Patricia Kelly Yeo

SoCal natives see it as a sleepy town to lay out by the pool all day, gamble, maybe even play some golf, if that’s your thing. But Palm Springs is so much more than that. There’s the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, perfect for the family, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which features spectacular desert views, and of course, some of the best restaurants in Palm Springs. Restaurants of all kinds abound in this historic Hollywood getaway town. From the times when Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin would visit to new, refreshed spaces, food options abound in the desert. Yes, you can still get your margaritas on sun-drenched but water-misted patios and all-day brunches to nurse hangovers, but don’t sleep on the award-winning restaurants, the Asian-fusion fare or the craft cocktails. Oh, and on your way out of Palm Springs, don’t forget to stop by the famous Hadley Fruit Orchards store for a date shake, fresh dates, and anything date-related. The Coachella Valley supplies ninety-five percent of the country’s dates, so don’t miss out on trying some of the freshest, best dates you’ve ever had. Whether you’re in town for a special occasion, a fun getaway or even an extended stay, read on to find the best places to brunch, lunch, or dine in style in Palm Springs. Looking to stay? Check out the best Palm Springs hotels and the best Airbnbs in Palm Springs

What is it that they say about L.A.’s smog? Oh yeah, the reason for its beautiful sunsets that never get old. Make the city’s pollution and marine layer work for you at these sky-high cocktail bars, where the views rightfully rival the booze. With so many new rooftop restaurants and bars in town, we’ve narrowed this list to the best drinking-oriented spots in the city, rather than full-blown dining destinations. They run the gamut from lowkey Westside rooftops to see-and-be-seen hotspots in West Hollywood, with a few longtime favorites thrown in for good measure. Most take walk-ins, thankfully, and those that require reservations aren’t necessarily the places we’d endorse paying for a full meal anyway. None of our picks require a cover fee or drink minimum, unless stated otherwise. (There are many more rooftop bars than the ones featured on our guide, but trust us, we’ve visited every single one of them, and not all of them merit paying premium cocktail prices.) From rooftop watering holes in Downtown and Hollywood to a few tried-and-true beachside bars in Venice and Santa Monica, here are the city’s—literally—top rooftop bars. April 2025: Since my last major update, a few more L.A. rooftop bars have opened (and the Shay Hotel at Culver City has reopened its rooftop restaurant), but not all of them are worth going out of your way for. New to this year’s guide are Sauced and Florentín, both in Downtown L.A. A few places have come off the list, reflecting changes in service fo

After years of struggling through the pandemic, L.A.’s bar scene has learned to roll with the punches, and there’s always no better time than now (or this weekend) for a good, well-made drink, preferably with a side of good, old-fashioned camaraderie with slightly buzzed strangers. After all, bars, like restaurants and public parks, give rise to the sought-after sense of belonging and community that characterizes what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called “third spaces.” Right now, L.A.’s drinking scene is back and better than ever, and we’re glad to be back at a busy bar, credit card in hand, hoping to flag down a bartender. L.A. might have cozy dives near the beach, happy hours with views of the Hollywood Hills, and plenty of buzzier new watering holes, but if you’re really asking us, here are the 18 best bars in Los Angeles—for any occasion. April 2025: After revisiting in March, I’ve decided to remove the Spare Room from this guide. I’ve also added new information on the current menus at Accomplice, the Let’s Go Disco and Everson Royce Bar. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

In Los Angeles, there seem to be as many good-to-great taco spots as there are stars in the sky, but how can one even begin to decide where to start? After all, you can easily find chef-driven tacos in the $10 to $20 range made with the finest ingredients—though we'll have little to none of that on this list—as you can find $3 street tacos, ready to be popped straight into your mouth while you're standing on the sidewalk. Our non-exhaustive best tacos list serves as a carefully curated selection of what we think are the city's finest tacos (some of which have even landed on our best restaurants list), along with a few more practical considerations like more regular operating hours and consistency in quality and service. (In our eyes, a “best” taco only the most dedicated, patient fans can get after waiting several hours isn't really a best taco at all.) Whether you’re a visitor or a local, read on for an excellent guide for anyone hoping to become a well-rounded taco connossieur. RECOMMENDED: The best Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles

Despite the rising cost of doing business, L.A. is still home to one of the most innovative, exciting and diverse food scenes in the country. Brick-and-mortar restaurants, Instagram pop-ups, street vendors and food trucks: No matter the form, you can find amazing food in a city whose reputation is built as much on off-the-beaten-path tacos and pop-ups as it is on fine dining-trained chefs making quick work of farmers’ market produce and mainline access to the top-notch Pacific seafood.At its core, L.A.’s restaurant scene thrives on diversity, resulting in genre-bending formats and cuisines that have given rise to some of the country’s best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. Every month, we visit dozens of restaurants across the city looking for amazing eats, great ambience and top-notch customer service. We also crowdsource recommendations from readers and industry insiders on the best places to grab a meal—but a restaurant can’t get onto this guide until we’ve actually visited it multiple times. We prioritize fun, flavor, freshness—and value at every price point. This list is updated regularly to reflect changes in menu offerings, style of service, new locations and the ever-changing pulse of the city’s food scene. If it’s on the list, we think it’s awesome and worth the hype, wait and money —and we bet you will, too. April 2025: Since the beginning of March, I’ve checked in on Dunsmoor and Azizam, and have since updated each place’s li

