B Side debuts at Rolling Stone restaurant in Hollywood

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Wednesday marked the opening of B Side, a hidden, speakeasy-style bar connected to the new Rolling Stone restaurant at Hollywood & Highland. Despite its location inside the heart of Hollywood’s tourist corridor, Rolling Stone restaurant has been trying to position itself in a category both above and apart from what many think of as its direct competitor: the Hard Rock Cafe.

B Side goes a long way toward achieving that goal by paying homage to L.A.’s current love of craft cocktail culture. To that end, B Side is helmed by one of L.A.’s leading mixologists, Tricia Alley, who came to the bar from her post at Eva restaurant and helped develop the exciting list of cocktails alongside consulting giant Ryan Magarian.

The dimly lighted lounge can be accessed through an unmarked door along Highland Avenue and feels quite separate from the giant restaurant above. Although, a glass wall at the back of the bar looks into a larger underground bar and club space with a stairwell that leads to the main restaurant.

Worn aluminum siding stretches across the walls at B Side, and hanging antique lights keep the cozy room dim. A chalkboard boasts the list of drinks, including a delicious, chocolatey number called Moonfall that’s made from Averna Amaro, Redbreast Irish whisky, Finamore limoncello, chilled espresso, Xocolatl Mole bitters and luxardo foam. Finger food like burgers and funnel cake can also be ordered at the small circular tables inside the bar.

B Side plans to host a guest bartender series each Wednesday night. Next Wednesday will feature Naomi Schimek, the adventurous mixologist who can be found down the street at the Spare Room inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. (Both Alley and Schimek were recently featured in a Calendar cover story about L.A.’s top female mixologists.)

The rest of the drink list at B Side is after the jump.

-- Jessica Gelt

Highlander: Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whiskey,freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, housemade clover honey syrup, Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6

Dark and Sour: Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Rum, freshly squeezed lemon and hand extracted pineapple juice

Rosita: El Tesoro Platinum Tequila, Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth, Campari Italian Bitters

Verspertine: vodka, Bols Genever, Gruner Veltliner, dash of St. Germain Liqueur, flamed orange peel

Pineapple Southside: farm fresh peppermint, Aviation gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly extracted pineapple juice, club soda, rocks

Presbyterian: Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, housemade spicy ginger syrup, club soda