Chef Suzanne Goin has made a name for herself with easy yet elegant seasonal California cooking, working under fellow Golden State icons like Alice Waters and Mark Peel before opening her first restaurant, Lucques, in 1998. At A.O.C., her beloved West Hollywood wine bar, the effortlessly chic cooking is perfectly matched by a beautifully homey atmosphere, including a main dining room replete with hefty dark wooden beams and a rustic fireplace, as well as an adjacent vine-wrapped garden accented with laurel trees. Parties of up to 40 guests can enjoy an intimate seated dinner in the wine room, which features original wood paneling and a glimpse of the wine collection, as well as patios overlooking the garden.

Chefs Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson first met at LocoL, an experimental concept in Watts with Roy Choi, then cooked together at the Alta Group in the Bay Area, before opening Alta Adams. The duo has drawn diners from across the city to historic West Adams for a highly personal take on soul food, examining the connections between traditional West African dishes and California cuisine. Buyouts of the main dining room can accommodate up to 40, but you’re looking to dine outdoors, the vine-covered back patio offers a “half seated” layout for 30 guests with a dedicated standing area for cocktails.

The sophomore hit from the same team as Bestia, Bavel offers contemporary takes on Middle Eastern fare in the heart of the Arts District. The airy dining room features exposed brick and an open kitchen, with cascading vines adding a touch of greenery to the warehouse-like space. At Bavel, Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis offer an expansive menu of hot and cold mezzes, a rotating selection of spreads and freshly baked flatbreads, plus larger meat and fish dishes designed for sharing, alongside inventive cocktails and a winelist focused on Mediterranean and California varietals. The heated, covered patio accommodates groups of up to 26 in a semi-private space, offering seclusion while maintaining the convivial spirit of the interior.

The perpetually packed Bestia arguably led the charge for a neighborhood restaurant revival when it opened in the Arts District in 2012. Over a decade later, Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis’s original hit still delivers delicious Italian by way of California cooking, including some of the city’s best pizza and pasta, in an understated, industrial chic dining room. The bustling, open space warmed by the glow of edison bulbs is arguably part of the draw, but groups can still enjoy a taste of the convivial atmosphere in semi-seclusion from the patio, which comfortably seats up to 25 guests.

Named after the James Beard-nominated chef’s daughter Birdie and grandmother Gladys, the Santa Monica staple from Jeremy Fox (of Rustic Canyon fame) channels homestyle Eastern European cooking through a California lens, producing nearly everything in house with a zero-waste approach. Located inside the historic Bergamot Station, Birdie G’s offers a variety of spaces both indoor and outdoor. Toward the back of the patio, the “log cabin” seats 35 guests at tables surrounding a large log-art installation.

Tucked along a picturesque stretch of Silverlake Boulevard with a not-so-picturesque parking situation lies the charming all-day restaurant and market, Botanica. Owners Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling opened this neighborhood gem in 2017, which quickly gained acclaim for their seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired dishes crafted from local eggs, fruits, vegetables, and house-made specials such as labneh and spices. Beyond its visually appealing aesthetics, the dishes at Botanica showcase complex compositions, highlighting the creativity beyond just a pretty plate. The plant-filled back-patio seating up to 34 people is an idyllic setting to sip on one of their natural-leaning wines for your next birthday party, team event, or bridal shower. The Botanica team offers to work with you to craft a customized menu and their in-house florist promises to build out bouquets aligned with your event’s vision.

Launched in collaboration with Chicago’s Boka Group, this spirited restaurant and bar on the roof of The Hoxton, Downtown is the latest Los Angeles project from Chef Stephanie Izard. The menu showcases flavorful Peruvian classics like ceviches and skewers, alongside dips, snacks, and larger share plates. The airy dining room, replete with a sweeping skyline views and a retractable roof to take in prime Southern California sunshine, can accommodate 40 with a half buyout, while the adjacent pool provides seating for 32.

