an inside look at la live’s upcoming latin haven
This blog has moved to Twitter! Check out my twitter feed for the latest restaurant, retail, and cultural news in the neighborhood.
Set to fill the “captain’s chair” space overlooking Nokia Plaza at LA Live is the Conga Room, a 15,000 square-foot posh resto-lounge known for its hip ambiance and live performances centered around salsa music and Latin culture.
The celebrity-backed nightlife venue — founded by Brad Gluckstein (the developer behind Bixel at Fifth in City West) — is relocating to Downtown after eight years in Miracle Mile from 1998 to 2006.
The move will triple the capacity of the original club, and according to publicist Nichole Robillard, interior construction is on track for an early December 2008 opener.
To ramp up anticipation, it has just been announced that Alex Garcia of Calle Ocho fame in New York City has signed on as executive chef, and is already formulating a menu of pan-Latin plates to appease local foodies. Also part of the dining experience will be a tapas bar and Spanish/Latin American wall of wine.
A collaboration between Santa Monica-based Belzberg Architects and Latin artists Jorge Pardo and Sergio Arau has produced an elaborate interior scheme melding traditional colors and textures with modish finishes, exhibited in a series of renderings below.
Its centerpiece is a two-story, grand chandelier designed by Pardo that will extend down into the first floor entrance foyer from the upper level lounge area, set off by a floating staircase created by chiseled wood beams extending from the walls of the room. Both artists are creating distinct oil-on-canvas works to fill the different interior spaces.
Judging from its past musical repertoire, the Conga Room is poised to attract big-name performers on par with those expected at higher-profile venues of LA Live such as Nokia Theatre, Club Nokia and Staples Center.
This is one to be excited about!
-L.A. Live’s Conga Room, Rendered (Eater LA)
Conga Room Grand Entry Foyer
Chandelier at Grand Entry Rendering
Conga Room Papaya Bar
Conga Room VIP Room Rendering
Conga Room VIP Room Rendering
Image Credits:
- Grand Entry, Papaya Bar, Exterior from Nokia Plaza are all courtesy of Belzberg Architects
- VIP Room, Grand Entry Chandelier images courtesy of Jorge Pardo
- Aerial shot is courtesy of LA LIVE
8 comments
not to sound prejudice, but i’m not sure that this will attract the type of crowd downtown needs to stand out.
I have to agree…im hispanic and I dont see the appeal of the whole project. then again this is a pretty biased comment since I personally am interested in these kind of “latin” themed places.
Well you sounded prejudice… That does not mean that only hispanics will be flooding the place up…. L.A is a multi- cultural city and this will bring out nothing but good things…. Just watch and wait….
Obviously none of you guys ever went to it when it was in the Miracle Mile.
It got a very diverse and upwardly mobile and well to do crowd.
it aint a thug club dum dums!!! its a “latin” salsa typa place. just because its “latin” does not mean it will attract a ruff crowd. some people!!!
i frequented the wilshire conga, and was sad to see it close. i knew it was coming to DT and i have been waiting for this one to open. the wilshire one attracted all the big names in salsa. it was the spot for this type of mucis and i cant wait for the DT spot to open.
I just hope this stays true to the wilshire establishment.
Madre de dios! I can’t wait!!!
I love what they’ve done with the place! Can’t wait for the grand opening!!