Trendy / Hip Restaurants

Asia de Cuba aims to transport diners to unseen worlds, and they very well may accomplish this with an innovative menu, unique ambiance, and hip crowd. The atmosphere combines the best of both indoors and out, with a hip, see-and-be-seen vibe indoors and a quiet and romantic landscaped patio outside. The menu equally fuses two drastically different worlds, inventing a new type of cuisine in the process. As the restaurant’s name suggests, Asian cuisine mingles with Latin flavors, with such dishes as Seafood Pad Thai, “Havana Style” and Cuban Spiced Chicken with Thai coconut sticky rice and avocado fruit salsa. …

By word of mouth and glowing reviews, Blowfish Sushi to Die For has developed from a thriving restaurant in San Francisco to a growing concept with two other locations in San Jose and Los Angeles. Blowfish provides an exciting and unconventional environment that is hip, unique and inviting.

CLOSED! Located just off fashionable Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Chaya Brasserie has remained an enduring success for nearly thirty years, catering to an endless stream of discriminating diners and celebrities, as well as a loyal following that continues to return nightly. The lure is the distinctive East meets West cooking by Executive Chef Shigefumi Tachibe, who first introduced Los Angeles to Franco-Japonaise cooking at the legendary La Petit Chaya in the early 1980s. At Chaya Brasserie, Chef Tachibe blends exotic ingredients and time honored traditions from his native Japan to create an inspired menu. The use of local and …

Ciudad is a Latin restaurant that produces bold and authentic dishes from South America, Central America, Cuba, Spain, and Portugal. This restaurant is located in the heart of Downtown LA and owned by chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger from Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales.” The restaurant has a jazzy Latin feel in a cosmopolitan downtown space. Ciudad features unique cocktails, tapas-style appetizers, homemade dessert and one-of-a-kind entrees. Every Sunday from 5-9 p.m. the restaurant has Tapas Sundays and Spanish wines by the glass.

Offering diners modern Japanese fare with American flare, Geisha House in Hollywood caters to those looking for more than the typical sushi restaurant. An ultra modern décor welcomes guests as they enter the restaurant. Providing an atmosphere dripping with sensuality, Geisha House is a great way to start a night out on the town, or to bring a date. The full bar serves up sake infused signature cocktails like the Geisha Kiss Martini. Creative presentation of dishes such as the Sashimi Igloo and Robata World is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the belly, while …

Chef Andrew Pastore’s Pacific Rim menu is so elegant, exotic, and beautifully presented, it’s a shame dishes aren’t delivered to tables by elephant. Transcend Hollywood’s club scene into a Zen-like wonderland that calms the senses, enlivens the soul, and thrills the palate. Ritual is located on Cahuenga Blvd., just north of chaotic Hollywood Blvd. It is the pricier, hotter, more attractive cousin of its predecessor White Lotus. Ritual’s food and ambience will make you forget you’re in Hollywood, and its transformation into weekend Hollywood hotspot is a feat to make you forget about any other nightclub this side of La …

Located near the famed farmers market in the bustling Fairfax district, Cobras and Matadors is "underground Spain meets urban Los Angeles." Here, one will discover a tapas-centric menu filled with traditional Spanish favorites and eclectic variations on the theme, as well as a fast-paced atmosphere that is simply intoxicating. It’s anything but stuffy, and is still delicious and surprising enough to please even the most cultured Los Angeles diner. Go for the inventive dishes. Go for the fabulous vibe. Go for a fantastic night out. Just go.

Situated discreetly where funky and hip Abbot Kinney boulevard dead ends, Beechwood is the perfect haven to morph into the trendy hipster scene of Venice. The modern warm wood décor creates a relaxed atmosphere, whether you are enjoying the signature Pan Fried Chicken Paillard in the secluded rear dining room, or a Kiwi Vodka Caipirinha in the comfortable, noisy space of the enticing bar area with its fire pit, low chaise lounges, and communal tables. There is no doubt that the stylish crowd is drawn in by the innovative twists on international comfort food, diverse wines and specialty cocktail list …

Santa Monica is home to one of the world’s premier raw food restaurants, Planet Raw. Executive Chef Juliano Brothman is no new comer to the raw food lifestyle; at the vanguard back in 1994, he has brought his years of expertise to Planet Raw. The restaurant does not utilize four, wheat, grain, sugar, canned, or boxed foods of any kind. What they do use to construct their raw dishes is fruits, vegetables, roots, leaves, nuts, and seeds. The menu includes a long list of house potions, elixirs & smart drinks, and smoothies, all with their own respective benefits dependent on …