Led by chef owner Bryant Ng with his wife Kim alongside Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb (of Rustic Canyon fame), Cassia marries the fresh and vibrant flavors and culinary traditions of Southeast Asia with the warm and soulful hospitality of a neighborhood California brasserie. The downtown Santa Monica hotspot has won over the hearts and stomachs of Angelenos and diners further afield, including Pete Wells, who awarded Cassia the New York Times’ first three star review outside of the New York metropolitan area. Parties of all sizes can enjoy a family style meal of Singaporean-Chinese and Vietnamese-inspired dishes, using ingredients sourced from local farms. The wine room, styled after the airy minimalist dining room with concrete and blond wood accents, seats up to 30 guests.

Helmed by husband and wife duo Lance Mueller and Cobi Marsh (of Cobi’s Curries), this Bib gourmand-winning celebration of Asian street food sits in the space is housed in the space formerly occupied by Dhaba’s, an Indian dining institution in the heart of Santa Monica. The diverse menu draws on the couple’s Polynesian and Balinese heritage, as well as the recipes of the Southeast Asian diaspora they enjoyed working in Australia and the Pacific Islands. Decor pays tribute to Dhaba’s, retaining homey details like pastel pink walls and a hanging rose garden by the bar and foyer to foster a sense of intimacy. The lush garden seats 16 guests, while the outdoor covered patio fits 32.

The group behind Scopa Italian Roots and Black Market Liquor Bar has transformed the former Pacific Banana Co. building in the fashion district into a lush tropical oasis. The sprawling venue offers a variety of spaces indoor and outdoor to enjoy Chef Antonia Lofaso’s island-hopping menu inspired by the Caribbean and Latin American cooking, as well as a festive classic meets tiki cocktail program by Pablo Moix. The semi-private West Terrace overlooks the City Market South bocce ball court, with seating for 34.

Just a couple blocks from the beach, this downtown indoor-outdoor Santa Monica rooftop offers refreshing if expensive cocktails and a sizable wine list alongside an all-day menu of familiar Italian dishes. It’s hardly the most memorable take on small plates, pizzas, and pastas you’ll find on the west side, but you’ll enjoy pristine ocean views and sexy Mediterranean design (all the more swoon worthy after a couple of those cocktails). The cactus garden room is a quieter option with a glowing fireplace and seating for 30.

The Los Angeles outpost of Chef Stephanie Izard’s Chicago flagship restaurant brings bold and globally-inspired cuisine to a bustling 150-seat dining room filled with potted greenery in the Arts District. The menu is just as eclectic as the original, though the kitchen perhaps unsurprisingly draws on California produce and ingredients for a bit of local inspiration. Girl & the Goat offers a variety of options for parties of different sizes. Groups of up to 40 can book the art corridor. If you’d prefer to eat outdoors, the terrace offers seating for 25 guests, while the patio can fit 36.

Named for founder Fran Camaj’s mother, Gjelina opened on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in 2008 and has since cemented itself as West Side culinary institution, serving locally-sourced and seasonally-driven California Italian cuisine guided by long standing relationships with Southern California farmers, ranchers, fisherman, and co-ops. The dining room epitomizes those connections, blending the modern understated design of Venice with rustic farmhouse materials, salvaged homestyle furniture, and a beautifully curated array of ceramics, tableware, and linens. Located on the second floor, the indoor-outdoor private dining room offers views of Abbot Kinney and seating for up to 25 guests.

Chef Curtis Stone’s second project in the heart of Hollywood is Gwen, a butcher shop and elegant Michelin-starred restaurant he runs in partnership with his brother Luke. Showcasing old world traditions and open fire cooking, Gwen is an homage to the pair’s maternal grandmother, who lived on a farm outside of Melbourne. The wine room, set on the mezzanine level of the restaurant, offers seating for 30 guests, in an elegant space surrounded by Gwen’s wine collection, housed in custom-made art deco glass cabinets.

