It's sort of hidden. You can't see it from the street and it's beneath a hotel that doesn't seem nearly as nice, the Hotel Carmel, that is. It's called Chloe, the Westside complement to Laurie Mulstay and Ron Marino's stable of hot spots which include The Bar and Magnolia. And it's not quite full. But it's elegant, and hip, and calming in a way that makes you think you could go there to meet a business associate or a bed mate, and either would be a success.
The Pimm's cup is the refreshing favorite. And the Lavender Gimlet is like a perfumed elixir that I swear makes you more beautiful with every sip. Order the blue-cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. They taste like candy but aren't too sweet (I have high standards for too sweet, just warning you). And the crispy artichokes are perfect for sharing, perfect for dipping, and perfect for savoring. It's the kind of menu you want to get lost in, sampling all the deliciously rich small plates and perfectly mixed martinis until before you know it, you've blissfully lost track of time and drifted into some infinitely more glamorous, bygone era.
Bar Chloe
Mon-Sat 5pm-2am
1449 Second Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-6999