Ten Pound Bar

5/31/2016

Had an amazing evening celebrating my boyfriends birthday!! Service was top notch and the scotch selection was very good. Very intimate feel to the place.

We will definitely be back in the very near future.

3/25/2016

• 1 check-in

Wow this is fun, and this is wow. The entrance is inside of a hotel and then inside of another kitchen, appointment required, and there is a $64,000 drink. The walk from the lobby alone is about 5 minutes of maze-like schmancy hallway. The outside door is marked by a little plain placard and following that you proceed through Scarpetta's kitchen to the final entrance door. The bar itself is nestled just on the other side, it's comprised of a small indoor lounge and boutique deck overlooking plant life and others.

There is a lot to say about this drinkery, partially because it sets a "bar" of its own for serious good fun, but also because everything on offer is a unique version of just right.

The drinks, cigars, and snacks. They are 100% exquisite, also curated and acquired via extreme expertise.

There are no liquids served here unless they are hand selected and thoroughly vetted, this includes the ice. You can pick up a bottle of booze from literally Kate and Prince Willy's wedding. And if you thought a $15,000 Guy Lane t-shirt was a good buy then you can grab LA's most expensive shot, a $64,000 single alcohol drink. Other than that, truly, any drink you get here will be superb to imbibe.

The cigars are presidential quality, the high is literally comparable to a mellow spliff that sets your entire body    on hard relax.

The snacks. The snacks.

The service is more like having two genius-savant friends who want you to have a good time. Really, this may actually be the best part of the whole thing.

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• See all photos from Aidan R. for Ten Pound Bar

5/26/2016

If you like whiskey, this is the place for you.  If you like exclusivity, this is the place for you.  If you like to chill and relax while sipping on a good drink, this is the place for you.  If you don't like to spend at least $40 on one drink, this IS NOT the place for you.  In addition to the whiskey, they also have really good cocktails too.

12/1/2015

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you accidentally break a single piece of their $600k+ worth of Lalique crystal service-wear they will charge you for it. Imagine my disgust when I sent my business partner and her boyfriend there, he accidentally knocked a candelabra off their table and they charge them $2000.00 for it! I was there a few weeks ago with my wife and some friends and we ate caviar for the most beautiful service set I've ever seen, apparently worth $10k. Can you imagine if my wife's heel broke and that was knocked off the table?!!!!!!

It's sad because I love the place, the service is the best, the drinks are worth every penny, but how on earth can anyone recommend a place that has this type of policy...Never going back and totally bummed about that...

5/8/2015

You know you've been to too many fancy bars and restaurants when you get annoyed at how in detail the staff explains all the historical details of whatever you are purchasing. It's best described as an annoyed kind of gratitude-- a certain feeling of thankfulness that they are trying to make you feel like you got your money's worth. Because I went to the first 2 Macallan tasting events ever a few years ago when they had a guy with a totally real Scottish accent (the third event had some guy from the midwest, who was ranked a lot higher in the corporation but was a lot less satisfying), before the rest of the scotch companies got their act together, I was already familiar with their pitch, and I have to hand it to them-- they certainly know how to be consistent in their brand messaging. I guess that's kind of a requirement when the lead time for your product is measured in decades.

I won't waste your time, explaining the difference between the 18 and 17 years (17 year-- my fav), or single malt, blah blah blah. or the ridiculously cool japanese-made spherical ice maker that used to sell for thousands but now they make cheap imitation ice-molds out of silicon. They give you options for that too. You can get your ice made from highland water imported from the pure pristine waters of Scotland untainted by the Industrial Age and sooty coal. Or so they say.

But I will mention one thing that blew my mind: They have the best bacon ever. And it's free (along with nuts and stuff like that) with your expensive ass scotch. You should come here for the bacon. Seriously. THE BACON. It's perfection incarnate. It comes in sticks in a cup. Perfectly crisped where it crumbles into decadent flavor that gives you feels like it's before 2001 during the party hardy late 90s when the only thing america feared was whether the president was getting some action on the side.

I can't write enough about the bacon. I can go on and on about the bacon you get with your $50 glass of scotch. But that bacon. Wow. It makes the $50 glass worthwhile.