An old school steakhouse in Beverly Hills from the makers of America’s favorite seasoned salt? That’s Lawry’s the Prime Rib, a La Cienega landmark where you can enjoy the namesake dish served tableside from a gleaming silver cart, alongside mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, whipped cream horseradish, and their famed spinning bowl salad. Some may deride it as dated, but to us, there’s a time and place for everything; with three private dining rooms, it’s a solid spot for a little throwback style fête. The Family Room, covered with photos offering a nostalgic look into the Lawry legacy, accommodates up to 24 seated guests. The English pine-paneled Vintage Room seats 36, with views into the restaurant’s wine cellar.

The first and only Los Angeles restaurant from Chef David Chang offers an eclectic yet craveable menu, effortlessly fusing flavors and traditions from Korea to Italy with an emphasis on California bounty; tried and true Momofuku fans will be happy to find the large meaty share plates that drew crowds of admirers in New York, including the signature bo ssam. Large groups of up to 24 guests can enjoy a set menu (including the bo ssam or whole plate short rib) on the semi-private heated patio. Alternatively, the enclosed private dining room overlooking the Majordomo wine cellar accommodates up to 36 seated guests.

Just a block off Sunset in the landmark Citizen News Building, chef Evan Funke’s Mother Wolf gussies up the traditions of Roman cooking with a bit of Hollywood Flair. The sprawling main dining room features red tiled columns interspersed with live olive trees, alongside leather banquets and red and white striped upholstery; it’s giving abbodanza, to say the least. The scene is arguably part of the experience, but if you’re looking for a spot to enjoy excellent handmade pastas and negronis with a few pals, they have an indoor-outdoor space that seats 25.

If you're looking for a quintessential old-school spot, seek out the blinking neon sign advertising the “oldest in Hollywood,” and enter the doors of Musso & Frank Grill. An industry favorite since 1919, Musso & Frank’s has been serving up thick steaks paired with cold martinis to regulars and tourists alike for over a century. It’s a restaurant whose service, decor, and menu have remained reliable and pretty much unchanged since its opening. The tables are draped in crisp white linens, adorned with polished silverware and classic glassware, while a mahogany bar offering classic craft cocktails serves as the centerpiece. Two larger private rooms offer seating for up to 25, and can be combined for a party of 50.

In a city with no shortage of great omakase offerings, Nobu’s menu might not jump out as the most exciting, but for what it’s worth, this LA institution was arguably the pioneer behind what now seems like the high end sushi standard. Nobu’s Malibu location is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking restaurants in the city, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, with warm lighting and minimalist decor befitting a ryokan (which they also just to happen to have next door). It’s undoubtedly a place to see and be seen, but if you’re keen on avoiding the paparazzi they’ve got a private dining room with uninterrupted ocean views that seats up to 30 guests.

Chef Nancy Silverton’s Hancock Park flagship continues to deliver some of the city’s best California style Italian (a genre she arguably pioneered, for what it’s worth) - from the namesake mozzarella bar to handmade pastas, seasonal salads, and simple, perfectly executed secondi, it’s hard to order incorrectly at Mozza. The Primo Ministro Room, boldly decked out in red and black with selections from the restaurant’s formidable wine cellar lining the walls, features a long table that seats up to 22 guests. A partial buyout, combining the Primo Ministro with the adjoining patio, accommodates up to 36 seated guests.

Named for the Latin term to describe leisurely gathering, Otium is the convivial restaurant attached to the Broad Museum. Much like the dining room, a sprawling space showcasing high quality materials in understated designs, the menu by Chef Timothy Hollingsworth, formerly chef de cuisine of The French Laundry, is an exercise in elegant rusticity. It’s a place where high quality service and execution effortlessly blends with a casual and inviting atmosphere, perfect for your next group outing. A semi-private dining room cantilevered over Hope Street offers more seclusion for up to 36 guests. For outdoor dining, up to 32 guests can enjoy dinner on the rooftop mezzanine, surrounded by a vertical garden, while the patio with a fire pit and woodfire rotisserie can be half or fully booked to seat 30 or 65 respectively.

This upscale French bistro on Main Street exudes approachable elegance in a coastal setting, with chef Dave Beran at the helm marrying classic French cuisine with California's fresh local produce. With its charming ambience, including exposed brick, wood beams, and a bustling white-tiled kitchen, Pasjoli offers indulgent dishes like brioche with chicken liver mousse, bay scallops, and a show-stopping pressed duck for two. The back patio can host up to twenty guests for an intimate dinner.

