Still commonly known as the "Rainbow Room," this fabled Sunset Strip institution continues to deliver a good time with live rock shows, fun finger food and late-night dining. The roomy interiors consist of a dining room, several bars, upstairs dance floor and patio decorated with kitschy rock 'n' roll memorabilia, Christmas lights, burgundy leather booths and even a vintage arcade game. The food offered is an Italian-American fusion of popular munchies such as pizza, sandwiches, steaks and a diverse vegetarian selection. Keep in mind that it is possible to reserve special seating above the stage.
Located inside the Beverly Hills Hotel, this long-time favorite of the 90210 crowd (the city, not the show) is a great place to people watch. Celebrities and other well-heeled people hang out here and enjoy its rich atmosphere. The room inside is lovely and tasteful, and the outside patio is tree lined and great for smokers who can't do without their fix. Not for the T-shirt set - gentlemen are required to wear jackets.
A refreshing change from your typical global coffee shops chain, this local café boasts of serving organic varieties. This coffee shop offers in-house blends of coffee like Scandinavian Cupp, Urth Italia Espresso and teas like Darjeeling Shiva Gardens, Moroccan Mint Certified Organic, The Mystical Traveler and so forth. That’s not it, along with fine drinks, it also serves delectable platter that includes salads, sandwiches, baked goodies and even special vegan items.
This meat lovers dream come true, Animal is a raved about American eatery in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles. Utilizing every viable piece of the meat, celebrity chefs Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook collaborate to create scrumptious meals even a vegetarian might be tempted to eat! With an ever-rotating menu, dishes at Animal are always new and exciting. Not for the faint of heart, past dishes have included veal tongue and brains, chicken liver toast, marrow bone with chimichurri sauce and other oddities that are surprisingly delicious. A minimalist setting is an overstatement, this restaurant has stark white walls, dark stained weathered tables and a large skylight flooding the space with bright natural light.
Come here to unwind! Father's Office is known around the world for its expertly assembled gourmet cheeseburgers and its impressive drought beer selection. The beers are cold and the award-winning burgers are hefty. Those craving something less substantial can opt for delicious tapas, skewers or the popular sweet potato fries. The interior is unpretentious, with hardwood floors and petite tables that are conducive to conversation. So order an award wining local craft beer and relax!
With a whopping collection of 29 craft beers on tap and even more beers by the bottle, the Library Alehouse is the perfect place to go to if you want a drink. True to its name, the Library Alehouse is like a library for booze, providing an impressive collection of labels from all around the world, though a large portion of the selection is from the West Coast. Pair your drink with their tasty New American cuisine. For a snack, pick a dish from "Light Reading" or if you want a hearty meal try ordering from the "Collection Works." The Library Alehouse's decor has an old world charm, but the real treat is the patio outside where you can dine and enjoy the sunshine.
Justice Urban Tavern has an airy and swank look to it due to is high ceiling and industrial-chic decor. This gastropub is a great place to drop in for any time of the day or night. Taking pride in their inventive menu which focuses on seasonal and local farm-fresh ingredients, you can check out their dishes from the chalkboard. Enjoy their happy hours with wines and beers from Californian wineries and breweries.
With innovative offerings like crispy tamarind glazed pork belly and chicken tikka poutine, this downtown gastropub will change the way you look at Indian food. Soaring ceilings and a wall covered in colorful horizontal stripes greets patrons in the dining room. Contemporary light fixtures punctuate the entire space. Kitschy Bollywood posters adorning the walls complete the decor; a refreshing change from the done-to-death exotic themes prevalent in most Indian restaurants. The menu offers a mix of traditional and quirky creations. Street food favorites like papri chaat and samosas start off the proceedings. Traditional favorites include the butter chicken, smoked eggplant mash and chicken tikka masala. The spiced lamb burger has received accolades and should not me missed. The drinks list offers a choice of wines, beers as well as Indian cola imports like ThumsUp and Limca.
Situated inside the historic Vibiana building, the Redbird is a popular local restaurant and bar, serving scrumptious American cuisine. Chef Neal Fraser's culinary expertise is showcased through the diverse food menu, featuring several delicacies, cooked to absolute perfection using the choicest of ingredients. Regulars at Redbird have particularly praised their loaded Chicken Pot Pie, Ora King Salmon, lobster infused Gnocchetti Sardi and chef's special Veal Fraser. The bar is well stocked with the finest wines and the bartenders are known for serving tantalizing cocktails off the menu designed by Julian Cox. The decor is wonderful with elegant lighting fixtures and modern furnishings. The patio is area is attractively laid out as well and features a retractable ceiling.
In an underground location on South San Pedro Street, Fu-Ga Izakaya & Bar is a treat for the foodies with a tapas menu consisting of Japanese fusion dishes. It is great for relishing some good varieties of sake and beer while gorging on Kushi Katsu, Seaweed Salad, Yakitori, Sauteed Shishito Peppers and Unagi and Chirimen Jyako Fried Rice. There is a separate happy hour menu that helps to quell the raging appetites. The Bento Boxes offer delightful combinations of salad, tempura, stew and oysters that can be packed and relished at leisure. The venue is dimly lit and perfect for a romantic dinner date. The staff and service are also appealing.
Redwood is leading the league of downtown Los Angeles' innovative renaissance. And there is no better way to reap the benefits of this cultural transformation than hitting up Redwood's cocktail menu. Specialty drinks like Lava Lamp, Schooner Float and Cloud 9 make patrons forget about how irksome it is to find a decent parking spot in the vicinity of Redwood. And for all of those nautical lovers out there, Redwood's has a pirate theme. Unlike traditional bar cuisine, Redwood provides food that is actually edible, try the delicious fish and chips or the vegetarian Rueben sandwich.