Nightlife entrepreneur Victor Drai and partners Jesse and Cy Waits have brought nightlife destination Drai's Hollywood to the rooftop of the W Hollywood. The splashy space that opened last month with an Oscar-night party for E! has more than 20,000 square feet with sweeping views of the area, including the hills, the Capitol Records building, and the Hollywood sign.
The new venue provides multiple areas for events and entertaining. Banquettes line a large lounge, which has red velvet tiles and mirrored columns. One wall looks out onto Hollywood through floor-to-ceiling windows, and the room has a dance space with a DJ booth surrounded by a carved wooden picture frame.
The restaurant seats about 120 guests for events. Chef Claude Segal helms the kitchen at the restaurant, which sits between the lounge and the rooftop pool and patio; guests may eat indoors or out.
On one side of the pool there is a row of flat-topped cabanas furnished with low couches and wood frames holding up white privacy curtains. On the other side, raised slightly above pool level, is a row of covered daybeds with Moroccan-style inlaid wooden tables and cabinets, stained wicker seats, red-cushioned couches, mirrors, and flat-screen TVs, enclosed by heavier white drapes. At the far end of the pool, upstairs from the bar, is a set of four larger cabanas that overlook the whole space for entertaining with a V.I.P. feel.
