Welcome into the new-look Viper Room. A longtime fixture of the iconic Sunset Strip, the lounge and music venue has undergone a bit of a renaissance suddenly, emerging with a glammed up look that keeps the fixtures of the place while touching up the details in recent weeks.
No, owners Bevan Cooney and Darin Feinstein didn’t suddenly cut holes in the walls and let in loads of natural light; this is still the dark, brooding bar you’ve always remembered, just accented with deep red vinyl booths and entryway art by native L.A. artist Louis Carreon — though as the Weekly points out, there is an odd bit of decor memorializing the death of River Phoenix, who passed away right out front.
Gone are the days of Johnny Depp ownership and hair metal galore, yet the Viper lives on as a testament to what the Sunset Strip used to be, and still in many ways is. Feel like dropping in for an overdue drink at the bar? Hours run 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with live entertainment on the stage.
