Downtown La Restaurants

Sai Sai’s menu is an exercise in culinary play. Tucked inside the Millenium Biltmore Hotel, this sophisticated restaurant stands out with its adventurous gastronomic creations, Zen-inspired décor, and eager staff. Chef David Bartnes has crafted a daring Asian fusion menu, seamlessly blending distinctive regional cuisines into a global pastiche that is both strikingly original and evocatively familiar. Exotic experiments like Kobe Short Ribs with Potato Gnocchi or the pairing of maguro sashimi with caramelized pear are surprising and satisfying. With noteworthy lunchtime bento boxes, prix fixe menus for theater goers, and in house infused sakes, Sai Sai supplies a variety …

Specializing in using the freshest fare, The Lazy Ox Canteen prides itself on the creative presentation of dishes. Owner Michael Hide Cardenas delivers a menu of both exciting and exceptional ingredients that that may seem unlikely, but blend to form fine flavors. Basing much of their dishes off the idea of hospitality and culture, The Lazy Ox Canteen is a dinning destination for first timers and foodies alike. Get the meal started with the popular Pig Ear Chicharron. For the main course, try one of the best burgers in Los Angeles, the 7 oz Lazy Ox Burger. Sample the Lazy …

On the 24th floor of the Ritz Carlton in Downtown Los Angeles is WP24 by Wolfgang Puck. The location offers patrons breath-taking panoramic views of downtown, just a stone’s throw from LA Live and the Staples center. The lounge at WP24 is a fine place to grab a bite to eat and a quick drink before a game, concert, or show. This Chinese-Fusion Bistro offers diners two Prix Fixe choices, a three-course and four-course meal, should they choose to dine in the main restaurant. Popular entrees include the Peking Duck, “Angry” Two-Pound Live Maine Lobster, and Whole Sea Bass Baked …

Trendy, chic, and elegant, Takami Sushi and Robata Restaurant is provides an elegant setting to dine for those in Downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant sits 21 floors in the air on the corner of Wilshire and 6th in Downtown Los Angeles’ Financial District. Enjoy selections from their sushi and robata menu for lunch and dinner. With signature cocktails and a wide variety of wines and beers, Takami offers a unique dining experienced with a patio view unlike any other.

Located at the intersection of West 12th Street and South Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, Cork Bar has quickly emerged as a trendy wine bar and Los Angeles venue. The restaurant serves a variety of inventive and exciting dishes all crafted from the freshest ingredients found at local farmer’s markets. Cork Bar is committed to providing customers with a genuinely enjoyable wine tasting experience. In an effort to achieve this, they present guests with wine pairing ideas on their food menu, offer around 40 wines by the glass, and even more by the bottle. This Downtown Los Angeles hotspot …

BottleRock’s philosophy is simple: “passion about wine, beer, food, and the subtle intermingling and fusion of tastes.” This idea pervades the entirety of the wine bar’s menu. Bottle Rock presents an extensive wine list alongside an inventive selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and cheeses. The Los Angeles hotspot has two locations: one in Downtown and the other in Culver City. Both locations are part tasting room, part wine retailer, and part quick bites. BottleRock also carries handcrafted beers and sake, and the venue encourages guests to explore new flavors and combinations. Their food menu changes seasonally and is presented to …

Located on the 54th floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Downtown Los Angeles, Club City on Bunker Hill offers exquisite, contemporary themed private venues for events such as Weddings, Anniversary Parties and Business Meetings. Overlooking the ever-buzzing Los Angeles, this high-rise space can transform to match the theme of your event. The staff is complete with wedding professionals, serving to help you plan your event—they can even customize your catering menu, which can be acquired through City Club. With a stress on exceptional service, attention to detail, and upscale food and wine selections, City Club on Bunker Hill is …

Downtown receives a touch of dining genius with the establishment of Bottega Louie. This traditional Italian café and gourmet market invites visitors to linger a while over hand-crafted pastries, specially coordinated entrée dishes, and stone oven pizzas; then they may humor their own culinary inspirations by perusing the market’s selection of artisanal cheeses, infused oils, pastas, meats, and other hard-to-find items. Head Chef Sam Marvin takes care to ensure his menu pleases the most discerning palates: Pasta dishes are served in slightly more petite portions to encourage patrons to sample any of the many tasty side dishes.

Historic Pacific Dining Car brings classic distinction to Downtown Los Angeles. Since 1921 this railway car-turned-restaurant has treated politicos, starlets, and average joes alike to swanky steakhouse indulgences and a timeless, debonair charm within each of its luxurious and unique dining areas. The menus are no less lavish, featuring massive steaks and succulent seafood for dinner and lunch, and opulent breakfast creations like Blue Crab Benedict and Truffled Eggs that give taste buds the royal treatment, Angelino-style. Having access to these delightful creations at all hours of the day or night makes this 24-hour steakhouse a standout.

The Downtown Los Angeles location of the esteemed Palm empire of restaurants offers fine steaks, seafood, and Italian specialties in a posh setting. Located at 1100 Flower Street in an enormous space, formerly a Packard car dealership, the Palm Downtown is the largest in the country. Since 2002 The Palm Downtown has managed to execute the same stellar food that original owners Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi started serving three generations ago in New York City. Today, The Palm Restaurants are still a family business run by the original owners’ great-great-grandsons.

