New Hidden Speakeasy Bar to Open in L.A.
The BoardRoom launches inside Kendall’s Brasserie, offering sultrier options for those seeking a drink at the long-standing French restaurant. Guests can expect throwback craft cocktails, French small plates, and live music in a dimly lit space full of vintage literary ephemera.
Kendall’s Brasserie has been serving French cuisine in downtown Los Angeles since 1989, and it’s a popular stop for those attending a performance at the adjacent Los Angeles Music Center. Kendall’s recently underwent a revamp that resulted in some cosmetic changes to its interior and a few fresh additions to its menu via Chef Jean-Pierre Bosc, who took inspiration from his hometown of Lyon, France. The BoardRoom is somewhat hidden, making it yet one more addition to Los Angeles’s “speakeasy” scene. Guests may enter through a side door inconspicuously marked “Dona & Dwight Kendall Board Room.”
Each night will feature a variety of live performances, which may include poetry, jazz, and the occasional chanteuse.
The décor is decidedly dark, featuring midnight blue walls, well-traversed Persian rugs, and lots of wood and leather. Cocktails come via mixologist Evan Charest and “cocktail connoisseur” Christina Russo (Salazar), with each drink named after a different iconic artist or author. For instance, the William Faulkner is a boozy mix of bacon-washed bourbon, sugar, orange peel, and bitters. The more delicate Virginia Woolf Punch Bowl can be shared by several. It’s a bright mix of champagne, aged rum, sugar, blackberries, raspberries, lime, and pineapple, just in time for spring. The more autumnal Marcel Proust Punch Bowl is Christian Drouin Calvados (apple brandy), Absolut Elyx vodka, apple, lemon, and lavender.
“At The BoardRoom, we want to celebrate that which has been lost and forgotten. Our cocktails were inspired by art and literary figures from the early to mid-20th century, created with underutilized spirits like Calvados, Armagnac, Batavia Arrack, etc. Our vision was to create a sort of haven for those who appreciate fine art, culture, and a stiff drink,” Charest said.
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Menu items include rich plates suitable for sharing, like the oxtail poutine or the escargot shooters. The latter consists of escargot baked into a puff pastry with garlic butter. Break the pastry shell with a spoon to reveal the flavorful goodness hidden within. Particularly voracious guests might prefer the French dip sandwich, the beef bourguignon “Sloppy Joe,” or the Black Market Burger, consisting of a coarse-ground patty topped with Comté cheese, foie gras, onions caramelized in red wine, truffle aioli, and arugula on brioche.
The BoardRoom is open 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Thursday through Saturday.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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