The Roger Room

How do I know that the $1795 a month I shell out for rent is worth it? Be-cau-au-ause there's A SPEAKEASY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD! Obviously, I live in the coolest place that exists where an aspiring nurse practitioner and an aspiring screenwriter have (at least theoretically) viable job options.

The Roger Room is nestled in between Largo and...I don't even know what's next to it. Doesn't matter. You're not going there, you're going to the Roger Room. Which, as fate would have it, is labeled as a psychic shop. I'm reticent to have told you even that much, because I'm certain that at least a small part of my EXTREMELY favorable impression of the place is that Nick and I sauntered in only slightly before full-swing hour one Saturday night and sat right down at the bar--next to each other, no less, which you can appreciate for the true rarity it is if you ever try to drink alcohol anywhere in L.A. but your house.

The vibe is swanky-sexy-sultry, a la vintage Hollywood. The interior is done up to the nines in an art deco motif that is not completely unaware of its post-millennium incarnation. It's hot without making you feel like you don't belong, and you might also see someone really high profile. Our visit delivered on both: the bartender introduced himself and remembered our names all night, and we saw a lot of people who looked like other people who are famous. As far as the menu goes...show up thirsty, with an artsy appreciation for inventive, well-executed cocktails, and bring a lot of cash if you actually want to be drunk. (Hey, it's the same guy that owns Bar Lubitsch. I think we can all agree that the drinks are delicious, but a far cry from lethal.) The place's real selling point is the entertainment encapsulated in the creation of the drinks themselves. The bartenders' flashy showmanship in assembling complex cocktails with surgical precision at an impressive clip is...exciting, actually. I ordered another just for that. Pair your visit with a show at Largo for a real value pack of displays of high-quality talent.