Naranja en La Vida en Hollywood
La Vida
1448 North Gower St
Hollywood, 90028 (map)
323-962-0800
Website
La Vida means “the life” in Spanish, and it’s one of the newest bar-restaurants in Hollywood. Located near Gower Gulch, La Vida hides in plain view on a Sunset Boulevard corner. Behind a blank white wall punctuated by a black-suited bouncer is a large Mediterranean-villa styled eatery and drinkery. The good thing about it is that the establishment doesn’t define “the life” nor lifestyle. This way, old men can toast their daughter’s impending nuptials, young men can prowl for younger women who preen and flirt within arm’s reach, gangster-chic hipsters can mash up songs on their Macs in a corner booth, budding execs can be “edgy” while taking meetings, and nerdy foodies n’ boozies can enjoy the fare and oceanic atmosphere.
La Vida features a large outdoor patio with burning rocks, three bars, at least two fireplaces, and an impressive dance floor. Most anything you’d want in a Hollywood stop is here, and if you don’t like any particular element, there’s room enough to put it out of sight and out of mind.
The décor soothes with light blue wavy lines, one ceiling lit by blowfish-like lamps. The design suggests snorkeling in a coral reef. The food is superb, emphasizing tapas-style small orders with a seafood emphasis. A few dishes arrive on a hibachi-lite mini-grill.
The waitstaff looks like they walked right out of their headshots, but they’re also attentive: water is promptly refilled, plates are cleared with expediency.
The cocktails are of the fresh fruit variety, simple but tasty. They have ten specialty drinks, all of which err on the side of hipster-green, green as in environmental.
I had an orange:
Naranja
Grey Goose l’orange (vodka), St. Germain, fresh O.J., clover honey, ginger beer
It tasted like orange soda, sweet, but with a ginger tingle at the end.
The first time I was here was for The Liquid Muse’s monthly Cocktail Club. The sponsoring spirit was VeeV Açai, an extremely green and local distiller. Their signature drink is the Treetini: VeeV açai spirit, fresh mint, cucumbers, lime, simple syrup.
It’s enjoyable like spring, and for every Treetini sold, VeeV plants a tree. It’s still on La Vida’s menu, which might represent the only theme the restaurant is trying to push: life. Period.
Disclosure: The Cocktail Club tasting was free, and it included a coupon for 20% off the bill of the second visit.
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