mixology session was quickly nixed when, upon buying my bro's bro a 2nd round, the bill for two hardly fancy schmancey mixed drinks cost me 30 bucks. without. tip.
holy effin' shyte, i don't care what your bank account is. this is just ridiculous. i mean, this t'aint no top shelf gold dust platinum ass miracle elixir we're quaffing. it's gin and vodka, yo!
we had lotsa fun chatting with fairly predictable peeps who asked the basic two questions right off the bat that i mentioned above.
i was a pimp and drug dealer this lovely evening and my bud, as mentioned, was a self-professed ass model. take a bite outta that, gold-digging access seekers!
b/c when you're hangin' with this crowd, it's always fun to chill down and ratchet up the playfulness. i love to see the cross-eyed perplexion upon hearing of our less than conventional vocations.
in all fairness, i'm sure there were at least a few other like-minded folk (male and female) in the crowd. but i was too lazy to mingle and find out. it's just so much easier to chillax and have fun and laughs with an old friend in a sexy, classy joint with lotsa great 'scenery.'
albeit ridiculously overpriced (for the cocktails).
but hey, if i jus' wanted to slum it, i'd have busted it on over to my fave hole in the wall for cheapies and pool.
t'is what it is.
i appreciate the Vice/Cameo for keepin' it real in that sense....
DONE!
.
HAPPY HOUR is always happier with the drinks are two bucks, and when the place doesn't smell like last night's mistake. You're going to have to be working at a very nice office if they'll let you out to a Friday 2pm happy hour, and luckily i do.
Drink prices for beer, wine, and a few hard calls vary in price depending on the hour. $2 from 2-2:59 pm, $3 from 3-3:59 and so on. We also ordered one of everything on the happy hour menu, with some of my favorites being the fries and ceviche. Service in one of the cabanas was pretty damn slow, and the bartenders are more than nice enough to take food orders at the bar, and they also mentioned that they don't charge you tax at the bar either. thats a 10% savings in today's time.
Valet parking is $7, so you better carpool.
This review is about the Summer Fridays Happy Hour.
First off thank you to Keisha F. for writing her review which brought this Happy Hour to my attention because I work right behind the Viceroy! This is officially the closest place to my office that offers Happy Hour! I'm pretty darn lazy so it really works out that I can stumble by foot from my desk to this poolside oasis in under 2 minutes flat!
My first time attempting this HH, we got there around 5pm on Friday the first thing I noticed is the bright flashing and poping sounds in the lobby of a photo shoot. How LA is that? I've lived here my whole life so I'm used to coexisting with such things, but the flashes were blinding! Since this Happy Hour begins at 2pm with $2 drinks and goes on to $3 drinks at 3 and $4 drinks at 4 and $5 drinks at 5 I thought for sure by the time we got there for the last hour that the place would be dying down. WRONG! A couple weeks later we went back around 2:30 and though it wasn't as crowded it was still fairly full.
The food/drinks specials keep changing. I've had the following here giant burger, crab cakes, halibut tacos, fried chicken and biscuit slider, duck slider, beef slider, hummus, tuna tartare, halibut cevice...etc etc and all very affordable and delicous!
They play interesting music too. The first time I was there it was an MJ tribute (the day after he passed) the second time it was a mix of Moby and MGMT and similar tunes.
While we were sitting there  one of the times, enjoying our food and wine there was a very LA scene taking place in front of our eyes. A girl came out and found her boyfriend chatting up bikini clad ladies. Girl threw a fit and pushed boyfriend into the 3ft deep pool and proceeded to also kick into the pool the wallet and shoes of the bikini clad ladies. DRAMA! Of course I had to applaud her, but no one else was clapping, cheering or whistling. I started to think.... and realized "heeeeeey! wait a minute! I bet this is all fake! The photo shoot! The domestic dispute by the pool! I bet management staged these purely for my entertainment and the LA factor!"
Whatever the case....the Happy Hour here rocks! If you can find street parking I strongly recommend it (don't use their valet, it's a ripoff) Also, come early and don't be shocked if you don't find a place to sit.
After signing up on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsugardaddie.com%2F&s=207e471950d0c9d946dead67bdea68d77f5c0223232c1edfedb44cb7d2c4c1cb" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://sugardaddie.com/</a> and deleting hundreds of pictures of graying pubes from my inbox, I decide to go local (sort of). Picking up some babes on the way, we snag a free parking spot across the street from the Viceroy. Silly $16 valet, I scoff at you!