Oh, no bathroom in that area-- you have to walk all the way downstairs. Guys and gals with small bladders... hold it.. I guess?

1/22/2016

Too much.. and I am a local. Over the top prices for even me..

12/16/2015

Such a great venue for a great cocktail.  A gentleman played live music on a Tuesday night.  So good!

7/22/2013

• Listed in WeHo & adjacent

Wow....just wow....

I had planned to take the BF here for his birthday in the distant future, but after finding ourselves at Scarpetta (for another best-ever meal), I asked our lovely server if he could get us a reservation for drinks. I don't drink Scotch, but BF is a big fan, so I knew this was a very special treat.

It is positively incredible! And insanely expensive. If you've got that kind of money, good for you! You won't bat an eye, but for the rest of us, spending almost $200 for 3 drinks is a bit much. That said, I still stand by my motto that you can't eat/drink the money.

The service here is top notch. They came to the restaurant to escort us upstairs where it feels oh, so exclusive. We had a prime seat looking over the beautiful courtyard on a gorgeous evening. So it's strictly alcohol on the menu and thankfully they also had wine and not just Scotch for me. A $55 glass of the best white burgundy I've ever had found its way in my hand. I really enjoyed that glass of wine in quite possibly the most beautiful stemwear I've ever drank out of. BF was over the moon with various McClellan and Highland Park Scotch.

The presentation of how wheel up this fabulous cart with all this stuff, including bacon strips, aged cheddar and candied pecans - it all works well with the Scotch - is just so stylish!  Ken was our server and on top of being super attentive, he was just a really cool guy. I didn't get a pretentious air about anything here. I think the only regret was that BF didn't have once of his Cubans to enjoy. Maybe I'll start saving now for 3 more drinks later this year for his b-day.

If you drink Scotch and have the means, you don't want to miss this place.

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  Libations

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  After too many scotches.

  After too many scotches.

4/29/2014

£10 has me torn.  Lovely place and concept, great drinks...but I feel /something/ was lacking in the overall experience.

Our group of five showed on a Friday night (with reservation) to a nearly empty bar.  After an introductory spiel by our bartender, we were shown to a comfortable spot outside.  Really a lovely setting, with a comfortable corner sofa arrangement overlooking a courtyard.

Service was good, but not great.  Our bartender seemed visibly annoyed with requests a couple of times (first when a colleague asked for an old-fashioned and again when another asked for cigarettes) and wasn't terribly attentive, leaving us with dry glasses several times.  He also got drink requests wrong--one of us ordered a whisky with soapstones and received it with cubed ice; when the error was pointed out, no offer was made to replace it.

Nibbles were excellent--pistachios and dried cherries, house-cured bacon, gouda, spiced pecans.  We also ordered a cheese plate--I don't recall the mix, but it was also excellent and all varieties seemed carefully curated to match with the drink menu.  However, we also ordered a pasta with lobster that was a miss.  It was served family-style in a large terrine.  The lobster was in a single large piece, but we weren't given a knife to divide it (and this was also another period where our server vanished), and it ended up being chewy once we managed to tear it apart with the serving spoon. The sauce was forgettable.

At midnight, it was made very clear to us that the bar was closed, our presence no longer desired, and that we should vacate--preferably quickly.  

In the end, I'm glad to have experienced £10, but don't know that I'm terribly interested in returning.

11/28/2014

We went here for my dad's 75th birthday.  We were not disappointed.  You do need to make reservations which they make VERY CLEAR.  When we checked in at Scarpetta's downstairs, after a few moments someone came down to escort us to Ten Pound and to our table.  He introduced himself, remembered ALL of our names throughout the night, and immediately said happy birthday to my dad.
It is a small very comfy lounge type feeling.
Our waiter, and Ten Pound's "head barman" was Wahid.  While I still likely would have ranked this place 5 stars without him, he easily made it a 5 star experience.  Wahid was EXTREMELY knowledgable, patient, attentive, and spoke 5 languages!  My mom is not a scotch drinker but likes bourbon.  He suggested a scotch that most resembled the bourbon taste, and my mom loved it.
While expensive, you pay for the ambiance, knowledge, and experience.  I would also suggest just coming here for drinks.  If you want a full on meal (like Ann's review), go downstairs.  This isn't the place to do it.
They also surprised us with a 10 inch cake to celebrate my dad's birthday, and it was VERY good.  I never asked for this, its just something they did at no additional charge.
I wish I could come here more often, and if I did, I would ask that Wahid be our server every time!

