Vintage Vibes @ Formosa Café

Step out of this faded
eastern part of WeHo
and hop inside a blast
from the past:Tucked
away behind a massive
crimson red brick
frontage with white and
black striped awnings,
near the corner where
Santa Monica liaises
with La Brea Blvd., this
former trolley car-
turned-lounge evokes
a golden period when
Duesenbergs were
depositing fur-swathed
movie stars on the red
carpeted entryway.
Entering Formosa is
entering a time warp:
an authentic slice of L.A.
history, embodying the
(vintage-) stuff that
Tinseltown's folklore
is made of.

Opened in 1939 by
Jimmy Bernstein, the
Formosa Café has
been entertaining
celebrities and
Hollywood's
aristocracy in the '40s
and '50s. Today, the
sexy vintage vibes
still linger in the air,
although the clientele
definitely lacks the
cachet of its heyday.
Still highly atmospheric,
the aura of this time-
honored movie-star
hangout with venerable
Hollywood décor is
abuzz with pockets full
of memoirs and
nostalgia of a glorious
era: Its awe-inspiring,
dimly-lit film noir-esque
interiors are famed for
their iconic deep red
leather booths where
once Marilyn, Elvis,
Bogart and the likes
used to dig into chicken
chow mein, while Gable
and Sinatra rubbed
elbows at the long bar
sipping potent Martinis
into the wee.

Particularly eye-catching are
the 250 autographed black-
and-whites  – virtually the
Who is Who of Hollywood
– that hark back to Formosa
Café’s legendary past as a
supposed clandestine spot
for some precarious
Hollywood affairs: Legend
has it that Frank Sinatra
spent a good many nights
pining over Ava Gardner.
This must-visit destination
still bills itself as a celebrity
hangout and you may even
be lucky enough to spot Bono
or Beck in a booth.

Equally, civilian booze buddies,
in-the-know-hardcore-regulars,
history buffs, and dive bar busters
have a jolly love affair with this local
favorite, frequently popping in to
raise a glass – pre-dinner or after-
hours drinks – and ogle the view
from the rooftop patio that is open
Thursdays to Saturdays. While the
studio next door is still active in
both TV and movie production, the
Café serves as a popular industry
watering hole, dishing out mediocre
Chinese, American and seafood
dishes. While it started out as a
Chinese eatery, it has expanded
the menu in recent years to include
some Thai, Japanese, and Korean
dishes. Faithful patrons claim that
their Lobster Mac 'n Cheese is
addictive.
After dark Formosa's mixologists
work wonders, hand-crafting mean
concoctions that hit the spot. The
Whiskey Sour is going to rock your
world with egg whites, sugar syrup
and lemon juice.
Step into this vintage microcosm
of past Hollywood glamour and
chink flutes against a rarefied
backdrop of red and black hues
... like straight out of a Raymond
Chandler paperback.

Hollywood's Mountain Palace

250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard, 
perched in the Hollywood Hills, is this
family owned, east-meets-west
mountain palace and Hollywood's
landmark, where the serenity of
ancient Japan along with a rich
Asian heritage contrast the glitter
and rush of the present Los Angeles.
Yamashiro started as a fabulous
private estate, a dream of the
Bernheimer brothers to build a hilltop
mansion and with this establish a
noble shelter for their precious
collection of Asian treasures. FYI:
Yamashiro is an authentic replica of
a splendid temple nestled on the
outskirts of Kyoto in the Yamashiro
mountains.

For 92 years Yamashiro -- a 10-room
teak and cedar residence, pocketed
by impeccably manicured Japanese
gardens -- has watched over the
History of Hollywood. It has witnessed
the birth of the film industry and the
glamour of Hollywood's "Golden Age".
The who-is-who of the 20' -- actors,
writers, directors, and celebrities,
formed here their first social institution
as a monument to their achievements.
The ultra-exclusive "400 Club" --
created for the flashy elite -- served
as headquarters to the motion picture
industry.

Nowadays celebrities, movie moguls,
and civilians alike haunt this intimate
Chateau to indulge in the majestic
vistas of Hollywood, gormandize
award-winning Japanese cuisine in
one of the several distinctive and
beautifully arranged rooms, sip
artisanal cocktails while Los Angeles
is laid out like a shimmering carpet
below. A 600-year-old Pagoda --
brought over from Japan by the
Bernheimer brothers -- is said to
be the oldest building in California.
An opulent tranquility pervades this
tradition-steeped yet cutting-edge
business-lunch spot, while intriguing
and romantic scenic attractions
create an unmatched backdrop for
an exuberant night out, a festive
reception, or an intoxicating after-
work cocktail hour. The function
rooms can accommodate up to
1000 people.

Massive, hand-carved doors lead
into a little lobby that also links to
one of Yamashiro’s most charming
features: an open-air Japanese
garden, situated in the center of
this spectacular dining enclave,
completely enclosed by the four
wings of the building. This verdant
courtyard, filled with flowering
shrubs, a soothing waterfall and
limpid stone pools alive with Koi
fish, sets the mood for a one-of-a-
kind dining experience.
Carved rafters, lacquered in gold
and tipped with bronze dragons 
dominate over the main dining
rooms, which allow a fresh breeze
blow through the spacious patios.
During colder months heating and
an extensive canopy provide a
cozy atmosphere. The courtyard
is available year-round.

Sip a cocktail at the bar's lounge or
host a special event at the Skyview
banquet room. Bring your date to
experience romantic sunsets at
the west side Sunset Room or
dance the night away when a DJ
spins the latest sounds (Fr & Sa). 

Executive chef Jason Park and
chef de cuisine Brock Kleweno
have devised a well-considered
(and award-winning) menu of
CalAsian cuisine: it is eclectic yet
sophisticated; one thing is for
sure: fish and sushi lovers will be
in their element.
There is an extensive drink list
available for the thirsty souls:
California wines, hot sakes,
chilled sakes, bottled, and draft
beers. Various elixir tonics and
teas top off the list.