The pool area was too cold for our skanky attire, but we were lucky enough to grab some plush chairs and sofas in the lounge. Within minutes, we are surrounded by greasy Italians, some with hair and others, not so much. They flash their shiny watches and go on about how cool it is to be short and international...blah blah blah...but I could smell small penises a mile away. Seeing no luck in their futures, they eventually disappear and another random group of men come in for the kill. But instead of killing, they merely swat at us with their closet homosexuality. Awkward.
On a more serious note, the hotel is absolutely beautiful and the cabanas are super swanky (requiring at least $300 tab). Martinis are about $13 a glass, and the bartender pours with a heavy hand. Despite the male weirdos we encountered, the place was brimming with beautiful women and enviable purses. A good place if you're under 35 and looking for a rich old daddy. I, on the other hand, prefer poor but ridiculously handsome young daddies. :)
By way of various email channels as well as word of mouth, the news came to me on Thursday about the Viceroy's new Summer Fridays happy hour deal ( <a href="http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/2eB5mRAb8dYcglwK1HdGWA/l">http://static.px.yelp.co…</a> ) where drinks can be had for outrageously cheap prices. I didn't make it to the bar until just after 5 so I missed the really great deals but if you show up at 2pm drinks are $2, 3pm drinks are $3, 4pm drinks are $4  and at 5pm drinks are $5 with the deals ending at 5:59pm! Along with the drink specials there are also several tasty treats to choose from at very wallet friendly prices.
I'd already had a few drinks earlier in the day, and not being in a particularly adventurous or creative mood I just ordered up a vodka cran. Anuar the bartender was pretty generous on the pour although things seemed a little hectic and busier than what he was probably used to and he had to ask us to repeat our order a couple of times. No biggie, he was a really nice guy and other patrons kept coming up to him and shaking his hand and telling him they'd be back the next Friday (hell, I'll be back as well....maybe I can sneak out of work early enough to hit up the 2 buck specials!).
Having just eaten a sandwich an hour earlier I opted to just order a small bite and wanted to try the hummus. It was definitely more than worth the $2 price tag (the cheapest food item on the menu, along with the edamame). The hummus was served in a little cup and came with 3 semi-chewy pita chips. Most of the flavor was in the pita chips, I think they were covered with chili powder, and although I've had much better hummus at other places this was a nice refreshing dish. Next time I have GOT to try the slider sampler that comes with 1 of each of the sliders including the fried chicken and biscuit, ahi tuna tartar, bbq pulled pork and housemade beef for only $10.
I am for sure coming back next week when I can hopefully spend all afternoon lounging by the pool and getting my drink on (I'm not an alcoholic, I swear!). Oh, and P.S. parking is kind of a crap shoot but if you check out Main street right behind the hotel there's usually plenty of 2-hour metered parking available.
Yes I aspire to be the real life Serena Van Der Woodsen. Before you say it, yes blonde, rich and fabulous. And living in her footsteps, I must say there's something so much more romantic and fab about drinking and dining late night at a ritzy bar than say pounding whiskey shots at your local dive bar.
Being uber chinese and underpaid, I have to walk the fine line between living the fab life and being chea...i mean 'smart'. Take parking for instance. 16 dollar valet?! Do you people see all the free street parking around here?
But that's where it stops. Once I step in the Viceroy, I feel at home. (You grew up in Torrance you say. Shush.) This is going to sound uber dramatic but I feel completely at ease. Funny thing is, both my sister AND I swear that we are adopted and we're meant to be princesses. (True story.) This is the life I am most comfortable with. This is the life I enjoy.
(Wake up Ronnie. Wake up)
The Cameo Bar has a really nice set up inside - dark, sexy, and even a 'library room' for more intimate get togethers.
But I prefer the outdoor cabana set up by the pool. The music is great, it's not loud or crowded, the chairs are ballin', there's plenty of heat lamps, and better yet very attentive waiter service. yes even for bar food.
The menu seemed smaller this time around - minus the crab friitters I had on the last trip here? - <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Flovelifehatekittens.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F74374074%2Fsometimes-its-just-better-with-girls-yes-it-is-part&s=16b9d318794e58e773c70d6ec978c3f159d10293c8a5246609f38b1c99231b0c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://lovelifehatekitte…</a>
This time I ordered the Albacore crudo, Grilled Shisito Peppers, and Crab Cakes. The albacore was good, didn't care for the abundance of onions on top, loved the grilled peppers - there were so many and it's perfect for snacking, and the crab cakes were AMAZING. It seemed like there was zero batter or any of the 'filler' stuff they put in crab cakes usually - this was bite after bite of delicious crab meat.
