South Restaurant / Sports Bar

Santa Monica / Westside, Los Angeles –

Popular with preppy jocks and groups of single gals, South brings a touch of Old Dixie to Santa Monica.

Patrons seeking refuge from the noise on busy Wilshire Boulevard will find a wide airy space whose curved brick-backed bar and comfy lounge area just inside offer plenty of room to kick back with margaritas and check out the crowd of white-collar twenty-somethings that flock in after work.

While the Southern cuisine brings in a steady flow of restaurant regulars during the week, the bar’s real attraction is its plethora of 3D TVs that draw hordes of energetic football fans on the weekends.

Once the game ends, the crowd swells with laid-back, fun-loving young professionals who take to the pool room for some flirtatious matches, mingle with the other attractive patrons at pub tables in the main room, or settle in with their Southern-inspired cocktails and a new friend on the large sofas in the cozy couch room.

Those in need of a quick smoke can step out to the front patio, where groups gather for more drinks and people-watching.

While a night at South doesn't often spiral out of control, the bar does strike a good balance between testosterone-soaked sports haunt and southern-fried hookup joint which, combined with its open floor plan conducive to mingling, makes for a loud and festive night out.