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Interior - Bavel, Los Angeles, CA
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Bavel

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Visa Dining Collection

$31 to $50
Middle Eastern
500 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013-2222

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 133 times today

About this restaurant

  • Fancy
  • Hot spot
  • Good for special occasions
A Middle Eastern restaurant in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis

  • Award icon
    MICHELIN Plate2022

From the OpenTable editors: Bavel, with its bright, cavernous space outfitted with tons of greenery and stunning Middle Eastern fare from Ori and Genevieve Menashe of Bestia, is an escape in the heart of the Arts District. Dredge blistered housemade pitas through spreads like duck ‘nduja-topped hummus and baba ganoush made with eggplant and beets before moving on to beef cheek tagines, and you won't be disappointed.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Middle Eastern
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Please email events@baveldtla.com for more information.
  • Private party facilities
    Please email events@baveldtla.com for more information.
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    Santa Fe
  • Parking details
    Street parking also available
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 5,110 people are saying

Bavel reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Downtown

    Best Overall

  • Downtown

    Best Food

  • Downtown

    Hot spot

  • Downtown

    Good for special occasions

  • Downtown

    Lively

  • Downtown

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bavel offers an "amazing" dining experience with "unique flavors" and "delectable dishes." The Middle Eastern-inspired menu features standout items like duck hummus and lamb neck shawarma. While service can occasionally be hit or miss, the restaurant's vibrant "urban and lively" atmosphere and "fantastic" food make it a favorite in LA's Arts District.
5,110 Reviews
  1. Imran VIP

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Mediterranean cuisine, overpriced … and you can find much better food at the millions of casual spots around LA that serve similar food. Ambience is nice though.

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  2. Ron VIP

    Los Angeles46 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    So, I’m a huge fan of this group of restaurants. Bestia and Saffy’s are my favs. We went to Bavel in 2018 and didn’t love it. We decided to try again last night and were so glad we did. The food was amazing. Every dish a feast for the senses. The services was impeccable. The Somm had know how and guided us to a couple of great picks. Our group couldn’t land on a single favorite. The bababganoush, dates, and osobuco tangine were top of the lists. We’re going back!

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  3. Emily VIP

    Los Angeles26 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very loud energy. Food is reliable but not out of this world. A bit pricey.

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  4. Carlos

    Las Vegas24 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Came here for my wife’s birthday and was expecting a much nicer environment. We were disappointed. Service is good. Food is good. I believe it’s a little overpriced for what you got and you need to be ready for the Middle Eastern spices that can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it

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  5. Elizabeth VIP

    Los Angeles4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is incredible and the service was excellent. I will warn everyone that, when ordering, they claim it is “family style” but the shareable plates really don’t feed more than 3 people if you’re expecting to eat more than one bite.

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  6. sallyann

    Los Angeles1 review

    4.0

    Dined on May 26, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The 4% Healthy LA — which by the way states 3% online for Los Angeles county and has been 3% at other restaurants in LA — is yet another continued way to exploit the consumer. Ridiculous and frivolous fees in the name of (fill in the blank; in this case for “worker’s healthcare” as tho we have to care) some obscure reason to increase the bottom line. But in the end, the aware consumer will simply tip much less.

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  7. Induja

    Austin1 review

    3.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Poor service, seated at counter and mostly ignored. Food was good though.

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  8. demetrius VIP

    Los Angeles9 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Some amazing dishes, but over priced in general. It’s all that’s now wrong with the dwnt arts dist. Click chliche and not as good as the original venture - Bestia. If you want pseudo diversity in an early 2000‘s Westside vibe this is the place for you. 

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  9. Alex VIP

    Los Angeles4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Still excellent. Great that it closes late. Flawless dishes

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  10. Xiyin VIP

    New York City1 review

    1.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    The service was truly chilly. Our server barely spoke two words to us. I have an aversion to cilantro (tastes like soap) and asked if it was possible to leave off any cilantro that dishes may be garnished with. "No," she responded. "You can just pick off the leaves yourself." .....If I can pick it off easily, wouldn't it be easier for the kitchen not to ADD the leaves in the first place....? Was just a spiteful, mean-spirited answer. For a restaurant that charges prime dollar (a meal for two people, where each of us had 2 drinks, with tax and tip, came out to $420 -- highway robbery), this is purely unacceptable. As we were STARTING our dessert, our server came by and just actually reached over my husband's shoulder and DROPPED the bill with a clatter in between us, without saying a word. Didn't even address us, say thanks, or "take your time." Again, maybe acceptable for a fast food restaurant, but not with these outrageous prices. The bill shouldn't even be brought until dessert is cleared, let alone aggressively thrown at our table like we're animals being put out to pasture. It's such a shame, because the food is excellent, but the service and the menu prices have become truly egregious post covid.

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FAQs

Bavel offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (213) 232-4966.

Bavel is rated 4.8 stars by 5110 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Downtown
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 133 times today
Google Map for Bavel

500 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013-2222

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross street
    Santa Fe
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Middle Eastern
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking also available
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Please email events@baveldtla.com for more information.
  • Private party facilities
    Please email events@baveldtla.com for more information.
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