Oh La La in La La Land

Madame Royale

6423 Yucca St(W. of Cahuenga)HollywoodLos Angeles, CA 90028323-463-0609website

Sometimes you're looking for a night out that takes you to another era—like all the way back to 2001, when Moulin Rouge premiered.Or, okay, maybe 19th-century Montmartre.

Here, a sneak peek inside Madame Royale, a Paris-inspired lounge that's now in soft-open mode for a select Hollywood crowd.

Behind a nondescript door just beyond the Cahuenga Corridor gridlock, the exclusive sliver of space (you once knew it as Play) has undergone a thorough gutting to create a brand-new yesteryear feel—think brick walls, mismatched mirrors and peacocks. Lots of golden peacocks.The leather banquettes up front are dance-ready, but push past those to make a pit stop at the central bar. Beyond that you'll find a small stage in the rear corner. Promoters-turned-proprietors Ian Shepp and Brad Hoss promise an eclectic mix of sets from jazz greats and intimate acoustic-rock gigs.

Out back, though, is where we predict the most intriguing 21st-century revelry will go down—the walled-in patio, with greenery snaking through overhead beams and old-timey sconces providing the only light, has its own second bar, slinging absinthe cocktails under a New Orleans–style balcony.