Club Review--Gotham

Tomm Carroll
(11/19/99)

Folks looking for an "in-spot" that attracts both the ultra-hip and pseudo-slacker types should get over to Gotham. No, not to New York, but to Gotham Hall, the upscale pool hall, bar and restaurant that's a lot closer -- on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade.

The Buzz: The most historic place in which you'll ever play a game of 8-ball in this town. With 17 purple-pated pool tables in a vastly spacious building, it's easily the classiest club on this popular walking mall.

The Roots: In a previous life in the earlier part of this century, this remarkable space was an Oddfellows club hall. Much later it was a warehouse, but remained long dormant until it opened as Gotham Hall in the early '90s.

The Look: Post-modern pool hall. The funkily painted club has lofts, recessed rooms, hardwood floors, sweeping arches, Gothic draperies, nosebleed-high ceilings, cushy sofas and, yes, 17 regulation-size billiards tables. Sports are televised, silently, on the various video monitors throughout the many rooms -- most of which have a pool table or two in them -- in this palace of a club, which is more akin to something you'd find in the real Gotham City.

A 49-seat restaurant, specializing in Creole-spiced California Grill cuisine, overlooks the promenade from behind the main bar, which is distinguished by a glass shelving sculpture on which the liquors and liqueurs are located. There are plenty of other rooms in which to poke around, play pool or lounge too.

The Clientele: Twenty-to-thirty-somethings looking to kick back, have a drink and knock a few balls around a table. Billiard-babes and pool-boys abound; the kind of cool crowd who wouldn't be caught dead playing across the way at Yankee Doodle's, with its sportsman-like atmosphere.

Where There's Smoke: Outside on the promenade, although there's certainly enough hidden areas to sneak a ciggie if one was so inclined.

On Tap: Bass Ale, Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams top the tap list, and there's always Bud and Bud Light for the wimps. A very full bar -- several of them actually -- of libations, as well, including an extensive wine list and bottled beers.

The Sounds: Recorded music only, with the occasional DJ spinning discs -- mostly for private parties. It's piped through speakers all over the club -- even in the restrooms -- and blasted just loud enough to have to make an effort to talk over.

Fashion Statement: Ultra-casual. An extremely lenient dress code (the line you see outside the club is to check I.D.s) allows for everything from t-shirts, Hawaiian shirts and jeans to suits, short skirts and skimpy spandex outfits designed to flex provocatively during those hard-to-make shots across the table.

The Irony: The Oddfellows must be turning over in their graves; their once male-only club is now populated by a significant number of women -- and they're shooting pool no less! What has the world come to?

Club Facts: Gotham Hall, 1431 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, 310-394-8865, open seven days, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., no cover but charge for pool tables, 21 and over.