• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

A hot night on the town doesn’t always have to involve the Sunset Strip or the Miracle Mile.

Instead, look to Silver Lake for your next entertainment destination. Even though getting there can be a battle, the bar you will find on arrival is worthy of the drive.

Nestled among tattered strip malls and suburban living, 4100 is a gem few Westsiders know about. Located at 4100 Sunset, as the name of the bar implies, 4100 proves quality socializing can be found even at the unlikeliest of venues.

Nondescript on the outside and standing directly beside a Jiffy Lube, this bar comes alive on the inside with its Far Eastern decor. Larger-than-life Buddha and bodhisattva statues adorn the walls, and a plethora of tapestries hang overhead. A crimson, oblong bar sits in the middle of the spacious room softly illuminated by candlelight. The entire bar is bathed in darkness. Even the couches and booths are made of soft, black leather. Getting there early is key if you hope to snag one of these cozy nooks for cuddling or conversation.

This bar is a great place to bring a date – but if you don’t have one, you’ll have no problem finding one when you get there.

While the parking situation is a bit difficult, getting into the bar itself isn’t a problem because there are no long lines.

There is no set dress code either, so feel free to dress up or dress down, depending on your mood.

The people that frequent 4100 seem pretty mellow; only a few were trying too hard to imitate the Hollywood vibe. That’s not to say this place isn’t trendy – there are a lot of singles dressed to impress, even if not by the more pretentious Skybar or The Standard standards.

Definitely not your typical young college scene, 4100 appeals more to the older, twenty-something crowd who don’t just want to get drunk.

Mixed drinks are fairly priced at $8 apiece – especially when you consider how loaded with alcohol they are. But you won’t have cocktail waitresses bringing them to you; drinks must be ordered at the bar.

The music selection is very diverse, but not what you expect from a place with such a Far Eastern flare. Playing such artists as Jimmy Hendrix and Marvin Gaye, their jukebox mixes it up but keeps it fresh, on a volume where your voice is still audible and permits easy conversation.

4100 isn’t big enough for dancing, but the arena is more of a lounge than a dance club anyway.

The only sore spot is 4100’s bathroom facilities. The women’s rest room fell short of the demand, with only one rest room stall and long lines.

4100 suits someone looking to go out of Westwood and try something new. Silver Lake may be off the beaten path, but the journey you will have getting there is ultimately rewarded with visually pleasing scenery and a laid-back atmosphere.

4100 Bar is located at 4100 Sunset Blvd.