Halo: Chris Breed returns to the Cahuenga Corridor

For all of the modern innovations and retro themes that fuel Hollywood night life, one thing remains contemporary and constant. There will always be “the” red-hot new club packed with trend-conscious twentysomethings eager to dance, drink and make out with equal voracity. Right now, Halo, Hollywood club stalwart Chris Breed’s triumphant return to the Cahuenga Corridor, is that place.

“In a lot of ways, this is an old-school club,” Breed enthused by phone from an airplane about to take him to the Caribbean for a vacation. “Everything is black and white. There are different elevations throughout the space, three bars and a great outdoor patio. I’ve always been a big fan of patios.” Indeed, on a recent evening, the canopied patio area was teeming with party people indulging in their nicotine fix between cocktails and cruising.

FOR THE RECORD:
Night Life: The Night Life feature in Friday’s Calendar section listed an incorrect phone number for the Halo nightclub in L.A. The correct number is (323) 463-1237. —

Breed knows the space well. Halo is in the same location as White Lotus, which he opened in 2003 and turned into the hottest spot in Hollywood, attracting celebrities, paparazzi and star-gazers. The club became Ritual under different owners, with Breed concentrating on his other ventures, Green Door, Pig ‘N Whistle and Cabana Club. But when the opportunity arose to reclaim the space, he jumped at it.

“I really want to do more live music at Halo,” he continues, lauding the club’s finely tuned sound system. “We gave Prince a walk-through of the club, and he loved it. We hope to have him come perform and surprise everyone like he did at Green Door.”

Most striking about Halo’s interior is the restraint. Instead of gaudy, overbearing styles, the space is dominated by clean lines and simple aesthetics. The flash is in the details. A striking, ultra-chic bubble chandelier hangs over the main bar. The elevated skybox next to the dance floor is enclosed in one-way mirrored glass, so VIPs can watch the action without being seen (as long as they stay seated behind the glass). A similar “peek-a-boo” aesthetic is applied to the eye-popping cocktail waitress uniforms: a man’s white shirt buttoned at the neck and midriff, leaving an open window to the cleavage in between.

So far, what Halo does best is provide an up-to-the-minute Hollywood night-life experience set to a thumping soundtrack ripped directly from the beat-driven end of the American Top 40 charts. On the club’s first Friday night, L.A. DJ Cobra whipped the dance floor into a sweaty mosh pit with the latest hits from Lady GaGa and Kid Cudi, while even more exhibitionist ladies put on their own lascivious show from the elevated DJ stage. Breed has created a classic adult playground, where the main attraction is the well-heeled (and equally well-lubed) crowd, which so far has drawn both A- and B-list celebs (Ryan Cabrera, Pauly Shore and original “Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider have already made the scene).

The club still has expansion plans. The original space has been divided into two rooms, with the second being prepared to launch as a full-fledged sports bar for the dedicated ESPN set.

“I’ve been in the L.A. club scene for so long now, since the Roxbury days,” Breed says with a laugh. “But I still keep up with what’s new in bars and clubs I make it a point to stay ahead of the game. A lot of people trust me now. They expect a first-class club, so I make sure to deliver it.”

Breed’s faithful include some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

“We cater to celebs that want to avoid the press and all of that,” admits Breed.” I can call up friends like Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, guys who don’t go out much at all, but they’ll come to my club because I offer that option. Britney [Spears] has always had a good time with us. She used to come to White Lotus all of the time with Justin [Timberlake]. She enjoyed Green Door as well, so we expect to see her at Halo once she gets off tour.”

scott.sterling@latimes.com