Though we consistently cover new restaurants with killer cocktail offerings, new bars in L.A. are few and far between—but deserve just as much attention. To keep you up to date on the city’s bar scene, we’ve got a quarterly guide to the city’s best new bars, where you can find the city’s freshest places to drink that are actually worth checking out.  Plenty of newer drinking-oriented establishments straddle the line between bar and restaurant, but on this list we prioritize venues where it’s not strange at all to order a single nightcap or aperitivo—without your server trying to upsell you on bar bites when you aren’t hungry. We also strive to include establishments that stay open past 10pm on weekends, though we of course make exceptions for standout spots.  While these fledgling watering holes and lounges might lack the storied reputations of the city’s best bars and cocktail dens, they make up for it with stylish interiors and unique booze offerings. Some even have delicious bar bites perfect for whenever you’re feeling peckish, but this list focuses on destination-worthy venues with excellent drinks or first-rate atmosphere for going out (ideally, a combination of both).  So just how new are these drinking dens? We limit our list to bars, lounges and breweries that have opened in the past nine months. We check out each bar personally to make sure it’s worth your time and hassle—since there’s only so much booze money to spare. April 2025: Since January, Time Out has instit

Before the Yelp ratings and “best of” accolades start to roll in, how do you know what’s actually good or not among L.A.’s just-opened eateries? Every month, I put myself through the wringer attempting to visit every new, notable restaurant around Los Angeles. Usually, I enjoy revisiting the city’s best eateries and sipping cocktails at tried-and-true bars, but scouting for the best new restaurants and bars in L.A. is, to put it nicely, kind of a grab bag. Whenever I’m out scouting for the latest openings, I’m just as likely to blow hundreds of dollars on an overhyped dud as I am to stumble upon the city’s next truly great restaurant. With Time Out’s guide to L.A.’s best new restaurants, you don’t need to sift through pay-to-play influencer videos and user-generated reviews to decide where to head next—I’ve done the work for you, from looking for parking and waiting in line to trying those ultra-pricey tasting menus, since there’s nothing worse when dining out than wasting your precious free time and, of course, money. I also strive to include valet prices and parking information for every restaurant—further taking the headache out of trying the next great new spot. Questions I ask myself before including a spot on this guide: Does this new restaurant offer something more interesting, delicious or unique than any of L.A.’s existing restaurants? Is it worth the hype (and money)? Is it worth going out of the way for? If the answer to any of these is “No,” I don’t include it. Ge

Not every happy hour special is created equal, and what makes a spot someone’s go-to for a much-needed early-evening drink can vary. But we think there’s a little something for everyone among these happy hour spots below. Los Angeles is never short on great bars to try, ranging from your neighborhood dive bars to sports bars and delicious restaurants that compliment that 4pm cocktail with some delectable food. Of course, having to navigate the city’s web of freeways for the perfect special puts a dent in that discount, so we’ve gone ahead and compiled a comprehensive list of the best happy hour deals all over L.A. Set a reminder in your calendar this coming workweek and round up your friends because here is where you can grab a drink and meal for just a fraction of the price.

For better or for worse, Angelenos are a bunch who love to brunch—try saying that five times fast. To help you in your quest for weekend morning grub, I’ve tried dozens of different variations on eggs Benedict, omelettes, pancakes and fried chicken and waffles in my quest to find the best brunch in Los Angeles.  While my personal taste leans more towards old-school classics and top-notch dim sum, I make every effort to suss out which boozy, more upscale affairs are worthy of your next special occasion gathering. Quality of the food matters above all; if I can tell a restaurant is phoning it in with gloppy hollandaise sauce, overcooked eggs and sugar bombs pretending to be pancakes, it doesn’t matter how great the ambience is. (That being said, if you’re looking to party, I’ve got you covered with guides for drag brunch and bottomless brunch.)Go to any of these restaurants on this list, and you’ll find delicious, well-made food with a distinct point of view and the kind of atmosphere conducive either to celebrating birthdays and other special occasions or catching up with friends or family. In practice, this means we’ll exclude a few great weekday options like Liu’s Cafe from this list, simply because the trendy Koreatown destination curtails its menu on the weekends to better serve the heavy crowds and the cramped space isn’t conducive to groups larger than one or two people. Of the more casual or walk-in-only restaurants I’ve included, I think the meal is worth the wait and

