Get Lost in 'The Woods'

The Woods provides a refreshing escape from the day-to-day hassles of urban life with its indoor sky and cozy forest lounge. This one-of-a-kind bar is the perfect place for recharging your batteries after a long day.

Walking into The Woods, I felt like I walked into the middle of a romantic forest. Elk antler chandeliers hang from the walls and accent a fiber-optic starry sky ceiling. A long bar hosts chocolate-colored bar stools, backed by a glass and tree branch design. Cocktail tables that resemble tree stumps sit in front of private couch style booths and provide for intimate conversation areas. The wall across from the bar is filled with an arrangement of wooden blocks, which adds to that forest feel and there is a jukebox tucked into the corner of the room.

The Woods makes it easy to forget that you are in Hollywood, let alone inside a bar. Guests often claim that the bar even smells like a forest, as if employees spray some sort of woodsy mist around the interior. The jukebox is full ear-pleasing tunes and the DJs and live entertainment that The Wood’s brings in are top-notch.

The style, the atmosphere, and intricate details inside make this venture of Vintage Bar Group a Hollywood hot spot, which attracts everyone from happy hour enthusiasts to the celebrity in need of a mellow night out. The vibe is very relaxed, and romantic – you are after all, drinking under a starlit sky surrounded by forest paraphernalia.

Happy hour at The Woods runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and a late night happy hour is 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Specials include $5 well mixed drinks, $5 wine by the glass, $3 domestic beers, $5 well martini, and $4 shot of the day.

In addition to drink selections, a variety of pleasingly priced appetizer selections are provided by Sultami Restaurant. Patrons can munch on French Fries ($2), crispy pita with hummus ($5), mini wrapped hot dogs ($6), and sliders ($6) while they enjoy luxurious cocktails. The Woods also puts out complementary chex mix for guests to enjoy.

During my visit, I lost myself in the wilderness and enjoyed a $5 house martini. I caught up with some of my fellow barstool dwellers to hear what makes them frequent The Woods:

• "The Woods is the perfect bar when a Midwesterner like myself wants to have a drink in the familiar rustic setting of the north woods. I like the vibe, the location, and the service." – Blake Paulson

• “Great vibe, laid back and unpretentious.” – Sara Lawrence

• “You really feel like you are in a forest when you are in there. I love the stars on the ceiling. It’s such a cozy place” – Katie Adams

• “Fun, low key, unpretentious...a little hole in the wall type of place... oh and I saw Ryan Gosling which was fun” – Alex Schneider

• “It’s such a fun place for happy hour. I feel like I’m not in LA anymore when I’m inside” – Caroline Ma

• “I like it because it has a chill vibe.  The setting is retro and gives a dive feel.” – Sarah Hicks

Hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., daily

Cover charge: No

Dress code: Upscale casual

Features: Two rooms, ample seating areas, jukebox, private booths

Payments Accepted: Major credit cards

Parking: Street, on-site valet $4.50

Music: jukebox, DJ, live music

Average Drink Price: $3-5 at happy hour

Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 8 to 10 p.m.

Happy Hour Drink Specials: $5 well mixed drinks, $5 wine by the glass, $3 domestic beers, $5 well martini, $4 shot of the day.

Happy Hour Food Specials: A collection of happy hour appetizers provided by Sultani Restaurant (located next door to The Woods): French Fries $2, Crispy pita bread with hummus $5, Sliders (3 mini Hamburger or Falafel burgers) $6, Wraps (eggplant or chicken) $6, Chicken Skewers (served with shallot or cucumber yogurt sauce) $6, Mini Wrapped Hot Dogs (5 per order) $6

Signature Drinks: The Woods Signature Drink: The Woods Mint Julep (Jack Daniels with fresh mint and simple syrup, shaken on the rocks) $10

The Woods Signature Shot: The Hollow Point $8

More Information: www.vintagebargroup.com