When it’s time for a change of pace from glitzy Hollywood clubs, stop into the cozy intimacy of the Frolic Room. This little place next door to the Pantages Theater is a Hollywood Boulevard institution. It’s located just by Hollywood and Vine and has been there since that intersection was the symbol of old Hollywood glamour.
There is a lot of like about the Frolic Room. It’s a small place with the bar down one long narrow wall. On the opposite wall is a mural featuring caricatures of various famous faces as rendered by the great Al Hirschfeld. Did Einstein, Freud, Groucho and Satchmo actually drink here? Who knows? It’s just fun to have them adorning the walls of this watering hole. The retro décor of mirrors, vintage lighting fixtures, and assorted memorabilia captures a unique sense of timelessness. Never mind the trendy; here’s the Frolic Room.
The Frolic Room is a dive bar in the best sense of the word. It has a completely unpretentious atmosphere, very reasonable prices, drinks definitely on the strong side, welcoming bartenders, friendly regulars, and fresh popcorn. What’s not to like? They even brew a fine cup of Joe, if you find yourself here during the afternoon.
Frolic Room patrons are a very diverse crowd. You’ll see a mix of ages and types, locals and tourists, regulars and bar hoppers. It’s possible to meet people from anywhere in the world here. It’s a great place to grab a quick drink before a show at the Pantages, Music Box, or Ricardo Montalban theaters.
Selections on the juke box reflect the variety you’ll find in the patrons. You can enjoy standards, funk, R& B, jazz and all eras of rock. The jukebox is one of the things that keeps people coming back.
This is the kind of old-school bar where you might see someone sitting at the bar reading. There’s always good conversation to be had at the Frolic Room, but if you want to just sit and enjoy a beer, you’ll be comfortable doing it here. This is also an excellent place to watch sports if you want some company while you catch the game, but are not the sports bar type.
There is no cover charge and definitely no velvet rope here. Because it is such a small place, the bar can get crowded on weekend nights depending on what’s going on at the Pantages. When you are planning a Hollywood Boulevard pub crawl you should definitely make The Frolic Room one of your stops. If you happen to be in the area some night, stop in and find out why this place remains popular with so many people, year after year.
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Next time I go visit my friend, we are definitely going here! It sounds perfect. Anywhere with good atmosphere and no cover charge or long wait sounds like a great place to hang and people watch.
There is such a glamorous and historical ambiance about that place. I’ve been a few times and can imagine the Hollywood greats of old stopping in for drinks. The thought gives me chills.