While plenty of Angelenos are still discovering Koreatown’s hidden gems, there’s no denying that Korean barbecue is a known dinnertime entity all over the city. In our humble opinion, the best place to take a group of hungry out-of-towners—at least, if they eat red meat—is a Korean barbecue joint. The sizzling tabletop grills add a little extra drama to dinner, the various small bowls of banchan (side dishes) always delight a newcomer and, by the end of the meal, everyone involved is happily full. For all your meat-centric dining needs, I’ve rounded up the city’s best Korean barbecue restaurants for any and all occasions, including both casual and upscale.Why should you trust my judgment? I grew up in Los Angeles eating Korean barbecue in at long-gone restaurants like Shik Do Rak (which still has locations in Orange County) and Dong Il Jang, and I’ve spent the better part of the last two decades trying every Korean barbecue restaurant in Los Angeles. Though I’ve long graduated from only visiting all-you-can-eat spots, I’ve tried every major AYCE option in Koreatown, plus most higher-end à la carte concepts and the major specialists. While meat and banchan quality and distinction are my top priorities, I also factor in ambience, service and overall value—ensuring readers get the most bang for their buck.Though most of my favorite places are in Koreatown, one of the densest dining neighborhoods in the city (it has everything from South Asian cuisine to classic steakhouses), I’v

Choosing the best Santa Barbara hotel isn't the easiest thing. After all, there are so many options, each with a different vibe and aesthetic. Do you want to hang by the beach or opt for a hidden gem nestled up in the hills? Sleep beside the nightlife or doze without a party in sight? Is a pool non-negotiable? And what about entertainment for the kids? Surely you want to be right by the city’s best attractions (don't miss Old Mission Santa Barbara!), tastiest restaurants, and top wineries? See, there's a lot to consider. This central coast hot spot attracts tourists year-round, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s all year long, and an easily accessible location just 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Naturally, that means there's a hotel to cater for all preferences and budgets, but whatever yours are, you can bet we've got a spot for you. We’ve scrolled through Santa Barbara's many hotels and whittled them down to the cream of the crop. All you have to do is pick the right place for your perfect stay.  Updated for January 2025: We've added a newbie, in the form of a Mediterranean-style inn that's right on the beach – if that sounds like something you'd be interested in (we know it is).  🎭 The best things to do in Santa Barbara🛏 The best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara This guide was written by a US correspondent for Time Out, Kai Oliver-Kurtin. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our 

Breakfast is the meal that launched a thousand trends: breakfast burritos, acai bowls, bagels, all the manners of toasts and tartines, and yes, brunch. Somehow, though, there’s still plenty of places in Los Angeles that have escaped the hype/backlash cycle that’s dogged all of the above—plus the slate of newer, chef-driven restaurants that turn into madhouses on late Sunday mornings.  To round up the best of the best, I not only looked through the latter, but delved into greasy spoons, old-school diners and the city’s third wave coffee shops, plus the city’s various Asian breakfast options to bring you the all-around best list of breakfasts in Los Angeles. Some are casual and budget-friendly, others less so, but all of them deliver a hearty, filling and delicious meal to start your day off right. Without further ado: here are my picks for the best breakfast restaurants in the city. Editor’s note: Since my last major update, JiST Cafe in Little Tokyo has unfortunately closed (RIP). While I’m still in the process of scouting for L.A.’s very best diners and coffee shops, I’ve added longtime favorite Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop to this most recent update, as well as popular local brunch chain Blu Jam Cafe, which opens its doors at 9am—which are definitely considered breakfast hours in my eyes. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresponding to “amazing,” four to “grea

The crown jewel of Citizen Public Market, downtown Culver City’s long-awaited food hall, Bar Bohemien is probably the most low-key rooftop bar in the city. Sure, the bush-lined patio isn’t the biggest in town, but for those who find their way up this small food hall’s winding stairs, this intimate, mostly outdoor watering hole provides everyday good vibes and even better cocktails priced in the $16 to $20 range. The space is particularly beautiful at sunset, making it the perfect spot to meet up with a date or a group of old friends. Cheekily named cocktails rise above standard rooftop drinks with combinations like the Them Apples, which fuses vodka with shochu, green apple, vanilla, yuzu, lime and soda water. Given the wealth of dining options downstairs, there’s no real food here—but if you do get hungry, I recommend heading downstairs for a bite at Go Go Bird or Bang Bang Noodles.

