24 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

The chicest and buzziest nighttime spot in the neighborhood, Baltaire attracts both well-heeled Brentwood denizens on dressed-up dates and single sippers looking for late-night rendezvous. The meat-heavy menu features giant slabs of porterhouse steaks as well as special A5 Wagyu straight from Japan. Rounding out the treats is a full raw bar, caviar selection, and a one-of-a-kind cocktail program. There's lunch on weekdays only, and live music on Thursdays and Fridays.

Fans of Bestia have been lining up for stellar Mediterranean cuisine at this Arts District hot spot, which is owned by the same restaurateurs. Rose-gold stools give way to marble tabletops as the open kitchen bangs out hummus and baba ghanoush spreads, along with flatbreads and lamb-neck shawarma. The vibe is lively, the staff is chill, the patio is a scene, and the food is out of this world. Reserve early, as this place gets filled fast.

Legendary Italian chef Massimo Bottura opened this spot, his first L.A. eatery, to loads of fanfare and celebrity sightings. The restaurant mirrors the Florence, Italy, location of the same name with a menu filled with favorites like a mouthwatering tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano crema. The locale sits atop the roof of the Gucci retail outlet on Rodeo Drive with prime positioning for watching the high-end shoppers and glitzy denizens of the neighborhood.

Heaven for carnivores, this upscale European-style butcher shop and fine-dining restaurant serves wood-fire-cooked meats in a copper-and-marble art deco setting. From Australian celeb-chef Curtis Stone and his brother, Luke, and named for their grandmother, Gwen's butcher shop serves up quality cuts of humanely raised meats to locals during the day, while the elegant dining space within view of the glass-enclosed dry-age rooms, charcuterie curing, and roaring firepit elevates the smoking, searing, and roasting of those quality meats to an art form by night. The focus is obviously meat here but the seasonal sides, cocktails, desserts, and Australian coffees are superior, too.

You would never just stumble upon this out-of-the-way spot in Chinatown, but world-famous celeb chef David Chang likes it that way. The beautifully designed minimal spot with spacious patio, an exposed-duct ceiling, and elongated wood bar has a cuisine style that defies any singular category. Can't-miss dishes include the mac and chickpea, the crispy pork belly, and the whole plate short rib with beef and rice—a dish you'll dream about for years. Reservations are hard to come by, but the bar is first come, first served, and a great way to sample the unique menu.

It's a gem tucked within a treasure box: hidden within Citrin, a one-Michelin-star restaurant, is Mélisse, a two-Michelin-star restaurant. Chef-owner Josiah Citrin entrusts chef de cuisine Ian Scaramuzza to blend his modern French cooking with seasonal California produce at this Santa Monica institution. On any given night, the rotating,18-course tasting menu might feature Santa Barbara uni cromesquis, Kagoshima A5 Wagyu beef or a crab sabayon. The cheese cart is packed with domestic and European selections, and the dining room is contemporary yet elegant, with well-spaced tables and fine china.

 The tasting menu can be tailored for vegetarian diners.

At famous chef-restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa's coastal outpost, superchic clientele sails in for morsels of the world's finest fish. It’s hard not to be seduced by the oceanfront property; stellar sushi and ingenious specialties match the upscale setting. Exotic species of fish are artfully accented with equally exotic South American peppers, seared toro (tuna belly) with truffle teriyaki, and a broth made with matsutake mushrooms. The chef's tasting menus are also a solid bet. Order the bento box Valrhona chocolate soufflé and enjoy the ocean from every seat in the house. If you want to eat here, you'll need to make reservations exactly one month in advance.

This is widely considered one of the best seafood restaurants in the country, and chef-owner Michael Cimarusti elevates sustainably driven fine dining to an art form. The elegant space is the perfect spot to sample exquisite seafood with the chef's signature application of French technique, traditional American themes, and Asian accents. Pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla’s exquisite desserts are not to be missed. Obsessed with quality, Cimarusti maintains a network of purveyors who often tip him off to their catches in order to ensure that the fish on your plate is the freshest in the city.

As its name suggests, this sky-high dining den sits on the 71st floor, 950 feet above ground level. With that elevation comes the most stunning views of any restaurant in L.A., and the food is close to matching it. This fine-dining experience has a quarterly rotating menu, but you'll typically find fresh seafood, innovative veggies, delicious scallops, and more. A dress code is loosely enforced, but you can't come in wearing shorts, hats, flip-flops, or any athletic gear. Keep it classy here, bring a date, and get sucked into the twinkling lights of the city as the sun sets over the ocean.

Boasting the best see-and-be-seen crowd in West Hollywood, this rooftop restaurant also has some of the best views. As you enter through a pergola, you'll find an extremely good-looking crowd of well-heeled diners and drinkers flirting at the large bar or getting cozy in the teal brushed-leather booths. Truffle sashimi and crab tempura are divine, and the filet is not to be missed. Try not to hurt your neck gawking at the celebs wandering in and out the door.

Accommodating Century City's growing legions of agents and lawyers, Craft, around since 2007, is a major film industry hangout. At the helm is Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio, who whips up shared plates like roasted octopus and foie gras with apple butter. Boutique produce goes into the plethora of side dishes, and desserts may include triple chocolate sunflower cookies or house-made ice creams and sorbets. In its open, airy dining room, deals are brokered over lunches made with seasonal ingredients.