OK fine so maybe over 100 bucks for two glasses of wine, one vodka tonic, and three appetizers isn't your idea of a good deal but personally, this is all worth it.
So if you are my real father, please shoot me an email. and the access code to my trust fund. I love you too.
Sure this place looks nice and you may run into some celebrities (if you like that kind of thing), but this is the kind of conversation you may find yourself having with your wallet:
YOU: What do you say we grab a drink from one of these cocktail waitresses or head to the bar?
WALLET: Are you fucking crazy? They want you to pay how much for a beer? Where are we? The Strip?
YOU: No, wallet, we are in Santa Monica, remember? We live here.
WALLET: You are insane. If we are in Santa Monica, why can't we see or hear the beach?
YOU: Well we waited long enough to get into this place, we might as well have a drink.
WALLET: Whose idea was it to come here anyways?
YOU: Not mine! Or yours!
This place is swanky.
From the moment ten guy's dressed as body guards open your door to the model bartender I felt like I had to pay for ever single step I took here....but I didnt! Me and a couple of my friends (about 10 guys and 12 gals) came here last Saturday for a lil get together. Â No cover = ftw!
Both the inside and patio area are big and full of comfy furniture to lounge around. Big cabanas outside with an ample amount of space to groove. (Im always cautious about lounges with pool's though....one wrong step and you can be swimming with the fishes -_-)
DJ was pretty good, she mixed everything from Daft Punk to Duke Ellington so you get a nice variety.
Obviously with a place as nice as this they will charge you typical LA prices (10-15). Martini's were pretty damn stiff from what I recall.
Parking wasn't really an issue for anyone, you can valet your fancy italian sports car for about 16 bucks. There's also plenty of free street parking.
Cool place, check it out. You'll meet a cougar. or two.
Pool side bar area is okay with two small, rectangular pools, the decor is alright. Â Lose one of the rental canopies in the pool area, the center one is obstructing the flow, traffic and view. Â The pool bar at Avalon has a much sexier vibe, without the hoards of bridge and tunnel crowd. Significantly, the staff is not attractive, and the crowd is likewise. Here on a Friday night, I saw a few too many red dresses. Â Ditto Doug C's Sept 2007 review.
Drinks expensive and very mediocre, $14 for vodka tonic, $15 for a glass of red wine. Martini glass not chilled, red wine poured from the last drops in a bottle plus a newly opened one. Concierge, surly and inexperienced without a hospitality attitude. I should know, because I've worked in the hotel industry. My gay boyfriend and I had a good time analyzing the place, lol. Valet parking, though plenty of street parking to be found. Three and a half stars, rounded down.
By the time, I come here, I am fading. Â Not out like a light, but everything is starting to be just perfectly peachy. Â I probably have just come from Makai. Â Prepare to be surrounded by a mob as you enter Cameo. Â Show some leg and cleavage and you should get in. Â For something antithetical, flash them your IQ. Â You will be among the few who possess one in the three digits. Â The decor is definitely eye candy. Â A palette of green, white leather that just might be pleather, and translucent tables, I am not sure whether I like it from an aesthetic point of view, but it definitely seizes your attention.
It does not really matter because the crowd that congregates here is just so cliche L.A. that you will want to drink yourself into a comatose stupor. Â Annoyingly pretentious and everyone is out to "be seen" rather than just have a good time.
To escape the lame madness, I recommend that you head poolside. Â If you want to splurge, get a cabana. Â Whatever. Â Just get drunk, whatever you do, quick, get drunk.
Slinkster cool and sexy with an ultra-posh vibe. If that's what you're looking for and you're not in the mood to drive to Hollywood, the Cameo Bar at the Viceroy should do the trick.
PRO'S:
- Attactive, predominantly older crowd... "older" in LA meaning late 20's-30's. A few groups of cute early 20-somethings sprinkled here and there.
- Awesome super comfy couches, I wanted to steal all of them.
- Chill, fun, sexy vibe around the pool, in the cabanas, in the library, all sorts of fun hidden nooks and crannies to explore.
- Swanky contemporary decor.
- Perfect spot for a first date or boys/girls night out.
CON'S:
- $16 valet but you can score street parking if you're lucky.
- $15+ for a drink - steep and not stiff enough.
