5 of the Most Beautiful New Restaurants in Los Angeles
From Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s design of Checker Hall in Highland Park to the art-filled Funke in Beverly Hills
As gallerists, collectors, and art aficionados descend on Los Angeles for the annual Frieze art fair, the city’s chicest restaurants are quickly filling their reservation books with those looking for decadent dishes in equally delectable surroundings. Thankfully, L.A.’s food culture is just as buzzy as its art scene and sumptuous, design-forward destinations are popping up every day. Here, Galerie shares some must-book spots perfect for those looking for a mouthwatering meal as well as a hot “see and be seen” atmosphere.
1. Amour West Hollywood
Located in one of Los Angeles’s most lively, design-centric neighborhoods, Amour West Hollywood lives up to its moniker with a glamorous interior designed by Abbie Fuks. Here, various rooms cater to a multitude of styles—there’s the formal dining room brimming with thoughtful details such as vintage sconces and plush seating, or the scenic outdoor garden filled with flora and patterned banquettes, and an energetic bar area enveloped in mahogany.
The menu, which blends classic Parisian fare with contemporary American cuisine, includes impeccable five- or eight-course tasting menus as well as a vegetarian or à la carte option, the latter offering such mouthwatering morsels as golden osetra caviar or celery root carpaccio, plus an assortment of seafood, pasta, and meat dishes.
2. Checker Hall
Tucked away on the second floor of a restored early 20th-century Masonic building in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Checker Hall is an European-inspired eatery designed by the renowned Hollywood talent Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The restaurant’s moody ambiance is peppered with the whimsical details regularly found in Bullard’s work, like supple leather banquettes, lush botanical wallpaper, and ornate pendants laden with tassels.
Featuring dishes that blend California cuisine with the flair of the Mediterranean, courtesy of executive chef Gabe Kennedy, guests can savor appetizers like whipped feta, seared halloumi salad, and delicata squash tempura, followed by local seafood, including branzino and sea bass, or heartier dishes such as zabuton steak frites and chicken schnitzel. Of course, an extensive wine and cocktail menu is available.
3. Dante at Maybourne Beverly Hills
Finding home in one of the chicest stays the city has to offer, New York City hot spot Dante has opened a new outpost in the Maybourne Beverly Hills. Brimming with artistic details, the location’s most eye-catching element is an expansive mural by Los Angeles artist Abel Macias that envelopes a barrel ceiling surmounting tufted cobalt banquets embellished with bouillon fringe, creamy white marble tables, and lamp shades made of tapestry. East Coast visitors looking to soak up some of that California sun, however, may prefer a table on the picturesque terrace.
Offering a fresh Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired menu, diners can sample delightful dishes like bright, lemony arancini, a perfectly crispy fritto misto, and a spicy crudo. To complement the meal, Dante’s acclaimed cocktail list features innovative twists on longstanding favorites—try the Seville spritz, celery paloma, or tequila martini.
4. Great White Melrose
Striking pink plastered columns that nod to cofounder Sam Cooper’s childhood home in Australia instantly command attention at Great White’s new location on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Available for both indoor and outdoor dining, the restaurant boasts artisan-designed details like pink stone fireplaces and woven pendant lights made in Pakistan on the terrace, while inside, a lengthy Portuguese limestone bar overlooks rattan chairs equipped with plush cushions.
To complement the restaurant’s one-of-a-kind design, guests can expect casual cuisine blended with influences from Australia, Mexico, and Europe. Open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Great White’s menu options range from ricotta hotcakes to later-in-the-day meals like shrimp pasta.
5. Funke
A self-proclaimed “design jewel” in the heart of Beverly Hills, Funke is a go-to destination for those who enjoy an art and design-centric ambiance just as much as a gourmet meal. Conceptualized by architect Dan Brunn and Clint Nichols Design, the 1930s Art Deco-style building has been transformed into a contemporary eatery brimming with an impressive collection, including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Jean “Johnny” Pigozzi (sourced from co-owner Kurt Rappaport’s own collection), as well as dazzling Damien Hirst-inspired light installations. Meals at Funke are just as considered—visitors can select from a wide range of fresh pastas, all made in the restaurant’s very own pasta lab.