La Descarga

In L.A., Houston Hospitality bars have become known for their immersive themes and elaborate entryways. Patrons at Good Times at Davey Wayne’s step through a refrigerator and into the 70s. At Break Room 86, an 80s flashback awaits behind a retro vending machine. In the whimsical world of Mark and Jonnie Houston, everything is not always as it seems—a tradition that started with La Descarga, the first generation of sophisticated speakeasies that would become the brothers’ calling card. From the street, La Descarga appears only in name on an otherwise nondescript East Hollywood apartment building. After you’ve cleared the doorman and crept up a dingy, candlelit stairwell, you are greeted by a hostess who directs you through a dusty armoire leading not to Narnia, but old Havana. As you descend the spiral wrought-iron staircase, you’re transported to a night club in 1940s Cuba, where opulence meets urban decay. Chandeliers hang from distressed ceilings and candles flicker at intimate leather booths, creating a tarnished elegance that is warm, sultry and hauntingly beautiful. Live musicians play nightly from the overhead balcony, where dancers shake their assets during burlesque shows Thursdays through Saturdays. Naturally, given the theme, there’s also a cigar lounge, not to mention a lengthy rum selection. And, given all those bells and whistles, there’s usually a line; make sure to book a reservation ahead of your visit to breeze through.