Food & Drink

Stylish & Scrumptious: Get a Taste of West Hollywood’s Dynamic Dining Scene

Home to glitzy rooftops, old-school Hollywood hangouts and some of the city’s most exciting new restaurants, discover why WeHo is LA’s go-to foodie destination.

Merois at The Pendry West Hollywood.

Chances are that if you’re hanging out in West Hollywood, you might see celebrities. Some of those celebrities include culinary stars, many of whom find creative inspiration in the spectacular offerings of the California harvest.

There is much to explore (and chew over) in this city of sophisticated foodies. Whether you’re into fine dining or casual fare, here’s how to get a tantalizing taste of West Hollywood.

Hotel Restaurants

Merois at The Pendry West Hollywood

It’s hard to go wrong when dining at one of the many chic West Hollywood hotels.

Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower West Hollywood

If you’re into upscale vintage, the Tower Bar restaurant at the Sunset Tower Hotel is a must-visit. This Art Deco gem—established in 1929 and located in the former apartment of Bugsy Siegel—features lavish interiors that spill out to the glamorous rooftop pool deck. The menu is equally tantalizing, with dressed-up classics like Chicken Pot Pie and Rack of Lamb; the cocktails are equally divine.

1 Hotel West Hollywood

This perennial hotspot is as well known for its dining as its accommodations. Chef Ginger Pierce has devised a variety of dining options, ranging from fresh to-go foods in the Lobby Farmstand to sustainable SoCal cuisine at 1 Kitchen to elevated cocktails with endless city views at Harriet’s Rooftop.

Ardor at The West Hollywood EDITION

This Michelin-recommended stunner is the total package: inventive, hyper-local food that’s matched by five-star service and jaw-dropping interior design. Spearheaded by California native Chef John Fraser, Ardor’s plant-based dishes shine, but the well-rounded menu, cocktails and wine list have something to please everyone in your party.

Merois at The Pendry West Hollywood

Sample global cuisine with a California twist at Merois, courtesy of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. In a city that’s chock-full of breathtaking rooftop restaurants and bars, this one manages to stand out with its fabric-draped ceilings and sweeping views. Start with sashimi creations from the raw bar, followed by Asian-French fusion flavors like Foie Gras Bao Buns and Singaporean Baby Back Ribs with coffee glaze.

Read More: 13 Great Hotel Bars & Restaurants in West Hollywood

Fine Dining

Caviar and champaign sits on a table with a white tablecloth at Petrossian in West Hollywood.
Caviar and more caviar at Petrossian West Hollywood.

All of the hotel restaurants above fall into the category of fine dining, but don’t stop there—you’ve only begun to scratch the surface of West Hollywood’s upscale dining scene.

Craig’s

Craving some comforting American favorites? BBQ baby back ribs, sesame-crusted salmon and vegan cheeseburgers get the fine-dining treatment at Craig’s. The high-end, sceney spot attracts A-list mover and shakers.

Dan Tana’s

Old-school Italian is on order at Dan Tana’s, another celeb hangout that’s as famous for its cozy red leather booths as it is its red sauce. Waiters will toss your Caesar salad tableside, and you never know—you might see a famous couple canoodling at a nearby table.

Catch LA

Combining seafood, sushi, a nightclub vibe and a magnificent rooftop view, Catch LA is easily one of WeHo’s hottest dining tickets. This stylish Melrose Avenue spot is a great lunch or dinner destination between shopping in the West Hollywood Design District.

Sushi Ginza Onodera

There is just one menu option at Sushi Ginza Onodera—the seasonal omakase. Here, diners are treated to a fine array of Edomae sushi—a style of preparation that involves aging the fish to bring out a super-tender texture and a deep umami flavor. Rated Two Michelin Stars, this is a splurge that’s worth every penny.

Gracias Madre

Serving lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and happy hour, this Michelin-recommended restaurant on Melrose is Mexican in cuisine but SoCal in spirit. Gracias Madre‘s menu offers vegan takes on Mexican favorites, which wow at every turn with the creativity and flavor combinations. Sit inside among the pretty patterned tile floors or snag an outdoor patio table under the olive trees.

Saltie Girl

This Boston seafood institution landed on Sunset Boulevard in December 2022, bringing with it a staggering selection that includes Santa Barbara uni, New York-style smoked fish and New England lobster. Don’t miss Saltie Girl’s menu of more than 120 types of tinned fish—many sourced from Spain and Portugal—which come served with French bread, pickled peppers, crunchy butter and a trio of salts.

Petrossian

For the serious caviar lovers, there is this elegant French café (just a few steps outside of West Hollywood). Founded in France more than 90 years ago, Petrossian proves that caviar belongs on much more than blinis—for example, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and crispy pommes frites. Lunch only by reservation, but stop by the boutique to stock up on caviar, Champagne and other accoutrements.

Read More: West Hollywood’s 2023 Michelin-Rated Restaurants and Hotels

Casual Dining

Soulmate West Hollywood

LA is all about relaxed style, so it’s no surprise to find so many casual yet cool restaurants on the dining scene.

Soulmate occupies the sweet spot between casual and fine dining. Specializing in Mediterranean shared plates, this places oozes California cool. Come for wine, oysters and wagyu steak tartare during happy hour, and don’t be surprised if you end up sticking around for dinner.

More welcoming happy hours with wonderful food await at La Bohème and St. Felix.

Lots of locals recommend Bossa Nova Brazilian Cuisine, WeHo Bistro, Fresh Corn Grill and Barney’s Beanery, which has been serving celebs, artists, writers and regular folks since the 1920s. Memorabilia graces the walls and tables; Marilyn Monroe reportedly was a fan of the chili.

You can also taste California’s legendary produce when you stop by the Helen Albert Certified Farmers’ Market. It takes place every Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including most holidays, at Plummer Park’s north parking lot.

Late-Night Bites

Exterior of Carneys, a restaurant located in a yellow train car.

West Hollywood is a town that likes to stay up late, and these restaurants answer your midnight cravings.

Mel’s Drive-In is a late-night institution open until midnight on Monday and Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Expect diner staples that go above and beyond, like Loaded Short Rib Fries and the Impossible Burrito.

Also catering to late-night appetites: State Social House is a gastropub with a cigar lounge and piano bar. Open until 2 a.m. seven nights a week, the restaurant serves food until 11 p.m. on weeknights and around midnight on weekends. Who doesn’t love Tijuana nachos, pot roast sandwiches and linguini pomodoro? Oh, and don’t forget Taco Tuesdays!

If you need a burger fix, no worries. Stop by Astro Burger or Carney’s—both open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays—or head to that venerable California chain, In-and-Out, which slings burgers and fries until 1 a.m. every night of the week.

Read More: Late-Night Eats in West Hollywood

Sweet Treats

No meal is complete without something sweet.

Urth Caffé has an impressive dessert selection, including pies, tarts, tiramisu and exquisite cakes made daily (the fluffy Coconut Royale is truly a slice of heaven).

For an ice cream fix on a hot day, head to Rawberri, Yogurt Stop or Salt & Straw, which is famed for artisan flavors like Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Arbequina Olive Oil.

Don’t miss the Famous Apple Pie for Two at Jones Hollywood—another spot that’s open late for dinner and dessert.

Or check out the concoctions at Cake and Art, a design shop and bakery that has created birthday cakes for celebrities ranging from Oprah Winfrey to Justin Bieber.

Hey, a little decadence never hurt anyone.

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