Los Angeles' Best Off-The-Wall Date Spot 2008

Night owls need pampering too: Go nocturnal at Abbot Kinney’s seriously hip spa for an evening of lively self indulgence.

Reviews:

• “Incredible Facials, in a Refreshingly NON-pretentious Environment :)”
• “Super Cool Hot Spot”
• “Where else Can You Party while they Pamper???”
• “WORST SPA EVER! ITS ALL A HYPE!”
• “Thank you Nitespa!”

Nitespa

Experience a world of sensitivity in a pitch-black dining room, guided by blind servers, at Santa Monica’s V Lounge.

Reviews:

• “Good place to go that is dark”
• “Exhilarating experience”
• “Great Concept – Not so great food”
• “Experience Beyond the Norm”
• “So much fun! Everyone should eat here at least once!”

Tips: Wine and beer are offered with the meal—differentiate the white wine glasses from red by feeling the shape of the glass.

Opaque – Dining In The Dark at V Lounge or email Opaque – Dining In The Dark at V Lounge

Revamped Studio City bowling lanes lure celebs, families and teens.

Reviews:

• “Drinks and bowling…FUN!!”
• “Fun place for an office party”
• “Not recommended!”
• “Nothing Special”
• “A fun time…”

Tips: Avoid crowds and enjoy discounted bowling sessions Monday through Thursday, from 9am to 4pm.

Pinz Bowling Center or email Pinz Bowling Center

Exotic game and an Elvis impersonator—how cool can Thai food get?

Reviews:

• “Not impressed. Use low quality cheap rice”
• “Don’t be fooled by those SCAM reviews!! (probably written by the competitor)”
• “We were robbed, REALLY! Too bad we can’t give a 0-star rating…”
• “weird, but interesting. "
• “Bad And Repulsive Food”

Tips: The Thai Elvis performs Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 7:30pm.

Palms Thai

Artifacts blend with artifice in this somber parody of a cultural and scientific history museum.

Reviews:

• “The Cone of Confabulation”
• “Beyond Weird”
• “Great experience and SO unique!”
• “Not for everyone, but …”
• “jurassic me please…”

Tips: Be sure to hit an ATM—the museum accepts only cash for the admission fee, no credit cards.

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Perennial Los Feliz lounge keeps ’50s supper-club glamour alive for a faithful hipster crowd.

Reviews:

• “A Place With Real Character and Charm "
• “absolutely horrible”
• “Great alternative to typical LA nightlife”
• “I LOVE THE DRESDEN!!!”
• “Swingers!”

Tips: Marty and Elayne perform Monday through Saturday from 9pm to 1am. There’s never a cover, but the bar occasionally enforces a two-drink minimum if it’s packed.

The Dresden Room or email The Dresden Room

Where Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl go to quench their mighty thirsts.

Reviews:

• “Give me a break”
• “awesome place, little watery though”
• “Fun decor, very weak drinks”
• “Hipsters High Hipsters Low Hipsters On The Ceiling GO! "
• “Great bar”

Tips: With specialty drinks with names like “Toasted Marshmallow” and “Girl Scout Cookie,” how could you resist?

Bigfoot Lodge or email Bigfoot Lodge

Flagship movie studio-theme park reveals what happens between “action!” and “cut!”

Reviews:

• “For the money, go to Disneyland or Six Flags”
• “Waste of time”
• “im sorry i went "
• “Weak as amusement parks go”
• “like going to the movies”

Tips: Making your way up and down the enormous Starway escalators can be time-consuming. Exhaust the lower Studio Center area before returning to the Entertainment Center.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Lounge against the machine at this family-friendly suburban institution.

Reviews:

• “LOVE THIS PLACE!!!”
• “Just not like it used to be.”
• “Once legendary service/food falling off…”
• “Overpriced…Small Portions…Zero Customer Service…Arrogant Owner…Try Outback”
• “Split a Dinner”

Tips: On any Saturday night, there will be at least 10 birthdays celebrated in your immediate vicinity. You’ll know by the boozy rendition of “Happy Birthday” warbled by the bow-tied waiters.

Clearman’s North Woods Inn of San Gabriel

Life is a cabaret at this racy Melrose nightclub.

Reviews:

• “Fun, Fabulous and Flirty”
• “I will miss Forty Deuce Hollywood!”
• “ONLY 2 Girls in a timed 20 MINUTE Show! Wanted to see more action….”
• “Avoid all nights”
• “A shameless guilty L.A. pleasure”

Tips: Make a VIP reservation and get automatic entry and a reserved table. It’s $75 minimum bar spending per person.

Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce—CLOSED