17 Feb 2016
Selecting the perfect place to dine is often a tricky decision – you want to know what's good, but more specifically, you want the inside scoop on the hot and happening places that locals love.
Affectionately known as a 'city of cities', L.A.'s neighbourhoods are bursting with eateries, which reflect the multi-cultural influence of the communities who call L.A. home. Foodies can enjoy a round-the-world trip with their taste buds, sampling the best cuisines and fusion-inspired fare including: Mexican, Korean, Ethiopian, Armenian, Italian, South American, Australian and everything in between.
No matter what size and type of group you're hosting, whether you're looking for a chic café, a cool farmers' market, an iconic L.A. food truck or a sophisticated star-spotting restaurant, you will be spoilt for choice in L.A.
Must-Visit Eateries
Redbird
114 East Second Street, Downtown
Housed in what was once the Vibiana Cathedral rectory, Redbird features a main dining room that is truly breathtaking. The kitchen serves dishes such as New Caledonian shrimp served on grits with cocoa nib chipotle mole, grilled Spanish octopus salad with kale and the extremely popular chicken pie pot, served piping hot in a gorgeous copper pot.
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
Local chefs love to eat at Gjelina, which is arguably the best endorsement for a restaurant. The pizzas are some of the best in the city, offering a large selection of vegetarian options including wood roasted cauliflower with garlic, chili and vinegar. But be warned, no substitutions can be made, whether you're an A-lister or not!
Mas Malo
15 W. 7th Street (1st Floor), Downtown
The revitalisation of Downtown L.A. has seen many historic buildings taking on new leases of life. Step inside what was once a historic jewellery store and discover Mas Malo, a wonderful take on Mexican dining. Based on simple, locally sourced and high-quality ingredients, Màs Malo features east L.A. style Chicano food such as pumpkin flower soft tacos and unique cocktails such as their spicy cucumber margarita.
Broken Spanish
1050 S. Flower Street, Downtown
Ray Garcia has done a spectacular job of creating a homely yet classy restaurant in Downtown L.A., just around the corner from the Staples Centre and Convention Centre. Taking an innovative approach on Mexican cuisine, the menu features lamb neck tamales, heirloom corn tortillas, mushrooms with black garlic and griddled masa, rebonada smeared with foie gras, and moronga topped with peach and arugula. The chicharrone, his take on porchetta, is absolutely epic to share with a group.
Another of Garcia's restaurants, B.S. Taqueria, is also worth a visit if you can't get a reservation. This restaurant follows the Broken Spanish ethos, preparations demonstrating elements of long- established tradition, paired with contemporary approaches and local flavours.
Commissary
The Line Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd, Koreatown
www.thelinehotel.com/dining/commissary
If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to eat in a giant greenhouse, now's your chance. Located on the second-floor roof deck of The Line Hotel in Koreatown, Roy Choi's Commissary focuses on 'farm to table' fresh vegetables. Let's just say that carrots have never looked sexier. Our picks include the brioche eggs benedict with hash browns, French toast with whipped cream and the charred carrots.
The Rose
220 Rose Avenue, Venice
Jason Neroni's massive new production in Venice Beach takes over an iconic, 36-year old restaurant of the same name. Everything inside has been upgraded, from the pastries to the new health menu in the evening. With its black kale salad, cubano sandwiches and wood fired swordfish, it's the most popular place to eat in Venice.
Hanjip
3829 Main Street, Culver City
Korean Barbecue is a popular trend in Los Angeles, and new eatery Hanjip is hitting all the right notes with diners. The meat quality is as good as you can get while the banchan gets better every week. On the menu is beef tongue, hamachi collar, short ribs and seafood pancakes, along with accompaniments like almond jelly and kimchi. They take reservations – the wait will be long without one.
Grand Central Market
317 S. Broadway, Downtown
Grand Central Market is a bustling food hub that opened in 1917 and has been open ever since. A historic downtown landmark, GCM provides L.A with a national eating experience that showcases California's best produce, chefs and entrepreneurs. Stand out vendors include Eggslut, a former food truck that serves up a range of egg loving dishes and G&B Coffee, which has champion baristas Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski serving up coffees, espresso drinks and teas selected from the world's top roasters and farms. This year it will welcome many more eateries, including a bar and brewery.
