Best Los Angeles Restaurants

Ivy (The)

Los Angeles Restaurants

This celebrity hangout has been visited by beautiful people for years and shows no signs of slowing down. If you don't have a reservation or a studio deal, however, don't even try it. The decor is simple and focuses your attention on the crowd and the menu, which are both out of this world. The crab cakes are a favorite, and the fried chicken is also excellent. If you can afford it, this is a great place to hobnob with the movers and shakers. If not, you can always order a drink at the bar. Be sure to make a reservation.

113 North Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles 90048

Musso & Frank Grill

Open since 1919, this classic restaurant was long the bastion of Hollywood industry power-dining. With the look and feel of a private men's club, it rose to fame in the Golden Years of Hollywood, when Irving Thalberg, Clark Gable and the Marx Brothers were among its most celebrated clients. Nowadays, it is still considered the home of the finest dry martini in town. The filet mignon is hard to beat and the service is perfect, with just a touch of attitude. If you are not in the mood for beef, try the succulent lobster and the rich, heavy desserts.

6667 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles 90028

Saddle Peak Lodge

This canyon retreat is mostly filled with romantic couples enjoying the cozy and intimate ambiance. The menu is game, which means venison, duck and the like. The decor is upper-crust lodge, which means roaring fireplaces, book-lined shelves and mountain views. Come for a special occasion and you won't regret it. Looking around, you can almost forget the ubiquitous computer even exists—this is the real world (with excellent service, air conditioning and full bar). Bring your own bottle of wine if you wish, but be prepared to pay the USD15 corkage fee. Long live the great indoors!

419 Cold Canyon Road
Calabasas 91302

Spago Beverly Hills

Wolfgang Puck's Beverly Hills incarnation is currently the place to be. Like all of Puck's ventures, the atmosphere here stresses that good food can be fun. Dishes like the ragouts and braised osso buco are not to be missed. Inventive and traditional Austrian pastries like the souffled pancake strewn with sauteed strawberries are a treat. The wine list is comprehensive and the prices are good; a bottle is about $30 and up. For a true Puckian adventure, try the Chef's tasting menu, and sample all the best this fine restaurant has to offer.

176 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills 90210

Beaurivage

Diners enjoy great ocean views from this magical restaurant's dining room that meshes rustic charm with high brow elegance. The menu emphasizes Mediterranean fare with a heavy lean towards French influences. Swordfish and the New Zealand Rack of Lamb are two of its more popular dishes. There are also plenty of steak and pasta options. It ranks as one of the best date places in the entire city. Sunday brunch is also wildly popular. Reservations are an absolute must.

26025 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90265

Little Door (The)

Here you will find a romantic European-style hideaway where the food is always good and the atmosphere is tranquil. You can't go wrong when you are seated in the lovely outdoor dining garden, heated by gaslamp for year-round dining. Once you settle in, enjoy one of the many wines offered by the glass and get ready for a dreamy dining experience. French classics like the chicken and beef dishes are consistently well-prepared and the pastas and nightly specials will ensure that there is something for everyone. If you have been wishing that you could rendezvous in Europe with the one you love, this place might just tide you over until you can get there. Late-night dining is available.

8164 West 3rd St
Los Angeles 90048

Drago

When you want more than the typical neighborhood Italian, visit this elegant, beautifully-designed scene not far from the ocean breezes. The food's not inexpensive but, after all, you get what you pay for. A true culinary experience, the homemade pastas melt in your mouth and the meats and fish can't be beat. The presentation alone deserves high praise. Book ahead for a private meal in the large wine cellar—everyone will wonder who you are.

2628 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica 90403

Rive Gauche

Rive Gauche is on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. It is very convenient to both the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, for anyone coming over Laurel Canyon, Coldwater or Sepulveda. The ambience is very inviting, with the bar and lounge more like sitting in the living room or den of a very large house. There's a cozy fireplace along with overstuffed chairs and love seats for friendly togetherness. The French menu of crepes or quiche provide a nice dining touch that is light yet satisfying.

14106 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks 91423

Inn of the Seventh Ray

Enter a near-Nirvana state as you walk down the steps into this delightful outdoor setting. Romantic, candlelit tables overlook a quiet brook creating a truly unique dining experience. Inventive vegetarian, macrobiotic and organic specialties are featured here. The many salads, seafood dishes and pastas are all appealing and made with only the freshest organic ingredients. Try the prix-fixe Sunday brunch buffet where you can try a little bit of everything. The wine list ranges from about $20 and up.

128 Old Topanga Canyon Road
(Corner of Topanga and Old Topanga)
Topanga 91290

Urasawa

This tiny but ultra-exclusive restaurant is surrounded by the shopping Mecca of Beverly Hills. It is also the one of the most expensive restaurants in L.A. Still, everyone who goes, from stars like Madonna to top Japanese business people, insists that it is worth every cent. The sushi is the freshest outside of Tokyo and is shipped in from there daily. Since there's no menu, it is hard to tell exactly what chef-owner Masa Takayama is serving. Regardless, this singular dining experience will be perfectly presented and remembered forever. Reservations are absolutely required, and must be made well in advance.

218 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills 90210