- Open area connecting the little boys and little girls' rooms at the sink... Doh. At some point during the night I thought it'd be a good idea to serenade my girlfriends in the bathroom (taking comfort in the fact that it was an intimate and private setting)... until I heard giggle, as manly and masculine as a giggle can be, emanating from beyond the faucet. DOH. (the story was much funnier in person/saturated with alcohol - just take my word for it)
The Library area illustrated in 3 pictures:
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jtk-WxeDQsVR1IblfbcaaQ?select=oDjS61_GCK1T9Mu2er-nRw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jtk-WxeDQsVR1IblfbcaaQ?select=r16cNLUvjKQYatRnFIzwWg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jtk-WxeDQsVR1IblfbcaaQ?select=owvaRrR7r7p56r_PwiCZYw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
I'll be back once I've saved enough pennies for a round of $15+ drinks...
White chairs, cabanas, the beautiful people.
This is the place for people who have been tormented by the questions. A: "$15 seems a little cheap for a martini, is there somewhere where I can pay more?" and B: "Can I wear my $600 gold sunglasses there, even if it is nighttime?". Â The answers to these questions are: A: Try the Viceroy, and B: Absolutely!.
Despite being a den of douchebaggery - I have had a few fun nights there. I recommend you practice conveying a cavalier attitude when the check arrives, so you do not whimper and/or gasp when you realize those tequila shots that you bought for the group were $18 a pop.
Uber swank. Â Once you walk through the door you become instantly cooler than you were before. Â Plush couches, loveseats, and chaise lounges just to have a conversation, and a pool side bar outdoors in the back if you need a little ventilation. Â Fuego.
No cover but pricey drinks more than make up for it. Â Heinekens were $8 a pop and I'm still a little unsure why. Â They tasted pretty much the same as the $4-$5 versions at dive bars but maybe the ones here make you piss excellence or something.
Valet was $16, and while that may seem outrageous I hear that the valet guys are really F1 drivers who needed weekend gigs with the poor economy. Â Rumor also has it that having your car parked in the Viceroy lot actually increases its value. Â True story.
Contrary to the impression I may be giving, I actually liked this place. Â Definitely would be a great spot to take a date for drinks & convo and see if it leads to a little ROI in the form of a game I like to call "just the tip". Â Just for a second, just to see how it feels. Â Either that or "ouch, ouch, you're on my hair". Â Unfortunately it's a bit harder to enjoy the surroundings and ambiance when you're a group of two dudes and neither of you is ballin' enough to achieve and maintain a buzz on $8 Heinekens with no remorse. Â Plus, the emerging maple syrup conglomerate back story didn't exactly fly with the ladies. Â We lost a lot of good men out there.
Indeed I do plan to return to this bar. Â I'll be back as soon as my "win the lotto" plan comes to fruition or I'm looking to get mauled by a cougar in exchange for a drink sponsorship. Â In the meantime I'll stick to hitting up the more low key spots in the area. Â Coolness has it's price, and I've come to realize its one I can't afford.
My B-Day at CAMEO BAR!
What a time we had! My girls gave me THE BEST BIRTHDAY ever! Our sofas were up on the elevated patio area over-looking the pool (PRIME LOCATION) better than the cabanas, which we over-looked as well. We had an entire chill lounge area, where we could enjoy our cocktails, go down to the dance floor, and then come back up and chill again. It was wonderful!
Food was great and drinks were awesome, but not overpowering. The scene was contemporary, upscale, and classy. Waitstaff was FIRST CLASS. Everyone who works here, from the doormen to the waiters and waitresses, were so friendly... no attitudes!
Valet, Food, and drinks were all pricey, but you pay for quality and fantastic ambiance.
(I'll post some photos to my profile)
So let's get a couple of points out of the way before I start this review:
- Viceroy is not the cheapest place in the world. $15ish for cocktails, average about $20 for a meal.
- Yes, it's very LA. I know it's en vogue to hate on that, but I have no problem with it, and there are times when you just have to be LA, y'know? Just know what you're getting into and spread love not hate, that's all I'm saying.
Anyway, here goes:
So it's about 12pm on a Saturday and I'm pretty much a wreck at home, still wearing the stuff I wore the night before, and I think I went to bed at around 7ish. Anyway, I had a couple of phone calls that I don't recall and was pretty much just shoring up whatever energy I had left for another crazy night out later on.
K calls: lunch and a couple of cocktails? Sounds like a plan.
She picked me up and we ended up at Viceroy. It's a hotel, so be prepared to pay for valet (about $12 plus tip).
