What and where to eat in Los Angeles

For a taste of the farm-to-table dishes that So-Cal is famous for, make a beeline for Malibu Farm. Perched on Malibu Pier, it’s a great spot to watch surfers zip between the waves as you munch on zucchini crust pizza and spaghetti squash lasagna.

Address: 23000 East Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

Abbot Kinney Boulevard was once dubbed the coolest street in America, and its hottest restaurant has long been Gjelina. Nab a table in the atmospheric outdoor courtyard and work your way through the locally sourced menu, feasting on fresh salads and woodfired pizzas.

Address: 1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291

For old Hollywood glamor, there’s nowhere like Musso and Frank. Come for the steak and lamb chops and stay for the punchy martinis, which are served the same way Frank Sinatra liked to drink them here back in the day.

Address: 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

There are plenty of places to get a great hot pastrami sandwich in LA, but for a truly out-of-this-world one, you need to go to Langer’s Deli. Their #19 sandwich is famous the world over, and with good reason. Made with pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing, it was once described as the “Marilyn Monroe of pastrami sandwiches” by the Los Angeles Times.

Address: 704 South Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Want to sit on the same patio where Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier sipped cocktails and dined on McCarthy salads? Then this is the place for you. Order the steak tartare (which is prepared tableside) and keep your eyes peeled for celebs.

Address: 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The award for the buzziest restaurant in Hollywood goes to Mother Wolf, LA-born pasta maestro Evan Funke’s second opening in the city. Slide into a pink leather booth and soak up the vibe in the ballroom-esque dining room as you dine on cacio e pepe and rigatoni all’amatriciana.

Address: 1545 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

This Tulum-meets-Malibu spot in Santa Monica offers stunning views over the ocean. During the day you’ll find people lounging on the sleek wooden decks, dining on Italian-inspired small plates, but after sunset it’s where the glamorous crowd comes to party.

Address: 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Views don’t come much more spectacular than those at Geoffrey’s in Malibu, which is perched high above Malibu beach overlooking the Pacific. Everyone from Frank Sinatra to John F. Kennedy has drunk in the vistas here over the years, before feasting on fresh seafood straight from the ocean.

Address: 24700 East Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

Jokingly referring to itself as a ‘vegetable slaughterhouse’, this New York transplant has found a loyal LA crowd since opening in Venice. With its sun-filled dining room, extensive range of cold-pressed juices, and plant-based dishes galore, it’s easy to see why.

Address: 1205 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291

This WeHo institution is top of many locals’ lists when it comes to vegan fine dining. And with good reason – the dishes that come out of the kitchen here are always exciting, whether it’s artichoke oysters or eggplant skirt steak.

Address: 8284 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046

If you had to sum up LA’s healthy eating movement in one restaurant, it would be Café Gratitude. Yes, the menu names are a little ridiculous (try keeping a straight face when ordering the ‘I Am Dazzling’ salad) but when the produce is this delicious you won’t mind.

Address: 639 North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004

If you’re looking for a picturesque al fresco dining spot in West Hollywood, this is the place to come. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Mexico as you dine on Gracias Madre’s pretty patio, ordering plates of soy chorizo empanadas and jackfruit carnitas tacos.

Address: 8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069

No matter what time of day you turn up at cult LA dining spot Pink’s, be prepared to queue – the line here always snakes around the block, with people eagerly awaiting one of their loaded hot dogs.

Address: 709 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

While there are numerous LA branches of this burger chain, the must-visit destination is the one at LAX, which the late, great Anthony Bourdain once dubbed his favorite restaurant in the city. Order a Double-Double Burger and a portion of Animal-Style Fries and you’ll see why.

Address: 9149 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045

If you fancy branching out from avocado toast for brunch, head to Sqirl, which has made a name for its inventive breakfast dishes, like sorrel pesto rice bowls and ricotta toast with jam. You can’t go wrong with a side order of their pastries, either.

Address: 720 North Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029

This popular healthy food chain has branches all over LA, from Downtown to Larchmont, but our favorite spot is the one in Venice. Head here after a day on the beach to order fresh salads, poke bowls and sandwiches, washed down with one of their handcrafted lemonades.

Address: 1661 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291

With somewhere as sprawling and diverse as LA, booking a food tour can be one of the best ways to get a real feel for the city’s culinary offerings. Family-owned and operated, Six Taste operates walking tours of Tinseltown’s most popular foodie neighborhoods, from Downtown and Santa Monica to Little Tokyo and Koreatown.

With its neon signs and bustling crowds, this buzzy food market feels like a little slice of New York in downtown LA. A haven for food lovers, who come to sample everything from spicy Filipino rice bowls and fried chicken to artisan ice cream.

Address: 317 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Spread across 32 acres, rows of fruit and veg warehouses have been transformed into some of the city’s coolest shops, bars, and restaurants at this hip Downtown spot. It’s the place to try everything, from Japanese fine dining and fresh oysters to green tea donuts.

Address: 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

This popular food market has been serving locals and tourists alike since 1934, who flock here for the wide variety of food stalls and restaurants on offer. It’s almost impossible to choose a favorite, but we love the creamy laksa soup from Singapore’s Banana Leaf and the steak frites from Monsieur Marcel.

Address: 6333 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Thanks to its proximity to Mexico, LA is known for its first-rate tacos, particularly those made with shrimp and fish plucked from the Pacific. The best in town can be found on one of the city’s many roving taco trucks.

The most famous donut in the US can be found at Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood, an LA landmark since the 1950s thanks to the giant donut on its roof. Now there are donut shops all over the city, selling everything from gluten-free and vegan treats to savory options.

With almost 300 days of sunshine per year, it’s hardly surprising the ice cream sandwich has become an LA go-to dessert. With a crop of small-batch, artisanal ice cream shops popping up all over the city, there’s a combo to satisfy every sweet tooth.