NIGHTLIFE
Hollywood
> Paladar

Paladar is the cozy, chic Cuban bistro next to, and owned by the same partners as, the buzz-worthy Nacional lounge; but the vibe and cocktails here are so fun and innovative you may never make it next door. Conservative types will want to wash down their brie empanadas with the Mojito Especial - shaken, not muddled, and topped with a floater of single-barrel Cruzan rum. Those with a more tropical itch can appraise the pineapple sangria.
—Maria DiPaola

Paladar, 1651 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood, CA; 323-465-7500



> White Lotus

White Lotus is the latest East-meets-West venue for the see-and-be-seen crowd, from the partners behind other popular Hollywood haunts The Sunset Room and The Pig 'n Whistle. Choose between the yin of amped club-goers quaffing Lychee Martinis (vodka, lychee and pineapple juices) in the elaborate nightclub, or the yang of sake purists in the feng shui restaurant proper, enjoying a rare Awamori, a four-year-old, distilled, 48-proof sake - and an excellent accompaniment to the exemplary sushi. Harmonious balance is possible in Hollywood.
—Maria DiPaola

White Lotus, 1743 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA; 323-463-0060; whitelotushollywood.com