One step inside, and I knew I was going to have a blast. Viceroy is the definition of chill. Lounge-y modern contemporary with gaudy curves and stark angles in contrast, with a bit of that 50's posh touch, all adorned in lurid lime greens and whites over a black/dark brown base. Easy on the eyes, for sure.
Downbeat was emanating from every speaker, but at a decent volume where you can push it backward to white noise during conversation or bring it to the surface if you felt so inclined. I'm a sucker for downbeat, and I swear, there were a couple of times when I thought they were playing stuff straight out of my iPod.
We opted to sit outside by the pool.
Outside, strewn about in an intelligent and deliberately haphazard fashion, were some really comfy couches, tables, and tents, as well as a pool. The downbeat music from inside was also being pumped out here, so that was a definite plus for me. People were equally chill, dressed down in lounge gear or dressed for the pool. Everyone seemed to be having a blast, either lost deep in conversation or just basking in the afternoon sun.
K ordered a mojito and I went with a sparkling pear (vodka based). Both were delicious. Our second was a mojito, but vodka based... I liked hers so much I had to get one for myself.
For lunch I had a flatbread pizza with chicken sausage, and K had the tuna tataki. Excellent food. Seriously. The flatbread was nice and crispy with a delicate thin crust and the toppings were tasty and well flavored.
We spent a good 2+ hours sitting around, just talking, having the occasional cigarette and enjoying being a part of the scenery.
Since I was in decompression mode, this is just what the doctor ordered. I counted 3 Portishead songs, a bit of Morcheeba, a little DJ Cam and some Sia thrown in for good measure. They already won me over with the first Portishead tune, so I guess the rest was just to rub in my face and ensure a 5 star experience.
The kicker? It's only a couple of miles from my house.
This is an awesome spot to decompress, chill for a pre-party or just to hang out for a couple of cocktails. Guys, it will impress without being overt, so I highly suggest it.
I will be back for sure.
We have been here a few times and we just love it. Â
Swanky, chic, trendy and great for people-watching. Â Not to mention the outdoor pool / lounge area. Â It's gorgeous, like an oasis. Â You will not find any immature people there - no bar fights, people making fools of themselves and general inappropriateness. Â I do not know if the place just exudes classiness, but I have felt nothing less of elegant whenever I come here. Â I actually would love to rent out one of the tents and hold a special birthday surprise party there sometime. Â Hmmm.... which leads me to thinking...
Everytime I go, I have the best time. Indoor/outdoor bar, poolside cabana... all that you need for a great night. Park on Ocean street to avoid the high valet prices. The staff is super friendly....
The beer menu is not that large, but they have a two page menu of unique mixed cocktails and great martinis & mojitos!
PS: Had brunch at the hotel last sunday and it was fantastic too.
A friend and I decided to host a Wednesday night party at the Cameo bar at the Viceroy Hotel, and it turned out to be a beautiful and fun affair. We did bottle service and reserved a poolside cabana at the Viceroy which was splendid. It comfortably accommodated  12 to 15 people. The service was excellent as well.
An added treat is that you can smoke cigars at the cabana as well as adjust the music level for your cabana. People are the viceroy are well-dressed, generally polite, and an overall amiable crowd.
I would highly recommend the Cameo Bar for a weekend or weeknight gathering, especially in the summer in Los Angeles.
If you at staying at the hotel, which I was, you can negotiate a significant discount on doing bottle service at the Cabanas. At first, if you call, they want to charge 400 fee to reserve it and then 700 minimum spending, but if you get a room and negotiate, you can get the cabana for 500 total.
For those who smoke, there IS a place where you can smoke and have a drink in Santa Monica, and it's at  the Cameo Bar.
I was there for a birthday shindig over the weekend, and all I got to say for those who are 1st timers here, reserve a table outside or if you're there early (let's say 9pm), you could prob get a table/sitting section outside --don't sit inside. Party is outside.
Super posh inside. Very diverse crowd. Urban chic meets i banker meets model meets hippie. Flip flops, payless, choos, and penny loafers. Hodge podge of people and cultures. Indian curry, falafel, kim chi, pho, burgers, pasta, loompia, tacos, chow mein, dark meat, pork, the other white meat, baklava and kosher. Â
Music was chill, best suited for catch ups conversations or dates.
I got a cabernet and kettle on the rocks for $27.
Valet is $16. OUCH! If you eat at the restaurant it is discounted to $8. *woo hoo waves index fingers and draws circles in the air*
Once again, a darned pool in the middle of a bar. Please, God, don't let me be the girl that fell in the pool.
