By: Haley Bosselman By: Haley Bosselman | November 8, 2024 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guide,
Hotel Bel-Air's Living Room
Making it big in Los Angeles isn’t just reserved for the entertainment industry. With an eclectic, rich dining scene like ours, we constantly have culinary leaders working to open the next big L.A. hotspot. And lucky for us, that means there’s a long lineup of new restaurants, lounges, food stands, bars and more to always try. Read on for all the new places that have opened in Los Angeles in 2024.
Website/ 301 Glendale Blvd 90026
The end of summer saw the opening of a neighborhood butchery, restaurant and natural wine bar in Echo Park. From husband-wife owners Tyson and Bridgette Blackney, Butchr Bar specializes in antibiotic-free meats and produce, offering a rotating selection of dry-aged meats that are butchered in house.
Website/ 9291 Burton Way 90210
The L’Ermitage Beverly Hills revamp is already boasting excellent results as proven by the opening Costa Covo. The Italian restaurant serves seasonally inspired dishes, specialty cocktails and new-world Italian and French wines. The decadence is easily seen through dishes like the Grano Arso Orecchiette in garlic sauce with shishito peppers, bottarga and pangrattato and the Tagliolini al Limone with preserved lemon, Parmigiano Reggiano and topping of caviar.
Website/ 6333 W Third St 90036
Ettore Winery set roots at the Original Farmers Market with the opening of a new restaurant and tasting room. A collaboration between the Mendocino-based winery and L.A.’s Osteria Mamma, Ettore Vino e Cucina serves Italian food and wine and has a mini retail section. From day to night, it is ideal for unwinding over bites and wine sampling.
Website/ 4850 Fountain Ave 90029
In October, East Hollywood welcomed a new farm-driven, fast-casual dining concept. Fountain Grains & Greens showcases the power of seasonal grains, greens, fruits and vegetables through a lineup of grain bowls and salads. This marks the first concept by Backyard Hospitality, a new hospitality group by Aric Attebery (formerly chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Otium and Bouchon Bistro).
Website/ 718 S Hill St 90014
The co-creators of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen have opened a CDMX-inspired rooftop taco and cocktail bar on top of its downtown cafe. Called Lost, the 6,000 square-ffot-space can welcome up to 300 people looking to enjoy music, skyline views, juicy tacos and agave spirits and rum cocktails.
Website/ 200 Santa Monica Blvd 90401
Making its way from Maine, Luke's Lobster made its Southern California debut in Santa Monica in late October. The family-run business is committed to sustainably sourcing crustaceans and serves the likes of lobster, crab and shrimp rolls, New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, local craft beers and more.
Website/ 826 N La Cienega Blvd 90069
SBE, the hospitality group behind Katsuya, opened MXO in September. In partnership with chef Wes Avila and restaurateur Giancarlo Pagani, the West Hollywood steakhouse showcases wood-fired Mexican cuisine accented by seasonal California ingredients. Highlights include The Cowboy, a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye; a seasonal tlayuda with black beans, avocado and mole rojo sprinkled with Oaxaca cheese; lobster ceviche and whole grilled prawns with Vale hot sauce, fennel and lime. The beverage program accentuates the culinary flavors with drinks like the Pura Candela with chipotle-infused Patron, Nixta Elote, mango gomme, cilantro and lime.
Website/ 269 E Palm Ave 91502
Burbank got a new upscale Italian restaurant with the unveiling of Palma Ristorante. Led by Emidio Tidu, the Roman-native chef enchants diners with house-made pastas, raw bar delights, wood-fired pizzas and gelato. Highlights include an impressive seafood tower, a squid -ink tagliolini drenched in calamari sauce and a mushroom truffle pizza.
Website/ 8947 Sunset Blvd 90069
A one-stop shop for dining and nightlife, Puzzle brings a dose of extravagance to the Sunset Strip. The French restaurant is opulent drenched in green velvet and gold flourishes, which is matched by a refined menu featuring a caviar-loaded baked potato, an excellent filet mignon and truffle-doused artichoke carpaccio.
Website/ 6634 Sunset Blvd 90028
The downstairs sister restaurant to the also newly introduced Udatsu Sushi, Rokusho blends Japanese cuisine with innovative flourishes. Menu items like Toro-Taku Avocado Garden, Washugyu Sando and Gindara Saikyo Yaki are aided by a great selection of wine and sake.
Website/ 1515 Ocean Ave 90401
Primed with twinkling ocean views, the signature restaurant of the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica presents California-coastal cuisine by executive chef Todd Bohak. The 76-seat “outdoor living room” charms with choices like Brandt prime filet with creamy Yukon potato and a cabernet demi-glace; California hamachi crudo with ginger ponzu and Sonoma lamb chops with mint cucumber couscous and rosemary bordelaise.
