Strip Standard

The ghosts of hairsprayed hedonists past still linger throughout the Rainbow Bar & Grill (9015 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-278-4232) via the framed photos and shiny gold records adorning its walls, not to mention a voracious rock & roll soundtrack, but the Sunset Strip landmark is far from a dusty house of has-been hesher nostalgia. Duff McKagan and Axl Rose may not be drenching themselves with Jack in the back anymore, but on any given night you’re likely to see B-Real and the Cypress Hill crew kicking it out front, or the place’s metal-god mascot Lemmy Killmeister soaking in the scene with a few brewskies or the big white Playboy Hummer rolling into the driveway, dropping off Hef and his posse of blonds for dinner. This hang is seductively dim and illuminated by reddish light and a single, crackling fireplace — no wonder everyone comes here before and after shows at the nearby Roxy, Whisky, Viper Room and Key Club to chow on mozzarella sticks, calamari, BLTs, pizzas, and homemade chicken soup. Even over-glammed and glossed gals and faded-out dudes look good in this lighting. They just opened one in Vegas. (Fittingly, across the street from the Hard Rock Casino.)