Beverly Hills has become an epicentre for the best dining in Los Angeles, with top chefs and NYC imports planting a flag in the 90210 zip code. A few old favourites still remain – from Matsuhisa (as in Nobu) to celebrity favourite Mr. Chow, plus the old Frank Sinatra hang-out La Dolce Vita, which has undergone a recent revamp.
For the second wave of newer essential places, THE Blvd at Beverly Wilshire has a new British executive chef, Colin Bedford, making beef Wellington suppers, Mastro’s steakhouse has a refurbished garden penthouse with a view, and Crustacean has launched Little C with traditional Vietnamese food for lunch.
And while we wait for Daniel Boulud’s pending West Coast opening, we’ve rounded up our top ten spots for dining in Beverly Hills. Spoiler alert: Italian food and steak places reign supreme.
Marea
Walking into this new Italian power-dining import from New York on Camden Drive feels like you just stumbled into a chic fashion week party in Milan. The interiors include a showstopping backlit honey onyx bar, a blue Murano chandelier, and original artwork from London artist Nasser Azam. The food is coastal fare such as langoustine tartare, Dover sole with Kaluga Caviar service, and octopus with bone marrow fusilli from executive chef PJ Calapa (Eleven Madison Park) and the global Altamarea Group, whose fans include everyone from Barack Obama to Beyoncé.
marearestaurant.com
430 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills
Gravitas
This new multi-level-members-only space by Brandon Steven and Seth Glassman holds an entertainment venue with a recording studio. The ground floor has an open-air bar and dining room – but not to worry, the green velvet banquettes have high-tech heat lamps, heated Terrazzo floors, and a weather-proof retractable roof. Private booths are equipped with Bluetooth capabilities and the ability to call a server at the touch of a button for chicken parmesan topped with arugula and Ora king salmon pan-roasted in a Meyer lemon beurre blanc with fish roe.
gravitasclub.com
435 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills
Funke
What’s better than chef Evan Funke’s pasta dishes? Three floors of his Italian food with different dining options in a 1930s Art Deco building. The ground floor offers a show with the glass encased pasta-making lab, the second level has a fine-dining feel with a full bar, and the alfresco rooftop is where you can grab negronis and pizza with a view of Beverly Hills. You don’t need reservations for the rose quartz bar, so grab a spot early at 5pm if you didn’t plan ahead.
funkela.com
9388 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills
Dante
Perched on the top floor of the Maybourne Hotel, Dante is another NYC import. Savour wood-fired pizza and a view of Beverly Hills on the patio, but what will really grab your attention is the colourfully painted birds on the ceilings. Brunch on the weekends is a new addition, but the space is packed for Martini hour from 3pm to 5pm for deals on the classic drinks tableside, including the best dirty martini with olive oil bitter drops and a brine mist. Hot tip: start with the hotel’s new Pret-a-Porte high tea downstairs.
dantebeverlyhills.com
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills
Cipriani
The classic venue from Venice and New York has taken up residency on Camden Drive – but the sophisticated superclub vibe is now complete with a new upstairs jazz venue. Just venture up a flight of stairs from the ground-floor bar and it feels like you’ve stumbled upon a secret speakeasy with zebra-striped banquettes, small table lamps, mini palm trees, and a grand piano. The best part: you can order all the menu favourites up here, too, like bellinis, carpaccio, the white pasta, and fluffy vanilla meringue cake.
cipriani.com
362 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills
Matu
Known for humanely raised First Light Farms 100 percent grass-fed New Zealand wagyu beef tasting menus, from some of the partners behind the Sushi Nozawa Group, Matū was designed by renowned Marmol Radziner. Order a mind-blowing cheesesteak at the bar or go big with The Lock Stock + Barrel – a seven-course dinner for four. New additions to the à la carte menu include a twice-baked potato topped with Kaluga Caviar and grilled octopus with warm potatoes and celery. The group has also just opened a sister restaurant in Brentwood.
matusteak.com
239 S Beverly Dr Suite 100, Beverly Hills
Steak 48
This one is for the carnivores who will have plenty of private rooms to choose from for devouring a 12oz Australian wagyu in a dimly lit sophisticated setting. Options for pescatarian palates include new caviar cones, Maine lobster escargot, Boursin cheese whipped potatoes, crispy shrimp devilled eggs, and whole branzino. But the chef's cut ‘hanging bacon’ is worth ordering for the table, even if you don’t eat it. And those in the know (that’s you now) order the off-menu gold plus wagyu New York strip steak.
steak48.com
9680 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills
Spago
Wolfgang Puck is a globally recognised chef, but still a local LA fixture. When he’s not cooking at the Governor’s Ball for A-list stars after the Oscars, he can be seen bouncing between his restaurants – including the one that started it all. At Spago on Canon Drive (the original was on Sunset Blvd), on any given day or night, you can find Puck working the room talking to regulars and delighted tourists dining on Peking duck, Wienerschnitzel, and smoked salmon pizza topped with caviar (the most ordered menu item).
wolfgangpuck.com
176 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills
Polo Lounge
For more celebrity spotting, pay a visit to the iconic Pink Palace – aka The Beverly Hills Hotel – and the Polo Lounge piano bar. Whether you dine in one of the power booths inside or outside on the leafy patio, order a McCarthy cobb salad with chicken, egg, cheddar, beats, avocado, and bacon (which is as iconic as the venue) and a chocolate souffle. The menus are overseen by British-born culinary director Ashley James who has brought beer-battered Atlantic cod fish-n-chips with mushy peas to the menu along with updated classics.
dorchestercollection.com
9641 W Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills
Il Pastaio
If you’d rather celeb spot from a patio on buzzy Canon Drive, this Drago-dynasty Sicilian family staple should figure into your Beverly Hills dinning plans. Run by one of the four brothers, Giacomino Drago, whether you are a local, tourist or just passing through, everyone ends up here grazing on the house favourite spicy tomato arrabbiata, seasonal pumpkin ravioli, squid ink risotto, and even a pasta named after Justin Bieber made with artisan wide rigatoni in a pink sauce. Drizzle some of Mama Drago’s olive oil on everything – trust us.
ilpastaiobeverlyhills.com
