26 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

There’s a fight in Los Angeles over who created the French dip sandwich. The first contender is Cole’s, whose sign on the door says it's the originator of the salty, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meats. The restaurant opened in 1908 and today is still going strong with dark lighting, delicious sandwiches, and a secret speakeasy called the Varnish hidden in the back.

The men’s room nods to the famous clientele of the past with plaques over the urinals notifying bathroom goers that Charles Bukowski and Mickey Cohen both "pissed here.”

Walk through the rustic wooden door and into a softly lit dining room with long communal tables and a lively crowd; come later in the night and the place heats up with an enthusiastic post-pub crowd lured by the seasonal menu and outstanding small plates, charcuterie, pastas, and pizza. Begin with a pizza made with house-made chorizo, grilled pear with burrata and prosciutto, or Snow Island oysters. For the main course, options include saffron spaghetti and pork belly with Oaxacan grits. Typically boisterous, the patio is a great hang-out spot and a gem for a Sunday brunch. 

First opened in 1908, Philippe's is one of L.A.'s oldest restaurants and claims to be the originator of the French dip sandwich. While the debate continues around the city, one thing is certain: the dips made with beef, pork, ham, lamb, or turkey on a freshly baked roll stand the test of time. Join locals as they chow down at communal tables while debating Dodgers games and politics. Orders are taken at the counter where some of the motherly servers have managed their long lines for decades, doling out huge breakfasts, chili, pickled eggs, and a generous pie selection. The best bargain: a cup of java for 50¢.

This local secret is as close to the beach—Zuma Beach, in this case—as you can get for a meal without getting sand in your drink. Stop in at this friendly spot for a cocktail, selections from the raw bar, a meal from the extensive menu, or one of the unique salads. From here you'll get a view of the water, dolphins, surfers, and celebrity locals taking a break on the wind-protected patio. The extensive happy hour on Monday through Thursday offers good deals on appetizers, beers, and cocktails.

Despite being set in the middle of Hollywood’s mad dash, the surprisingly serene oasis that is the Tropicana Pool and Cafe is where California fare meets refreshing tropical cocktails in a vintage Hollywood setting. While the poolside loungers are technically restricted to hotel guests, visitors are welcome (at the hotel's discretion) to take advantage of the bar and kitchen service in view of that glorious heated pool with its David Hockney mural. Summer events include movie nights and daytime DJs, so plan accordingly if visiting during the warmer months. The menu does change seasonally, but its delicious tacos and sliders are crowd favorites and always on hand.

With the extensive and eclectic breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus here, coupled with the fantastic cocktail menu and charming little marketplace, breakfast can easily turn into lunch and then late lunch. Patrons tend to adopt a slow pace, staggering orders of coffee, luscious crepes, small plates, and delicious entrées, all while adopting the laissez-faire attitude that is encouraged here. It’s a good thing they’ve got plenty of seating. There's live music on Sunday afternoons.

Escape busy Santa Monica State Beach to dine at this casual café and bar within the unfussy oceanfront hotel Shutters on the Beach. Head here at sunset for sophisticated, fruity cocktails and fresh seafood, like oysters, Dungeness crab, or a lobster roll, just one block from Santa Monica Pier.

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.

Behind the unremarkable facade is an übertrendy—yet decidedly old-school—den of American cuisine that doubles as a safe haven for the movie industry’s most important names and well-known faces. Be aware that this joint is always busy so you might not even get a table and reservations are hard to come by. But you might as well try, and the food is worth the effort.

Distinguished by its vintage neon sign, this gastropub is famous for handcrafted beers and a brilliant signature burger (along with a substantial and excellent menu). Topped with Gruyère and Maytag blue cheeses, arugula, caramelized onions, and applewood-smoked bacon compote, the Office Burger is a guilty pleasure worth waiting in line for, which is usually required. Get a side order of the addictive sweet-potato fries served in a miniature fryer basket with aioli. Don't even think of asking for ketchup—FO enforces a strict no-substitutions policy.

Because Father's Office is a bar, it's strictly for diners 21 and older.

One minute you’re in an old library quickly converted into a lounge, the next you’re in the cabana of a modest country club. Yet Firefly's eclectic design is part of its appeal, and its excellent, if a bit pricey, French-American fare will make you forget all about it.

From a food truck to a brick-and-mortar space, Happy Ice is a rainbow-colored icee shop that keeps the crowds coming. Customers can combine up to three of the nine flavors, including the world-famous Rainbow Rocket, Mango Madness, Sour Apple Lush, and more. The shop is right in the middle of Melrose Avenue's shopping street, making it the perfect stop between vintage shopping and a quick lunch bite.

Founded by Santa Monica natives, Huckleberry brings together the best ingredients from local farmers and growers to craft diner-style comfort food with a chic twist. Nearly everything is made on-site, even the hot sauce and almond milk. The light, bright space is perfect for a quick brunch. Choose from savories like toad-in-the-hole with housemade chimichurri or a chicken shawarma wrap with beet and carrot slaw and Castelvetrano olives. Breakfast is served all day. Baked goods rotate frequently according to the seasonal whims of the pastry chef; favorites include the Meyer lemon hazelnut scones. Bonito Coffee Roasters coffee tempts from the extensive drink menu.