8/16/2014

Obviously only go to £10 if you have a little bit of money to blow or if you're a Macallan enthusiast. They have an envious selection. The drinks were incredible though and the outdoor terrace was beautiful. I wish the bartender and servers were a little more attentive, especially considering what we paid. The drinks came with house-cured bacon, candied pecans and cheese. I felt like a little flair was missing to everything but overall, a fantastic experience.

9/18/2014

10£ is an oasis of calm, civility & class smack dab in the middle (more or less) of Los Angeles.
And behind its' doors all are treated equally. Because if you're lucky enough to find yourself enjoying the hospitality of Wahid or Cash, then you've come to terms with the fact that this is far from an ordinary bar with far from ordinary bar prices.
The only designated Macallan bar in North America - with a slew of the most premium brands in the world if your tastes are not rooted in Single Malt Scotch - and a Chef on site ready to prepare whatever strikes your mood.
This bar is often bought out by regular clients for private gatherings as it holds less than 40 guests. And with hours starting at 5pm and ending at 12am, dark on Sundays & Mondays, reservations are an absolute must and worth the price of admission ($50 minimum per guest).
10£ is as perfect for a quiet drink with someone you want to get to know much better as it is for a group of colleagues, clients or close friends you just want to hang out with, laugh with and not worry about anyone else in the room giving a damn about your conversation.

8/22/2012

• 31 check-ins

If you love single malt whisky from Speyside, specifically The Macallan, or from Orkney, like Highland Park, or just need a spot to chill while in the area, Ten Pound is the place.

Their menu is strictly alcoholic. The Scotch whiskies in stock are limited to The Macallan and Highland Park, and range in price from 10 GBP [12yr Sherry] to 64,000 GBP [64 year old]! They do have some rare stuff that up until now, have been very difficult to find in LA, like 1841 Replica, the 30 yr old fine oak Rankin Edition, and the Royal Marriage....

I'd like to think of myself a whisky connoisseur [*ahem* snob], so I prefer to drink whisky neat in a Glencairn glass. Alas, I was slightly disappointed, then, that this Scotch bar didn't have the preferred whisky glassware here. Oh well. At least they had brandy snifters.

For those that like their spirits cold, Ten Pound does offer a variety of "chilling options," which include a large,perfectly spherical ice ball or soapstone rocks. The science behind the ice ball is interesting -- the shape keeps the ice from melting too quickly. And, it does look cool in a tumbler. Still, I would never get it.

Though the emphasis at Ten Pound is on single malt whisky owned by the The Erdington Group, they do stock a bunch of other spirits like Rum, Gin, Cognac, Vodka, Tequila, and a handful of tasty cocktails. Given the location and the clientele they cater to, expect everything to be on the high-end.

Currently, their food menu is non existant and so rely upon Scarpetta. They do, however, offer complimentary gourmet snacks - 26 month aged smoked gouda, curry roasted pecans, and house-smoked bacon.

The intimate spot is located on the second floor of the Montage hotel, and above Scarpetta restaurant. My favorite lounging area is on the patio, overlooking the courtyard.

Tip: Reservations only. Check in at Scarpetta. $50 minimum per person. The menu is in pounds, so 1 GBP = 1.6 USD.

6/28/2013

Lets just say this place was amazing. Had dinner nearby and I decided to try this place for an after dinner sip. They require a reservation and I knew that but we wanted to give it a shot anyway. I finally found the discreet door and knocked on it. The guy running the place opened the door and we had a very nice exchange. He told me it was reservation only and I apologized that I didn't have one but after a brief conversation, and the fact that I was nice and well dressed he let me come in and gave me a table. Also it was a Wednesday night so that probably wouldn't have worked on a weekend night.

