DrinksTamara Palmerformosa cafe

Formosa Cafe Returns to West Hollywood

DrinksTamara Palmerformosa cafe
Formosa Cafe Returns to West Hollywood

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY TAMARA PALMER

Originally established in 1939 and closed since 2016, the Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood was given a multimillion dollar refresh by bar specialists the 1933 Group and reopened this summer. When I moved to Los Angeles in the early Nineties, Formosa was presented to me as a notorious celebrity hangout, but I was still pretty shocked that I saw Judd Nelson stumble out of the exit the first time I visited. And that solidified its image for me forever.

I recently had a few minutes to check out the new Formosa, so I ordered a colorful drink (no time for food, which is now done by Little Fatty) in order to have an excuse to bounce around and take some photos to share for nostalgia’s sake:

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The 1904 train car dining room is still amazing

The 1904 train car dining room is still amazing

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Once wrote Lucy a fan letter in the Eighties, so it felt good to be in the same room

Once wrote Lucy a fan letter in the Eighties, so it felt good to be in the same room

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Not sure about the Elvii…

Not sure about the Elvii…

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The Formosa Cafe, 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood