The Tower Bar
Bar · Crescent
8358 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Highlights
Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel is a glam, jazz-infused hotspot for martinis, classic eats, and prime Hollywood people-watching.
Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel is a glam, jazz-infused hotspot for martinis, classic eats, and prime Hollywood people-watching.
"Like Chateau Marmont, this hotel pool bar/restaurant is about one thing - the scene. Come here any day of the week and you’ll find great service, famous people screaming into their cell phones, not famous people doing photoshoots in the pool, and the purposely unemployed getting as drunk as possible at 3pm. Inside you’ll find a mediocre restaurant component, but skip that, and go right to the pool area instead. This is where all the action is, and even though the $19 price point on the drink is a tough pill to swallow, the cocktails themselves are pretty good (read: strong)." - brant cox
"Whether you’re visiting LA and want to see CAA agents screaming into their cell phones, or have lived here for years and find screaming CAA agents cathartic, Tower Bar is a must-visit. Located in the heart of The Strip, this iconic industry spot is a rare, hallowed ground where celebrities, fresh-faced newbies, and their anxiety-riddled representation all commingle and get as drunk as possible, together. The outdoor patio by the pool is a certifiable scene, so be sure to bring your biggest pair of sunglasses and sharpen up that side-eye. You’ve got some eavesdropping to do." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park
"Although technically anyone can book a reservation at the Tower Bar and eat the $45 burger and fries, there’s still an air of exclusivity to the iconic restaurant at the top of the Sunset Tower. Mid-day martinis feel not out of the question (and maybe even appropriate), paired with sweeping views of the hills and West Hollywood. This feels like what the ideal martini experience should be: a little too fancy, a little frivolous, and very boozy." - Rebecca Roland
"Tower Bar opened in 2005—a fact that feels like some Berenstain Bears-level simulation glitch. Somehow this iconic West Hollywood drinking den seems way older than it actually is thanks to its location inside Sunset Tower, an Art Deco landmark built in the 1920s as a luxury apartment building for the rich and famous. (Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Billie Burke all used to pick up their mail here.) These days, it’s a fancy hotel and one of the most chaotic industry scenes in town. Come for lunch and you’ll spot sobbing starlets, stressed-out attorneys, and screaming agents who just chucked their last burner phone into the pool. Don’t skip the sundae bar." - brant cox
"If anyone tells you they go to Tower Bar “for the food,” they’re lying. Everyone at this industry hangout inside the Sunset Tower Hotel is here to see and be seen (or, as a friend taught us to call it over cocktails here one night, SABS). Oscar winners float through the dim-edging-on-dark dining room, on their way to their usual table for a pre-awards-night burger. Studio bigwigs hold court at very visible booths, strategically greeting (or ignoring) almost everyone who walks in. Well-behaved children in polo shirts quietly pick at their fries before falling asleep in their parent’s lap. Not to mention the low-level agents, aspiring actors, and tourists attempting casual nonchalance, all only half making conversation while on the lookout for someone, anyone, famous. photo credit: Tower Bar Perhaps, to you, that sounds horrible. To which we say, lighten up. You will not have a memorable meal at Tower Bar, but you will have a memorable Hollywood night. There are a few ingredients to keep in mind, though. Martinis are near mandatory, expertly made, and go very well with a plate of pigs in a blanket in the bar area. If it’s daytime, sit in the terrace room, as close to the pool as possible. If it’s evening, deny any attempt by the maître d' to seat you in that same terrace room and insist on a table in the clubby, dark main dining room. Come with someone who’s ready to gossip and embrace the fun, and who won’t be mad when you suggest ordering a $45 burger. Tower Bar is ridiculous. And that’s entirely the point. Food Rundown Martini At this point, ordering a martini in a place like Tower Bar is a cliché. Who cares? They taste good, make you feel fancy, and the ones at Tower Bar are excellent. Pigs In A Blanket On the other hand, pigs in a blanket are entirely unsophisticated and yet, still, a Tower Bar classic. These are fine, although they do sometimes come out kind of burnt. Calamari Fritti This is a truly enormous plate of calamari. The batter is light (insert a Hollywood “eating light” joke here), but also underseasoned. Underseasoning will become a theme. Spicy Tuna Tartare “Spicy” is more a frame of mind for this loosely Asian tartare, which merely nods at tingling your tastebuds, or really any kind of flavor at all. TB Chopped Salad Perhaps the nicest thing we can say about this salad is that, unlike many chopped salads in this city, it’s not overdressed. It is, though, underseasoned and utterly boring. Chicken Pot Pie It’s a good thing that the lighting here is dim, because there’s no real way to make a pot pie photogenic. This one, however, delivers what it needs to, with a buttery crust and rich filling. Tower Burger Yes, this cheeseburger is $45. But it’s also undoubtedly the best thing here. There’s nothing revolutionary about arugula and caramelized onions on a burger—in fact, it’s pretty retro these days—but that’s because it tastes good. You’ll get a big cylinder of fries to go with it, making that price tag sting (a little) less. Sundae The only dessert you should consider. The act of ordering is the best part—you'll get a sundae menu and pen to check off sauces and toppings to go with the absolutely standard ice cream. Watch out though, $4 toppings can pile up quickly." - Jess Basser Sanders
