18 Social and Metropole Bar + Kitchen

On the eighteenth floor of Hotel Indigo’s downtown Los Angeles flagship, the cocktail lounge 18 Social celebrates L.A.’s century-long legacy as the trendsetter in leisure and hospitality, as guests are invited to enjoy expansive panoramic views of the city that still holds that position today.

Adorned with luxurious blues and golds and punctuated by neon lights, 18 Social’s branding references the 18th Amendment that ended Prohibition and recalls the glamour of turn-of-the-century theaters and downtown nightlife. Design details hint at the lounge’s subtle rebellious side with an intentionally balanced mix of flash and sophistication.

On the hotel’s ground floor, Metropole Bar + Kitchen—the space for which is literally cut in half and connected by concrete tunnels—hearkens back to prohibition, when more than 11 miles of underground tunnels led to local speakeasies that kept the city alive around the clock. This energy inspired Altitude to ensure the Metropole brand was a memorable part of the hotel experience, and reflective of its casual yet polished food and beverage program that is known to offer innovative twists on local classics.

Named after a former neighboring theater, Metropole’s fonts and graphics reflect popular styles from the 1920s, and echo the passcodes often exchanged to gain entry into clandestine festivities.