You hear a lot of sounds around Hollywood Boulevard, but a room full of people wailing showtunes at the tops of their lungs isn’t typically one of them—or, we should say, it wasn’t until earlier this month, but it seems right at home now that it’s here. Landing at the intersection of Cahuenga Boulevard with all the gusto and confidence you’d expect from a piano bar covered in pink glitter, cheeky signage and tattooed mannequins, Tramp Stamp Granny’s is such a Hollywood bar it’s a wonder that it hasn’t been here for decades.
There’s chic Art Deco décor mixed with funky vintage furniture, a selfie-ready hall of mirrors, two velvet VIP booths, a thoughtful cocktail menu littered with flirty drink names, rainbow popcorn, and a bar open all night, every night, plus ample and photogenic neon—“cocktails & dreams”—which are all draws in and of themselves. There’s also the name, an ode to the first generation of grannies with tramp stamps.
But perhaps the most obvious draw is that it’s a bar owned and fronted by Darren Criss, one of Glee’s biggest breakout stars—though you may recognize him as the lead in Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch or, more recently, the sociopathic killer on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. And most nights, you’ll catch Criss playing the piano and leading you in song.