Old-School Barber Shave In West LA and/or Las Vegas?

[billbarol]

A friend of mine is coming to town and is jonesing for a barber shave in or near West Los Angeles. I'm hoping some of you might have recommendations. One caveat: I'm a snob. I admit it. Here's what I don't want: Some ironic postmodern reinvention of a classic barbershop shave administered by a guy in his 20s wearing a porkpie hat. Here's what I do want: An ancient Italian barber who speaks no English and has been doing shaves for like 60 years in some actual non-ironic non-postmodern neighbborhood barber shop. That's the ideal, anyway.

I'm also hoping to find a similar place in Las Vegas for an upcoming trip there.

This might be a tall order in today's world, but i figured if anybody would know it'd be you guys. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Toltepeceno]

So old age and italian speaking only is your requirement for a barber? You just insulted any excellent barber that speaks anything other than italian, why don't you just move to Italy?

 

[billbarol]

Okay. That's one vote. Thanks for getting into the spirit of the thing!

 

[Corsair66]

How about an old-school, Italian heritage guy from Jersey?

Go see Sal at the Qua spa at Caesars for the best traditional shave and haircut (and free drinks!) of your life. Highly recommended.

Tell him Ken from Orlando said hello.

Ken

 

[neatokino]

OK, I'm going to give you a couple of suggestions.

There is a place called 'The Shave' on 230 S. Beverly Dr. in Bev Hills. It's well appointed, pretentious, comfortable and nice. I haven't been there in a few years, but I did get a great shave there once upon a time. It's luxurious, manly, and snob friendly. Definitely worth taking a look if you're into that sort of thing. 310.858.8281 is their number.

If you're a little more adventurous, however, I'd recommend the 'Barber Shop & Beauty Salon Aguilar' on 2410 W. 6th St. LA 90057, downtown near MacArthur Park. I scouted this place for a TV production shoot. It's an old fashioned neighborhood hispanic barber shop that specializes in shaves. The place is amazing looking (we shot there), and the barbers seemed to know what they were doing. They shaved with shavettes, and were manscaping a lot of latino customers with intricate facial hair. This may not be exactly what you're looking for, but I'd venture to say it's probably a whole lot more interesting. It's also inexpensive, old school, matter-of-fact, and would shame any snob. You can yelp it or do a web search to see if other people have more to offer about this place.

In the old days I used to get shaves from Victor Of Paris on Sunset Blvd. near sunset plaza. Victor was Italian and very old school. I can't imagine he's still alive, though I'm pretty sure the shop is still there.

Have you checked out Vic The Barber on Montana near 10th in Santa Monica (next to My Father's Office)? Vic gave me a terrible haircut last year, but he's a character, and he is a traditional barber, and he does do straight razor shaves, so it may be worth a try.

So far, I've found the best straight razor shave on the west side of LA to be the one I give myself every morning in my place in Santa Monica. But my Italian isn't very good, so I can't recommend that for your friend!

Please tell us if you find anything great around here!

 

[drifter]

How about an old-school, Italian heritage guy from Jersey?

Go see Sal at the Qua spa at Caesars for the best traditional shave and haircut (and free drinks!) of your life. Highly recommended.

Tell him Ken from Orlando said hello.



Ken

I have to try this place. Is it in the forum shops?

 

[Corsair66]

I have to try this place. Is it in the forum shops?

No, it's in the hotel on the side that faces the street between Caesars and Bellagio. From the street level, you'll go upstairs and check in at the Qua spa. The girl will escort you to Sal's barber area down a hall. You'll get a robe and flip-flops (and full spa privs), so you can wait your turn with Sal in any of the saunas, etc.

When I say free drinks during the shave and haircut, I mean Blue Label and similar top shelf stuff. Very, very nice operation.

Ken

 

[SocalRick]

I've been to The Shave in Beverly Hills and they are a) over priced, b) VERY pretentious and c) they only use a straight (a shavette, actually, they have use a disposable blade in California) for the first pass. The rest of the shave is done with a cartridge razor. And, it's about 100 bucks.

Go to Hollywood, to Sweeney Todd's Barber Shop. It's on Sunset and Vermont and it's very old school. It's been a barber shop since the 1940's and has been used as the barber shop on Mad Men. The barbers there don't speak Italian, but they aren't hipsters. They are old school, licensed barbers. I get my hair cut there and highly recommend it. A shave there is $30, plus a tip.

 

[billbarol]

Sweeney Todd's. That's hilarious, and also a great suggestion, as is the Qua. Thanks!

 

[drifter]

No, it's in the hotel on the side that faces the street between Caesars and Bellagio. From the street level, you'll go upstairs and check in at the Qua spa. The girl will escort you to Sal's barber area down a hall. You'll get a robe and flip-flops (and full spa privs), so you can wait your turn with Sal in any of the saunas, etc.

When I say free drinks during the shave and haircut, I mean Blue Label and similar top shelf stuff. Very, very nice operation.

Ken

Cool Got to check it out.

 

[Hinano_Paul]

Hey I am in my 40's and proudly wear a Porkpie! However, I cannot answer any of your questions.

 

[MegaBullfrog09]

That's a tall order. Hope you're not disappointed.