Website/ 2815 Sunset Blvd 90026
Blue Plate Restaurant Group—owner of Santa Monica’s beloved Blue Plate Oysterette—has journeyed into Silver Lake with the fall debut of Tacolina. Owner Jennifer Rush has brought her love for Southern California and Baja to Eastside diners with a farm-to-fork menu that shines bright with specialty meats, organic chicken, housemade salas and handraft tortillas. Enlivened by tall palms and bright colors, the welcoming space is ripe to be a community hotspot thanks to numerous fire pits, a live entertainment stage and outdoor bar.
Website/ 6634 Sunset Blvd 90028
A Michelin-starred concept from Tokyo, Udatsu marries Japaense culinary tradition with vibrant California ingredients for a raved-about 17-course omakase expderience. Guests sit in a Brutalist-inspired setting at an eight-seat sushi bar to relish the flavors of dishes like sea urchin nigiri and a Japanese dweet egg omelet. To complement, the beverage program offers natural wines and brews by Japan’s lesser-known sake houses.
Website/ 5716 2nd St 90803
Naples in Long Beach has a new fine dining restaurant and immersive cocktail lounge. Opened in May, 4 Shore has a varied menu of premium meats, seafood delights, handmade pastas and more. Dishes include a scallop plate with cauliflower, charred cabbage, eggplant and verjus butter; risotto with poached shrimp, shitake mushrooms and shrimp bisque froth; chocolate torte and lamb saddle.
Website/ 145 S Barrington Ave
As Toscana Restaurant Group celebrates 35 years, it opened a new restaurant in Brentwood in July. All Roads Pinseria + Enoteca is an elevated-casual restsaurant (Pinseria) and wine bar (Enoteca) that focuses on Roman cuisine and Italian wines.
Website/ 7174 Melrose Ave 90046
Located in a 1920s art deco building, The Benjamin Hollywood invokes Golden Age Hollywood glamour by way of classic restaurant hangouts for a dining experience primed by elevated American fare and menus dedicated to martinis and sparkling cocktails.
Website/ 1644 Sawtelle Blvd 90025
The team behind Chao Krung and Tuk Tuk Thai opened a Thai smashburger concept in April. Neighbor to Tuk Tuk, Ban Ban Burger coalesces the classic American burger with the bold flavors of beloved Thai dishes. Be sure to pair a Thai tea or Pandan shake with the wagyu laab smash or satay katsu sando.
Website/ 7383 Melrose Ave 90046
Taking over what was once the Village Idiot, Melrose Avenue welcomed Carmel in May. The Tel Aviv-inspired restaurant is often known to have a packed house thanks to a buzzy atmosphere and tantalizing seasonal dishes, which have included whole grilled spotted shrimp with grape leaves and frisée; rockfish schnitzel; crispy mushroom cigars with baharat and homemade pastas.
Website/ 362 N Camden Dr 90210
The year kicked off with the opening of Cirpriani Beverly Hills. Bringing the worldwide Italian concept to the West Coast, the Los Angeles outpost features a main dining area, outdoor terrace and jazz cafe where you can enjoy dishes like baked tagliolini with ham and vanilla meringue cake between sips of bellinis.
Website/ 356 E Second St 90012
Little Tokyo has a new all-you-can-eat wagyu, sushi and shabu shabu restaurant. From the team behind Niku X, Wagyu House Los Angeles and Chubby Curry, Chubby Cattle BBQ Little Tokyo offers three levels of all-you-can-eat experiences to best meet your appetite level. Walk-ins only!
Website/ 1301 Ocean Ave 90401
Pairing coastal views with handcraft cocktails, this rooftop bar in Santa Monica pays homage to L.A.-favorite destinations of the 1900s like The Coconut Club and Cocoanut Grove. Its sleek tropical aesthetic is reason enough to lure in a vibrant crowd, but you’ll also want to flock here for the bites by chef Chris Sayegh of downstair’s Layla restaurant and libations by bartender wizard Dushan Zaric.
Website/ 939 S Figueroa St 90015
Hotel Figueroa unveiled a new Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea-inspired concept in August. Named after Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, Deme boasts a vibrant menu of dishes influenced by the cuisines of the Eastern Mediterranean Coast, Turkey and Israel. You won’t want to miss out on the platter sampling of all dips, octopus skewer and soft serve ice cream.
Website/ 2415-2449 Main St 90405
A late summer edition to Santa Monica, Edgemar breathes to life the 1928 bowstring truss warehouse that is part of a 1980’s Frank Gehry-designed development on Main Street. The modern American restaurant coalesces local and global influences, as seen on its opening menu with dishes like oysters tempura, hamachi crudo, Japanese sweet potato, uni pasta, smoked lamb shoulder and chocolate mousse.
