Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
The best wine shop in Los Angeles also has a wonderful restaurant. Chef David Feau does delicious Provençal cuisine with California flair. It’s great for lunch, late afternoon cheese, or a delicious dinner, and stays open until 1am so it has a fun late-night scene, which is a rarity in Beverly Hills.
Have the burger, one of the best in the city, paired with one of their 60 reds by the glass, or make the most of it being an actual wine shop and pick out a great bottle of California cabernet. (There’s a $40 corkage fee.)
53 locals recommend
Thibiant Beverly Hills
447 N Canon DrThe best wine shop in Los Angeles also has a wonderful restaurant. Chef David Feau does delicious Provençal cuisine with California flair. It’s great for lunch, late afternoon cheese, or a delicious dinner, and stays open until 1am so it has a fun late-night scene, which is a rarity in Beverly Hills.
Have the burger, one of the best in the city, paired with one of their 60 reds by the glass, or make the most of it being an actual wine shop and pick out a great bottle of California cabernet. (There’s a $40 corkage fee.)
This is the most beautiful beachfront restaurant in California, with a star-studded clientele. A lot of people don’t know it’s also a great weekend brunch spot, which is a very calm time of day there and much easier to get into. For dinner, book far in advance, as it’s a coveted reservation.
For brunch, have the kaya toast, a decadent favorite of mine—it’s covered with coconut spread and you dip it in a soft-boiled egg—with a glass of Champagne. For dinner, order a red Burgundy and you will be amazed at how well it works with the cuisine, especially the seared toro with truffle teriyaki.
477 locals recommend
Nobu Malibu
22706 Pacific Coast HwyThis is the most beautiful beachfront restaurant in California, with a star-studded clientele. A lot of people don’t know it’s also a great weekend brunch spot, which is a very calm time of day there and much easier to get into. For dinner, book far in advance, as it’s a coveted reservation.
For brunch, have the kaya toast, a decadent favorite of mine—it’s covered with coconut spread and you dip it in a soft-boiled egg—with a glass of Champagne. For dinner, order a red Burgundy and you will be amazed at how well it works with the cuisine, especially the seared toro with truffle teriyaki.
I love the intimate, cozy club atmosphere here and they have an extensive wine list. There’s a wood-burning oven where they prepare amazing fish and meat dishes. It’s pretty spectacular.
Go for the Flannery Prime Holstein rib eye with a fabulous California cabernet. It’s great to rely on the sommelier because they know the list well. If they recommend something out of your price range, just point to a wine in your range and ask about it—it will start a conversation.
26 locals recommend
Capo
1810 Ocean AveI love the intimate, cozy club atmosphere here and they have an extensive wine list. There’s a wood-burning oven where they prepare amazing fish and meat dishes. It’s pretty spectacular.
Go for the Flannery Prime Holstein rib eye with a fabulous California cabernet. It’s great to rely on the sommelier because they know the list well. If they recommend something out of your price range, just point to a wine in your range and ask about it—it will start a conversation.
This is chef Josiah Citrin’s casual, grill-centric restaurant that serves amazing things like bison. Don’t miss the cabbage baked in embers. They cook a whole head of cabbage so it blackens on the outside and caramelizes, and serve it with a yogurt sauce. It’s the best cabbage you’ll ever have.
Come for their version of happy hour called “The Evening Glass Off” and have an amazing $9 burger at the bar with a glass of syrah. Chef Josiah makes his own J1 steak sauce, his take on A1 steak sauce; it’s really tasty.
47 locals recommend
Charcoal Venice
425 Washington BlvdThis is chef Josiah Citrin’s casual, grill-centric restaurant that serves amazing things like bison. Don’t miss the cabbage baked in embers. They cook a whole head of cabbage so it blackens on the outside and caramelizes, and serve it with a yogurt sauce. It’s the best cabbage you’ll ever have.
Come for their version of happy hour called “The Evening Glass Off” and have an amazing $9 burger at the bar with a glass of syrah. Chef Josiah makes his own J1 steak sauce, his take on A1 steak sauce; it’s really tasty.
A classic French bistro by Thomas Keller with beautiful mosaic floors and a grand space that still has an intimate feel. The tables are nicely spaced, so it’s a great place where you can really talk. And, you know, the food is just perfect.
Go on Monday evening for his grandmother’s famous fried chicken recipe and pair it with a classic white or red burgundy from France, or a California chardonnay.
14 locals recommend
Bouchon
235 North Canon DriveA classic French bistro by Thomas Keller with beautiful mosaic floors and a grand space that still has an intimate feel. The tables are nicely spaced, so it’s a great place where you can really talk. And, you know, the food is just perfect.
