"…dirty martini is the best in the city and live for their cucumber gimlet…"
(in 13 reviews)
"If you're a fine vodka drinker, you must check this place out."
(in 66 reviews)
Loading...
Bar Lubitsch
Rating Details »
Categories: Lounges, Dance Clubs [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Hollywood7702 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 654-1234
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
179 reviews for Bar Lubitsch
Review Highlights
Loading...
This has pretty much become "my bar." I live within stumbling distance, it's easy to get into, the drinks are strong, and I can get my groove on. Plus, the staff has always been good to me.
I always have a great time at Lubitsch, and I've brought many friends here. There's always a good mix of people when I go, too.
3.5 stars
* Say With Strong Russian Accent, rolling your R's and L's*
"STRRROONG, LLLLIKE BULL...."
Couldn't stop repeating this all night.
I must admit there were some good lookin guys...EXCEPT for the one's in BAD leather (pleather) jackets. LOL... But.... I'm too shy... boo hoo...pouty lips..
Girls in leopard print mini skirt dresses and red lipstick.
2 separate rooms. Front room: Main Bar... Bad rock music.. Yikes...
Back room: DJ spininnnn... luuuuvvvv... I feel pretty... :) dance dance dance...
Dark luscious red interior. Clear glass chandeliers... I should charge per dance. kidding...kidding...
Nice selection of vodka. (of course... duh)
Pricey tho... Thank Gawd I'm a girl. They made my boys drinks so much weaker than mine. hahaha...
Sputnik... :)
such an adorable word.. I just love saying it.
Angelinos call it "The Bitch" because in LA it's mandatory that you speak in a cool, truncated manner that serves the twofold purpose of demonstrating clever brevity and arcane local cred; but the nickname also inadvertently describes the experience to a tee: unless you know the door man, it's a Bitch to get in; unless you know the bartender, it's a Bitch to get a drink; and unless you have the gift of levitation, it's a Bitch to get around the place because they pack that fucker like a can of stanky sardines.
I, of course, don't have a problem when I go because I know all three, including the lost art of levitation. That's me you'll see hovering over the masses the next time you go; sipping on my VodBull and looking down at you like the pathetic, thirsty sardine that you are as you flap your gills about the long line to the bathroom.
It's The Bitch, fool! (Floating away) Stop bitching like a little bitch!
This place is overrated. I found the people at this place to think they were cooler than club people, you're not. I didn't find anything really interesting about this place other than the Russian decor, I found the service to be spotty at best and the layout was pretty bad. This place needs bottle service and to hold the losers at the door.
This bar will be happy to take your order at 1:30 AM, then bring it to you at 1:50 and ask you to get out pretty much right away. Even if you tell them very nicely that you'd like to finish your drink that they "just" brought you, they tell you that they are doing you a favor by serving you drinks. Insulting! If they know it will take that long to serve you that close to closing time, then they shouldn't do it. Other than this very disapointing approach to service it was a fun environment... but maybe it was just the friends after all.
Really cool vibe, cool drinks.
Love the red light theme inside this place. A patio at the front door houses a bunch of young people smoking their parliament lights. The main bar is fun and there is booth seating if you come with a group. Towards the back there is a dance floor and second bar, and apparently on Thursday nights they host some stand up comedians...
The second bar/ dance floor is louder than hell but fun to let loose a bit. Drinks are not that expensive and the crowd is mostly hot girls and hot guys- win/ win for all!
I hit this spot last night and I think it can become one of my regular watering holes. Cool vibe, the drinks were good but the bartenders were great! They were so nice and welcoming. I totally recommend this place!
I love this place. I loved it even more when I was just a $10 cab's ride away, but that's beside the point. I realized I never reviewed my go to going out spot in weho, so here it goes: it's fun times with a dance area. Get there a little earlier and you don't have to wait in line. Molotov Cocktail is the way to go. So delish! Stay away from the cucumber gimlet. GAG. The people who work there are friendly, and if you call ahead, you can ask for a table.
worst experience this past weekend ever at LA club. I had to wait for 1.5 hours to get in, and there were just 5 people in front of me. While the doormen (rude and indifferent, especially the black guy). There is nothing to catch in this club. Don't waste your time.
