Inglewood’s New Lounge Wants to be More Than Your Intuit Dome Pregame Haunt
Tomas K - News Writer and Moderator 
Directly next door to Inglewood’s 18,000-seat, $2 billion Intuit Dome sits Lounge 1888. The restaurant, lounge, and speakeasy opened at the tail end of summer and is one of the few sit-down dining options near the concert and sports venue, located in arguably the most vibrant sports corridor in the region.
Since the Intuit Dome opened in 2024, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, the YouTube Theater, and Kia Forum, it has further established this section of Inglewood as the new central area for sporting events and live performances in Southern California. The Intuit Dome became the NBA’s home court for the Clippers and already hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2026. SoFi is the site for the 2027 Super Bowl LXI and will serve as the central stadium for the upcoming 2028 Olympics. General manager Phil Holmes (no relation to this writer) says that Lounge 1888 (named after the year Inglewood was established) hopes to draw people into the neighborhood for more than just sporting spectacles.
“The owners noticed the lack of elevated restaurants on this side in Inglewood,” says Holmes. “You have corporate chains, and people traveling to eat in Redondo or Manhattan Beach. And Lounge 1888 is right here in hometown Inglewood.”
Developing a high-volume menu has its own challenges, and the menu from chef Stephen Rodriguez (an alum of Tam O’Shanter and Border Grill) will feel familiar to most. Starters include a spinach-artichoke dip, gem Caesar salad, and truffled deviled eggs with candied bacon. Also on deck are the wood-fired short rib pizza, a wagyu burger and wagyu sliders, steak frites with a side of truffle Parmesan fries, and roasted half chicken sauced with a shiitake sherry jus. Weekend brunch has all the modern hits: chicken and waffles, Champagne flights, shrimp and grits, and pillowy challah French toast.
No one will miss a pitch, hit, or slam dunk with 17 television sets and a cocktail menu with five types of martinis, six types of highballs, and five Old Fashioneds, including one made with Uncle Nearest whiskey. Resident DJs will be familiar fixtures in the lounge and bar area, along with wine tastings led by a sommelier when the Intuit Dome sits empty and live music on Saturday nights. The restaurant’s attached speakeasy is called the Eight: Diners can access the eight-seat room through a secret door, though it remains private for now.
Owners Brian Corbett (co-owner and CFO of Big League Hospitality Group) and Earnest Ross (California Vintage in Anaheim) secured the space in 2024, which seats 144 in the main room and 45 on the patio. Comparable dining options are a short drive or lengthy walk to Intuit or Sofi, including the Meeting Spot, Two Hommés, Tom’s Watch Bar (formerly Cork & Batter), and casual restaurants at the Hollywood Park Casino.
Lounge 1888 is Black-owned; the owners recognize its role and potential in the historically Black neighborhood. “Lounge 1888 is not just a restaurant,” says Holmes. “It will be a pillar of the community and be involved in being of service to everyone that we can.”
Lounge 1888 is open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Mondays, at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and opens at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The address is 3930 West Century Boulevard, Building C, Space 5-101, Inglewood, CA, 90303. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
