Celebrity playpen Area is just across the street, but on Fridays and Saturdays, the long lines are outside this ultralounge, where trendy girls in their finest Kitson accessories
mix 'n mingle with well-dressed dudes that could easily be mistaken for an "Entourage" cast member.

When Republic first opened in early 2006, it quickly garnered buzz among foodies. But the nightlife scene was slow to get off the ground, despite celeb-studded parties like the Us Weekly Hot Awards, until The Artist Movement's Andreas Counnas took over the velvet rope in September later that year. He brought on co-promoters Ryan Silver and Mike Utsinger (Fridays) and Jenn Laskey and Brad Thomas (Saturdays) and poof, the place was packed with a young Industry crowd carrying ICM, CAA and UTA business cards. Technically, M Lounge is the handsome (and soundproof) upstairs bar that overlooks Republic's dining room, but the crowd spills into the downstairs-tented patio, where they can dance to rock, hip-hop and '80s. On Saturday nights, clubbers are encouraged to show up in sports coats and cocktail dresses for Hollywood Glam, a weekly party that attempts to invoke the razzle-dazzle of the '50s era. Bonus: Morty Coyle spins and there are monthly wine tastings and performance nights. Note to low-tolerance drinkers: The bartenders mix stronnng cocktails. Cab it home.
—Alexandra Le Tellier