Me + Russian Vodka =
We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends dont dance
And if they dont dance
Well they're no friends of mine.
Don't miss this place if you're out in Weho.
Awesome Russian-themed bar with a mellow bar in front and a small dance floor in the back with a dope DJ. No cover, a nice smoking patio and the girls are straight-up dimes.
I had to take a star off though, seeing how it was a bitch to get in (we got there around midnight though, to be fair), drinks were expensive and the dance floor was not only packed, but filled with people who were constantly pushing through to walk from one end of the room to the other for no apparent reason. Other than that, it's actually pretty fun, really not much more hassle than any other bar/club on a Friday night. Worth checking out for sure.
I guess I should really give this place 4 stars, but I'm a sucker for a good dive bar, and this is it! it gets 5 stars for that...
A local neighborhood spot, I like going there to meet u with friends for a couple drinks. I don't think this is a place I would stay out all night, it does have a cool dance space in the back, you totally wouldn't even know is there, so a couple more points for that. The bartender was good to me when I opened my tab, so I was good to him back, extra points for that! Anyway, clientele is pretty friendly, not overly douchy so that gets a couple points too! If someone says, hey let's get a drink at lubitsch...I always say ok!
Shiiiiiit, I still smell like vodka, almost 3 days later. Strawberry Stoli to be precise.
Nice staff, pretty bartenders, VODKA, and for some reason the largest congregation of men taller than 6' anywhere at one time. Single ladies take note.
We always close this place down - it's a destination, not just a stop along the way.
:) Loves it
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/20/2008
Had a blast with controlled substances, taking naughty pictures in the back booth and dancing til… Read more »
Been to Bar Lubitsch a couple times now - it's not my my favorite bar but it's a decent place and well worth venturing out of (gasp) West LA for a different vibe. The back 'dance' room is stuffy as heck but it's fun. It could definitely be oh, I don't know, 500x500ft bigger but hey, it's better than nothing.
Def. a place to check out for some different scenery.
Great place, awesome vodka selection, cheesy music out back.
Sweet.
This place is great.
Drunk people everywhere. Hot girls slobbing over so-so guys.
Shelves lined with all kinds of vodka - yes, even Popov and Kamchatka.
Bathrooms are tiny, but hey, who cares right? :)
Dance floor was way too crowded - we could barely navigate in the darkness. Music was a bit funky. If you happen to know the bartenders - you're golden. Not that hard to get in.
A few of the best nights I've had out in WeHo have taken place in the backroom at Lubitsch. Great music, good drinks and a FUN FUN vibe. I've heard that Jones will deliver food here too?
Weekends can mean long lines out front... just sayin'!
well im going this weekend and notice a huge biased opinion. as most bars i ths god forsaken town, little dumb girls get there way and guys get the shit end of the stick. im looking forward to a couple things. asshole bouncers/ bertenders. and stoopid "hipsters" tht think any bar that looks like it doesnt belong is cool. GTFO of my town already
Theme Bar with nice vintage vibe. Unfortunately the taste/class of the music does not match the decour. borish rock at deafening volume.
the drinks are tasty but the prices are a joke 12bucks each.
This place is awesome. I love coming here when I don't want to deal with hollywood but want to go to a bar in my neighborhood. The front is a open patio then there is a bar with music but the party is in the back with a live DJ. I usually head to the back bar and open a tab there, because it's less crowded surprisingly. Sometimes the DJ is pretty good, but last night he was all over the place. ( not in a good way ) but still had fun.
This place doesn't have cover which is awesome. It's a fun place to hang with friends. I highly recommend it!
I do have many reasons to love Bar Lubitsch, one of them is that every time i was here, I had the time of my life. (or many times of my life ;) )
The story starts with a friend again going away. I know, you heard this from me before. But I'm just gonna share it, regardless if you're gonna CUF it or not.
