LA Live keeps cutting the red ribbons on splashy new debuts: The grills are fired up at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and celebrities like Jimmy Smits, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Maher partied at the grand opening of the much-anticipated Conga Room on Wednesday, December 10.
Formerly located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area, the Conga Room has been one of the major stories during the building of the massive downtown entertainment complex. That could be due in part to some of the celebrity backers, including Smits, Jennifer Lopez and Paul Rodriguez, but it is also because the Conga Room, during its Wilshire residency, became known as an authentic, lively nightclub that regularly drew the top names in Latin music (the dance floor was legendary as well, and welcomed top-notch performers as well as people looking to shake it for an hour). The stars are already lined up for the new stage as well -- Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Rita Moreno, Gipsy Kings and Pancho Sanchez are all performing soon -- and various nights are still dedicated to different types of groove and beats.
Boca, The Conga Room restaurant, dishes up piquant classics like pollo mojito, arepas and a savory array of tapas. We're intrigued by the "Hangover Menu" (think scrambled eggs mixed with chorizo among other spicy offerings), which is exactly what might be required after a late night doing your stuff on the dance floor or rocking out at nearby Club Nokia. If your hangover should kick off between 11PM and 2AM, and you're near Boca, you are in some serious luck.
The Conga Room
800 Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles
213-749-0445