My really good friend is moving to Germany...boo...
We had her going away party at the Viceroy...yeah!
I am not a fancy pants man per say, but I love this place. Â It is moody, funky and high end all the way, down to the men with ear pieces at the valet.
We rented a cabana for the night and had a fantastic waitress named Robin. Â She was very sweet and personable. Â That usually lacks in these establishments that are "too cool for school." Â
Lots of light fare, good wine and mixed drinks were set up for us in the cabana. Â It is very conducive to a large gathering (apx 35 for our group) with plenty of room to mix and mingle.
They have a new world meets old theme in the decor. Â Lots of velvet textured wall paper and decorative plates line the walls to an otherwise minimalist design. Â
It all works. Â Our night was smooth, professional and fucking fabulous.
I felt compelled to write a review after reading how unhappy people were about the pricey valet.. you are aware that there is free street parking after 6pm right on the other side of the road, yes?
Sure you don't look as cool walking across the street as you would having your door opened for you by valet, but its free! I have never had to pay for valet here, and have never had trouble with my car being parked on the street.
Ok.. moving along. I love this place.
I love love love the decor. The colors, textures, ambiance, all of it.
I love the outside pool area. The drinks are pretty yummy too. I don't know much about the crowds or prices there because I've been lucky enough to go with my fiance each time who pays for my drinks and is great company.
We love to go there and have a drink poolside, after dinner at Sushi Roku up the street. Its a perfect relaxing finish (or beginning) to the evening ;)
You'll see hip, trendy, stunning patio, perfect lighting, perfectly furnished, and endless suits. Oh yeah, that's IF you can get in =).
Expect pricey drinks, and a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Hardly ever gets rowdy in here.
The back pool area is refreshing. Plenty of heat lamps, ambient lighting, and wonderful sitting areas. Feels a little bit like a contemporary Persia =).
Don't expect anything from the crowd. Bring your own crowd. It's a bunch of suits.
Ya it's snooty. Â Ya the bouncer at the door is a jerk. Â Ya the drinks are over-priced and the people are pretentious. Â And still, I keep coming back to this place. Â It's quintessential LA, glitzy, trendy, and filled with beautiful wanna-be's, but fun to go for the people watching.
On Tuesdays the restaurant in the hotel called Whist has a pretty good happy hour from 5:30-10pm, apps are $5 each for stuff like bacon-wrapped scallops (mmmm, baaacon).
The first thing I should mention about the Hotel Viceroy is that the only viable option for parking is valet, and it's $15. By the time you're dropping $15 before you're even in the door, it's safe to say this is not a spot for the faint of wallet.
Inside you'll find a very styly interior divided into a bar area and a chi-chi restaurant named "Whist." We opted for one of the cushy lounge areas just outside the bar for maximum people watching (and slightly saner prices). We got a number of sides: a Mediterranean small plates sampler, the charcuterie plate, an ahi salad starter, and a side of fries, which was a nice, but not overwhelming amount for three people. Wines were a touch on the pricey side, but they seemed well-selected, or at least I enjoyed mine. My friend, June, raved about the sidecar, if cocktails are more your speed.
I would easily order either of the sampler plates (mediterranean or charcuterie) again. The other dishes were also tasty, though not very hard to find elsewhere. I'm also intrigued by the set lunches, which run $22 for three courses (though factor in the parking, and again, you're talking about a chunk of change).
I'm not sure how to arrange for one of the fabulous poolside bungalows, but it would be a great spot to take friends from out of town who feel like going native.
This place is sleek and quintessential LA complete with magazine-spread ready people, but the wait-staff and doorman don't sport an attitude. Â The decor is sophisticated without being stuffy and the outdoor area with covered cabanas is an ideal place to romance someone. Â
The only drawback: drinks are really pricey, so don't plan on getting a buzz.
This is one of my favorite shi-shi places to hang out at night. Â There was a ridiculous line to get in, but I was grateful for that when I finally got in. Â They really do a great job of crowd control, so that it was reasonably comfortable to get a drink and find a spot to chill. Â The bouncer was really cool and apologetic about the wait -- and when he discovered our nyc connection, he got us right in the door.
The gorgeously designed interior messes with sense of scale, reminding me of Miami hotel design. Â The drinks are pricey - nyc rates, but that's why pre-drinking was invented. Â All in all, worthwhile if you don't mind waiting to get in and if you don't plan to go anywhere else afterwards.
Note: Valet parking at the Viceroy is expensive, but finding street parking is not usually a problem.
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