This review was originally published on April 20, 2022 and has since been updated to reflect more recent changes. Located in the same hotel as Ka’Teen, Desert 5 Spot desperately wants to be your favorite relaxed, yet stylish nightlife destination the next time you feel like going out in Hollywood. (This assumes, of course, you want to patronize the much-maligned area at all.) Cowboy-chic design inspired by Joshua Tree and Palm Springs and an indoor-outdoor layout identical to sibling spot Bar Lis definitely put this surprisingly laidback rooftop bar in the running. That being said, plenty of fierce area competition—including Mama Shelter on the next block and the bar’s more stuck up, French Riviera-inspired twin—prevents it from definitively leading the pack.  Nevertheless, for a mellower evening, you might actually prefer Desert 5 Spot. The vaguely Western bar possesses a unique, oddly winning combination: breathtaking city views, live rock and country music and the rare L.A. crowd that genuinely, unironically enjoys dressing in theme. Named after a Mojave wildflower, the Tinseltown simulacrum of a country saloon has myriad charms, from a blinking pseudo-broken neon sign to the cactus-shaped cocktail glass that carries the mezcal-based Ring of Fire. Weekly line dancing classes on Fridays draw country enthusiasts, while Desert 5 Spot’s still-quite-flashy aesthetic appeals to out-of-towners and more casually dressed locals hoping to score drinks and a view without significant

Like nearby Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip, Harriet’s is known for its magnetic ability to attract celebrities and influencers. Compared to other rooftop bars on this list, you’ll find a more club-like atmosphere here most nights of the week, plus pricey Asian-inspired bar bites, standard cocktails and flashy bottle service. On my visit, I enjoyed the spicy tuna crispy rice and the dragon crunch roll—both straightforward, fairly average renditions of classic fusion-style dishes. Given the high volume of tourists and influencers, most of the servers at Harriet’s are experts at taking photos—so if you want a photo, don’t be afraid to ask. Sure, Harriet’s cocktails are a little watered down for how much they cost, but don’t the views just take your breath away?

Pasta maestro Evan Funke’s three-story 90210 restaurant is one of the best restaurants in the city, and this pink marble rooftop bar is the cherry on top. Unlike the dining room below, Bar Funke generally accepts walk-ins, though if you want to score the full dinner menu—which I consider one of the best in the city—you’ll still need to get a reservation. Walk-in guests can still enjoy the immaculately constructed, fairly pricey cocktails and a smaller aperitivi menu that includes some of the city’s fluffiest focaccia (available plain or topped with a cheesy, umami-rich pomodoro sauce) and deep-fried, ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms. Given the lack of height, the views while seated at Bar Funke aren’t much to look at, but the culinary mastery and expert bartending translate into a delightful, though pricey, rooftop bar experience. Whether spiked with olive oil (the Firenze) or infused with the Sardinian myrtle berries  (the Marche), the smooth house concoctions just might justify their prices—the majority of which are north of $26.

Taking over from the Roof on Wilshire, Videre is Mid-Wilshire’s only rooftop bar. While the California cuisine is forgettable, the drinks here are well-made—they come from the same minds behind West Hollywood’s Employees Only. TThink a savory-sweet espresso martini with Parmesan cheese shaved on top, or a delightful red shiso-spiked cachaca cocktail served in a chic coupe. What Videre does have going for it, however, are glittering eighth floor views of the hills, without all the pomp and circumstance of Beverly Hills or the drunken Hollywood crowds. On the weekdays, Videre also offers an excellent happy hour (3–6pm), playfully named “Work Drinks,” that includes $12 cocktails and steeply discounted bar bites like fried chicken bites, popcorn cauliflower and truffle parmesan fries. If you want a full meal in the area, I would rather point you to Kazunori (one of the city’s best sushi options), Uovo (one of the city’s best Italian restaurants ) or Laki Ramen (one of the city’s best ramenyas). 

Perched 73 floors above Downtown in a luxury hotel, Spire 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere—and a total tourist trap. It attracted plenty of attention when it first opened in 2017, and has since settled into a little more than a curiosity that lures in unsuspecting locals and a high-flying perch for InterContinental guests. What does the sky-high vantage point mean in actual practice? Little to no protection from the weather, so bring a jacket to this sky-high lounge or face high-altitude wind chill like no other. There are a few fire pits, but the seats closest to windows don’t have them and the blankets staff members provide don’t always get the job done. There’s also a $60 per person spending minimum, reflective of the aforementioned “tourist trap” designation, but if you must go, you’ll find fire pits, classic cocktails and swanky lounge seats as you peer down on the rest of us mere mortals. What you won’t see much of is the recognizable Downtown L.A. skyline—since you’re literally part of it.   

Calabra is the seventh-floor rooftop restaurant and lounge at the Santa Monica Proper. The upscale Mediterranean food might be fairly mediocre, but the Goop-on-steroids aesthetic and breezy, fairly pricey cocktails keep this impeccably designed rooftop oasis top of mind whenever we’re drinking on the Westside. Located a few blocks from the Pacific, Calabra’s lounge seating and hidden poolside alcoves are the perfect place to impress folks coming in from out of town. The views from this seventh-floor hotel lounge don’t include the Santa Monica Pier, however, but the extremely chic elements of Calabra itself, fashionably dressed clientele included, provide more than enough eye candy to make up for it.

