Numbers -- long gone restaurant in West Hollywood

[+ muscleboyinsd]

I was just thinking about an old bar and restaurant in West Hollywood called Numbers.  (I think that was the name).  My friends used to call it the "hooker bar" -- because escorts used to hang out there.  It was one of the nicer restaurants on Santa Monica Blvd.  It was always a fun place to sit and have a drink and food.  The activity at the bar was always "interesting", especially later in the evening.  Was just wondering if anyone else remembers that place or might have any fun stories about it.

[+ Lucky]

I remember the original Numbers when it was on Sunset. You knew you were among some wealthy folks and super hot escorts. It didn't stay like that after it moved to Santa Monica, where, in my opinion, cruising was more difficult due to the layout.

[StarQualityLuke]

1 hour ago, muscleboyinsd said:

I was just thinking about an old bar and restaurant in West Hollywood called Numbers.  (I think that was the name).  My friends used to call it the "hooker bar" -- because escorts used to hang out there.  It was one of the nicer restaurants on Santa Monica Blvd.  It was always a fun place to sit and have a drink and food.  The activity at the bar was always "interesting", especially later in the evening.  Was just wondering if anyone else remembers that place or might have any fun stories about it.

Great Food!!! 

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Lucky said:

I remember the original Numbers when it was on Sunset. You knew you were among some wealthy folks and super hot escorts. It didn't stay like that after it moved to Santa Monica, where, in my opinion, cruising was more difficult due to the layout.

??What was so difficult??? You saw someone you liked and asked the price. I was sorry to see it go. 

[wsc]

I loved Numbers; the one on Sunset. I must have left the LA area before their move to Santa Monica. There was a hustler bar on Santa Monica that I also liked, named Hunter's (7500 block, cross street Gardner), a whole different vibe from Numbers. Numbers had valet parking, one the best steak au poivre I've had anywhere, and a fair number of available and attractive friends-for-rent. I can't remember if this description was used for Numbers or for Rounds in NYC, but it applied equally to both: The place where young entrepreneurs go to meet older financiers. I met a number of young up-and-comers at Numbers and was quite sorry to say goodbye when I moved back East. Good times, good memories!

[+ Lucky]

15 hours ago, Unicorn said:

??What was so difficult??? You saw someone you liked and asked the price. I was sorry to see it go. 

What's the fun in that? Cruising is fun, and you get to see if an approach will work.

[+ muscleboyinsd]

18 hours ago, wsc said:

I loved Numbers; the one on Sunset. I must have left the LA area before their move to Santa Monica. There was a hustler bar on Santa Monica that I also liked, named Hunter's (7500 block, cross street Gardner), a whole different vibe from Numbers. Numbers had valet parking, one the best steak au poivre I've had anywhere, and a fair number of available and attractive friends-for-rent. I can't remember if this description was used for Numbers or for Rounds in NYC, but it applied equally to both: The place where young entrepreneurs go to meet older financiers. I met a number of young up-and-comers at Numbers and was quite sorry to say goodbye when I moved back East. Good times, good memories!

Wow.  I wish I had gotten to see the old Numbers on Sunset.  I did like the Numbers on Santa Monica, but the old Numbers sounds like a whole level above... possibly two

[+ muscleboyinsd]

Are there any restaurants like Numbers (on Santa Monica, or Sunset) that in the WEHO area nowadays?  I would love to find a place like that again.

[jawjateck]

I was not lucky at the Santa Monica location. I went twice and had the same experience both times. Lots of local dads/clients were there, so the providers swarmed them while I sat at the bar having a drink. Each night I went back to my hotel still carrying a pocket full of cash. 😛

[+ muscleboyinsd]

I only ever took a guy home from there once.  Mostly I just liked stopping there for dinner before meeting up at one of the bars with friends.  The food was much better than further down the strip.  Chatted with the bartenders regularly.  And then I'd stop by on my way back to the hotel when it was later and it was just mayhem.  A couple of drag queens usually at the bar.  Several hot escorts hanging out at the bar.  And I seem to remember a magician there.  When I'm traveling it's nice to sit at the bar in a nice restaurant with a lot going on hahahaha.

[+ FreshFluff]

On 6/19/2023 at 3:08 PM, muscleboyinsd said:

I only ever took a guy home from there once.  Mostly I just liked stopping there for dinner before meeting up at one of the bars with friends.  The food was much better than further down the strip.  Chatted with the bartenders regularly.  And then I'd stop by on my way back to the hotel when it was later and it was just mayhem.  A couple of drag queens usually at the bar.  Several hot escorts hanging out at the bar.  And I seem to remember a magician there.  When I'm traveling it's nice to sit at the bar in a nice restaurant with a lot going on hahahaha.

This sounds like so much fun. Like a wild version of the TH in NYC. 

[tbinsocal]

When I was really young I was able to supplement my income from the guys willing to service me for $40 or $50. I met most of them at Numbers on Sunset.  There was some extreme rough trade.  Totally violent guys.  But many of the real old queers worshipped them.  I swear when I walk by there I can still smell the cum.  

[wsc]

35 minutes ago, tbinsocal said:

When I was really young I was able to supplement my income from the guys willing to service me for $40 or $50. I met most of them at Numbers on Sunset.  There was some extreme rough trade.  Totally violent guys.  But many of the real old queers worshipped them.  I swear when I walk by there I can still smell the cum.  

That's vivid!😛

Are you saying sex went on inside the bar? I must have missed that. Damn!

[Guest]

3 hours ago, tbinsocal said:

... I met most of them at Numbers on Sunset...

That must've been before my time. I can only remember the restaurant/bar when in was on Santa Monica Blvd. I think it was roughly where the Ramada is now? Do you remember the address when it was on Sunset, or the business which is currently there?

[tbinsocal]

8029 Sunset.   I think it left in early 80's.   

Queer Maps

WWW.QUEERMAPS.ORG

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Bob Damron '81-82: (R) *; Bob Damron '84: (R) (OC) (Hustlers) *

 

[tbinsocal]

Help John Waters Remember the Name of His Favorite Long-Gone Gay Bar Los Angeles Magazine

WWW.LAMAG.COM

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Identify the watering hole from his description and I'll send you a prize

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, tbinsocal said:

8029 Sunset.   I think it left in early 80's.   

Queer Maps

WWW.QUEERMAPS.ORG

---

Bob Damron '81-82: (R) *; Bob Damron '84: (R) (OC) (Hustlers) *

 

Ah, between the embroidery store and the green cleaners. Across from my CVS pharmacy. Thanks. 

[+ muscleboyinsd]

I was up in WEHO last weekend, and the old Numbers (formerly on Santa Monica) is now the LGBT center.  And there is a new bar below it called Schmitty's.

[+ sync]

There once was a bar named Numbers in NYC on the East side of Broadway across from Lincoln Center.  A large space, busy, hot bartenders, I liked it.

[+ Oliver]

As I recall. the Numbers on Santa Monica was on the 2nd floor.  I went there with "Jackhammer" for a dinner, and there were probably 10 or 15 people, both escorts and clients.  It was where I first met Epigonos!😃  We were both in our "kid in a candy store" stage at the time!  Had a great time.☺️