“Hollywood Hot Spot” or “Too Hot To Handle?”

The grey AREA, defined in black and white. Overlooking his successful nightclub, Area, Los Angeles nightclub guru, Brent Bolthouse of SBE Productions (responsible for Hyde, Privilege, and Lobby) watches over the West Hollywood Hot Spot from his John Lautner designed Hollywood home in the Hills. “I wanted to make a nightclub that was welcoming and cozy, as if guests are partying at a friend’s home,” explains Bolthouse.

Sam Nazarian and Bolthouse remodeled the former club “Prey” to be a lasting destination for Hollywood clubbers. Decorated with low upholstered “Barcelona” chairs, clean lines, leather sofas, George Nelson paper lighting, and brick slate walls atop the Terrazzo floor. An 85 speaker “system” finely tuned indoors and on the patio for appropriate sound levels. Lounging areas are quieter for discussion, while the dance floor pounds Top 40, House, 80’s, and Hip-Hop beats.

Since it’s opening on September 28, 2006, the nightclub has received praising publicity from publications such as, People , InStyle, 944 Los Angeles, Angeleno, and was even mentioned as one of the top ten “Sexiest Places In Los Angeles” in the May 2007 issue of Cosmopolitan.

Paid publicity and filming portions of MTV’s reality series, The Hills certainly helped Area climb the “clubometer” as a Hollywood Hot Spot. With so many celebrity sightings at the grand opening, it’s no wonder security is so tight. However, the strict door policy has loosened since rehab has left the club’s “hot seat” where Lindsay Lohan usually sits (in “Area Five” across from the D.J. booth and next to the dance floor) vacant.

Bottle service is average price with a bottle of Grey Goose leaving a wallet $395 lighter, unless an additional $250 upgrade is added for a “mixologist” from one of the club’s two bars to come to the table to create a specialty cocktail. Sexy waitresses aren’t a fixture in this classical 50’s modern décor like most Hollywood nightclubs. “Most people working in clubs want to be actors, but Area employs only trained bartenders,” explains Bolthouse.

The mirrored walls give the appearance that the facility is larger than its 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The cozy décor and underlying residential concept is countered by the unwelcoming doormen. However, even with the strict admittance policy, the club is often crowded beyond the 480 person capacity with VIPs with heavy pockets and beautiful people while the less attractive are not welcome and left in the line outside.

Even with the publicity, beautiful crowd, average prices, and unique décor, online reviews have deemed Area a hot spot “too hot to handle,” and have newcomers going elsewhere. With Republic just across La Cienega Boulevard from Area, many clubbers are trading their precious drinking time and money in for a night at Republic instead of waiting outside of Area.