The dining scene at Los Angeles hotel restaurants is far from boring and staid. Here, chefs with MICHELIN cred are serving enthralling yet intimate dinners, offering up Peruvian small plates on rooftops with stunning skyline views, and providing sustainable seafood at beachside restaurants where you can hear the waves roll in. That’s just a small taste of what the City of Angels has to offer. Read on for top-notch Los Angeles hotel restaurants worth making a reservation at.
Openaire (Downtown)
Experience the spacious greenhouse vibes of Openaire in Koreatown’s Line Hotel, where acclaimed chef Josiah Citrin celebrates regional bounty from both land and sea. Start with the savory and sweet ricotta fritters served with saffron honey or go for the buttermilk fried quail dipped in black peppercorn-laced honey. The mains include a crispy duck confit with bacon kimchi rice, and seared albacore tuna served with heirloom tomatoes and pickled red onion. At the marble-topped bar, order from a list of cocktails like the purple rain which features hibiscus rum, bitters, and apricot yuzu.
Caldo Verde (Downtown)
Make your way downtown for a taste of Portuguese and Spanish flavors from chef Suzanne Goin. In the lobby of the Proper Hotel, the restaurant is spread across nearly 2,500 square feet, with both bar and main floor seating available. For breakfast, chorizo and eggs with sofrito make for a flavorful start to any day. Dinner entrees include chorizo-stuffed squid with mustard greens, and side dishes such as roasted carrots with green harissa and patatas bravas topped with spiced tomatoes and garlic aioli.
Le Comptoir (Downtown)
Get up close with chef Gary Menes as he plates and serves diners at his MICHELIN-star, 10-seat counter spot inside Koreatown’s Hotel Normandie. The 8-course tasting-menu features seasonal ingredients from an urban garden in Long Beach and other local growers. Vegetable-focused courses include a velvety purple asparagus velouté served with Greek-style cashew yogurt and bread crumbs, and crispy tempura of green beans that sit in romesco sauce along with roasted garlic. Wine can be paired with each course. Let yourself be enthralled in the open-air kitchen as Menes and his team showcase their magic to the sounds of jazz, classical, and contemporary music.
The Exchange Restaurant (Downtown)
Enter this bright dining room draped by foliage, just past the Freehand Hotel’s lobby. Chef Narita Santos’ menu has Israeli, California, and Filipino influences. The family-style dinner menu is divided into five sections: raw, salatim (salads), large plates, mains, and sides. Highlights include a whole fried fish with a tahini harissa sauce, duck carnitas served with tomatillo salsa, and pargiyot, an Israeli chicken skewer dish that comes with fennel and labneh. The cocktail menu incorporates fermented syrups featuring ingredients such as Thai chiles and date honey. Get the lychee and kefir drink with gin or the persimmon and koji berries creation with tequila. There’s also a selection of house-pressed juices including sour cherry and persimmon. Grab a seat at one of the stylish wooden benches or get comfortable on one of the orange banquettes—you’ll want to linger here for a while.
Patio del Mar (Santa Monica)
Oceanside views paired with dishes sourced from local, sustainable farms are the focus at Casa del Mar’s recently revamped Patio del Mar restaurant. On warmer days, gazpacho drizzled with olive oil or grilled stone fruit salad with gorgonzola cheese and raspberry dressing are refreshing remedies. Handheld options include a lobster roll with lemon aioli, and a chicken avocado panini with pickled onions. For cocktails, take your pick of sangria, spritzes, or a selection of wines from California, as you watch the waves roll in from the Pacific Ocean.
The Rooftop by JG (Beverly Hills)
Make your way to the 12th floor of the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Hotel for panoramic views of Beverly Hills and Hollywood from JG Rooftop’s prime location. It’s a place where you’ll see record executives and celebrities enjoying the food of star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Shareable plates include burrata paired with tangy rhubarb compote and salmon tartare with yuzu mustard sauce. If you’re feeling decadent, don’t miss the French fries topped with caviar and crème fraîche. The open-air terrace has plenty of lounging spots alongside walls lined with flowers or grab a seat at the plush, sea green booths near the bar.
Per L’Ora (Downtown)
For a special night out and a taste of modern Californian cuisine, head downtown to Per L’Ora in the Per La Hotel. In what was a 1922 bank building, the glitzy space features a golden-coffered ceiling and marble walls throughout the dining room. Chef Courtney Van Dyke’s menu includes starters such as chorizo and manchego on toast. For mains, try juicy spatchcocked chicken with Peruvian aji verde sauce and potatoes, or veal Milanese with fermented chile vinaigrette.
Cabra (Downtown)
Peruvian small plates are the focus at Cabra on the rooftop of the Hoxton Hotel and a prime example of downtown’s vibrant dining scene. Start with the citrusy salmon and bass ceviches or go for the hot chorizo and queso dip with sweet potato chips. Some of the larger plates on chef Stephanie Izard’s menu are a crispy pork shank with a pickled squash salad. Pair it with the pass the honey, a passion fruit, honey, and bourbon cocktail, as you take in the city’s skyline.
Fig (Santa Monica)
This restaurant, at the Fairmont Hotel Miramar in Santa Monica, is named after the towering 80-foot Moreton Bay fig tree at the hotel’s entrance. Taking inspiration from that bounty, the seasonal menu at Fig has Mediterranean and California influences. Appetizers include arugula salad with tahini, artichokes, and goat cheese, and hearty entrees include braised short ribs served with heirloom carrots. Save room for some warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert, or strawberry shortcake with yogurt sorbet. This neighborhood bistro has a lively patio to eat outdoors or sit in the lush, airy dining room with plants hanging from the ceiling.
Avec Nous (Beverly Hills)
Get a taste of the French Riviera right in the heart of Beverly Hills at L’ Ermitage’s elegant bistro Avec Nous. For brunch, house favorites include an omelet with lobster, asparagus, and béchamel sauce, and housemade waffles with chantilly cream. For dinner, tender côte de bœuf for two is sliced table-side, or try vegan tagine with braised vegetables and a side of aromatic couscous. Cocktails include classic barrel-aged negronis and Manhattans, as well as a number of wines by the glass from California, France, and Argentina. Grab a seat inside the dining room, where a sleek bar with leather paneling, vintage light fixtures, and antique mirrors completes the bistro feel.
Kristin Braswell is a journalist and founder of CrushGlobal Travel, a company that customizes travel guides and authentic experiences around the world.
