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$$$$ | Brentwood |
The chicest and buzziest nighttime spot in the neighborhood, Baltaire attracts both well-heeled Brentwood denizens on dressed-up dates and single sippers looking for late-night rendezvous. The meat-heavy menu features giant slabs of porterhouse steaks as well as special A5 Wagyu straight from Japan. Rounding out the treats is a full raw bar, caviar selection, and a one-of-a-kind cocktail program. There's lunch on weekdays only, and live music on Thursdays and Fridays.
11647 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90049, USA
Known For
- Sizzling steaks
- Buzzing bar scene
- Classic cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Fans of Bestia have been lining up for stellar Mediterranean cuisine at this Arts District hot spot, which is owned by the same restaurateurs. Rose-gold stools give way to marble tabletops as the open kitchen bangs out hummus and baba ghanoush spreads, along with flatbreads and lamb-neck shawarma. The vibe is lively, the staff is chill, the patio is a scene, and the food is out of this world. Reserve early, as this place gets filled fast.
500 Mateo St., Los Angeles, California, 90013, USA
Known For
- Delicious Mediterranean cuisine
- Reservations recommended
- Great vibes
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$$$$ | |
Legendary Italian chef Massimo Bottura opened this spot, his first L.A. eatery, to loads of fanfare and celebrity sightings. The restaurant mirrors the Florence, Italy, location of the same name with a menu filled with favorites like a mouthwatering tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano crema. The locale sits atop the roof of the Gucci retail outlet on Rodeo Drive with prime positioning for watching the high-end shoppers and glitzy denizens of the neighborhood.
347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, California, 90210, USA
Known For
- Excellent pastas
- Great people-watching
- Avant-garde design
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$$$$ | Hollywood |
Heaven for carnivores, this upscale European-style butcher shop and fine-dining restaurant serves wood-fire-cooked meats in a copper-and-marble art deco setting. From Australian celeb-chef Curtis Stone and his brother, Luke, and named for their grandmother, Gwen's butcher shop serves up quality cuts of humanely raised meats to locals during the day, while the elegant dining space within view of the glass-enclosed dry-age rooms, charcuterie curing, and roaring firepit elevates the smoking, searing, and roasting of those quality meats to an art form by night. The focus is obviously meat here but the seasonal sides, cocktails, desserts, and Australian coffees are superior, too.
6600 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA
Known For
- House-made charcuterie
- Wood-fire grilled steaks
- Strong cocktails and good wine list
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$$$$ | Downtown |
You would never just stumble upon this out-of-the-way spot in Chinatown, but world-famous celeb chef David Chang likes it that way. The beautifully designed minimal spot with spacious patio, an exposed-duct ceiling, and elongated wood bar has a cuisine style that defies any singular category. Can't-miss dishes include the mac and chickpea, the crispy pork belly, and the whole plate short rib with beef and rice—a dish you'll dream about for years. Reservations are hard to come by, but the bar is first come, first served, and a great way to sample the unique menu.
1725 Naud St., Los Angeles, California, 90012, USA
Known For
- Chuck short rib
- Rice-based drinks
- Hard-to-get reservations (try to eat at the bar)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Santa Monica |
It's a gem tucked within a treasure box: hidden within Citrin, a one-Michelin-star restaurant, is Mélisse, a two-Michelin-star restaurant. Chef-owner Josiah Citrin entrusts chef de cuisine Ian Scaramuzza to blend his modern French cooking with seasonal California produce at this Santa Monica institution. On any given night, the rotating,18-course tasting menu might feature Santa Barbara uni cromesquis, Kagoshima A5 Wagyu beef or a crab sabayon. The cheese cart is packed with domestic and European selections, and the dining room is contemporary yet elegant, with well-spaced tables and fine china.
The tasting menu can be tailored for vegetarian diners.
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90401, USA
Known For
- The epitome of freshness and inventiveness
- Only 14 seats
- Contemporary and elegant decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Malibu |
At famous chef-restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa's coastal outpost, superchic clientele sails in for morsels of the world's finest fish. It’s hard not to be seduced by the oceanfront property; stellar sushi and ingenious specialties match the upscale setting. Exotic species of fish are artfully accented with equally exotic South American peppers, seared toro (tuna belly) with truffle teriyaki, and a broth made with matsutake mushrooms. The chef's tasting menus are also a solid bet. Order the bento box Valrhona chocolate soufflé and enjoy the ocean from every seat in the house. If you want to eat here, you'll need to make reservations exactly one month in advance.
