After 20 years of being a gay landmark, the oddly placed Friendship on West Channel Road off PCH is now a martini lounge, and a happening one at that. At first I wasn’t too excited about it. It seems like an unlikely spot for a nice bar. The outside is a black ship and I guess I just got used to overlooking it since it seemed like the most unexciting gay bar I’ve ever seen. But reviews of the new lounge (reconverted in May 2005) tell of “a rocking place,” “super-cheap drinks,” “an attractive crowd,” and call the Hideout “the Westside’s new hot spot.” Well! I might just have to check it out.

Liquor connoisseurs will notice there is no Smirnoff or Jack–no cheap booze here, only the premium stuff. BUT there are half-price martinis on Mondays, half-off beer on Tuesdays, half-off wine on Wednesdays and half-off whiskey on Thursdays. And on Sunday? Half-off ALL DRINKS ALL NIGHT. So what if you have to work the next day?

Apparently weekends are when the Hideout gets packed with djs spinning Top 40 and hip-hop. There’s street parking after 6pm but if the bar/club is as happening as it has been described, you’re better off valeting it.

112 West Channel Rd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 454-6024
Cross Street: Pacific Coast Highway