The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These categories serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions.
Many restaurants, including some that are licensed and offer wine on the menu, allow customers to bring their own wine. However, a corkage charge (sometimes up to US$25) will be added to the bill.
Price categories are as follows:
$$$$ (over US$75)
$$$ (US$45 to US$75)
$$ (US$25 to US$45)
$ (under US$25)
These prices include starter, main course, dessert and
the equivalent of a half-bottle of wine. Not included is the 8.25% sales tax or a customary tip of 15-20%.
GourmetAgo Pronounced ‘AHHgo’, this Tuscan-style restaurant attracts stars like a magnet. The stylish, modern decor is enriched by candlelight and handsome Italian waiters, who dash around efficiently on split levels that cause havoc with the acoustics. The
bistecca and the porcini mushroom risotto are good main courses and the extensive dessert menu includes a delicious ricotta cheesecake.
8478 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood
Tel: (323) 655 6333.
Website:
www.agorestaurant.com Price: $$$$
Campanile
A remarkable building, commissioned in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin, has been designed with new Mediterranean features that reflect the cuisine of former
Spago chef Mark Peel. Graceful arches connect the elegant dining rooms and atrium courtyard to the central sky-lit room, offering views of the building’s famous bell tower. Expect yummy main courses like rosemary-charred baby lamb, with warm potato salad and sprouted broccoli, spring onion and mustard butter, or seared spot prawns served with agretti, ginger and lobster butter. Weekday evenings have ‘special nights’ - ‘family-style’ Monday, ‘chef tasting’ Wednesday, ‘grilled cheese’ Thursday and ‘Friday night Flights.’ Lunch, dinner and brunch Saturday and Sunday. Closed Sunday evening.
624 South La Brea Avenue, Mid-Wilshire
Tel: (323) 938 1447.
Website:
www.campanilerestaurant.com Price: $$$$
Noe
With Chef Robert Gadsby, the
Noe at the
Omni is a participant in the newest trend - having celebrated chefs’ restaurants in upscale hotels. Gadsby’s innovative cuisine includes delicious signature dishes like mimosa salad with chicken and minted mango frappe, and hazelnut-crusted tuna, sweet and sour spinach and pear and soy mustard sauce. Live piano echoing great oldies in the background and an elegant, dimly lit dining room make this the perfect place for a romantic evening.
The Omni Los Angeles Hotel, 251 South Olive Street
Tel: (213) 356 4100.
Website:
www.noerestaurant.com Price: $$$-$$$$
Patina
This is LA’s haven for gourmets who never let cost get in the way of fine food. Chef Joachim Spichal whips up Californian-French nouvelle cuisine, while wife/hostess Christine welcomes diners. Elegant espresso-leather decor is complemented by exquisite starters, like a duo of foie gras with roasted apricot. Main courses, such as caramelized halibut with wild mushroom ragout or beef tenderloin with red pepper aubergine caviar are just as good. There are fixed-price menus well worth trying too, including one for vegetarians. Sumptuous desserts include a warm chocolate pecan tart with chocolate sauce, caramel and cream sorbet. The cheese list and wine offerings may be the best in LA. Lunch Friday only.
141 South Grand Avenue, Downtown
Tel: (213) 972 3331.
Website:
www.patinagroup.com Price: $$$$
Spago
Chef Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant is for the rich and famous. Grandiose entrance doors set the stage for the over-the-top interior decor, with its etched and stained-glass, plus art by the likes of David Hockney. The centerpiece patio, with olive trees and fountain, is home to the most coveted tables. Main courses like duck breast with black mushrooms and confit back are excellent, but Puck is particularly renowned for his pizzas. All have light, buttery crusts and much mozzarella. The sautéed shrimp with pesto pizza is superb, as are the imaginative desserts. The 34-page wine list satisfies all tastes. Dinner nightly, lunch Monday to Saturday. Puck’s newest venture is
Cut at the
Beverly Wilshire.
176 North Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 385 0880.
Website:
www.wolfgangpuck.com Price: $$$$
Cut,
Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 275 5200.
BusinessCa’Brea
Pronounced ‘ka-brea’, this woody restaurant with high ceilings and two tiers is known for Italian food that looks as good as it tastes. The starters, bread, risottos and pasta dishes, such as home made agnolotti stuffed with veal and prosciutto in a mushroom sauce are particularly recommended. Popular with young lawyers and film industry people, the restaurant gets very crowded in the evening, so reservations are essential for the best spots.
346 South La Brea Avenue, Midtown
Tel: (323) 938 2863.
