Pair a stellar menu with an awe-inspiring view for your next memorable dining experience in LaLa Land.
Gladstones Malibu
Since 1972, guests have flocked to Gladstones, the popular beachfront enclave, for celebrity sightings and seafood-centric dishes a few feet from the waves. Devour some of the freshest seafood in LA next to the pounding surf, like Clam Chowder, Coastal Crab Cakes loaded with blue crab claw meat, and a Steamer Pot of littleneck clams in garlic broth. A new elevated menu brings sensational options such as Lobster Risotto topped with a whole cracked lobster tail and Alaskan King Crab Legs ready to be dipped in warm butter. Share a variety of seafood with the Sunset Tower or Malibu Seafood Tower. To avoid crowds, go during the week and add on a beach walk before or after your meal.
The Rooftop at The London West Hollywood Beverly Hills
For the ultimate open-air ambiance, dine high above LA atop the London Hotel, enveloped by the lush Hollywood Hills and dramatic shimmering skyline. Make a reservation for sunset to watch the landscape hues shapeshift over a 3-course, prix-fixe dinner enhanced with curated LVE Wines by John Legend, inspired by “John’s Favorite Things” from wife Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook, Cravings. Start with French Onion Soup or Short Rib Ravioli before moving onto entrée delights like Spicy Miso Pasta with Manila Clams, Fried Chicken with spicy honey butter, or Beef Wellington for two with Mac and Cheese Gratinee, paired with a bold LVE Cabernet Sauvignon. End with Berry Pavlova enhanced with a glass of LVE French Sparkling Rose. The a la carte menu is just as impressive, with Surf and Turf crispy rice, Lobster loaded Tortellini with sweet corn, Whole Branzino, English Pea and Morel Mushroom Risotto, and multiple steak options.
LaDiDa Rooftop Restaurant at SLS Beverly Hills Hotel
The SLS hotel’s new poolside rooftop restaurant, LaDiDa, with 360-degree LaLa Land views, is perfect for a sunset rendezvous. Settle in atop the stunning open-air roofscape in West Hollywood with a specialty cocktail, like the Mezcal Cheeky Monkey blended with grapefruit juice, Serrano peppers, and in-house made rose, grapefruit, and hibiscus syrup. The menu is conducive to sharing, so begin with steamed Coconut Curry Mussels in a garlic, saffron, coconut lime broth so delicious you'll want to soak not only the grilled bread, but everything else you can think of into the sauce. The perfectly cooked 6 oz filet mignon comes with choice of sauce and side. Consider the creamy skillet of mashed potatoes paired with peppercorn sauce, as you’ll want to dip the meat and top with a lump of heavenly starch puree. Create a Surf and Turf dinner with the Seafood Pasta, made with black squid ink noodles and lobster sauce loaded with clams, calamari, mussels and Caledonian blue shrimp. This $18 dish could easily be $60 somewhere else. Other dishes to try include Pan-Seared Sea Bass, Braised Short Ribs, and Spinach Carbonara Pasta. For a fun surprise, order the honeycomb ice cream dessert. Soon enough, the smoky spicy cocktail, the mod purple lips sculpture in the pool, or the sprawling City of Angels glow will have you exclaiming, “LADiDa!”
High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach
Venice Beach’s 360-degree sunset rooftop restaurant, aptly named High, is situated above the coastal curves. The epic views and chill vibes atop the Pacific Ocean are complimented with a newly refreshed handcrafted cocktail menu and casual all-day menu with appetizers, salads, tacos, sandwiches, flatbreads and desserts. Nosh on Caesar Salad, Baja Fish Tacos, warm Lobster Roll, Chicken Katsu Sandwich, Erwin’s Secret Burger or a Poke Bowl with salmon or fried tofu. Don’t miss inventive libations at Happy Hour with seasonal ingredients and fresh takes on classics, like the Sunset Sour, Surf’s Up Spicy Margarita, Purple Rain and the Venice Sodie. Before grabbing your car out of valet, take home a crisp pie from Pizza Girl, situated street side on the ground floor.
Sirena at The Georgian Hotel Santa Monica
Choose any table on the elegant front terrace of the Georgian Hotel, above the Santa Monica waterfront on Ocean Ave., to enjoy sunset hues cascading across the palm trees of Palisades Park and beyond. Sirena's all-day Cali Italian menu features fresh seafood, a stellar pasta lineup and several steak entrées. Outstanding options include Burrata from Puglia, Kanpachi, Rigatoni alla Vodka, Grilled Branzino and Marinated Prime Rib Eye Cap. Extend an evening at the newly revamped Georgian Hotel (since 1933) with an Italian-influenced libation in the glamorous horseshoe-shaped Art Deco lobby bar or down below in the “secret” old school Georgian Room restaurant/bar, accompanied by a pianist or live jazz. Think about Marilyn and Charlie Chaplin, who also appreciated the coastal allure as regulars at this iconic hotel. Reservations are a must, especially on Sunday for the family friendly 3-course Italian meal! High Tea is offered every other Saturday and weekly Market Mondays feature a prix-fixe series showcasing seasonal produce from the Santa Monica Farmers Market.
Marelle at Sandbourne Hotel Santa Monica
Step into this new Autograph Collection oasis donned in Earth tones, mid-century modern curvy furniture and lush plants catapulting in every direction. Perched above the pool and beach, indoor/outdoor Marelle Restaurant offers design vibes echoing the natural movement of the sand and sea. Score an ocean view terrace seat to sip a cocktail in a shell, a Mezcal lavender-infused Honeybee doused in colorful petals, or La Vie en Rose, a tequila and bubbles drink topped with rose-colored glasses. Unwind with the ocean air and a smattering of fresh appetizers like Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with sweet peppercorn relish, Hamachi Crudo with diced mango and strawberries, and Burrata with oven dried tomatoes and chopped sweet balsamic onions served with herb crostini. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily.
Layla Restaurant at the Sonder Beacon Santa Monica
Chef Chris Sayegh draws inspiration from his Jordanian grandmother Layla, who also sends her spices to the restaurant from Jordan. Featuring one of the most exciting and impressive new menus in town, the art deco ambiance is accompanied by a sunset view to enhance the Jordanian flavor experience. Share a Mezze Platter for 2 to 4 with smoked eggplant, aerated hummus, avocado crème fraiche, labneh, tapenade and wood-fired pita. Devour marinated Kohlrabi (a cabbage-like root vegetable) or Warak Dawali (fresh stuffed grape leaves with rice, lamb and tomato). Don’t miss entrees like the incredibly satisfying Lamb Shank atop rice with goat’s milk and crunchy toasted almonds, or Whole Grilled Sea Bass with lemon chermoula topped with micro dill. A cacophony of Middle Eastern flavors, the cocktails are just as exciting. Try the Layla Old Fashioned, made with a pistachio butter-washed wild turkey bourbon served with a side of feta, or the Matahari Milk Punch, featuring cognac blended with Chai-infused sweet vermouth and sage smoke. Make sure to head to the roof before dinner for sunset drinks at the new Coco Club, which old time Angelenos might remember as the former Shangri-La Hotel’s hotspot rooftop, one of the tallest in Santa Monica.
Pair a stellar menu with an awe-inspiring view for your next memorable dining experience.