I picked one of my lovely gfs, and headed towards WeHo. I was expecting two of my friends to be there, but we ended up being a big group of friends. Which was totally fine and fun! Because the goodbyes become more memorable that way.
First thing about Lubitsch are the bouncers. The nicest people will welcome you in, (at least that's how I got treated the last 3 times) I got the compliment for my hair (for the millionth time :D) and I got in, no cover yeehhaaah! After you're in, you'll notice the cute patio/smoking/mingling section. Not bad if you're smoker, it has chairs and tables for your Global warming conversations.
Second room, the main mingle room. On the whole you'll see some Russian words written, {Well keep in mind that Lubitsch means do you love it, just something with loving in Russian (Roman T. help me on this)}. It has some expressions that don't make sense, even though they're written in Russian. This room is a good starter for your fun night. The bar is vintage, has adorable female and male bartenders. But there is this specific girl that is so nice and welcoming, I always order my drinks from her, She has an updo with a flower on her hair (always). My favorite drink of the place THE LUBITSCH TOUCH! Vodka, Lemon juice, mint over ice=good stuff a.k.a. mood maker.
And third is the Red Room or the dance room or THE room. It has nice red design, it has a smaller bar there, but it's a bar! and the DJ is spinning all your childhood hits. 80s, 90s, lots of old school and some latest hits. you're gonna get into the groove and shake your bootie. (Yes, everyone does it there).
And you will meet a random person (girl named London, Hi London) in the restroom asking you about armenian, just because she heard you speaking your mother tongue and will take you to meet her friends and the birthday boy Scott, just because she happened to have an armenian friend. Hmm, an random and funny addition to the night and very memorable indeed.
All I have to say is Lubitsch is very Lubitsch! (has to do with love, get it? )
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/3/2009
One of my favs of WeHo.
The Parking: right next to it $6 (YEAH)
The crowd: very cute!
The bouncers:… Read more »
Cool bar, I am a fan, great people, great drinks, great service. What more do you need for a bar like this?
I stumbled upon a strange little place the other night: Bar Lubitsch, communist USSR's last bastion of hope in this greedy, morally bankrupt society of pigmen. I was with a group of my old college buddies (har har, that's a joke because we all just graduated) and we were saying goodbye to a friend of ours that is leaving, maybe for good (the same one as last time, actually - guess our final goodbyes weren't so urgent after all.)
As I approached I ran into a friend of mine that had just gotten kicked out for trying to use a fake ID. Those Reds, man, they know how to spot forged papers. Inside, the place was kind of a dump: cracked dusty mirrors, tattered propaganda posters, aging old-world philosophies... but my impression of the place jumped immediately when I noticed the hot, female, eastern-European looking bar-commissar.
I had heard that the place suffers from / benefits from spillover from the American capitalist bar Winston's, which is next door. So sure enough, into our little circle of impoverished working-class film students barged ten bourgeois sorority girls from LMU, wearing white, in stark contrast to the staff there, who all wear the mandatory red. They're Party members for sure. Either that or they're bloods, or work at Hot Topic (but definitely not both).
Eventually the groups saw past their differences and made their way to the back room for ironic dancing to lousy eighties music. There still may be an embargo against Cuba, and North Korea might have it's finger hovering above the button as we speak, but maybe, just maybe, with the help of Bar Lubitsch, the Cold War got a little bit warmer that night.
VIBE: dingy, old, themey
CROWD: stylistically mixed / opposed, dance-eager, drinking vodka
PRICE: $$$ (I think on weekends it gets pretty crowded, and there's a cover?)
Make sure to either be a hot girl or get there before 11pm otherwise you'll be standing in a long line. Not sure waiting in line is worth it, but if you can get in without waiting it's definitely a cool place to hang out.
I really like the fact that it has a front and a back bar. Chill out in the front bar if you want to talk with friends or strangers, and go to the back if you want to dance or reserve a table for a party. DJs can be hit or miss and it gets hot!