Website:
www.cabrearestaurant.com Price: $$$
Café des Artistes
This country-style cottage in the heart of Hollywood, run by Jean-Pierre Bosc, is one of the city’s hottest spots. The simple French food is cooked to perfection and ranges from starters like Merguez sausages in cumin dip, through to salads and sandwiches, bistro standards like
moules-frites or
steak-frites, to full main courses, such as a braised lamb shank Provenςal. While the restaurant’s hardwood interior is cosy, the charming garden setting of the front and back patios is the most sought-after.
1534 North McCadden Place, Hollywood
Tel: (323) 469 7300.
Website:
www.cafedesartistes.info Price: $$-$$$
Chaya Brasserie
This lively restaurant’s Mediterranean-meets-Asian-Pacific-New-Wave cuisine, prepared by a Japanese chef, has been luring Los Angelenos for years with its elegant decor, food and staff. Recommended dishes include the lobster ravioli with a pesto cream sauce or the venison with black peppercorns, chestnut purée and champignons. The bar menu, which includes sushi, is cheaper during happy hour (1700-2000) here and in the Venice Beach branch, where the service and decor pale somewhat in comparison.
8741 Alden Drive, West Hollywood/Melrose
Tel: (310) 859 8833.
Website:
www.thechaya.com Price: $$$
Chaya Venice, 110 Navy Street, Venice
Tel: (310) 396 1179.
Maple Drive
Tucked away on a subdued side street, this classy restaurant, with its plush, high-backed booths and varied menu, is a film and record executive favorite. Steamed bouchot mussels Provenςal, pan-roasted black bass, or oven-roasted veal loin can be savoured by the fireplace or on the open-air terrace, which often has live jazz.
Maple Drive classics like Caesar salad, meatloaf and Kick Ass Chili are always available. Closed Sunday.
345 North Maple Drive, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 274 9800.
Website:
www.mapledriverestaurant.com Price: $$$$
TrendyLocanda Veneta
Movie stars flock to this lively Italian restaurant, consistently ranked one of the best in town. Tender calamari or bruschetta with mushrooms can be followed by homemade pastas, such as lobster ravioli with creamy saffron sauce. Generous portions, like veal scalopinni,
prepared differently each day, leave little room for the rich desserts, but you might want to squeeze in a little vanilla custard with caramel sauce. The menu changes weekly. Closed Sunday.
8638 West Third Street, Midtown
Tel: (310) 274 1893.
Website:
www.locandaveneta.com Price: $$$
BudgetEl Cholo
In 1923,
El Cholo was the first Mexican restaurant in LA; today, this chain is an excellent value option for families and large groups. The walls, decorated with colorful Mexican trinkets, add to the lively atmosphere. Specialties include blue corn chicken enchiladas and green corn
tamales (available May-October only). The flan is also excellent and the margaritas reliably good. There are branches in Santa Monica and at Los Angeles airport.
1121 South Western Avenue, Midtown
Tel: (323) 734 2773.
Website:
www.elcholo.com Price: $$
1025 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 899 1106.
Terminal 5, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Tel: (310) 417 1910.
Mishima
This bright, spacious, modern noodle restaurant offers cheap and delicious Japanese food to a smart Asian clientele and discerning Westerners. Recommendations include fresh swordfish, sweet potato purée, marinated seaweed, seared tuna salad with wasabe dressing or nabeyaki udon soup with spinach, mushrooms, shrimp, chicken, egg and fishcake.
8474 West Third Street, Beverly Hills
Tel: (323) 782 0181.
Website:
www.mishima.com Price: $$
Newsroom Café
Vegans and the health-conscious will embrace this large bohemian café, complete with designer wall lighting and outdoor patio, which offers veggie burgers, salads and fresh fruit smoothies. Weight watchers who love desserts will be especially at home, as the ‘fat-free’ desserts include marble cake, apple cake and fresh fruit cornbread cobbler with vanilla ice cream - indulge without guilt. There is another branch in Santa Monica.
120 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood/Melrose
Tel: (310) 652 4444.
Price: $$
530 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 319 9100.
Out Take Bistro
This small, modern yet cosy café full of aspiring actors and musicians offers a simple, healthy menu of staples, such as Caesar salad and pasta dishes. The homemade
borscht, served hot or cold, is an original Armenian recipe from the owner’s mother. The staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. Free parking available.
11929 Ventura Boulevard
Tel: (818) 760 1111.
Website:
www.outtakebistro.com Price: $$
Personal RecommendationsCapri
The minimalist white decor, with Bauhaus-style chairs and black leather booths, is accentuated by romantic candle chandeliers and elegant twinkling lights, and offers a varied wine list and attentive service. This will appeal to everyone. The pumpkin ravioli with sage and pine nuts justifies its fame but the starters, such as the warm herbed goat’s cheese with greens, are noteworthy, as is the tarte tatin.
1616 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Tel: (310) 392 8777.