This longtime West Hollywood terrace is known for its pool parties and other live music events. Three decades after first opening, Skybar still retains its secret Sunset Strip entryway, complete with dress to impress entry and nightlife cred—this is one of the rare poolside bars where people really do jump in after a night of cocktails. On weekday afternoons, there’s generally a more relaxed, casual vibe and a full food menu (which I don’t really recommend). The all-ages clientele ranges from wide-eyed ingénues to grizzled old sugardaddy types, but no matter where you fall on the spectrum, the Mexican-style oasis of flowering walls and gorgeous nooks will win you over—especially with one of their passion fruit margaritas in hand.

There are surprisingly few rooftop bars on the Westside, which makes High at Hotel Erwin a highly sought-after destination at sunset—and yes, that means rubbing shoulders with Venice’s many tech bros, the boardwalk tourist crowd and anyone else west of Lincoln Boulevard in search of a view. Even if you’re staying at the hotel, be sure to make a reservation; there’s nothing like a multi-hued sunset over the Pacific with a cocktail in hand to get Angelenos buzzing. An all-day food menu includes crowd-pleasers like grain bowls, fish tacos and flatbreads, and there’s even a strawberry creme brulée for dessert. On the drinks side of the equation, breezy drinks like the Sunset Sour (vodka, blood orange, lemon, bitters) and the Surf’s Up (jalapeño tequila, passionfruit, tajin) evoke an endless Southern California summer. For the best seats in the house, note that you’ll have to pony up for one of High’s VIP tables or lounge seats, which require an upfront fee of $25 to $50 per person.

Led by Alice Mai, the former chef de cuisine of FWD, this bustling beachside crowd-pleaser gets all the details right, from the all-around great mezze-style spreads served with your choice of housemade pita or fluffy focaccia to the standout octopus a la plancha. (I say this as someone inherently bored with the ubiquitous mix of octopus, potatoes and aioli.) In general, the salads, pastas and skewers at AttaGirl transcend their conventional-sounding menu descriptions. Even the fries receive a dusting of dill vinegar—perfect for pickle lovers—and the must-order spiced lamb bolognese tilts towards a North African flavor profile with sweet, smoky notes of cinnamon, cardamom and fennel. Other highlights include a flaky phyllo spinach pie with lemon bechamel sauce, spiced pork belly skewers and crispy brussel sprouts with date purée. The drinks are solid as well. Throw in the excellent desserts, particularly the dark chocolate torte with pistachio ice cream and cherry compote, and you’ve got yourself a phenomenal area dining option—and a great option for those looking for a special-occasion meal in the South Bay.

After years of operating out of a Tarzana strip mall, Kurrypinch’s Shaheen Ghazaly has relocated to Thai Town with the help of business partner Nimesh Rajakumar. This more centrally located South Asian dining option is a must-try for those living in the city proper, with traditional dishes like kottu roti—a stir-fried mix of roti, eggs, vegetables and your choice of protein—and Ghazaly’s reconstruction of traditional Sri Lankan string hoppers into a flavorful, more user-friendly pilau. My surprising favorite, however, was the mixed vegetable curry plate, which features three different items that rotate regularly. The chef flexes his creativity further in the coconut milk risotto and Cajun spiced shrimp, but I’d still steer you towards the classics, especially if you’re not familiar with the cuisine of this tiny island nation. On Saturdays and Sundays, Kurrypinch also offers lamprais (a delightful banana leaf packet of rice, protein and side dishes), chicken biryani and a prawn curry. I’ve yet to try those items, but if they’re anything like the rest of the menu, they’re most likely just as delicious.

This buzzy West Adams cocktail bar is owned by celebrity stylist Jason Bolden, who counts Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade as clients and friends, and his interior designer partner Adair Curtis. The space may be small and the soundtrack is earsplitting, but the energy’s downright electric thanks to the couple’s industry friends—so if you’re looking for a total scene without the commute to actual Hollywood, this is the place to go. There’s a small food menu that includes chicken tenders and chocolate chip cookies, plus a straightforward menu of classic cocktails, wine and beer. I tried the paloma and the vesper; both were solid, but not particularly standout. If you’re coming here, it’s either because you’re already in the area or because you’re seeking out the celebrity-adjacent vibes—no judgment here.