Go on Monday evening for his grandmother’s famous fried chicken recipe and pair it with a classic white or red burgundy from France, or a California chardonnay.
If you find yourself venturing downtown, check out chef Angelo Auriana’s lively and delicious Italian trattoria in a converted gas-meter warehouse. I’ll come here with a group of friends after going to galleries in the Arts District.
The menu changes often but this is the place for risotto, oven-roasted fish, and slow-braised meats. Ask for the farinata, an irresistible crepe cooked in the wood oven, and order a good bottle of Barolo. Start with one of their special negronis, a creative and delicious way to kick off an evening.
7 locals recommend
BRERA Ristorante
1331 E 6th StIf you find yourself venturing downtown, check out chef Angelo Auriana’s lively and delicious Italian trattoria in a converted gas-meter warehouse. I’ll come here with a group of friends after going to galleries in the Arts District.
The menu changes often but this is the place for risotto, oven-roasted fish, and slow-braised meats. Ask for the farinata, an irresistible crepe cooked in the wood oven, and order a good bottle of Barolo. Start with one of their special negronis, a creative and delicious way to kick off an evening.
This contemporary French restaurant is my favorite special occasion place. I always have their lobster Bolognese, which has a fun story to it: The chef used to make a staff meal out of any leftover lobster and everybody loved it so much that the customers found out and started ordering it.
Don’t miss the lobster Bolognese, of course, and the rotisserie chicken stuffed with truffles is wonderful as well. Go for a great red Burgundy on the beautifully curated wine list.
34 locals recommend
Melisse Restaurant
1104 Wilshire BlvdThis contemporary French restaurant is my favorite special occasion place. I always have their lobster Bolognese, which has a fun story to it: The chef used to make a staff meal out of any leftover lobster and everybody loved it so much that the customers found out and started ordering it.
Don’t miss the lobster Bolognese, of course, and the rotisserie chicken stuffed with truffles is wonderful as well. Go for a great red Burgundy on the beautifully curated wine list.
For over ten years, this has been the best place for modern American seafood in LA. Chef Michael Cimarusti uses only the finest wild-caught sustainable products in his tasting menus. The elegant dining room is perfect for a special date night.
Don't miss his famous uni, abalone, and geoduck dish called the Ugly Bunch! It’s great with a white Burgundy, and this is the place to order it.
83 locals recommend
Providence
5955 Melrose AveFor over ten years, this has been the best place for modern American seafood in LA. Chef Michael Cimarusti uses only the finest wild-caught sustainable products in his tasting menus. The elegant dining room is perfect for a special date night.
Don't miss his famous uni, abalone, and geoduck dish called the Ugly Bunch! It’s great with a white Burgundy, and this is the place to order it.
This is a big, lively, hip restaurant in Hancock Park serving elevated bistro fare. It’s housed in a historic and dramatic space: The building was originally constructed by Charlie Chaplin in 1928 as his studio and office, and for years was home to Campanile and LaBrea Bakery.
Don't miss the Santa Barbara uni toast, the decadent spinach cavatelli, and the perfect sole (go on Thursday when they receive their fresh fish). They’ve got a great wine list, and I would trust sommelier Taylor Parsons to pick the perfect wines for you.
319 locals recommend
Republique
624 S La Brea AveThis is a big, lively, hip restaurant in Hancock Park serving elevated bistro fare. It’s housed in a historic and dramatic space: The building was originally constructed by Charlie Chaplin in 1928 as his studio and office, and for years was home to Campanile and LaBrea Bakery.
Don't miss the Santa Barbara uni toast, the decadent spinach cavatelli, and the perfect sole (go on Thursday when they receive their fresh fish). They’ve got a great wine list, and I would trust sommelier Taylor Parsons to pick the perfect wines for you.
Spago is such a classic. Whenever I have people in town that aren’t familiar with LA, I always take them here because Wolfgang Puck is one of the pioneers of great dining in LA and he’s the quintessential restaurateur.
In my opinion, you’re going to a classic California restaurant, so I think you should work with the sommelier to order a bottle of classic California wine.
92 locals recommend
Spago
176 N Canon DrSpago is such a classic. Whenever I have people in town that aren’t familiar with LA, I always take them here because Wolfgang Puck is one of the pioneers of great dining in LA and he’s the quintessential restaurateur.
In my opinion, you’re going to a classic California restaurant, so I think you should work with the sommelier to order a bottle of classic California wine.