Price: $$
Roy’s
True, this is a chain, but that is a good thing. No matter at which
Roy’s one dines, the Hawaiian-fusion menu never disappoints. The décor is minimalist, but the food is delicious. Roy’s Canoe Appetizers
are a changing sampling of such tasty treats as
shrimp sticks, baby back ribs, ahi poke, pork and seafood potstickers. Roy’s Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi with lobster butter sauce will have you smacking your lips. Try the tasty prix fixe menu and you won’t go wrong.
800 South Figueroa Street
Tel:
(213) 488 4994.
Website:
www.roysrestaurant.comPrice: $$$
Joe’s Restaurant
This crisp, stylish restaurant is renowned for reliable yet imaginative food. Breads come with a superb olive tapenade. A changing menu offers creative cuisine like New Zealand salmon with mushrooms, polenta and citrus-soy emulsion or goat’s cheese cake for dessert. The lunch menu offers a good deal for two courses. The use of mobile phones is forbidden.
1023 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Tel: (310) 399 5811.
Website:
www.joesrestaurant.com Price: $$$
Lula
This Mexican cantina is named after chef Lula Bertran (culinary guru to the restaurant’s well-known Irish owner Gerri Gilliland) who also owns Santa Monica’s authentic Irish pub,
Finn McCools. An oasis on Santa Monica’s main street, the bright decor and garden patio are the backdrop for top-notch margaritas and regional specialties like lobster taquitos. The flan and
churros (Mexican donuts) are musts for dessert.
2720 Main Street, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 392 5711.
Website:
www.gerrigilliland.com Price: $$
The Palm
Steaks and giant lobsters are the draw here at this favorite celebrity hangout. Hand-drawn caricatures on the walls (the
Palm’s signature décor) date back to the 1920s when the original Palm restaurant was on Second Avenue in New York. Portions are large, but be sure to save room for the creamed spinach in garlic oil and the New York cheesecake. Service is excellent.
9001 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Tel: (310) 550 8811.
Website:
www.thepalm.com Price: $$$
1100 South Flower Street, Los Angeles
Tel: (213) 76 4600.
Typhoon
For those who love adventure, this modern Pacific Rim restaurant is a must. Not only is its location (above a runway at Santa Monica airport with neon-lit night views) precarious, but its menu will terrify the timid. Starting out tamely enough with items like coconut soup, pork spare ribs and roasted aubergine, it cuts to the chase with stir-fried crickets, Chambai ants and white sea worms. Yes, the real thing - and they are surprisingly delicious. There are also less unusual spicy fish and meat dishes.
3221 Donald Douglas Loop South (between Centinela Avenue and 23rd Street), Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 390 6565.
Website:
www.typhoon.biz Price: $$
Woo Lae Oak
This traditional Korean barbecue offers one of LA’s best ethnic cuisines in an authentic atmosphere. Marinated meats and exotic vegetables are grilled at each table. Meals come with a choice of one of 30
kimchis (Korean spicy pickled cabbage) and soup. The Beverly Hills branch caters to an American business crowd with more upmarket ambience.
170 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 652 4187.
Price: $$$
Nightlife:The ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ has a range of nightlife - nightclubs, cabarets, jazz, rock, blues and country and western can all be found somewhere in town. Clubs offer a mix of live bands and recorded music on different nights of the week. Comedy clubs are also big in LA.
Sunset Boulevard (with its famous ‘Sunset Strip’) still boasts some of the city’s most famous clubs but is by no means the only hotspot. Other good nightlife areas are Santa Monica, especially along Third Street Promenade; Hollywood and West Hollywood, the latter a center for gay nightlife. Pine Avenue in Long Beach and Pasadena’s Old Town also have a good number of jazz clubs and other night spots. Admission prices for clubs and live music vary widely according to the entertainment. Entertainment listings can be found in
LA Weekly (website:
www.laweekly.com), a free paper distributed around town. Because of LA liquor laws, bars stop serving at 0200. The minimum drinking age is 21 years and you should carry photo ID at all times, as you may not even be allowed in a venue without it. There is no smoking inside any public place in Los Angeles and this includes bars and nightclubs. However, many offer outdoor areas where smoking is permitted.
Bars: Starting with the Sunset Strip, the
Rainbow Bar & Grill, 90015 Sunset Boulevard, attracts the music industry and is known as the hair-metal drinking spot of the 1980s. The
SkyBar, at the Philippe Starck-designed
Mondrian Hotel, 8440 Sunset Boulevard, is a very smart spot for LA’s beautiful people and has a great view as well as the glamorous look of this hotel chain. Another hotel bar,
The Standard, 8300 Sunset Boulevard, a former nursing home, is slightly less difficult to get into, but equally popular and stylish. Still on Sunset, make sure you stop off at number 8358, the
Sunset Tour Hotel, a splendid 1920s building, whose authentic art deco lounge bar extends to the pool area complete with statues of pink flamingos. The
Cat’N Fiddle is an English-style bar with courtyard and fountain, at 6530 Sunset Boulevard. Two other good choices include
Spider Club at 1737 Vine Street and the
Velvet Margarita Cantina, a late night trendy Mexican lounge, 1612 North Cahuenga Boulevard, both in Hollywood.
