Saddle up, partner. There's a new place in town to blow off some steam. Newly opened hotel tommie Hollywood has just debuted the Desert 5 Spot – an indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge and live music venue with a vintage Palm Springs-meets-Americana vibe, a mechanical bull, line dancing, and live rock 'n' roll and country music.
The rooftop lounge was named after the desert wildflower Eremalche rotundifolia – also known as the desert five-spot – and debuted in December 2021. The unpretentious 5,000 square-foot space invites creative Angelenos, desert enthusiasts, and Americana aficionados to come as they are in a unique setting conceptualized and operated by Ten Five Hospitality. Guests can enjoy 360-degree views of the Hollywood Hills – including the Hollywood Sign – and Downtown L.A. as an inclusive respite for the avant-garde while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying live music that we reckon is pretty hard to come by in this part of town.
Beginning Monday, February 7, Desert 5 Spot will feature a rotating calendar of live musical performances from the Desert Five House Band and surprise guests bringing a little bit of rock 'n' roll and country to Hollywood from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. A live DJ will then begin spinning a wide array of hits to suit the mood, whether it be Hall & Oates, Johnny Cash, The Killers, or Dolly Parton. Other cool perks: mechanical bull riding on Saturdays, monthly line dancing parties, and more.
Tequila and mezcal are the stars of Desert 5 Spot's cocktail menu. For a drink you'd think was liquid turquoise, try the Walk the Line ($16) cocktail with Bombay Dry Gin, glitter-infused Combier Le Bleu, Prosecco, lemon, cucumber, and simple syrup. Another bee in your bonnet (cowboy talk for "a good idea") when you're vibing to the country flowing through the speakers: the Achey Breaky Heart ($16) – a mash-up of Aperol, Nigori Sake, Chamomile Makers Mark, honey, grapefruit, and lime.
A wide selection of wine (glass, $16 – $29; bottle, $48 – $185) and a handful of beer options ($8) are available for the nights you're craving more familiar libations. This spring, Desert 5 Spot will debut a range of light bites in the form of street food from founder of Guerrilla Tacos and owner of Angry Egret Dinette, celebrity chef Wes Avila.
The new spot first greets visitors with a Seesburg '67 jukebox in a hallway encased in a vibrant mushroom wallpaper that hints at the vintage Palm Springs atmosphere. Upon exiting the elevator, hues of pink and yellow flourish as a slew of cacti and yucca populate the space to create a laid-back desert experience in the heart of Tinseltown.
Designed by Studio Collective and styled by Wade Crescent and Bernadette Blanc, the inspiration for Desert 5 Spot's interior was based on road trips through California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. The majority of the bar's art and furnishings were hand-selected from vintage dealers and thrift shops. Some retro pieces that make you forget you're in the middle of L.A. include custom-built neon signs and Gibson guitars.
Situated in the heart of L.A., tommie Hollywood is one of the city's newest lifestyle hotels catering to the modern and spirited wanderer on the lookout for a luxurious yet minimalist space. Rooms boast views ranging from neighborhood overlooks to Hollywood Hills vistas. Owned by Relevant Group and Hyatt, the property offers more than 15,000 square feet of dynamic food and beverage space. If you're looking to grab a bite before heading to Desert 5 Spot, stop by Ka'teen, the hotel's feature restaurant by Chef Avila that pays homage to the Yucatan Peninsula's rich culinary history.
Get a wiggle on (read: hurry) and check out the address below, or take a gander at the gallery above for more photos of what the new bar has to offer.
Desert 5 Spot at tommie Hollywood, 6516 Selma Ave., L.A., 90028; (323) 410-6370; open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