Drinks are a bit pricey, but good! Expect to pay at least $10-12/drink not including tip. If you like vodka, this is your place!
And oh yeah, don't wear a red shirt or people will think you work there.
Ernst Lubitsch was from Berlin...um, what?
And why exactly was a "Russian" bar named after him? I love him, and if you open a bar on his name, make it right!!! I love a good Russian bar, but good god, get it right - him not Russian, him German. Crack a book, or watch the History Channel, if you can't read
Yes, much love for Lubitsch...great director in the 20s and 30s - made his name known for his romantic comedies...
but, about the bar...
Nice bar, would never go there on a Friday or Saturday cuz life it too short to stand in line...for a bar...ha ha are you kidding me ...NO
Nicely appointed, mis-leading in regards to the person it's named after, but the bobble heads don't care about that...right? and bring the money in...
Once on a Wednesday was fun. And enough
A great place to dance and drink. It's not your average Hollywood ultra posh lounge scene nor the horribly serviced clubs.
This place is a great place for drinks, dancing and having great conversations. Good place to go with a group of friends.
The dance floor can get crowded sometimes, especially on peak nights. But the crowd is fun and definitely a better time for an evening than going to a Hollywood club.
Definitely recommend going here for drinks, conversation and of course some dancing.
Yet another drunk review! Dammit, Yelp really makes me seem like an alcoholic. I'm not, I swear.
Anyway...Lubitsch is a great place to just go and chill with your friends. It gets pretty crowded after 11, so you should come early if you wanna grab tables or seats at the bar. Their drinks are really strong and really hard to pronounce. I would recommend something that starts with an "N" and ends with a "-tchka" (go figure, it's Russian). They do have a dancefloor (one word or two?) but it's filled with awkward semi-dancing people...-1 star for that.
Bonus: When you're done with Lubitsch, you can head on over to Winston's, which is only about 30 seconds away.
**SOBER EDIT**
I think that "N" drink was...nanotchka?
Here's the thing, there isn't much you can honestly say about Lubitsch. The aesthetics is nothing special. It has two bars. The one up front is Itunes powered and the back bar has a DJ. The alcohol selection is typical and the decor is nothing more than uncomfortable. Here's the kicker, you wouldn't want it any other way.
The first time I went, I ended up doing Tequila shots with the bar manager and the second, hello Pacy from Dawson's Creek, yes you can buy me a Jag Bomb. The place is unpredictable and always ends up giving you some sort of story.
I've gone to just chill with dates and I've gone with large groups to get blitzed. Its always is a good time!!
The day after coming here, someone told me it was a vodka bar, and all I could think of was Balalaika. See what happens when you get stoned before you go out? Details blend in with the walls...and I was seriously intent on paying attention so I could Yelp this place. Well, here's what I came up with.
I actually liked the darkness of the bar, a little bit above the creepy level of Circle Bar. And all the art reminded me of the days when I used to frequent Gorky's in downtown, which was a little more propaganda-ish but nonetheless a plus for ambiance. Russian blood red is a good sexy color for a bar. I also like bars that are slightly maze-like. It makes me feel like I can go somewhere else and really not be anywhere else...huh?
I did not notice anything particularly "vodka bar" about this place. Maybe it was all the awful 80s music that had both a negative affect on my ears and eyes? I feel like I totally missed out on something. I didn't see any chilled shot glasses a-plenty with vodka or anything special showcasing any vodka. I mean, Balalaika has the chilled room with fur coats and Ushankas for the vodka libating. Wha' choo got, Bar Lubitsch???
Ok, I'll give that you've got a good vibe, a smoking patio area, smiling bartenders, and a guy that I got to follow around with Fatty cuz we were clowning on believing that he was Lil' Weezy when he wasn't.
So, it was Friday night and not having any specific plans I called up my friend and decided to check out Bar Lubitsch after seeing it on Yelp SO MANY TIMES.
