Aitor Zabala
Among the pandemic-forced closures of L.A. restaurants, one sore loss was Somni.
Opened at the SLS Beverly Hills hotel in 2018, the 10-seat restaurant helmed by chef Aitor Zabala closed in March 2020 despite massive success. In its two years, Somni earned the No.19 spot on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list and a five-star rating from Forbes.
It also was one of three fine dining L.A. establishments to be awarded two Michelin stars in 2019.
But Zabala has never been one to give up on his dreams. So, in late August 2023, Somni is set to make a triumphant return.
“I am ecstatic to be able to continue this dream in the city of Los Angeles, which I now call my home and is one of the greatest culinary destinations in the world,” Zabala said.
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Appropriately the Catalan word for “dream,” Somni will make an elevated and expanded comeback. Nearly double the size of the original restaurant, it will welcome a select group of guests each night and will feature an 2,000-square foot patio. Trees dot the courtyard to ensure a tranquil experience.
Still, Somni will continue to be an intimate dining affair. When doors first open, there will be one service per night for 14 diners whose seats will be divided between views of an open kitchen and the patio. For an ultra exclusive experience, you’ll be able to opt for the private six-person table that will have its very own tasting menu.
Tapping its original talent, Barcelona-born designer Juli Capella will create the new location’s interior just as he did the first.
Previously, Somni became renowned for its fare that fused Zabala’s traditional Catalan roots and love for Southern California. Though he prefers to label his cuisine, Zabala assures the continuation of highly imaginative dishes illuminated by modernist techniques and a signature whimsy.
“I like to play with textures, flavors and plating,” he said. “But in the end, we keep the flavors recognizable so that it gives people comfort.”
Completely under Zabala’s direction (the original restaurant was under ThinkFoodGroup), he plans to personalize every detail of the restaurant. In addition to building his core team, he will have input on elements like one-of-a-kind pieces for the restaurant by artisan glassblowers, millworkers and ceramicists.
“I know expectations are high,” he says. “But if you don’t feel responsibility or pressure, you’re not dreaming big enough.”
Somni will be located at 9045 Nemo St 90069.
Photography by: Jill Paider
