Where to Eat and Drink in Beverly Hills
We would like to amend the idiom “don’t judge a book by its cover” to include “or a city by its on-screen portrayal.” Beverly Hills is, of course, mansions and palm trees and wealth. But it’s also much more.
For all its tennis courts and ultra-luxury boutiques, Beverly Hills is also a city of families with young kids, of doctors’ offices and dry cleaners, of trash collection on Tuesdays and a farmers market on Sundays. In other words: a normal place. And while the actual hills of Beverly Hills may be its most famous section, the “flats” (or flat section of the city south of Sunset Boulevard) do have more modest homes and rental apartments. The city is quite diverse, too, with more than one in three residents being foreign-born, and one of the largest concentrations of the Iranian diaspora anywhere in America.
The dining scene in Beverly Hills is every bit the mix as the people who call this city home. From globally-renowned restaurants helmed by world-famous chefs, to cozier, quieter, mom-and-pop spots, and even a swanky, Rat Pack-era throwback for good measure, there’s something for everyone here. Consider this your primer on where to go for a full taste of Beverly Hills.
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Spago
Beverly Hills
Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura
Beverly Hills
World-famous chef Massimo Battura opens an Italian dining room inside a Gucci store on Rodeo Drive — on the surface, nothing could be more Beverly Hills. But don’t underestimate Gucci Osteria. The kitchen, helmed day to day by chef Mattia Agazzi, boasts a Michelin star for its relaxed-yet-sophisticated Italian cooking that takes full advantage of local ingredients. The menu changes often, but no matter what’s on order, finish things off with a dish that nods to L.A.’s history as an orange grove, called the Citrus, Citrus, Citrus, its namesake balanced out with olive oil and walnuts.
Dante Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Avra Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
The beautiful people floating in and out of Avra most nights grab most of the attraction, but the fresh seafood and Mediterranean salads served up by the kitchen are no slouch. Come for lunch to get a bite of chicken lemon soup and oregano-spiked saganaki, then balance out the fried cheese with the tuna tartare, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil for a bright, acidic pop. For fans of flaky, honey-coated baklava, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better version outside the Greek islands.
Funke
Beverly Hills
La Dolce Vita- LA
Beverly Hills
In 1966, Frank Sinatra invested in a small Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills called La Dolce Vita. Over the years, it became a celeb hot spot with Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Stewart, and Tom Ford holding court in the red leather booths. In 2020, the owners behind Genghis Cohen and the Spare Room took over and returned La Dolce Vita to all of its swanky, retro glory. Today, vintage spirits are available behind the bar, and the menu includes hubcap-sized veal parm and paccheri pasta with caviar.
Crustacean Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Beverly Bar
Beverly Hills
A meeting spot of the city’s gallery crew, Beverly Bar may be unassuming at first glance, but offers a solid cocktail menu and a reliable roster of upmarket pub standards. The chopped salad is always a go-to, the American cheese-topped burger and beer-battered shrimp tacos never fail, and there’s enough craft cocktails to fuel you for a long night of people-watching along Rodeo Drive.
