A stinging taste of Mexico

CEVICHE, Mezcal and shimmering candlelight, key ingredients for a good time.

Add a splash of Spanglish in a Latin-goth setting, and you’ll get the idea behind L Scorpion, a new bar that’s turned up the heat on Hollywood Boulevard.

The latest confection from Meridian Entertainment Group, the folks who brought us Table 8 and Rokbar, L Scorpion has all the right stuff. Setting it apart from the plethora of tony watering holes now dotting the boulevard is a rather succulent combo of leather and lace.

Walls are paneled with black calfskin and lacy curtains decorate the room. A makeshift altar loaded with dripping wax candles greets guests as they walk in the door, and a trio of wrought-iron chandeliers warms the room.

“Our aim was to create an authentic taste of Mexico in the heart of Hollywood,” says Reid Strathearn, marketing director for Meridian, in which entrepreneur Adolfo Suaya is a partner. “We wanted to conjure up the feel of a hot, sultry Mexican night but scaled-up with a little bit of Hollywood flair.”

With its black-on-black heat, the room exudes a sexy danger, as if you’ve stepped into a starring role in “El Mariachi,” but you can’t tell if the caballero at the bar is gunning for you or angling to seduce you.

“I’ve checked out a lot of the new clubs, and I really think this one’s my favorite,” says Sue Schmidt, a clubber from North Hollywood. “They treat you well and the attitude is so casual, but it’s elegant at the same time.”

The former storefront contains a wall of exposed antique brick and a concrete floor dating back to the 1920s. Although its official capacity is only 59, L Scorpion makes good use of its space, which includes a second-level dining area lined with booths and 18-foot arches above the bar area. Among the stars who’ve imbibed at the bar since its January opening are Kevin Spacey, Tara Reid, Dave Navarro, Wilmer Valderrama and Jesse McCartney. And celebs who used the club for private bashes include actress Kristen Bell (an investor in the bar), Paula Abdul and Courteney Cox.

Despite a tasty taqueria menu featuring such late-night delectables as short-rib tamales, L Scorpion is all about agave and lots of it. With more than 120 tequila varieties to choose from -- some handcrafted with drunken scorpions and slugs surfing the bottom of the bottle -- there’s something for every guzzler. On Thursdays, the venue offers a tasting class. For $45, customers receive an education on tequila while supping on premium samples.

And when it comes to its signature cocktails, L Scorpion has plenty of sting. Among the frutas exoticas listed on the margarita menu are prickly pear, litchi, papaya and pomegranate. The popular “L Scorpion Sting” includes El Charro tequila blended with jalapenos and cucumber.

Although most L Scorpion cocktails set you back about $12, high rollers go for the Don Fulano, an aged tequila that runs $75 a shot. Those who want to head straight for the liver burn can have a hit off the Mezcal menu.

“It’s probably not a good idea to mix,” says Sam Kim, a guest who showed up for an early-night bachelor party. “But when you’re sipping stuff this good, what choice do you have?”

And when it comes to attractive cocktail servers, L Scorpion stocked the bar. Among them is Amanda Avila, an “American Idol” finalist who made it to Hollywood and never looked back. Although she’s still working on her singing career, Avila says she has no plans to quit her night job.

“It’s a very sexy, laid-back environment,” Avila says. “And being that it’s smack in the middle of Hollywood, you never know who is going to walk in.”

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L Scorpion

Where: 6679 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

When: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday

Price: No cover; 21 and older. Reservations recommended. Valet parking available (on Las Palmas Avenue).

Info: (323) 464-3026