Hot Spot

L.A.’s the Standard. Since opening in May ’01, the lounge has become the celeb hangout, giving much-hyped competitors Moomba and Skybar a run for their money. The Vibe Retro ’70s meets futuristic chic in this Sunset Boulevard lounge. Owned by Andre Balazs — who also operates the Chateau Marmont, as well as NYC’s Mercer Hotel — the Standard has a reservations-only policy that keeps star-gawking stragglers to a minimum. WHO Tobey Maguire, Keanu Reeves, Nicolas Cage, Marilyn Manson, and Pamela Anderson are among those who’ve appreciated the bar’s go-go-booted waitresses and strategically placed swings. Standard Fare Eclectic nibbles (ahi tuna tartare, potato crisps, tobiko caviar) are washed down with the lounge’s signature ”straight-up-and-dirty martini.” Why Celebs Flock Here Says Balazs: ”It’s got a very chilled, sexy vibe that the L.A. crowd feels comfortable in.”