While Hollywood & Highland never amounted to more than a bad mall, the Roosevelt and its star-frequented pool comes full-circle to epitomize the quintessential poolside hot spot. Located at the Roosevelt Hotel, Tropicana Bar brings a bit of St.Tropez and Nikki Beach to area nightlife along the historic pool usually well-stocked with local singles and occasional celebrity.

The bar employs a Polynesian-meets-minimalist theme while accenting the historic elements of the location – most notably the Hockney-designed underwater mural. More than space and design, what has changed most is the crowd of people that the hotel has managed to attract to the once tourist-laden pool. Cool, chic pretty people have suddenly appeared by day and night as organizers and managers highhandedly pick who gets in and who doesn’t.

Last Word

Gone are the burger-eating bellies that exorcised everything sexy and chic from the location over the last 30 years, and in their place the sandal-wearing Olson-sisters and Hilton-types who epitomize the current barometer of Hollywood hotness.