No cover, no line, $6 valet. All good so far! Upon entering the bar, it reminded me of old school East Coast bars where "Soprano-like" diners would kick back and enjoy a cigar or two with other fellow mobsters. But admittingly, I did enjoy the Russian decor and little hallway that led to the "dance floor" area in the back. A definite laid back atmosphere, with STRONG STRONG drinks ( I can't remember exactly what I ordered since I had nooooo idea how to pronounce any of it). But what I do remember was that it did have strawberries, and the other had a fire flaming apple as a garnish! Although extremely strong (did I mention that already?), it was nonetheless tasty =)
The music itself was interesting. Definitely dance-able to, but bc spacing was such an issue, a few minor swing of the hip movements was all that one could do. Oh and get there early if you want to find yourself a table or a seat at the bar.
Overall, a good bar to kick it with friends and to get your huge dose of vodka.
Went here on a Friday night to celebrate a friend of a friend's birthday. This is a reeeeally cute spot in West Hollywood. Nice ecletic mix of pretty young thangs! We didn't realize until 30 minutes after we'd been hanging out that there was a whole other section in the back past the bathrooms, that's when the party really got started! King S0l0m0n was DJ-ing and all I can say is that guy is f-ing awesome! We danced the WHOLE night! Drinks were good, but slightly overpriced ($14 mojitos, you've got to be kidding...right?) Great place to hang out and meet up with friends, I would def. come back :-)
they let my bf and i in for free, but i overheard the redheaded skinny bouncer asking a group of friendly looking asian guys how much they were willing to pay to get inside. racist!
blegh. wannabe cool/indie fratboys trying to get into the entertainment biz as they get clubbish girls even more wasted-why they aren't bothered to have drinks spilling everywhere is a great mystery- on the dancefloor in the back which is disgustingly packing its customers like sardines. fire hazard! ...not to mention the extreme heat in the room with the dance floor and the freezing temperature in the first room.
the decor is cool though! music not completely bad.
You got me again Bar Lubes! (slams hand on desk).
This months credit card bill (which I had to cancel and redirect to a new account) shows you billing me for drinks which may or may not have been ordered by me (N. Mike 2009). Even after one of your managers explained that the falsly billed sins of the wretched would be washed away by the merciful tears of his word. Lies (slams hand on desk again).
You know what? I paid it off anyways and for these reasons:
1) It was very close to the amount I would have been charged (albeit a bit more)
2) I don't want to shaft your waiters and bartenders of their tips. Mistakes happen. The person who got my card didn't try to fraud me. Perfect, but I stand by a moral contract between business and patron which was breached in this event. Whereby the concurrence of wills was affirmed by me accepting the mistake made by your staff and your offer to subsidize my "tab."
Good day to you Bar Lubes (tips brim of hat, pops collar to trench coat, and walks into the rain)
p.s. whoever got my card and signed my bill is a lousy tipper.
Reference:
N. Mike. (January 5, 2009). Asians: how they and their names all look
alike. Journal of Yelp, 1(71). Retrieved January 28, 2009 from
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
1/5/2009
The night's gallivanting ended with a humbling comment to my attentive server:
Me: "I'm sorry, but… Read more »
"What? You've never been to Bar Lubitsch?"
"Considering I find vodka distinctly reminiscent of rubbing alcohol, I never found the need to."
And such was the conversation en route to this particular destination last night to hit up a friend's birthday bash. I don't know why, in my head, I pictured some Russian refrigerator-reminiscent club packed to the brim with cheap heels and hair gel, but hey, the mind wanders. Especially mine.
I guess that's what I get for thinking. What I found was a gorgeous, oddly vintage-looking set of rooms with much more than just vodka. I mean, if you LIKE vodka, you're pretty damn set, but should you rather use it to spot-clean your carpet as I do, you'd still be a-ok in libation choices at Lubitsch.