The place has an air of exclusivity which it should considering the location and drink selection.  Don't come here if you are on a budget. That being said, the service was fantastic, he educated me about the bar, about the drinks about the preparation and really made it a great experience.  I had a delicious scotch and it was about $80 I think. Very worth it considering how amazing the scotch and the experience was.

MAKE a reservation and prepare to enjoy the finest scotch in the world in probably the best scotch club in the country.

Cheers!

6/1/2012

• First to Review

Scotch bar!

I recently have begun a foray into scotch, so imagine my happiness when I found out about this venue.

They are a scotch bar, so you should come for the scotch. But for the friend you dragged along who is not an aficionado, they do have a small cocktail list to appease them.

Don't come surprised, it is pricey. The cheapest pour of scotch is $16 (or 10 pounds). They have some specials that range in the hundreds and-wait for it-thousands! Of course, even though I fancy myself a fancy spender, I could only go in on one of the lower costing scotches. However, still delish! They specialize in Macallans, which if you've ever had one, is not a bad thing to specialize in.

If your tummy is grumbling, they have small food menu, with dishes that come from Scarpetta's downstairs. THE BREAD IS FAB. My friend was in charcuterie heaven, and I was quite enamored with the bison tartare.

Now the part I found most amazing: the service! Hellozy, we are in Bev Hills and we are ponying up good dinero for drinks, so it should not be a surprise that the staff is superb. Our server, was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. He remembered all of our names, and gave us great advice on which drinks and foods to go with.

You have to make reservations, unless you are a hotel guest, in which they will let you in with reservations. From what I can tell, it is a laid back place to sit, chill, and imbibe some good ethoh. It is does NOT seem like a place where you go to get down with it.

That said, I LURVED the whole experience (maybe I'm an old white man at heart?) and can't wait to return.

3/19/2013

• 1 check-in

Fun place to gather your buddies.  Excellent drink and great cigars.  If a concert is in the yard it makes a great summer evening

5/2/2014

My husband loved the fine scotch whiskeys.  I enjoyed the mixed drinks and delicious appetizers.  The decor and atmosphere is elegant.  We sat on the open balcony with a view of the beautiful courtyard.  The white wine with vanilla syrup and lavender was tasty.  Our group shared cheese platters, charcuterie platers, tuna tartare with truffle, sashimi platters, bacon strips, cheddar , and glazed pecan appetizer, and pappardelle and mushroom pasta appetizer.  All the appetizers were amazing!  We ordered several rounds of everything because it was all so good.  The only thing we did not care for was the weird way they act about reservations.  I understand that they are trying to provide a very upscale experience but it's strange how many people ask you if you have a reservation.  We did have a reservation as it was a business dinner.

1/23/2013

We had dinner downstairs in the very expensive restaurant.  One of our dinner guests was friends with a hotel manager that came by and told us about the great scotch bar upstairs.  After dinner, my partner and I went up the staircase to a deserted sitting area with tables and chairs.  There weren't any signs, but we found the Ten Pound bar of to the left of the staircase.  The door was locked but a server came to the door, opened the door and informed us with a threatening tone "do yo have  reservation?"  We said we did not but had just had dinner downstairs.  The server was joined by a female hostess (I guess) and they asked what we wanted.  We stated that we were interested in a scotch.  We were seated overlooking the plaza area and the hostess brought us menus.  She and the server told us that they were one of a few Macalan certified bar (or something like that).  Then the hostess stated "there's a $50 per person minimum" with a look that said "maybe you should go somewhere else".  She hovered over us waiting for us to leave I think.  I asked "could you give us a moment to look at the menu?" and she walked away.  We decided we didn't want to spend $100 for after dinner drinks at a place with rude service and got up to leave.  We met the hostess near the door and told her we changed our minds.  She escorted us out the door and she pointedly told us that this was reservation only and that Simon Fuller was in the bar tonight.  Then she told us "we were voted the #1 bar last year" and my partner retorted "who voted".  We walked off.  Don't bother with this place.  There are lots of great bars where they want your business.  Not this one.