5 days ago
A Hi-Fi Restaurant and Speakeasy Are About to Jazz Up Abbot Kinney in Venice
On June 18, two restaurant veterans opened Venice's newest hotspots inside a charming converted bungalow. Heather Tierney opened the doors for her new restaurant and vinyl listening bar, Only The Wild Ones, on the ground floor next door to Abbott Kinney's shuttered spot, Atla. It's less than two blocks away from her other restaurant, Butcher's Daughter. Meanwhile, Crudo e Nudo partner Leena Culhane opened an upstairs speakeasy in the same space called Force of Nature that overlooks the adjacent Cook's Garden.
Culhane saw the former Neighbor space and immediately reached out to Tierney to suggest it as a possible spot for Only The Wild Ones. Tierney launched the natural wine and music pop-up in the early days of the pandemic next door to Butcher's Daughter, showcasing natural wines, vinyl DJs, and bands. For this iteration, Culhane took over the top floor; Tierney hired Common Wave to create a custom sound system and soundproof the space, which was transformed in six weeks. Culhane served as a wine and design consultant for Only The Wild Ones, while Tierney, who founded the bi-coastal Wanderlust Design, took on a primary design role.
'We opened a pop-up version of [Only The Wild Ones] next to the Butcher's Daughter,' says Tierney. 'We took over the Other Room as an experiment for nine months in 2021, which went really well. I fell in love with high-fidelity sound when creating a system for myself at home, so I wanted to make one at Only The Wild Ones. It's a place you don't have to commit to. You can just pop in. It also has a cool selection of vinyl. We wanted to offer something to the community and share our love for natural wine.'
Tierney brought over the chef from Butcher's Daughter, Richard Rea. His plant-based menu includes a lion's mane mushroom raviolo, lentil caviar with a jalapeño crema, house-made truffled potato chips, and a spicy Greek tirokafteri dip with Butcher's Daughter focaccia. Cocktails include twists on classics such as a rose mezcal Negroni; smoked olive Martini, and a celery Collins with Gin, grapefruit, celery soda, and Creme de Peche. Anyone hanging out can select an album or song to play, or catch a set by a live DJ.
Hi-fi system with a cocktail. Ashley Randall Photography
Those familiar with the neighborhood might recall the short-lived Neighbor, which closed in 2022. The restaurant used the upstairs space as an office, which is now Force of Nature's enchanting room with a balcony. On the verge of closing Isla in 2024, Culhane spent ample time with a tight circle of women restaurant and bar operators. Her idea was a community space that highlights winemakers, distillers, culinary creatives, and artists. Force of Nature put together a wine, cocktail, and non-alcoholic menu in a space that is also used for workshops, special events, or anyone looking to hang out in a chill space with natural wines or drinks from the full bar. Culhane pulled cocktails from different parts of her career (including a stint at the Galley in Santa Monica), but with women-made spirits, including a Vesper made with Conniption Gin and herby Amaricano Bianco liqueur.
During opening weekend, Culhane sold out of reservations after releasing a batch on Resy. She's grateful, but has a specific idea in mind for Force of Nature. 'We needed a community space at the beginning of COVID,' says Culhane. 'At that moment in my life, I wanted a place to bring other women forward, which was hard to do for myself. So I pulled my shoulders back and lifted up my chin to support other women.'
Only The Wild Ones is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Force of Nature is open upstairs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, at 1301 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA, 90291. Only The Wild Ones reservations are on Resy, as are reservations for Force of Nature.
Only The Wild Ones' summer burrata, marinated tomatoes, grilled peaches, pickled onions, fennel pollen, and crostini. Ashley Randall Photography
Only The Wild Ones' ummer burrata, marinated tomatoes, grilled peaches, pickled onions, fennel pollen, and crostini. Ashley Randall Photography
Dining room at Only The Wild Ones. Ashley Randall Photography
Outdoor seating at Only the Wild Ones. Ashley Randall Photography
Only The Wild Ones dining area. Ashley Randall Photography
Force of Nature bar in Venice, California. Ashley Randall Photography
Balcony view at Force of Nature. Ashley Randall Photography
Force of Nature founder, Leena Culhane. Ashley Randall Photography
Spirit selections. Ashley Randall Photography
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