A Punk Rock Landmark Is Now Stay, L.A.’s First Zero-Proof Cocktail Lounge
variety.comPat Saperstein Deputy Editor On New Year’s Eve, 1980, the legendary Hong Kong Café in L.A.’s Chinatown hosted its last beer-soaked, raucous punk show.
This past New Year’s Eve was also a milestone event for the historic neon-lit space: It was the opening preview night for Stay, the first alcohol-free cocktail bar in Los Angeles.
The sultry new cocktail lounge is the brainchild of actor and interior designer Summer Phoenix, of the celebrated acting family, and Stacey Mann, who worked in art direction for movies like “Red Rock West.” Located off Broadway on the pedestrian plaza of Gin Ling Way, the former Chinese restaurant oozes Hollywood glamour, from its ornately painted facade and entrance flanked with guardian lion statues to the glowing backlit bar, groovy ’70s coffee tables and original embossed ceilings.
Vintage punk photos decorate the hallway, in a nod to the bar’s run as an important venue on L.A.’s punk rock music scene. Non-alcoholic cocktails, beers and wines have been exploding in popularity over the past two years, with bottle shops like Soft Spirits and Boisson opening across Los Angeles.
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