Mr. T
Attending a live musical—whether a classic like Les Misérables or a Broadway smash like Wicked—is a magical experience. At the Pantages Theatre, the enchantment begins the moment you see the neon marquee and lasts well after the curtain falls and you exit through the magnificent Art Deco lobby. It's also a long experience, one that generally lasts about three hours. To make it through, consider booking a reservation at a nearby restaurant. Whether you're ravenous after the show or want to fuel up before journeying down Hollywood Boulevard, here are 28 restaurants near the Pantages Theatre.
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7174 Melrose Ave 90046/ Website
Be sure to secure your reservation early if you opt for The Benjamin. Just under two-and-a-half miles from The Pantages, the contemporary American restaurant will put you in the right mood for an old-school Hollywood night out, not to mention it's one of the tougher reservations to come by. Cozy in a luxe booth, it’s easy to throw back rounds of crab beignets and martinis before diving into the fan–favorite Benjamin Burger.
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7627 Sunset Blvd 90046/ Website
If tapping out of the L.A. scene sounds enticing, make a reservation for Kasbah by Members. The 111 Hospitality restaurant transports you from Hollywood to Morocco just two miles from the theater where you can unwind in a luxe, intimate setting while feasting on marinated harissa olives, roasted eggplant dip, Moroccan lamb couscous and more.
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5936 Sunset Blvd 90028/ Website
Blending the marvels of New York, Caribbean and Jewish cuisines, Linden presents a culinary adventure that lives up to the same storytelling you can see on stage at the Pantages. Less than a mile from the venue, it satisfies with comfort and creative dishes like yellow tail crudo, herbed duck fat fries, Denver ribs with saffron rice, fried chicken and sweet corn truffle agnolotti.
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1545 Wilcox Ave 90028/ Website
Chef Evan Funke’s celebrated Hollywood restaurant is within walking distance from the Pantages, giving you an easy excuse to suggest another Mother Wolf dinner to your friends before heading to the show. Savor a feast of handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas and ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms.
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6667 Hollywood Blvd 90028/ Website
For a purely classic Hollywood experience, you have no option but to dine at Musso & Frank Grill before or after a Pantages visit. It’s just up the road from the theater, but mainly there is almost no other restaurant in Hollywood—let alone most of the city—so historically significant to Tinseltown. Opened 11 years before the equally historical Pantages, Musso & Frank has a storied past as a celebrity haunt, but what really keeps people coming back more than a century later is its world-class service, premier steaks, stiff cocktails and buzzing ambiance.
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7000 Hollywood Blvd 90028/ Website
Inside the Hollywood Roosevelt, Shirley Brasserie marries French sophistication with Golden Era Hollywood glamour for a dining experience as memorable as your show. From classic steak frites to a feast of morsels like escargot, oysters and beef tartare, diners of all palates can find something to their pleasing.
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6530 W Sunset Blvd 90028/ Website
For a quick bite before a matinee or casual dinner, Superba Food + Bread is around the corner from the theater and coalesces the very best of food, art and community. Be sure to enjoy the reapings of its Venice bakehouse-made baked breads, which can be elevated with your choice of spread (fresh cheese, charred eggplant, butter or smoked trout roe). But that’s just to start. At lunch, consider one of the grain bowls or sandwiches, and in the evening, you can’t beat the fried chicken dinner for two.
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Website/ 1430 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
A half mile from the theater, chef Charbel Hayek’s new Hollywood eatery satisfies appetites with California-inspired Middle Eastern fare. Whether unwinding after the show or fueling up before settling into your seat, the open-air space of Laya is a welcome antidote to the darkness of the theater-going experience. Be sure to not miss out on ordering your choice of skewers.
Website/ 6634 Sunset Blvd 90028
The recently debuted Tokyo export certifies a special evening if you’re looking for a pre- or post-show omakase experience between Wednesday and Sunday. Welcoming in just eight guests per seating, Udatsu’s 17-course dinner delights diners with masterful creations composed of California’s finest produce and fish straight from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market. It is just under a mile away from the Pantages.
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Website/ 6801 Hollywood Blvd 90028
If your Pantages day also takes you to Ovation Hollywood, you can find a casual, but fantastic bite to eat at The Win~Dow Hollywood on level two of the shopping and entertainment center. The burger joint has some of the most beloved smashburgers in the city. Complete your meal with a hand-spun shake and French fries.
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Website/1717 Vine St 90028
If you’re looking for an Italian restaurant within walking distance of the Pantages, Top Chef alum Jackson Kalb’s Hollywood restaurant has you covered. Jemma’s East Coast-style Italian-American menu shines bright with a touch of California spirit through dishes like the spicy eggplant parm, James’ Kale salad with a signature almond dressing and pizzas made with hyperlocal ingredients.
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Website/ 742 Highland Ave 90038
Highland Avenue commuters will find it easy to make a pitstop here either before or after a Pantages performance. The Cat & Fiddle Pub drops the classic British pub experience right in the middle of Hollywood, allowing diners to cozy up over a pint and fish and chips. Alternatively, you can elevate your experience by opting to make a reservation for afternoon tea on the weekends. This experience features a decadent lineup of sweet and savory eats and, of course, tea.
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Website/ 1451 N Gardner 90046
Less than two miles from the Pantages, the Electric Owl serves up American cuisine and top-notch cocktails inside a space inspired by the train station that once sat on the same plot of land. You’ll be delighted by the gastro pub-meets-1920s charm, just as much as you’ll be satisfied by its excellent burgers, pizzas and pastas.