22706 Pacific Coast Hwy., Los Angeles, California, 90265, USA
Known For
- Exotic fish
- A-list celebrity chef
- Exceptional views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: reservations essential
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$$$$ | Hollywood |
This is widely considered one of the best seafood restaurants in the country, and chef-owner Michael Cimarusti elevates sustainably driven fine dining to an art form. The elegant space is the perfect spot to sample exquisite seafood with the chef's signature application of French technique, traditional American themes, and Asian accents. Pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla’s exquisite desserts are not to be missed. Obsessed with quality, Cimarusti maintains a network of purveyors who often tip him off to their catches in order to ensure that the fish on your plate is the freshest in the city.
5955 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90038, USA
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Honey and zero-waste chocolate programs
- Exquisite dessert options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Downtown |
As its name suggests, this sky-high dining den sits on the 71st floor, 950 feet above ground level. With that elevation comes the most stunning views of any restaurant in L.A., and the food is close to matching it. This fine-dining experience has a quarterly rotating menu, but you'll typically find fresh seafood, innovative veggies, delicious scallops, and more. A dress code is loosely enforced, but you can't come in wearing shorts, hats, flip-flops, or any athletic gear. Keep it classy here, bring a date, and get sucked into the twinkling lights of the city as the sun sets over the ocean.
633 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, California, 90071, USA
Known For
- Sky-high views
- Fine dining with a seafood focus
- Classy atmosphere and loosely enforced dress code (no shorts or flip-flops)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | West Hollywood |
Boasting the best see-and-be-seen crowd in West Hollywood, this rooftop restaurant also has some of the best views. As you enter through a pergola, you'll find an extremely good-looking crowd of well-heeled diners and drinkers flirting at the large bar or getting cozy in the teal brushed-leather booths. Truffle sashimi and crab tempura are divine, and the filet is not to be missed. Try not to hurt your neck gawking at the celebs wandering in and out the door.
8715 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90069, USA
Known For
- Some of the city's best celeb sightings
- Rooftop views
- Excellent crab tempura
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No brunch weekdays
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$$$$ | Century City | Modern American
Accommodating Century City's growing legions of agents and lawyers, Craft, around since 2007, is a major film industry hangout. At the helm is Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio, who whips up shared plates like roasted octopus and foie gras with apple butter. Boutique produce goes into the plethora of side dishes, and desserts may include triple chocolate sunflower cookies or house-made ice creams and sorbets. In its open, airy dining room, deals are brokered over lunches made with seasonal ingredients.
10100 Constellation Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90067, USA
Known For
- House-made sorbet and ice cream
- Triple chocolate sunflower cookie
- Seasonal veggies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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$$$$ | Beverly Hills |
In a true collision of artistic titans, celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck presents his take on steak houses in a space designed by Getty Center architect Richard Meier. Playful dishes like bone-marrow flan take center stage, while dry-aged and seared hunks of Nebraskan sirloin prove the Austrian-born chef understands America's love affair with beef. Other favorites include the “Louis” cocktail (Alaskan king crab and Louisiana shrimp) and dark chocolate soufflé for dessert.
9500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90212, USA
Known For
- Decadent dark chocolate soufflé
- Fantastic crab and shrimp cocktail
- Perfect cuts of beef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Brentwood | Japanese
Highly regarded sushi chef Katsuya Uechi turns out spicy tuna atop crispy rice, whimsical wonton cones filled with scoops of silky crab and tuna tartare, and larger plates like miso-marinated black cod. Don't neglect the plates from the robata bar, where skewers of meats are grilled over hot coals. Trend-conscious patrons sit in a seductive space designed by Philippe Starck. Glossy lips kiss the room's clientele from one wall, while kohl-rimmed eyes peer out from behind the sushi bar.