Website/ 2025 Avenue of the Stars 90067
Fairmont Century Plaza ushered in summer with the opening of a new rooftop restaurant. Set poolside, ¡Esta! has a Latin-Mediterranean-inspired menu and is ground zero for the hotel’s lineup of pool partiers, brand partnerships and fitness activations.
Website/ 1824 N Vermont Ave 90027
The corner of Vermont Avenue and Los Feliz Boulevard welcomed a new Mexico City-inspired taqueria in April by a team that includes Bardonna and Tu Madre owner Joshua Pourgol; Jude Eranimus of Tacos El Superior and Paul Tran, formerly of The Halal Guys. Guac Daddy is open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for orders of breakfast burritos, loaded carne asada fries, Korean tacos, agua frescas and more.
Website/ 701 Stone Canyon Rd 90077
Following the spring welcoming of Joe Garcia (The French Laundry, Bicyclette, Manzke Restaurant, Bouchon Beverly Hills) as culinary director, Hotel Bel-Air has expanded its culinary offerings with two new concepts. Just passed the hotel’s Swan Lake bridge, locals and hotel guests are invited to enjoy the bakery prowess of executive pastry chef Christophe Rull and team at The Patisserie. Open 7 a.m. to noon, the menu features traditional French pastries enlivened by California produce. Stop by to try some of the city’s finest croissants, cookies, baked breads, handcraft cakes, coffees and other specialty pastries and baked goods. Further inside, The Living Room has transformed Hotel Bel-Air’s lobby lounge experience. Setting guests inside a conservatory-inspred space with a fireplace aglow in the center, the Garcia-helmed menu features a luxury take on onion dip (sweet caramelized Vidalia onions and crème fraîche, garnished with pickled pearl onions, crispy onions and chives, served with toasted baguette and optional caviar); Liberty Farms Duck Confit Gateau with Harry’s Berries strawberries and Sicilian pistachios; an Australian winter truffle grilled cheese sandwich; Ora King and Smoked Salmon Rillettes and a caviar menu. For beverages, martini aficianados should flock here for the tableside Coldest Martini in the World. Finally, afternoon tea serfice takes place Friday through Sunday at 3 p.m.
Website/ 467 N Canon Dr 90210
Bring contemporary Japanese fusion to Beverly Hills, Jordane Andrieau’s Jade Beverly Hills ushers diners on a fully immersive experience accented by vintage and sensory flourishes and live music. At the center of it all is chef Matteen Khalifian’s menu of Asian delicacies by way of western technique. Highlights include the Diamond Roll with lobster, seared salmon, caviar and gold flake and wagyu carpaccio with uni and white truffle oil.
Website/ 306 Pico Blvd 90405
The first fully non-alcoholic bar in Santa Monica, Kavahana opened a brick-and-mortar location following a successful debut at Smorgasbord. It serves kava nectar, a 3,000-year-old drink from the Pacific Islands that promotes relaxation, anxiety relief, restful sleep and better moods.
Chubby Cattle BBQ Little Tokyo
Website/ 9039 Sunset Blvd 90069
The H.Wood Group elevated the Sunset Boulevard nightlife scene in July with the debut of Keys. An electronic music-forward concept, the multi-story club draws in party goers with its chic vintage aesthetic, modern flourishes, white glove service and premier, eclectic talent lineup. Already, Keys has held DJ sets and performances by Ice Spice, DJ Ruckus, Surf Mesa, Madds and Zack Bia.
Website/ 3134 Olympic Blvd 90006
A Korean comfort food restaurant and marketplace by On6thAvenue Hospitality, Lasung House is inspired by the dining culture of Korea in the ‘80s. Feast here on the signature jumbo pork cutlets.
Website/ 465 N La Cienega Blvd 90048
The new rooftop concept at SLS Beverly Hills debuted in June. Complemented by 360-degree city views, LaDiDa features weekly live DJ sets, happy hours, full dinner service, fireplaces and various plush seating alongside its seasonal menu influenced by Southern European and Northern African cuisine. Dishes have included vegan ceviche, grilled peaches and jamón and duck egg rolls.
Website/ 1430 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
Chef Charbel Hayek opened another Los Angeles restaurant in July. Adding a California-inspired Middle Eastern restaurant to Hollywood, Laya not only transports diners with its open-air market-like space, but also through savory skewers, hearty entrees, flavorsome appetizers and a robust wine list. Consider the goat cheese and za'atar, Kafts Khashshash, the mixed grill platter and rosé soft serve.
Website/ 1301 Ocean Ave 90401
In an ode to his grandmother, chef Chris Sayegh teamed up with Boulevard Hospitality Group to open Layla. The Santa Monica restaurant whips up family-favorite Middle Eastern dishes by way of French techniques. Don’t miss out on the mezze platter here.