Four years after Petit Trois L’Original first charmed Hollywood locals and tourists alike with classic Parisian bistro fare (think escargot, omelets, and the famed Big Mec burger), Chef Ludovic Lefebvre opened Petit Trois Le Valley in Sherman Oaks. The second larger location evokes a classic brasserie, with a marble bar, pastel banquets to line the dining room, muted gold lighting fixtures, and an open kitchen. The private dining room offers flexible seating for up to 40 guests.

Nestled within a historic church, Redbird stands as the embodiment of cool in downtown LA. The restaurant boasts an exciting menu of modern American cuisine designed for sharing, and a welcoming atmosphere suitable for almost every occasion in your life. Each of the private spaces takes on a distinctive design identity, and many feature their own private kitchens, making them the perfect setting for cooking classes, cocktail demonstrations, and exclusive experiences with Chef Neal Fraser. Be sure not to miss the creative cocktails by the renowned bar duo Julian Cox and Tobin Shea. Additionally, sommelier Ben Teig has thoughtfully curated an eclectic wine list, with a special focus on selections from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California. The East Room offers indoor seating for 26, while The Nest on the third floor offers outdoor seating for 26; both have private kitchens for first hand interaction with the chef and his team.

Celebrated husband and wife chef duo Walter and Margarita Manzke have transformed the famed Mid City building that once housed La Brea Bakery and Campanile into a bastion of modern French cooking. République incorporates a casual bakery, café, and bar in the front of the space, including a soaring central nave with a glass ceiling and neo-gothic detailing, as well as a more formal dining area in the rear. Most of the spaces can be rented or combined for private events to suit your partie’s size and needs. The right bank, a semi-private area overlooking the main dining room, seats up to 36 guests at three side by side tables.

An Angeleno’s ode to Bologna, Rossoblu is a massive downtown restaurant inspired by Chef Steve Samson’s memories growing up in California and visiting his grandparents in Emilia Romagna. The menu boasts excellent handmade pastas and an extensive in-house butchery and salumi program, alongside a wine list focused on family-owned grower wineries. With concrete floors and utilitarian tableware, the industrial vaulted dining room is fairly minimal, save for the arte povera inspired mural by Cyrcle that dominates the space. An intimate wine cellar downstairs with its own dedicated entrance offers private dining for up to 26 guests, while larger parties can enjoy outdoor dining with heaters in the mezzanine and garden.

Whether you’re looking for an elevated location for brunch, lunch or dinner, The Rose Venice has you covered. For 36 years, this boho-chic eatery has offered a reliable menu and a relaxed, spacious vibe, including a full market and bakery, coffee bar, and cocktail bar, alongside indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The restaurant’s unique layout allows for many different options private dining. For outdoor parties, the Rose Avenue patio fits 28 seated and the full Beer Garden sits 50.

From the get-go, chef/owner Josh Loeb of Rustic Canyon wanted to create a restaurant that kept community in mind. The dream was for the space to feel cozy without sacrificing craft. His beloved restaurant was born from this vision, offering a menu that's eclectic and comforting, showcasing the best of California’s seasonal ingredients. Nowadays, the kitchen is helmed by the talented Zarah Khan, the first female chef to lead the culinary team since its opening in 2006. The 300+ bottle wine list, curated by Kathryn Coker, celebrates smaller producers whose focus is on soil health and chemical-free processes. Private parties of up to 40 guests can enjoy a seated dinner on the back patio

Chef owner Antonia Lofaso offers a taste of her New York Italian roots at this Venice red sauce staple. You’ll find abundant antipasti, saucy rigatoni alla vodka and stuffed shells, and hearty mains like chicken parm or a giant veal chop Milanese, plus classic Italian sweets like cannoli, zeppole, and rainbow cookies. The dependable kitchen and friendly service guarantees a packed house, but the private dining room offers a secluded space for up to 30 guests to enjoy a more intimate dinner.