In a true collision of artistic titans, celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck presents his take on steak houses in a space designed by Getty Center architect Richard Meier. Playful dishes like bone-marrow flan take center stage, while dry-aged and seared hunks of Nebraskan sirloin prove the Austrian-born chef understands America's love affair with beef. Other favorites include the “Louis” cocktail (Alaskan king crab and Louisiana shrimp) and dark chocolate soufflé for dessert.

Highly regarded sushi chef Katsuya Uechi turns out spicy tuna atop crispy rice, whimsical wonton cones filled with scoops of silky crab and tuna tartare, and larger plates like miso-marinated black cod. Don't neglect the plates from the robata bar, where skewers of meats are grilled over hot coals. Trend-conscious patrons sit in a seductive space designed by Philippe Starck. Glossy lips kiss the room's clientele from one wall, while kohl-rimmed eyes peer out from behind the sushi bar.

Situated inside the Hotel Normandie in a minuscule space, Le Comptoir is a 10-seat French restaurant helmed by chef Gary Menes that features veggie-forward food in an unstuffy setting. The counter spot earned a Michelin star for its organic kitchen and intimate atmosphere that gives guests one-on-one attention from the chef who is making and plating your food right in front of you.

This steak house doesn't just feature the best views of the beach; it's also a great place to scope out A-listers. You may be paying for the ambience, but mouthwatering Wagyu steaks, Dungeness crab, and lobster mashed potatoes just seem to taste better when the ocean is nipping at your feet. Live jazz can be heard every night of the week, and a lively brunch on the weekends is always a scene as well. To get a reservation, try booking at least three weeks in advance.

Matū is a steak restaurant that features 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef from New Zealand. Diners here are treated to a cavalcade of meaty options, but you should opt for the (surprisingly) affordable Matū dinner that comes with five courses and includes everything from steak tartare to eight-hour braised beef cheek. If you come for lunch (Wednesday to Sunday only), you can partake in the best Philly cheesesteak in the city made with the same exceptional beef.

Tucked into the back of Sugarfish (a popular sushi chain) in the middle of Beverly Hills, this secret omakase (chef's choice) sushi spot has only 10 seats, where master chef Osamu Fujita slices up the freshest cuts of raw fish from a 20-course tasting menu. If you ever wanted to get a one-on-one with a culinary wizard, this is your chance as you sit a foot away from the chef while he prepares your perfect portions. Reservations aren't easy, but can be made 60 days in advance.

Nothing says Beverly Hills quite like the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. This classic, monied spot is home to Hollywood royalty and entertainment luminaries noshing on lobster Nicoise or the famed Wagyu burger during power lunches. A beautiful flower-lined courtyard provides a modicum of privacy for celebrity A-, B-, and C-listers, while inside features live piano music every night of the week. Afternoon tea is a favorite for locals and the Sunday jazz brunch is the perfect way to end your weekend. Note that there's a loose dress code here, which means no baseball hats, ripped jeans, men's tank tops, or the like.

Every night is different at this elegant, one-Michelin-starred omakase (chef-selected) sushi joint. It all depends on what's the freshest and what's the absolute best. The Zen-like space mostly consists of a long, simple wood bar, abacus-lined wall, hanging orb lights, and the master chef Hiroyuki Naruke serving each customer. On any given seating you can find bluefin tuna, giant clams, Hokkaido scallops, Japanese bonito, and more. There are roughly 15--20 courses and each bite is better than the last.

This kappo (cooking and cutting) restaurant in the middle of Downtown is offering up some of the most inventive raw, steamed, grilled, and fried Japanese dishes you’ll ever try. Chef David Schlosser serves you personally from the 400-year-old cypress bar. Order the Japanese sea bream sashimi or the grilled rice balls with pumpkin and ginger. Always ask for what’s off the menu from this Michelin-starred spot—it’ll surprise you.

Fans of Lisa Vanderpump and the Vanderpump Rules reality show on Bravo will instantly recognize SUR as the backdrop for the series's endless drama, broken relationships, one-night stands, and countless drinks. The actual restaurant serves a melange of new American items that range from fried goat cheese balls to prime pork chops. Set right in the heart of West Hollywood, the restaurant is a great launching pad for a rowdy night out or the last drink before a one-night stand of your own.

Jaws drop upon entering this French hot spot in West Hollywood, thanks to the marvelous interior design with sloping wood ceilings, lush leather banquettes, angled mirrors, and open kitchen. But more important, French-food fanatics will salivate over the gooey cheese plates and duck leg confit. The cocktail program is equally good, as expert mixologists whip up original concoctions.

Co-owned by trumpeter Herb Albert, Vibrato takes a high-road approach to a jazz club: this is a stylish, acoustically perfect venue where every table has a view of the stage. The kitchen is as notable as the music; it turns out contemporary American fare such as pan-roasted sea bass with a fennel-leek ragu, macaroni and cheese with bacon-parmesean crust, and USDA Prime steaks. Art on the walls was painted by the Grammy-winning owner himself.