Website/ 1254 S Figueroa St 90015
Following its fall 2023 debut, Level 8 in downtown opened its final restaurant concept in May. Oyster and Champagne bar Mother of Pearl showcases seafood dishes by Michelin-starred chef Joshua Gil of Mírate. Alongside raw bites, squid ink spaghetti with meatballs and other seafood-forward eats, visitors can enjoy effervescent cocktails like the tequila-blood orange-grapefruit Salty Siren and caviar bump-paired Mini-Tini.
Website/ 1545 Wilcox Ave 90028
January also saw the debut of Mars Hollywood. A secret cocktail bar tucked behind Mother Wolf in the Vinyl District, the intimate lounge promises sophistication amid revelry for a proper nightcap.
Website/ 23 Windward Ave 90291
Set inside Wintson House in Venice, chef Wes Whitsell’s Italian dinner club embraces a Southern flair, as showcased by its menu of Texas-influenced Italian eats. Dishes include cornmeal-fried oysters, smoked brisket agnolotti and a Peads and Barnett sausage pizza with mushroom, jalpeño and tomato.
Website/ 7174 Melrose Ave 90046
The Moon Room brought the party to Melrose with its March debut. From the minds behind The Roger Room, Bar Lubitsch and The Friend, this cocktail bar serves libations crafted by award-winning mixologist Annemarie Sagoi and has a lineup of live performances going all week long.
Keys
Website/ 554 S Western Ave 90020
With the summer debut of Norikaya, chef Akira Black invites diners to experience a welcome, laidback environment while relishing in the artistry of Japanese cuisine. The handroll and small bites restaurant is a 20-seat bar in Koreatown that has offerings like the Supreme Team, which has o-toro, uni, caviar and gochujang miso, unagi, smoked kampachi and more.
Website/ 631 N La Cienega 90069
La Cienega’s Restaurant Row ushered in 2024 with the welcoming of Norma. Working to be West Hollywood’s cozy but chic living room, founder Alican Bayer’s eatery entices with flavorsome dishes like fried broccoli, braised oxtail and various pastas.
Website/ 3465 W 6th St 90020
On6thAvenue Hospitality opened Origin Korean BBQ in Koreatown in February. Using hot charcoal grilles and marinades inspired by Seoul, menu highlights include a soybean paste beef brisket hot pot with ramen, seafood pancake and garlic bone-in short ribs.
Website/ 751 Echo Park Ave 90026
In July, The Lonley Oyster Group tranformed the Echo Park Lake Boathouse into its newest concept. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Pinknik supplies park-goers with house-pressed juices, Be Bright coffee, pastries and smoothies in the morning and sandwiches and entrees in the afternoon and evenings. Keep an eye out for the eventual addition of beer and wine!
Website/ 1697 Pacific Ave 90291
Pizza Girl opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Venice Beach’s Hotel Erwin. Founded by co-CEO Caroline D’Amore, daughter of Joe D’Amore of SoCal’s D’Amores Pizza, the pizzeria offers slices, whole pies and products like kitchen tools and Pizza Girl sauce.
Website/ 8289Santa Monica Blvd 90046
Tucked inside Arden, Rideau brings the glamour of 1920s Paris to West Hollywood. The Tamara Fox-led speakeasy puts on magic shows nightly alongside spectacular cocktails in this intimate space.
Website/ 1415 Ocean Ave 90401
The Georgian hotel in Santa Monica unveiled its all-day restaurant in May. Led by executive chef David Almany (Osteria Mozza), Sirena serves Italian-California cuisine alongside wine by sommelier Kristin Olszewki and desserts and pastries by chef Thessa Diadem. The menu varies from paninis and salads at lunch to fresh seafood entrees at dinner like jumbo scallops alla piccata and linguine vongole amalfitano.
Jade
Website/ 1601 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
At the end of January, Hollywood saw the unveiling of a new nightclub that featured a grand opening with SG Lewis. The Spotlight spreads across 2,700 square feet, harnessing a 1960s speakeasy aesthetic that balances the club’s commitment to electronic dance music.
Website/ 3599 Hayden Ave 90232
Vespertine made a grand return in April and has already earned a two Michelin-star rating this year. From chef Jordan Kahn, the modern gastronomy restaurant presents a multi-sensory fine dining experience that invites just 20 guests into its avant-garde space each evening.
Website/ 2425 Daly St 90031
Chronicling the inception, building and grand opening on Instagram since April 2020, Zizou finally opened in Lincoln Heights. The French-Moroccan restaurant is the love and labor of two lifelong friends who grew up together in France, bringing to the neighborhood a touch of Southeast France through its airy patio, bright aesthetic and seasonal menu with dishes like almond and apricot tajine, steak frites and toublé Françias.
From French fare to Mexican cuisine and fuision adventures, you can find it all in Los Angeles.
Photography by: Mark Read Photography for Hotel Bel-Air; Courtesy Chubby Cattle BBQ, Keys, Jade