Original Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd Street, Fairfax
Operating since the 1930s, this iconic L.A. market was started by a farmer on a vacant plot of land on the boundary of L.A. where local farmers could sell their fresh fare. Now a city landmark, this market continues to operate, selling the freshest of produce to locals and A-listers alike. Key vendors include the newly opened Greenhouse, offering organic, locally-sourced produce, juices and smoothies curated by renowned mixologist, Jason Bran, and Zia Valentina, a fresh granita bar (Sicilian ice drinks) that draw upon the old family recipe.
Maude
212 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills
Billed as of the city's best new restaurants, Maude – run by Aussie celeb chef Curtis Stone, delights with monthly set menu inspired by one special seasonal ingredient. Offering a degustation menu only, this ingredient is creatively woven through each course. Bookings in this 25 seat restaurant fill up well in advance, so get in quick! In addition to Maude, Stone is preparing to open up another restaurant this year which will no doubt be as brilliant and coveted as this one.
Malibu Wine Safari
32111 Mulholland Highway, Malibu
Join this unique wine safari on a 1,000 acre vineyard and ranch in Malibu, only 30 minutes from Downtown L.A. You will stop in scenic spots for delicious wine pairings and get up close and personal with zebras, camels, alpacas, bison... even Stanley the Giraffe. After the Safari hit the tasting room to test out wines sourced from local vineyards in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Eat, drink and dineL.A.
www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela-los-angeles-restaurant-week
Get a taste of the vibrant L.A. restaurant scene with specially-priced meals at top restaurants during dineLA's Restaurant Week, a 12-day event held twice a year in January and July. Enjoy special lunch and dinner menus from hundreds of the County's most coveted restaurants, offering lobster tacos and ceviche through to osso bucco and bruschetta. Summer 2016 Restaurant Week takes place July 2016.
Nightlife Hotspots
1886 Bar
1250 S. Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena
www.theraymond.com
Located in South Pasadena, 1886 may be a bit hard to find if you weren't already dining at The Raymond. The bar is hidden in the back of this Craftsman house and is a charming little getaway, whether you sit at a table on the patio, an indoor high top or at the bar. At 1886, you'll be drinking with only those who are in the know, and thanks to a repertoire of more than 600 off-menu, incredibly innovative house cocktails, there's always something new every time you return.
The Edison
108 W. 2nd Street, Downtown
Another hidden bar in L.A., enter through a laneway and descend the staircase into this stunning, high-volume craft cocktail bar. Located inside an old power plant, The Edison continues to be a stalwart of L.A. nightlife. On Thursdays, you'll be treated to a burlesque extravaganza from within The Edison's industrial, gothic confines. Extra credit goes to guests that arrive in Roaring 20s fashion. You can also host a private event here - choose from five rooms with space for 10 to 80, each adorned with artifacts from the bygone era.
Good Times at Davey Wayne's
1611 N. El Centro Ave, Los Angeles
www.goodtimesatdaveywaynes.com
Run by hospitality brothers Mark and Jonnie Houston, this 1970s-themed bar is a tribute to their father, a blue-collar pool shark who enjoyed late nights in his garage fixing things. Entering from a secret door in a garage (which is actually a real garage sale), the inside is reminiscent of the set from The Brady Bunch and That 70's Show. Try one of their specialties, the alcoholic snow cones.
R Bar
3331 W. 8th Street, Koreatown
To get into R Bar you'll need a password, which doesn't take much more than some casual research on their social media channels. But once you're aboard this pirate-themed bar, you'll enjoy drink specials and karaoke for the masses. If you're game to dress up, you may be sweetly rewarded - said research also applies to the individually themed nights, so plan accordingly.
Lucky Strike
800 W. Olympic Blvd, Downtown
www.bowlluckystrike.com/locations/los-angeles
Located at L.A. Live, this bowling alley bar features 18 bowling lanes and two billiards tables, plus private party suites which have their own bowling lanes, private bar and plasma TVs for all your entertainment needs.
Angel City Brewery
216 S. Alameda Street, Downtown
This micro brewery is conveniently located in the Arts District, the center of a revival for the city's artists, musicians, hustlers and craftspeople. Offering a rotating selection of house-brewed beer on tap and a parking lot bustling with food trucks, this brewery promises a good night. The brewery also offers tours and spaces to host large and small events.