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Website/ 5732 Melrose Ave 90004
Right before you enter into Hollywood, discover the family-run trattoria that has brought joy by way of Italian fare to Angelenos for more than a decade. Osteria Mamma is a fitting pre- or post-Pantages meal for those looking for a hearty pasta meal and anyone who loves wine. Its extensive wine list will impress any vino aficionado!
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Website/ 6270 Sunset Blvd 90028
Just an eight minute walk from the Pantages Theatre, Fabiolus Cucina serves delicious Italian cuisine in upscale indoor and outdoor settings. With pizza, pasta, seafood and steak, Fabiolus Cucina has plenty of options for a great meal before enjoying a night of theater. Try out the truffle ravioli made with both black and white truffle for a rich and flavorful dish.
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Website/ 1518 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
Formerly the place where iconic artists recorded their music, Grandmaster Recorders is now an eccentric restaurant serving Italian-Australian fusion. Packed with history of the music industry and old Hollywood, Grandmaster Recorders is a great spot to grab a bite before seeing a show at Pantages Theatre, which is only a nine-minute walk away.
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Website/ 953 N Sycamore Ave 90038
Even if Moulin Rouge isn’t in town, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little bit of Paris in L.A. The Sycamore District hotspot’s original location is in the City of Lights and treats eaters to menu of global flavors brought to life through French culinary techniques. Be sure to consider The “Uni,” steak frites and Mr. T Mac N Cheese.
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Website/ 5665 Melrose Ave 90038
If you’re adjacent to Larchmont Village or simply want ramen, Tonchin Ramen LA is the place to be. It’s just far enough from the theater that you’ll be away from Hollywood Boulevard chaos, but you’ll close enough to savor over a meal of wings, ramen, shaved ice and other tasty eats at leisure.
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Website/ 1544 N Cahuenga Blvd 90028
The Hollywood location of this local burger chain makes for a quick, casual meal just a stone’s throw from the Pantages. You’ll be impressed by the wide variety of innovative burgers, like the blue cheese and bacon Stout, mushroom-loaded Truffle Shuffle and egg-topped The Morning After,
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Website/ 7051 Willoughby Ave 90038
The San Francisco-native establishment offers Angelenos a bakery and all-day restaurant right in the Sycamore District, making it the perfect spot for a quick pick-me-up coffee before an evening show or a laidback bite to eat following a matinee. Consider the breakfast burrito, grilled cheese with a cup of soup, striped bass ceviche or meatball sandwich.
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Website/ 1717 Vine ST 90028
Perhaps the closest restaurant to the Pantages on this list, the Lemon Grove may be in closer proximity to the theater than most Hollywood parking lots. Even better, The Aster rooftop restaurant and bar guarantees impeccable city views, a spirited ambiance and a menu inspired by the city’s melting pot of cultures.
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Website/ 5955 Melrose Ave 90038
Guarantee that your evening out on the town is a superbly special night by starting with a dining experience at Providence before heading to the Pantages (Just be sure to get a reservation close to openig to make it to theater on time). For nearly 20 years, chef Michael Cimarusti has proven the seafood fine dining destination’s awarding of two Michelin stars night after night. Providence’s unparalleled craftsmanship, elegant revamped dining room and exquisite tasting menu make for a one-of-a-kind experience.
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Website/ 1534 N McCadden Pl 90028
If you’re in the mood to load up on pizza, set your sight hardly a mile from the Pantages. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele serves up authentic Neapolitan pizza in a spacious oasis-like setting of neutral tones and lush greenery. But you’ll also want to order plenty of other dishes alongside the pizza. Be sure to also load up on the zucchini flowers, meatballs, Caesar salad and a host of pasta, like the cacio e pepe and Pappardelle Genovese.
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Website/ 718 N Highland Ave 90038
Satisfy your French food craving just two miles from the Pantages. You’ll walk into the theater lobby satisfied from feasting over French onion soup, escargots, warm goat cheese salad, duck confit, mussels and more.
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Website/ 6600 Sunset Blvd 90028
When you’re looking to make it a special night, but prefer steak, secure a reservation at Gwen. The Michelin-starred restaurant operates on fire-based cooking techniques to present the city’s most decadent tomahawk steaks, pork chops, scallops and ribeye, which are complemented by orders of oysters, duck fat potatoes, shishito peppers and other rich bites.
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Website/ 6516 Selma Ave 90028
Rendezvous from Hollywood buzz with just a ten-minute walk to or from Ka’teen. The Tommie Hollywood serves brunch and dinner menus influenced by the Yucatán Peninsula, which can also be seen by the Tulum-inspired space.
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Website/ 6421 Selma Ave 90028
With locations all over the world, it is no secret that Tao Asian Bistro offers delicious Asian-inspired bites. Just under a 10 minute walk from Pantages Theatre, Tao in Hollywood delivers tasty dishes like their chicken satay, lobster wontons, barbecue duck fried rice and more. Be sure to grab a lychee martini while you’re there for the perfect pre-show cocktail.
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Website/ 6602 Melrose Ave 90038
About an 8-minute drive from Pantages, Osteria Mozza combines rustic charm with modern sleekness to provide a wonderful dining experience. With delicious pastas options like the gnocchi with duck ragú and a mozzarella tasting appetizer, this restaurant is the perfect place to start out a glamorous night of theater.
Make a whole night out of your Pantages excursion by dining at one of these lovely restaurants beforehand. And if you're already planning for more evenings of concerts, musicals and basketball games, be sure to check out where to eat before a night at The Hollywood Bowl or Crypto.com Arena.
See also: The 23 Best Pizza Places In Los Angeles
Photography by: INNIS CASEY FOR MR. T; Courtesy Udatsu Sushi