It feels like every day another iconic L.A. restaurant is closing or struggling—which is why it’s all the more heartbreaking that Papa Cristo’s, the longtime Greek restaurant at the corner of Pico and Normandie, is closing its doors on May 4. Originally founded as an import company in 1948 by Sam Chrys, this family-run neighborhood institution predates the formation of Koreatown as we know and love it today.  Chrys Chrys, the son of Sam, confirmed the news and announced the final day of service in an Instagram post on April 3. “After 77 unforgettable years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, it’s time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now),” the current owner of Papa Cristo’s wrote. “We will close this chapter with our hearts full of love and gratitude for the incredible community that has supported us for generations.” Chrys bought the original Greek import business from his father in 1968, turning it into a restaurant in the early 1990s. In 2010, Chrys’s daughter Annie joined the family business. On April 1, the restaurant property was spotted on Loopnet with an asking price of $5.2 million.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Papa Cristo’s Greek Food (@papacristos) According to Chrys himself, Papa Cristo’s will live on in some form. “The story of Papa Cristo’s doesn’t end here—exciting things are coming,” the restaurant’s owner wrote at the end of his farewell message. The family already have a pre-existing line of he

Cheese-obsessed local ghost kitchen chef Eric Greenspan will run the upcoming, now politically charged Tesla diner (and drive-in) in Los Angeles, according to Sawyer Merritt, a self-professed Tesla investor who periodically shares news related to Elon Musk’s electric car company on X. The March 26 post says that the yet-to-open project will feature “1950s retro charm” and “dazzling neon lights,” along with the scent of burgers and milkshakes.  Merritt also confirmed that the property will feature two drive-in movie screens and 75 V4 charging stations—the fastest tier of Tesla’s chargers. Musk himself commented on the post less than an hour after it was published, appearing to confirm the news—or at least not deny its veracity. “It will be cool,” he said. “When’s it opening?” Merritt replied, to no response. Though a resident of Los Angeles, Greenspan hasn’t run a sit-down restaurant in several years. Instead, he’s turned his focus to delivery-only concepts, a.k.a. ghost kitchens, and New School American, a boutique cheese company that’s used in the burgers at Chi Spacca, one of the city’s best restaurants. His previous concepts include the Foundry on Melrose, the Roof on Wilshire and Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese. He’s also starred in or appeared in several food-related TV shows. Reporting by The New York Times further uncovered via expired job postings that L.A. restaurant industry veteran Bill Chait will also be involved in the restaurant, which sits at the border of Hollywoo

République—one of L.A.’s most critically acclaimed restaurants—has become the recent subject of online political controversy after one of its owners, Walter Manzke, was quoted in the New York Times as voicing support for Elon Musk’s yet-to-open Tesla diner in West Hollywood, where Tesla owners could charge their cars and grab a meal. Since news about the drive-in project first broke in 2022, the CEO of Tesla has morphed from space-obsessed billionaire to an icon of the far-right, as well as President Trump’s right-hand man. “It sounds exciting,” Walter told former Times restaurant critic Pete Wells. “[République co-owner Margarita] told me the other day that she wants to buy a Tesla, so I can tell you what side she’s on.” The Manzkes are the veteran chefs behind République, which is equally beloved across the city for its California-inspired French savory menu and Margarita’s James Beard Award-winning pastries. One anonymous user of Reddit reposted the article in the subreddit r/FoodLosAngeles, which fields regular discussion about all matters related to the L.A. dining scene. “Looks like Republique is off my list,” the post title reads. As of publication, the post is the subreddit’s top most-read post for the day.  In response, the Hancock Park restaurant released a statement on its Instagram around 3pm on Friday afternoon. “At République, we believe in focusing on what we do best—creating exceptional food and a welcoming experience for all our guests. In response to a rece

In honor of the restaurant’s 25th anniversary (and while the Mexico City original is closed for repairs), Pujol is coming to L.A. for a 10-day tasting menu stint inside Damian in the Arts District. As first reported in Forbes, between April 22 and 30, chef-owner Enrique Olvera plans to bring back classics from the two Michelin star restaurant’s early days, including a potential ravioli-style avocado with shrimp tartar and a coconut squash blossom soup. Each night will offer two 90-minute tasting menus—one starting around 5:50pm and another at 8:30pm—as first reported in the Los Angeles Times. A portion of the pop-up’s proceeds will benefit local nonprofit No Us Without You, which provides assistance to undocumented workers in the L.A. restaurant industry. A separate beverage pairing featuring agave spirits and Mexican beer and wine will also be available. Reservations for the Pujol pop-up will go live on Friday, March 21 at noon Pacific time, on Damian’s Resy page. Photograph: Courtesy DamianPujol previously popped up inside Damian for the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2021. Per the Times, the April pop-up will also include a separate à la carte concept, Molino el Pujol, that will take over Ditroit Taqueria, Damian’s more casual daytime counterpart. The more formal six-course experience, for which pricing has yet to be determined, will definitely offer Pujol’s famous mole madre. The dish uses an approximately decade-old mother sauce that Olvera has continuously added

