eater: “the varnish,” a new speakeasy planned at cole’s
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After hearing rumors about a back-room bar at the Pacific Electric Lofts, Eater LA gets the scoop: A new speakeasy-style lounge is being planned behind Cole’s, to be called the Varnish.
The venture is a partnership between Sasha Petraske of Milk & Honey in New York; mixologist Eric Alperin of Mozza and the Doheny; and Cedd Moses, owner of the newly remodeled Cole’s, set to reopen November 16.
Not much has been made public except that an opening is set for December and the project won’t be members-only like Petraske’s Milk & Honey.
Downtown LA’s old banks and Art Deco architecture are especially conducive to the speakeasy style, but I’d hate to see these drinkeries become as ubiquitous as fro-yo.
-More Mixology For Downtown: Petraske, Alperin Opening Speakeasy at Cole’s (Eater LA)
6 comments
hey rich — milk n honey in nyc wasn’t members-only, as i recall. you did need to call ahead, and the number wasn’t easy to come by. so it was quite … discreet. but that may have changed since i left. in any case this is sounds like good news for us — every detail was perfect in the place so i trust sasha to work some magic again.
Jackie: You are correct that it wasn’t members-only at first; that has changed recently and it is now a private club, from what I understand.
More on Eater NYC: http://eater.com/archives/2008/10/milk_honey.php
Ooh, sounds awesome. I’ve always wanted to go to Milk and Honey but never could go through all the trouble just to get in. So is The Varnish set to open Nov 16 with Cole’s?
awesome!
No, as stated in Eater LA article, Varnish won’t open until December. Or so says Alperin.
Uh, BEHIND Cole’s? Are you sure? If that’s true, then they’ll have to put in the parking garage because there’s no room behind Cole’s. I live in the building. The only thing I can think of is the space where the former bathrooms were (who knows how old those things were…they featured a staircase leading up to a trolley platform last used in 1961), but that space is not that big. The only other things back there are the Cole’s kitchen and a fire exit hallway.