Walking into woman-owned Lady Byrd Cafe is like walking through a portal to a fairy-tale land filled with whimsical decor, inventive greenhouse-sheltered tables, and grandma tableware, which explains its Insta-famous status. But, it’s much more than just a pretty place to eat; dishes are pretty delectable. Think: lemon poppy seed pancakes and salmon, pork, or classic eggs Benedicts for breakfast, and spicy pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and pastas for lunch and dinner, all with house-made sauces and embellishments. To encourage an unhurried vibe, foliage is everywhere as are pillows and warm blankets. There are outlets if you want to work in an enchanted setting. 

Opened in 1924 by Dewey Logan, this classic diner's former claim to fame is that it never closed in the entirety of its run. Currently owned by former L.A. mayor Richard Riordan, the diner has more limited hours and serves American food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is known for cakes, pies, steaks, and chops. The establishment is also a Los Angeles historic cultural monument.

As the rooftop dinosaur and Lady Liberty statues suggest, this leprechaun-green roadhouse, tucked into the hillside of Pacific Palisades, is a maximalist ode to the past crammed with memorabilia ranging from British railway signs to cheeky bronze statuettes. An Old World portrait of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in epaulets lords over the proceedings, along with Arnold's throne, which you can request to be seated in. Solid breakfast options include the chilaquiles with a generous topping of sliced avocado or the beyond-immense breakfast burrito. For lunch or dinner, come for the just-right fish and chips or the Pot of Gold burger, and try to resist adding the house-made potato chips and banana cream pie. Waitstaff are brisk and friendly and big band and Great American Songbook tunes keep the atmosphere lively.

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.

Whether you want to fill up before perusing L.A.’s best art galleries or simply grab a drink to soak in the priceless sculptures at the LACMA, Ray’s and Stark Bar is the perfect complement to any museumgoer's experience. Situated just outside the main entrance of the museum, the restaurant/bar offers a variety of Americana cuisine like pizza, burgers, and pastas. Come on the weekend if you’ve got your four-legged friends with you, as the restaurant hosts a “Barky Brunch” with special treats for your pups.

Featuring all locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce, an all-day lunch menu, and a popular patio, this former West Hollywood spot proves that despite appearances, Californians love traditional meat-based staples and cocktails just as much as they love their kale salads and smoothies. If you're in doubt, just take a good look at this joint's hearty sandwiches.

Big hotel restaurants are rarely ever good, let alone adventurous with their dishes, but the Front Yard is one of the very few exceptions. It has one of the best patios in the Valley, which like the hotel is furnished in that retro '70s style that makes you feel like you should linger all day. On that note, there is a rosé-all-day special with purchase of an entrée and a super popular brunch menu that includes hot chicken biscuits and shrimp and grits, as well as all the expected eggs and granolas. The menu changes regularly and might include short-rib pot pie and a variety of delicious vegan flatbreads. Order the Valley fried chicken with a sweet and spicy chili sauce and mac n’ cheese to share family-style. 

It's a lot, from the mouthful of a restaurant name, and the caters-to-everyone extensive menu, to the oversized steampunk-style decor (think: airship mural and nearly 100-foot-high smokestacks), and the characters who interact with diners. But set in Universal CityWalk, it is the perfect amount of "a lot" to meet your fanciful, over-the-top mood after visiting theme parks. There's a bar, multilevel dining rooms, and a retail shop to purchase house-made chocolates. Start with pork belly sliders and nachos and then work your way through the robust burger menu, pastas, salads, pizzas, and more, or just swerve to crepes, sundaes, puddings, and over-the-top milkshakes if sweets are preferred. And don't forget that retail store to hit up on the way out.

The ultratrendy Urth Caffé is full of beautiful people refueling on organic coffee and tea with a range of health-conscious sandwiches, salads, and juices. The outdoor patio is a great place to take in the scene or spot celebrities.

This beachfront bar has been the local watering hole for musicians like the Beatles, the Doors, and the Beach Boys since 1944. It boasts an amazing view and serves tasty California pub food like fish tacos, pulled-pork sliders, and avocado toast with a basic selection of beers. The Whaler Double Burger is an institution in itself. Be prepared for rowdy crowds of sports fans and beachgoers at happy hour and on weekends. Ongoing special events include Cards Against Humanity on Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, karaoke on Thursdays, and more. They also serve a great brunch.

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.

For years, the diner at the Beverly Garland Hotel was sadly overlooked. No longer. Led by Executive Chef Warren Schwartz, the menu at Warren's Blackboard is simple, seasonal and approachable. A comfortable dining area that's great for families is on one side of the room, and a bar area with television screens playing classic movies can be found on the other. Start with a buratta and pear salad and a spectacularly savory mushroom and bacon popover. Dinner entrées include grilled salmon with yams, treviso, and tangerines, or seared scallops with carrot risotto, grapefruit, and tarragon.