Spark Woodfire Grill serves all the great food you’d want in a fine steak restaurant, in a chic, laid back atmosphere. With partner locations in Studio City and Huntington Beach, Spark is known for its open-hearth wood fire oven, mesquite grill, and steak broiler. The menu features fine steaks, but also offers home-cooking favorites you might not expect. Hamburgers, baby back ribs, lasagna, and a selection of wood fired pizzas offer a range of dinner options. Located in West Los Angeles near Beverly Hills, Spark has a full bar with a great happy hour and extensive facilities for private parties …

Located at The Shops at Mission Viejo, Oceans 33° is committed to providing the highest quality food and service in a warm inviting atmosphere.The restaurant features a lively bar, exhibition kitchen, 85 seat banquet room, seafood bar and outdoor patio. As guests enter Oceans 33° they are greeted with the sights, sounds and smells of a wood burning grill, rotisserie and stone fire pizza oven.

One step inside from the bustle of Melrose takes you into Dolce, a trendy Italian restaurant with a cozy dark decor and some fantastic people watching. Known for its ambiance, tasty Italian classics, and hip crowd, Dolce is perfect for a romantic date, or a pre-club meal. From the traditional Pesto Gnocchi and Osso Bucco to the more fusion-based Tuna Tartare and Mango Bruschetta, Dolce's menu caters to all tastes and appetites. Drink options include a full wine list, including selections by the glass, as well as a large selection of cocktails. It is certain that Dolce's decor and ambiance …

Tantra restaurant, located in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, is owner Navraj Singh’s most generous gift to the community. Beginning at the ornate, hammered-metal doors and continuing throughout is an opulence that far exceeds any expectation. This gorgeous space was designed by Sat Garg of Akar Studios in Santa Monica, and is profoundly beautiful. It is a setting that perfectly compliments Chef Sanjay Kumar’s masterful preparations. His menu is a sophisticated mélange of traditional Indian cuisine and contemporary ingredients, with a broad range of tandoori dishes from the north and masala based dishes from the south of India.

Hollywood’s Bella Cucina Italiana is just steps from the city’s iconic “Walk of Fame” and an Oscar’s throw from glamorous Kodak Theatre. The restaurant draws a modern, hip, and eclectic crowd keen on casual cucina dining. The menu dishes up classic pasta favorites and sumptuous Southern Italian entrees. Bella Cucina Italiana is a member of Los Angeles’ Dolce Group. Balancing a hip lounge with cozy, unpretentious dining, Bella mixes it up with a modern take on the classic trattoria.

Falcon’s location, on a nondescript stretch of Sunset Boulevard, is unassuming, but once inside, it’s a different story—the glamorous Dodd Mitchell design provides the perfect setting for drinking or dining. Indeed, although Falcon has built a reputation for its nightlife, the restaurant’s food is worthy of a trip in its own right. The focus of the succinct but wide-ranging menu is fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the dishes are fancy enough to gain interest, but not overworked. The wine list, too, is thoughtfully chosen, covering the globe but specializing in California.

Melograno is centrally located on Hollywood Boulevard, a few blocks west of Vine; although the area is not synonymous with fine dining, the cuisine here is worth an excursion. Owned by chef Alberto Lazzarino and his sommelier/business partner, Giuseppe Cossu, Melograno is focused specifically on Northern Italian cuisine from the Piedmont region. This means rich, authentic dishes such as house-made agnolotti with black truffles and carnaroli rice risotto with wild mushrooms. Lazzarino and Cossu bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from their respective disciplines and by joining forces, provide Los Angeles with an original and adventurous spin on Italian …

The aptly named All’Angelo, which translates as “To the Angels,” serves up a divine dining experience. The blonde wood beams and warm, creamy walls evoke the soft light of a Renaissance painting, creating an atmosphere that is both inviting and almost religiously tranquil. Chef Mirko Paderno takes traditional Italian cuisine to new heights of satisfaction, transporting taste buds to a similarly transcendent state. The vintage Berkel meat slicer that serves as a focal point in the restaurant shaves meat impossibly thin, creating a wonderfully ethereal yet intense flavor sensation. All’Angelo manages to combine all the sinful delight of a decadent …

Simon LA, located at the Sofitel Hotel, has been named one of best restaurants in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine. Simon LA focuses on modern American cuisine created by culinary star Kerry Simon. Dishes are one-of-a-kind, while incorporating the freshest seasonal ingredients. With a relaxed atmosphere and a décor featuring marble water walls, a fire pit, an outdoor patio, and an open exhibition kitchen, the menu is American-influenced with international flair. The menu provides options like pasta, salads, and wood-roasted pizzas, as well as fish, beef, and lamb. Chef Simon’s signature Yellow Tail Carpaccio and Bluefin Tuna Tartare are …