If you or a loved one have ever paid $27 for a lone sausage and a measly scoop of mashed potatoes at a certain buzzy wine bar and left hungry, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  At least, I wish that were the case. At a time when restaurant math isn’t working for anyone involved, the humble wine bar has ascended in cultural and algorithmic significance as a legitimate dining genre in Los Angeles. For diners, there’s still the thrill of going out to eat, plus less sticker shock, at least upon initial glance at the menu. Still, order more than a few of the carb-heavy, flavor-forward small plates offered at most trendy wine-centric spots—enough to make a full meal—and the grim, undeniable fact remains: The plates are indeed small, the prices don’t always match up and the expectations-to-reality gap, especially after factoring in TikTok or media hype, is usually larger than anticipated. Which is why it’s been such a joy to head down the 405—yes, even during rush hour—and tuck into a meal at Vin Folk, a reasonably priced, deeply satisfying 45-seat bistro in Hermosa Beach. Run almost entirely by trained chefs, this nearly four-month-old restaurant offers a winning menu of French-leaning, globally inspired dishes imbued with the flare of modernist fine dining. Think Singaporean chili crab remixed into a creamy risotto that uses crab caught off the Southern California coast and tender beef tongue flavored with Russian-style spicy horseradish and tatsoi (a type of Asian b

This Wednesday, March 12, Michelin added 15 new restaurants to its California guide, including seven in the Los Angeles area. All additions are considered “recommended” and could go on to receive either a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand (the guide’s budget-friendly category) later this year. Other additions up north include Stationæry in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Four Kings in San Francisco. In L.A., all new guide additions have opened since last summer. Among them you’ll find Tomat in Westchester, which I recently featured in a longform review for its ambitious restaurant garden within smelling distance of the LAX In-N-Out, and West L.A.’s Mori Nozomi, which also earned a profile on its eponymous chef, Nozomi Mori, one of the city’s few rare female sushi chefs. Photograph: Daniel Carranza for Time OutTomat In alphabetical order, the seven L.A. area restaurants are as follows, with full inspector notes available via Michelin’s official press release. All restaurants are within city limits unless otherwise specified; we’ve linked to Time Out’s write-ups for each, and noted our own star designations with brackets.  Bar Etoile [4 stars] Kusano (Culver City)  Mori Nozomi [5 stars] Rasarumah [3 stars] Seline (Santa Monica) Tomat [4 stars] Restaurant Ki [4 stars] For those unfamiliar with how Michelin restaurants are selected, here’s how it works: Anonymous Michelin inspectors travel across a given region, awarding the best of the best anywhere from one to three stars. Here in L.A.,

These days, it feels like the going rate for a decently made restaurant or bar cocktail in L.A. is close to $20. Depending on where you are (cough cough, the Westside), most house drinks start at well over $20. Well, Everson Royce Bar in the Arts District has heard about your budgetary tales of woe, and they’ve answered: As of today, the critically acclaimed bar is offering a new $12 and under menu section that includes cocktails and wines by the glass. And yes, it’s available every night they’re open (Tuesday to Saturday). Photograph: Courtesy E.R.B. We’ve long considered E.R.B. one of the city’s best bars, and its deceptively simple burger is one of the city’s best burgers. The indoor-outdoor patio is perfect for larger groups, and its more premium-priced cocktails have long stayed in the under-$20 “sweet spot” as cocktail prices around town have gone up. But having six new under-$12 cocktails is the new cherry on top at E.R.B.  Photograph: Courtesy Everson Royce Bar Simply constructed, the cocktails are six bar classics: vodka and soda ($10), a bourbon old-fashioned ($12), a margarita ($12), gin and tonic ($10), a mezcal-based grapefruit ranch water ($12) and a pineapple daiquiri ($11). If we know anything about the E.R.B. team, which also runs the relatively new West Altadena Wine and Spirits, the house’s well spirit choices likely aren’t too shabby either. E.R.B. also throws in a $6 can of lager for the beer-inclined. For the debut menu’s wine list, expect six $12 wi

For the first time since debuting in April 1947, the Westside’s iconic Apple Pan will be opening its doors on Mondays, a day of the week that’s been sorely lacking in decent dining options in the years since the pandemic hit. In 2019, original ownership sold the beloved burger-and-pie institution to music industry veteran Irving Azoff and his wife, Shelli, who also own Nate ’n Al’s in Beverly Hills.  To celebrate the expanded hours, the Apple Pan is offering free slices of their apple pie—which we consider one of the city’s best pies—to the first 50 dine-in customers every Monday in March. Yes, that means five opportunities (March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31) for a free-ish slice of pie—you do have to buy food in order to claim your gratis dessert.  The Apple Pan10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.Beginning March 1, the Apple Pan will be open weekdays, 11am to 11pm, then 11am to midnight on the weekends.