10pm on a Friday definitely had me rubbing elbows with some of WeHo's prominent trendsetters - whoever they may be - the problem is that I really don't like rubbing elbows. Literally. I like to be able to at least attempt a 360 degree turn when it comes to personal space, so I guess for my taste Lubitsch was just a little TOO popular. Oddly enough, the patio and front room were perfectly populated with plenty of breathing room, while the back room was filled to the brim. Then again, by the time we left there was a definite line forming, so I'm sure the abundance of space did not last long.
Still, it's a good straight-down-the-middle drinking venue and should the party gods request my attendance at Lubitsch once again, I'll be there. I'll just be hoping it's say - Tuesday?
TOO CROWDED.
Went on a Friday night with the girls. There was a short line outside, but being with 3 other girls, we just went straight in. Seemed like a pretty chill crowd, quite a few foreigners (perhaps true Russians??) There's a patio smoking area when you first get in, and then the bar area, and finally a dancing area in the back.
Decor is nice, lots of Russian words I didn't understand.
Drinks are overpriced as usual. Tried their Ninotchka, which is stoli, strawberries, and I believe champagne. Tasty. But not $12 for a teeny tiny glass tasty.
The dance floor was unbelievably crowded, but it seemed like everyone was just there to have a good time with each other, no super creepy men. The DJ played an awesome mix of oldies for a few minutes, but then it all went downhill.
Maybe it's better on a weekday...
The whole Saturday night was a blur. I remember there are 2 rooms at Bar Lubitsch. We spent most of our night in the rear bar where the music was much louder. We also ran into Benicio Del Toro there (http://en.wikipedia.or...).
It's a very chill place in West Hollywood if you're into the hipster lounge scene. There was absolutely no dancing that night. Parking is a B*tch so I recommend the $5 valet parking right next door. Make sure to get there early because the line was freaking long when we left the place around midnight. Remember if you see a Movie Star, just act Cool.
Being this is a vodka bar I need to admit this: I used to hate vodka. I know it's such clean liquor and for those watching their figure and still wanting to get drunk like a sailor, a vodka soda is the best thing for you but I just can't stand vodka. This is probably some residual hatred from my 21st birthday where my "friends" bought rounds of Greygoose shots. Pretty good friends right? I'd agree expect by "rounds" I mean buying me vodka shots while everyone else gets shots of water. Jerks.
But after coming to this bar I need to drop some knowledge on you: Greygoose is an AWFUL vodka. Disregard what you've learned from the internet and rap videos and let me say Greygoose is just disgusting. So what is good you might ask? Glad you asked because Jewel of Russia on the rocks with a slice of lime is a little bit like heaven for alcoholics. I love this vodka like a fat kid loves cake. And not just any fat kid loving cake, the one that eats so much cake he gets diabetes. Which if I apply that analogy to me it would make me an alcoholic....Anyway It's simply amazing and if you ever get a chance order a glass, you won't be disappointed. (Btw I'd like to apologize to both diabetics and alcoholics)
As for the bar itself, I've never had a bad time here and the fact that they have a dance floor in the back is nice (DJ can be hit or miss tho). Can't give it the fifth star because of some problems friends (see Mike N. Review) have had at the place, but it's probably because he's unlucky.
Side Story: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my friend trying to hit on Johnathon Cho last time we were there. Did I say hit on? I mean stand awkwardly by. HE HAS A WIFE AND KID JENNY-ANNE!! STOP BEING A HOME WRECKER!
first i want to say, sorry about todays half-assed posts...went out last night and got hammered so i dont have the energy to write my usual up to par stuff. Anyways, about this bar, hmmmm......interesting? small and i am not sure if there is a theme here. is there? i wonder wat the owners of this place was trying to do when they first opened....but, ppl come to this place so i guess there doing something right...
Not a bad place. Seemed to have something for everyone. I don't drink, so I can't say anything about the drinks other than the waitress was just as eager to get me a glass of water as she was to get my friends "real" drinks.
There's a smoker's section in the very front that's open to outside. Then the main room is a typical bar scene. And there's a "dance" room in the back with a DJ, who is better some nights than others.
Valet parking in the lot on the corner just west of the place.
I would definitely go back.