This French bistro only opened in September 2008, but has become an instant classic in downtown LA. The menu is concise but runs the gamut from simple rustic dishes like the Braised Beef to more elevated fare like the Terrine de Foie Gras, which is creatively served with a port wine gelee and brioche. Customers often rave about the housemade charcuterie as well. The dining room borders on industrial, with exposed piping in the ceiling and brick walls, but the soft lighting, close tables and warm service make it a cozy scene. For the real Paris experience, diners can also …

Just one block east of the Nokia Theater and the Staples Center sits Rivera, the latest Latin creation from legendary chef/owner John Rivera Sedlar. The father of modern Southwest cuisine is back on the culinary scene after a fifteen year sabbatical spent representing Patrón tequila, and while no one would purport that cooking is like riding a bicycle, he certainly re-approaches his craft with the ease and grace of a seasoned veteran. Sedlar merges classical French technique with the memory of the earthy and spicy foods of his New Mexico childhood to produce sumptuous chile-packed masterpieces in a sleek and …

After seven years of success in the North Hollywood Arts District, Paul Hibler and David Sanfield took their Pitfire Pizza concept downtown in 2005. Across from St. Vibiana’s Cathedral and in the shadow of skyscrapers, office workers flood this modern Italian café at lunch for thin-crust pizzas, hearty pastas, and market-fresh salads. At night and on weekends, the rush subsides and Pitfire offers a more relaxed dining experience with the same value. Order at the counter, where a board lists seasonal specials and fresh-baked desserts are on display. To drink, there’s fresh sangria and watermelon lemonade, plus wine and beer.

Focusing on fresh, quality ingredients, Water Grill offers some of the most exquisite seafood in Southern California. The secret is in the quality, as well as in Executive Chef Davide LeFevre’s respectful preparations that allow natural flavors to shine. Warm décor, cozy booths, and colorful art ensure ultimate comfort, while temptations like Dungeness and Blue Crab Cake with lime-yogurt cucumber sauce and herbed cous cous and Butter Poached Maine Lobster with morel mushrooms, haricot verts and crispy shallots offer decadent indulgence.

Engine Co. No. 28 is an American restaurant reminiscent of the classic grills of San Francisco and New York with its mahogany booths, granite bar, and Ella Fitzgerald music in the background. This Los Angeles landmark is set in a beautifully restored 1912 Los Angeles firehouse. Inspired by traditional firehouse cooking, Engine Co.’s menu features a wide variety of timeless American fare. Dishes are inventive, delicious, and full of fresh ingredients. Step back in time as you dine at this authentic firehouse still complete with its original fire pole and brick walls.

Patina in Downtown Los Angeles holds the philosophy that a selection of fresh, quality ingredients is the most important factor to a good dish. This guides the kitchen staff in practice, as they creatively and skillfully fuse quality ingredients with exceptional technique and stunning presentation. The result is dishes such as Herb Steamed Wild Bass with yellow “brandywine” heirloom tomato broth, sauce vierge, braised scallions, and tomato fondue, and Scottish Pheasant with Savoy cabbage timbale, rustic bread dumplings and juniper berry reduction. The dining experience is peppered with details that make for a truly elegant meal, from the caviar and …

Dining on the patio of Café Pinot gives guests a grand view of the urban skyline and the lush romantic Central Library garden located in Downtown LA. Enjoy warm afternoons and summer nights out on the terrace, while eating Café Pinot’s French-California cuisine. This restaurant is perfect for dining before an event at the Staples Center or the Music Center because of its close location. A delicious Café Pinot dish to try is the Three Mustard- Crusted Farm-Raised Rotisserie Chicken with crispy Pinot fries. If guests decide to have lunch at Café Pinot, then get the Pan-Seared Prime Hanger Steak …

This New York-style bistro has become a popular hangout for locals and late-night diners. The massive dining room features high ceilings and a gorgeous art-deco bar, which gives a festive atmosphere. The classic American fare gets a modern twist with such dishes as Mac & Cheese with white cheddar, asiago, and goat cheese, and the Flat Iron Steak with Bleu Cheese Fries. Regulars also return for the attentive staffs’ service, as well as the delicious food. The restaurant is open until 2am so swing by after a night out to people watch on the outdoor patio and grab some satisfying …

Adelmo Zarif’s restaurant has occupied a dazzling Art Deco space in downtown’s historic core since moving from West Hollywood in May 1997. Cicada fills the bottom two stories of the Oviatt Building, featuring towering mahogany pillars, plenty of gold, and pristine white tablecloths. Cicada is a fine-dining establishment that’s especially popular for birthdays, weddings and the occasional marriage proposal. Tokyo native Suzay Cha prepares northern Italian cuisine with Asian accents. The menu changes twice a year, but typically includes Ahi Tuna Tartar with Avocado, Piquillo Peppers and Wasabi Caviar and Pappardelle with Filet Mignon Bolognese Sauce.

The landmark Union Station, located on the eastern edge of downtown Los Angeles, is an impressive sight. The structure fuses the Spanish colonial, Art Deco and streamline Modern Architecture that represent California's heritage and future ambitions. Traxx is where the romance of the past and the spirit of the future seamlessly merge. Since 1997, Traxx has brought fine dining back to historic Union Station while acting as major player in Los Angeles' downtown renaissance. Its presence, along with the Staples center and the revitalized shopping and cultural venues, adds extra vitality to the cityscape. Even with modern Los Angeles blossoming …