A Taste of Los Angeles

From top restaurants with a side of celebrity sightings to gastronomic haunts serving fresh dishes and the chicest cocktail bars, these are the must-visit gourmet goldmines of the City of Angels

By Ange dela Cruz

Los Angeles (LA) is a city where you may or may not find a $23 smoothie more emotionally satisfying than your last relationship. A place where health and wellness, culture and indulgence live side by side—often in almost salacious, secret harmony. It’s where you’ll sip a post-Pilates matcha + wild-foraged chaga latte at 9 a.m. and chase it with truffle fries and espresso martinis by nightfall. Hold the dressing on the salad, but yes to the second skinny marg. It’s where naughty and nice coexist—you might even say they’re in some kind of complicated “situationship.” This city has an expert ability to merge health obsession with hedonism. Wellness with a little bit of spice, I like to call it.

In LA, dinner isn’t just dinner—it’s often the appetizer for what’s next: your next big opportunity, a life-changing moment, or a night that never ends. Dinner plans could easily turn into an afterparty in the Hollywood Hills—or, if you’re lucky, somewhere in the Bird Streets. Some of the blockbusters in theaters right now wouldn’t have their big stars without that seemingly casual dinner and drinks at the Sunset Tower. There’s a certain magic—if you will—to LA nights, where, if you so choose to feel it, there’s a pulse. An energy. Where what is about to happen (or who) somehow finds its origins here.

And yet, behind the bright lights and spectacle, the city quietly delivers some of the most inventive, diverse, and delicious food in the country. Sometimes, you just have to be willing to park three blocks away for it. LA’s food scene is complex, sprawling, and far more layered than the surface-level assumptions. One thing to note: there are places you go purely for “the vibe.” Some spots masterfully blend ambiance, crowd, and cuisine—but that’s not always the case. Food purists, take note: when a place earns the coveted “celebrity hotspot” title, it doesn’t mean the food is going to change your life. It just means Zendaya might be at the next table. And sometimes, that’s enough.

Here’s where I go—for the vibes, the food, the people-watching, or all of the above.

Sexy dinners, drinks, and vibes
The vibe: Dark, moody, Old Hollywood.
The crowd: Stunning, impossibly aspirational but lowkey, and possibly affiliated with UTA, CAA, or all of the above.
The unspoken rule: No photos, no videos, no stories, no TikToks, phones down—all the dopamine you need is all around you.

Sunset Tower
I’ll sing praises to the gods for this one. Tower Bar turned me into a dirty martini lover—but only for their dirty martinis. I dream about their truffle fries and garlic aioli. They just get the simple things right. Powerful Hollywood deals are whispered over dimly lit booths and incredible cocktails. The food is classic elevated American with impeccable execution—plus a possible sighting. But don’t you dare ask for a photo.

Delilah
A personal go-to. Romantic, ultra-dim lighting, a flapper-era throwback interior, and a glamorous late-night crowd make this spot feel like the golden age of supper clubs—but with awesome chicken tenders. Comfort food in a glam setting is the name of the game here. And yes, the fries are worth it.

Chateau Marmont
Think: timeless, Old Hollywood, deliciously mysterious. The crowd is old money, industry insiders, and yes, the occasional sighting. Thou shalt not forget the LA golden rule: if you saw them, you didn’t.

Craig’s, The Nice Guy, Drake’s
All perfectly polished hotspots with their own cult followings and beautiful, powerful regulars.

Coveted reservations
Providence—If you’re in the mood for a Michelin-star tasting menu that whispers luxury.
Cipriani—Think Polo Lounge energy with Italian flair. Love their Bellinis.
Alba—If you can secure a spot here, you are my hero.

Date Night
Stella, Uchi

Chic dinners with friends
Funke Beverly Hills, Chez Mia, Saltie Girl, Elephante, Danté

Mother Wolf—A personal favorite. I’ve had almost every pizza and pasta on the menu and haven’t been disappointed once.

French brasseries and bistros
Petit Trois—I adore the MEC burger, a glorious, sauce-dripping mess of indulgence that is pure bliss.

Camphor—Their weekly steak frites special is a nod to L’Entrecôte in Paris, if that’s your thing.

For the health-bbsessed
(No shade, I’m one of you—on weekdays. Shhh.)
Erewhon—Would this even be an LA food list without it? I could write an entire article on Erewhon alone. If it’s your first time, don’t miss the Hailey Bieber Smoothie (the most delicious LA cliché you’ll ever drink). I love the Buffalo Cauliflower, the Crispy Rice Sushi Sandwich, Turkey and Bacon Wrap, Steak Breakfast Burrito, Kale Avocado, and White Bean Salad.
Sunlife Organics—Their Shroom Smoothie (banana, dates, peanut butter, and maca) is practically a drinkable dessert—and I’m not mad.
Goop Kitchen—Exactly what you think it is. Clean, chic, and Gwyneth Paltrow-approved.

Celebrity hotspots
Sushi Park, Nobu Malibu

Coffee and matcha
Maru, Olive and James, Sua, Memorylook, Community Goods

Everyday cafés
Carla Café, Dialog Café, The Butcher, the Baker, the Cappuccino Maker, Republique

Breakfast burritos, bagels, and sandwiches
Yeastie Boys, Ggiata, Leora, L’Antico Vinaio, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, Mamie, Sobuneh, Wake and Late, Courage Bagels

Elegant brunch
Baltaire Brentwood, The Terrace at the Maybourne Hotel

My Postmates favorites
Hollywood Thai, Kiku Sushi, Anarbagh, Yama Sushi — no frills, just comfort.

Pizza and pasta
Pizzeria Mozza, Pizzana, La Sorted’s, Mother Wolf
LA’s pizza scene is, surprisingly, thriving. These are my current rotations: Jon & Vinny’s, Spaghetti Sundays at The Georgian

Places I’m dying to try
Baltaire, Uchi, Stella, Providence, Cipriani, Camphor, Sushi Park, Taverna Tony Malibu, Bestia, Anajak Thai, Destroyer—pending deliciousness. Stay tuned.

Members only
San Vicente Bungalows, The Bird Streets Club, Gravitas Beverly Hills

Asian food: High-end and comfort
Tao may be a controversial mention, but their sea bass skewers and duck fried rice are my forever favorites.
Didi West Hollywood and Mun Korean Steakhouse both offer elevated takes in buzzy settings.
My comfort favorites that I frequent include Capital Seafood, Kiku Sushi, Hollywood Thai, and Road to Seoul. Also worth mentioning: Jitlada.

Food vloggers or TikTokers I trust
Whenever I have friends visiting LA and I know they’re active on social, there are a few food accounts I send over:
Rick Lox, Kev Eats, Jack’s Dining Room
Special mention: Fatherkels, if you want to build your own Postmates rotation.

Whether you’re chasing a transcendent omakase moment or simply want to catch a glimpse of a celeb, LA will deliver—just probably not in the way you expected. That’s the beauty of it. The best meals here are sometimes had in hushed corners of dimly lit dining rooms; other times, it’s out of a food truck. You just never know. The discovery of it all is an experience in itself.

In this city, food is more than sustenance—it’s a scene, a statement, an answer to a curiosity, a story you’ll tell later (or post in real time). So make those reservations, and leave the rest up to chance.

In the wise words of Natasha Bedingfield: “The rest is still unwritten.”