At Holly's West, you can party on and raise hell on weekend nights, without the hellish drive.

It used to be that you would have to drive to Hollywood or fight traffic on the Sunset Strip to find the best places to party, grab a drink (or two or more), dance the night away and unwind. Nightlife junkies looking for a change of scenery would be happy to know that there's a new stomping ground, with ample street parking and without the hairy ride. Yes, it's Holly's West, the latest brain child of SGM' the same company that brought us popular restaurants like Tengu,Venice Cantina, NINE THIRTY and The Backyard, as well as Hollywood hotspots like Nacional, Ivar and Holly's.

Moody lighting, red velvet cushions, Venetian-inspired decor and seductive servers contribute to Holly's West's sex appeal.

U-shape lounges are perfect for a big group, but are usually reserved for bottle service.

Located on Wilshire Boulevard in what used to be the Lincoln Steakhouse, Holly's West takes its style cues from a `50s Italian modern bar lounge, with its moody lighting, dark red upholstery, super low cocktail tables and Venetian-style accents. Georgeous servers dressed in seductive attire offer wine by the glass or take orders from a tapas-style menu, including toasted pita chips with roasted eggplant, hummus and cucumber yogurt dips ($8), oysters on the half shell ($16), crispy truffled goat cheese croquettes ($9), seared ahi tuna ($18), grilled figs wrapped in prosciutto ($12), miniature hamburgers ($12), fried wild mushrooms with sweet sherrie dipping sauce ($9) and more.

Got the munchies? Holly's West serves tapas-style late-night dining.

Aside from the drive, parking and late-night yummy dining, the best thing about Holly's West is that there is always something to see and someone to meet. SGM impresarios Anton Posniak, Rick Calamaro, Alan Nathan, John Baydale and Guy Ravid draw on their extensive network of celebrities and L.A. socialites to pack the intimate 150-capacity venue. Hugh Hefner, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Luke Wilson and Kiefer Sutherland were all said to have partied at Holly's West. So have the staff, journalists and friends of L.A. Splash Magazine, led by publisher and editor-in-chief Lawrence Davis.

L.A. Splash Magazine journalists and friends at Holly's West.

But like any good thing, there are drawbacks. First, certain areas' such as the all important women's restroom' appear to be under renovation. Second, there's usually a line to get in, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Third, a packed house means it's not always easy to find a place to sit and cool your heels, which can be hell for stiletto lovers like me.

More partying for L.A. Splash Magazine staff and guests.

The verdict? Holly's West is a decent place to down drinks, hang out with friends and coworkers or grab a late night snack after watching a flick. Whether or not it will become a default destination for diehard clubbers is something that remains to be seen.

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