On the face of it, Tomat is an unlikely place for some of the city’s most interesting new California cuisine. Hidden inside a sprawling shopping complex, the four-month-old London-inspired restaurant is located less than a mile away from LAX. A giant tomato decorates the exterior of the three-story building; Tomat derives its name from a childhood nickname coincidentally shared by married owners Harry Posner and Natalie Dial. After dark, the bright red neon sign draws in hungry neighborhood locals and in-the-know diners from across the city hankering for an eclectic, unforgettable combination of global flavors most Angelenos have never seen or tasted before. While Posner and Dial’s intentions might sound fairly common—they want Tomat to be an upscale neighborhood fixture, worthy of date nights and the like—the painstaking efforts that went into the making of Tomat, along with each meal, reveal a restaurant that is anything but. Five years ago, the couple moved to L.A. from London, abandoning careers in medicine (Posner) and global health (Dial) in order to take advantage of an unmissable lease opportunity in Westchester, where in the late 1940s Dial’s late grandfather started Drollinger Properties, the area’s oldest, largest commercial real estate group (which her mother now presides over today). The couple have pored over every aspect of the fully renovated building, from the open kitchen to the dining room’s pale wood, dark green and burnt-orange color scheme. Photograph:

If you’ve ever wanted a taste of Alinea without getting on a flight, now’s your chance—the critically acclaimed Chicago fine dining destination is popping up at the Maybourne Beverly Hills this summer as part of a nationwide 20th anniversary tour. According to the Robb Report (the tour’s media partner), Alinea will be popping up in Brooklyn, Miami and Beverly Hills, with more locations to be announced as part of a second leg in the near future. In L.A., the three Michelin star restaurant will take up residency at the Maybourne Beverly Hills from July 17 to August 20. The 20-year-old Alinea is widely credited with popularizing molecular gastronomy. The globally inspired menu draws upon chef-owner Grant Achatz’s experiences at Thomas Keller’s the French Laundry in Napa Valley and Ferran Adrià’s now-closed El Bulli in Spain.  Photograph: Matthew GilsonThe dining room at Alinea. A few tour stops are slated to include pop-ups of the restaurant’s cocktail bars, the Aviary and the Office, but it’s unknown if that list features the summer residency in Beverly Hills.  “If we do this right, this celebration will also serve as a love letter to the entire restaurant and hospitality industry,” Achatz told the Robb Report. “We are grateful for the opportunities and relationships that have shaped us, and we want to share that gratitude with the broader community that continues to inspire us.” Reservations for the L.A. leg have yet to be released, but you can follow the Alinea Group on In

After a slight delay, the long-awaited L.A. area H&H Bagels will finally open in Santa Monica on Wednesday, February 26. The legendary NYC bagel shop first announced plans for nationwide expansion last summer. Franchise owner Phil Gross will donate 100 percent of the first week’s profits to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. On opening day, the Montana Avenue shop will also give away tote bags to the first 200 customers and gift cards ranging from $5 to $100. Our East Coast counterparts have long considered H&H one of the best bagels in New York City, and the brand has appeared on shows like Sex and the City and Seinfeld. The chain currently has seven locations in its hometown, with confirmed plans to expand into Florida, North Carolina and other parts of Southern California, including San Diego and Orange County. Other previously confirmed locations include outposts in Connecticut, Illinois, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.  As first reported by Eater, H&H Bagels Santa Monica will be serving bagels shipped from a Queens-based production facility like all other franchise locations. The Montana Avenue outpost’s menu features all the classics, from bacon, egg and cheese to lox with the works. Flavors include plain, everything, sesame, cinnamon raisin, jalapeño cheddar, whole wheat, egg and pumpernickel.  H&H Bagels is located at 710 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Beginning February 26, the shop will be open daily from 6a

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a Pacific Palisades staple lost to the recent wildfires, is reopening its doors in Brentwood this weekend. Shop owner Robert Flutie had originally planned for the San Vicente Boulevard storefront to be his restaurant’s second location, but will now be running his business solely out of the Brentwood outpost as he determines the next steps to rebuild the original. The shop offers New York style pies, whole and by the slice, plus classic sandwiches and salads. In honor of Valentine’s Day and the shop’s grand opening, Flour Pizzeria will be offering free pies on Friday to Palisades residents, first responders and law enforcement. Those who would like to claim this offer must sign up for a preorder on the restaurant’s website by clicking “Flour Pizza Community.” Palisades residents must show their driver’s license with a confirmed 90272 address. Then on Saturday, Brentwood locals are welcome to grab a free slice from noon until sold out. Beginning Sunday, the pizza shop will be open for regular business hours. Flour Pizzeria & Cafe Brentwood is located at 11684 San Vicente Boulevard. Regular operating hours will begin Sunday, February 16 and are noon from 9pm daily.