Victor Drai and Partners Jesse and Cy Waits Bring a Taste of Vegas to Los Angeles with Drai's Hollywood at the New W Hollywood Hotel
With a history of successes that has put them into a category of their own, the triumvirate of nightlife entrepreneur Victor Drai and partners Jesse and Cy Waits are now bringing a highly anticipated top-of-the-line nightlife destination to the rooftop of the W Hollywood Hotel, Drai's Hollywood.
Situated on the famous corner at Hollywood and Vine - the cradle of the Hollywood nightlife resurgence - Drai's Hollywood (www.draishollywood.com) crowns the new W Hollywood Hotel and boasts over 20,000 square feet of unparalleled views of the Hollywood Hills, the historic Capitol Records building and the Hollywood sign. The club provides multiple environments to ensure guest comfort and fun. A large lounge is lined with banquettes, backed with rich red velvet tiles reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. Mirrored, ceiling-high columns punctuate the banquets evoking a modern, chic club vibe and cast rays of reflected light. Opposite the banquettes, one full wall of the space looks out onto Hollywood through floor-to-ceiling windows with some of the most stunning city views anywhere. The room opens up into a dance space with a state-of-the-art DJ booth framed by a massive, carved wooden picture frame looking out onto the floor.
A "Drai's style" restaurant seating approximately 120 guests and featuring the flavors of Chef Claude Segal sits comfortably nestled between the indoor lounge area and the open air rooftop pool/patio area. Guests can choose to eat either under a roof or under the sky. The pool patio resembles a penthouse roof garden, both sides boasting custom cabanas. On one side of the pool is a row of flat-topped cabanas that are lightly furnished with low couches and slender wood frames holding up light white privacy curtains. On the other side, raised up a few steps from the pool level, is a row of covered daybeds, fully appointed with Moroccan-style inlaid wooden tables and cabinets, stained wicker seats, comfortable red-cushioned couches, large mirrors and flat screen TVs all surround by heavier white drapes. At the far end of the pool, situated up a flight of stairs above an outdoor poolside bar, is a set of four larger, very VIP cabanas that overlook the entire rooftop area from the most private of perches. In addition to the first-rate architectural design of Drai's new rooftop aerie, there's an ultra exclusive lounge on the ground floor of the hotel for members and invitation only events. With a price tag upwards of $15 million, there isn't another space in Los Angeles that can offer the level of luxury, comfort and visual dazzle found in this new crown jewel of nightlife.
Drai, the French entrepreneur, film producer and lifestyle producer who transformed Las Vegas nightlife with the Waits twins, is no stranger to the Hollywood entertainment scene. 17 years ago, Drai was transforming his own Hollywood life into a brand with his successful restaurant, Drai's on La Cienega. His success as a movie producer (Woman in Red, The Man with One Red Shoe, the Weekend at Bernies series) brought in his A-List friends and quickly established himself as an arbiter of quality dining and the social scene, making Drai's the place to go in the early and mid 90's.
Drai's move to Vegas in 1997 continued his string of successes, first with Drai's on the Strip, a transplant of his Hollywood eatery to a whole new location and level of revelry. The restaurant soon extended its hours giving birth to Drai's After Hours, which became the first after-hours lounge/club open to the public in the city renowned for its privacy. But as numerous other after-hours venues of its similarity have come and gone, Drai's legendary haunt has remained a nightlife staple and will celebrate a decade of excellence this year.
Drai's Vegas club success has been due to both his unique understanding of the lives of his clientele and his ability to harness the exploding talents of the Waits twins. The brothers, who grew up in Hawaii and Southern California, cut their club teeth managing and growing at various Las Vegas venues, with Cy blossoming into a talented leader at Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand and Jesse polishing his skills at Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay.
The Waits twins quickly established themselves as experts, drawing and catering to a roster of celebrity and taste-maker guests, and just as quickly drew the attention of Drai. The three joined forces as Drai was preparing to add what would become to be known as Tryst to his hand with his new partnership with billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn. Tryst became a nightlife home run, rising to the upper echelon in its four years of existence.
Drai and the Waits brothers followed Tryst with Encore Las Vegas mega-club XS, their most successful venture to date that's arguably become the most popular and most profitable nightclub in the world in a year of existence. XS has received numerous accolades, most recently winning both Best Nightclub and Best Mega Club for the year 2009. The unparalleled success of XS, Tryst and Drai's After Hours has positioned the trio among the most successful nightclub entrepreneurs in the world, an achievement that was highlighted when they earned the distinguished Operators of the Year award at the 2009 Annual Nightclub & Bar Magazine convention.
Now Drai and the Waits twins are working with Starwood Hotels and their W Brand to bring something first class to Hollywood; as well as bringing their time-tested charms and unique appreciation of the rich and famous to the place that put the 'me' in fame - Hollywood.
Wednesday
Drai's Marquee Industry night. Private and the most exclusive night out in the city of LA.
· Upcoming DJ Talent: DJ Reflex, Jamie Iovine, DJ Cobra, Rick Rude
Thursday
Lounge by the pool in the most elegant setting with the most exquisite views in Los Angeles
· Music: loungy House Beats
Fridays & Saturdays
A combination of Los Angeles style Vegas energy.
· Upcoming DJ Talent: Benji Madden, DJ Busy, DJ Vice
Sunday Daytime Pool Party (10am-10pm)
Sexy poolside affair with House music and Hollywood's elite
· Upcoming DJ Talent: Eye Candy Twins, Trent Cantrell
General Information
Hours of Operation:
· Nightclub: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M
· Restaurant: Lunch 11am-3pm Daily; Dinner 6PM-9PM Wednesday - Sunday
· Pool: Wednesday - Sunday 10am-10pm. Monday & Tuesday 6:00 A.M. to Dusk
Website: www.draishollywood.
Phone: 323.962.1111
Cover Charge for Nightclub: $20
Dress Code: Upscale casual - Guys: no work boots, open toe shoes, shorts, jump suits ect. Jeans are ok as long as they are not super baggy or holey. Ladies: can pretty much wear anything except imprinted or bedazzled dresses.
· Management reserves all rights to deny entrance to anyone at anytime.