For LA gay life, try any bar along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, including the reliable
Gold Coast at number 8228, or the crazy
Fubar at number 7994, with drag queens and bingo nights. The biggest are probably
Rage at number 8911, and
Circus Disco at 6655, and
Micky’s at 8857. Lesbians in this boys’ paradise have
Palms, at 8572. For a mixed, hipper crowd, try
Akbar, 4356 West Sunset Boulevard.
For fans of the film
Swingers, it is worth making the trek to Los Feliz, where the
Dresden Room, 1760 North Vermont Avenue, all white leather upholstery and cork walls, is good for sipping cocktails while listening to the loungey crooning of resident performers Marty and Elayne.
The
Observation Bar, aboard the
RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, is an art deco joy - a great place for a romantic martini while the sun sets. In the same area, the
Rock Bottom Brewery, 1 Pine Avenue, is a good place to try handmade beers brewed on the premises. Downtown, the best views of the skyscrapers can be had from the revolving cocktail bar,
BonaVista at Westin Bonaventure Hotel, 404 South Figueroa Street. With souvenir glasses, floor to ceiling windows and piped music, it’s all very 1980s but hard to beat. Also Downtown,
The Roof Bar at The Standard, 550 South Flower Street, is a very stylish place to check out the skyscrapers.
Clubs: The eclectic
Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Boulevard (website:
www.viperroom.com), owned by Johnny Depp, is a small, dark, hip hangout for rock musicians and groupies, although its club nights tend to be more funk and disco. River Phoenix died there in 1993 of a drug-induced heart failure.
In Santa Monica,
Gotham Hall, 1431 Third Street Promenade (website:
www.gothamhall.com), with its clubby look and popular billiards hall, is populated by pretty boys and girls. The sophisticated
Club Cohiba part of
Mum’s Restaurant, 110 East Broadway, Long Beach (website:
www.mumsrestaurant.com), features a cigar and billiard room, a Martini lounge and a roof top terrace with live salsa on Fridays and Saturdays. Swing-dancing is making a comeback in LA and the
Derby, 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard, is the best place to jive - also featured in the film
Swingers.
LA is getting a dance club scene, as international DJs start to play there more and more. A former 1920s speakeasy
Boardner’s, 1652 North Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood (website:
www.boardners.com), is now a state-of-the-art dance club where dancers grind to everything from goth to funk to erotica. For serious style, long queues and sexy dancing (including semi-naked dancers on glass-encased podiums), try
Deep, 1707 Vine Street, on the corner of Hollywood and Vine Streets (website:
www.deep-la.com). Run by the same man (Ivan Kane) as Deep is the new
Forty Deuce, 5574 Melrose Avenue (website:
www.fortydeuce.com), a sultry cabaret-style lounge-bar, complete with burlesque. A bit further out in Santa Monica, but equally good, is
The Space, at 2020 Wilshire Boulevard.
Comedy: The Comedy Store, 8433 West Sunset Boulevard (website:
www.thecomedystore.com), is a good starting point as it features three rooms, which offer a variety of acts, from mainstream to fledgling. In the past, it has seen the arrival of people like Robin Williams, David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg and Gary Shandling. The
Laugh Factory, 8001 West Sunset Boulevard (website:
www.laughfactory.com), is a smaller venue where you may see famous names, like Jerry Seinfeld or Rodney Dangerfield, testing out their routines.
Groundlings 7307 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood (website:
www.groundlings.com) is another premier venue where several
Saturday Night Live members (Laraine Newman for example) got their start.
Live Music: The
House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Boulevard (website: www.hob.com), features top blues and folk names. It is also committed to hosting rap and hip hop artists - other venues and promoters have tended to shy away from this in more recent years.
Harvelle’s, 1432 Fourth Street, in Santa Monica (website:
www.harvelles.com) is another good spot for blues.
Top jazz entertainers perform at the packed
Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Boulevard (website:
www.catalinajazzclub.com). Booking is essential. Another good spot, the
Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Boulevard in Culver City (website:
www.jazzbakery.com), offers up world-class music every evening.
Two venerable rock clubs, hosting fairly mainstream acts, are
The Roxy and
Whisky A Go-Go at 9009 and 8901 Sunset Boulevard.
The Staples Center, 1111 South Figueroa Street (website:
www.staplescenter.com), is the venue for mega-concerts and events, such as the
Grammy Awards.
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