11777 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90049, USA
Known For
- Philippe Starck–designed space
- Delicious crispy rice
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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$$$$ | Koreatown |
Situated inside the Hotel Normandie in a minuscule space, Le Comptoir is a 10-seat French restaurant helmed by chef Gary Menes that features veggie-forward food in an unstuffy setting. The counter spot earned a Michelin star for its organic kitchen and intimate atmosphere that gives guests one-on-one attention from the chef who is making and plating your food right in front of you.
3606 W. 6th. St., Los Angeles, California, 90020, USA
Known For
- Eight-course tasting menu of innovative French cuisine
- Intimate setting
- Vegetarian-friendly dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Wed.
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$$$$ | Pasadena | Seafood
A nautical-themed seafood restaurant is giving Pasadena couples another reason to go out at night. The seasonally changing menu might feature amberjack crudo or crostino with chopped octopus. The wine pairings are on point for the perfectly cooked albacore tuna and Hokkaido scallops in brown butter. Always packed (even making reservations can be tough), this seafood haven is a welcome treat to the ever-growing food scene in this sleepy part of town.
57 Holly St., Los Angeles, California, 91103, USA
Known For
- Perfectly cooked albacore tuna
- Always packed
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Malibu |
This steak house doesn't just feature the best views of the beach; it's also a great place to scope out A-listers. You may be paying for the ambience, but mouthwatering Wagyu steaks, Dungeness crab, and lobster mashed potatoes just seem to taste better when the ocean is nipping at your feet. Live jazz can be heard every night of the week, and a lively brunch on the weekends is always a scene as well. To get a reservation, try booking at least three weeks in advance.
18412 Pacific Coast Hwy., Los Angeles, California, 90265, USA
Known For
- Lively weekend brunch
- Live jazz nightly
- Reservations needed in advance
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$$$$ | Beverly Hills |
Matū is a steak restaurant that features 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef from New Zealand. Diners here are treated to a cavalcade of meaty options, but you should opt for the (surprisingly) affordable Matū dinner that comes with five courses and includes everything from steak tartare to eight-hour braised beef cheek. If you come for lunch (Wednesday to Sunday only), you can partake in the best Philly cheesesteak in the city made with the same exceptional beef.
239 S. Beverly Dr., Los Angeles, California, 90212, USA
Known For
- Five-course prix-fixe menu
- Grass-fed New Zealand Wagyu
- Outstanding service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | Beverly Hills |
Tucked into the back of Sugarfish (a popular sushi chain) in the middle of Beverly Hills, this secret omakase (chef's choice) sushi spot has only 10 seats, where master chef Osamu Fujita slices up the freshest cuts of raw fish from a 20-course tasting menu. If you ever wanted to get a one-on-one with a culinary wizard, this is your chance as you sit a foot away from the chef while he prepares your perfect portions. Reservations aren't easy, but can be made 60 days in advance.
212 N. Canon Dr., Los Angeles, California, 90210, USA
Known For
- Omakase sushi
- Bluefin tuna hand rolls
- Hard-to-get reservations needed
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Beverly Hills |
Nothing says Beverly Hills quite like the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. This classic, monied spot is home to Hollywood royalty and entertainment luminaries noshing on lobster Nicoise or the famed Wagyu burger during power lunches. A beautiful flower-lined courtyard provides a modicum of privacy for celebrity A-, B-, and C-listers, while inside features live piano music every night of the week. Afternoon tea is a favorite for locals and the Sunday jazz brunch is the perfect way to end your weekend. Note that there's a loose dress code here, which means no baseball hats, ripped jeans, men's tank tops, or the like.
9641 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90210, USA
Known For
- Celebrity sightings
- Mouthwatering Wagyu burgers
- Dress code of no ripped jeans or baseball caps
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Every night is different at this elegant, one-Michelin-starred omakase (chef-selected) sushi joint. It all depends on what's the freshest and what's the absolute best. The Zen-like space mostly consists of a long, simple wood bar, abacus-lined wall, hanging orb lights, and the master chef Hiroyuki Naruke serving each customer. On any given seating you can find bluefin tuna, giant clams, Hokkaido scallops, Japanese bonito, and more. There are roughly 15--20 courses and each bite is better than the last.
521 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California, 90017, USA
Known For
- Pricey multicourse omakase menu
- Elegant ambience
- Fresh bluefin tuna and Hokkaido scallops
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat.
