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The 25 hottest restaurants in California, according to OpenTable
Toca Madera/Yelp
West Hollywood’s Toca Madera is a neighborhood hotspot with a beautiful bar.
OpenTable recently announced its annual “100 Hottest Restaurants in America” list, and 25 California restaurants made the cut — much more than any other state.
To craft the list, OpenTable combed through more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified diners. Restaurants that made the list needed to have both high overall ratings and a strong rating in the “hot spot” category.
West Hollywood appears to be California’s hottest neighborhood, boasting 8 of the restaurants. The broader Los Angeles area makes up the bulk of the list, with a smattering of restaurants in San Diego, San Francisco, and Palm Springs as well.
Mexican, Italian, and contemporary American cuisines are popular, and so are venues that take advantage of outdoor patios or rooftop spaces.
Keep scrolling to see California’s 25 hippest places to make a night of it.
AsiaSF
AsiaSF provides a unique “dinnerclub” experience, serving up Cal-Asian cuisine and specialty cocktails while transgender models put on an elaborate dance show on the in-restaurant runway.
Bestia
2121 East 7th Place, Los Angeles
A rustic Italian restaurant in downtown LA’s hip arts district, Bestia dishes out homemade pizzas and pastas in an industrial space that turns into a hopping bar scene at night.
Cassia
A Southeast Asian restaurant with the decor of a French brasserie, Cassia is a buzzy, energetic spot known for its tasty, spiced dishes like green papaya salad and grilled pork belly vermicelli.
E.P. + L.P.
603 North La Cienega, West Hollywood
A dimly-lit South Asian restaurant helmed by an Australian chef, E.P. + L.P. is one of West Hollywood’s hot spots. Dishes have cheeky names, like the “Check Yo Neck” (wood-grilled lamb neck) or the “Wagyu Cracker Party” (beef tartare and rice crackers). But the best part is the stylish rooftop bar.
Eight4Nine
849 North Palm Canyon, Palm Springs
Pure white walls, chairs, and tables make for a crisp backdrop for the hip crowd that fills up Palm Springs’ Eight4Nine. Eat on the patio if you’re not ready for the lively scene inside, where patrons work through Bloody Marys and classic New American cuisine.
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Gjelina is a rustic-industrial, wood-paneled hot spot in Los Angeles’ trendy Venice neighborhood. The artisanal pizzas and healthy, vegetable-forward dishes get rave reviews, and it’s a buzzy stop for the brunch crowd.
High Rooftop Lounge
Another Venice scene spot, this rooftop bar above the Hotel Erwin is the spot to chill out with a cocktail and snacks while taking advantage of the panaromic sunset views over the nearby beach and boardwalk. On cold days, they’ll provide blankets to keep you cozy.
ink.
8360 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood
A fresh take on tapas, ink. serves unusual dishes — think Thai-spiced paella or chicken-fried quail — in a sceney spot. It’s more of a food-focused destination than a lounge, but it can still get loud.
The Ivy
113 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood
The Ivy is a Hollywood classic. The kitschy, French-country decor inside belies the serious power factor that this restaurant still parlays: it would be unusual to not spot a celebrity at this famous restaurant. Bonus: complimentary champagne and fresh chocolate chip cookies as after-meal treats are a part of the charm.
Juniper & Ivy
2228 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego
Helmed by the winner of “Top Chef All-Stars”, Juniper & Ivy is a bright and breezy San Diego restaurant known for creative new American cuisine like foie gras “cookies” and stuffed squid. Come for the food, more than the drinks — but count on seeing a chic clientele.
Kettner Exchange
2001 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego
Just down the block is Kettner Exchange, another of San Diego’s hotspots in the town’s Little Italy section. Thoughtfully-prepared food shares top billing with strong drinks and plenty of lounge space.
The Lark
131 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara
After an evening of wine tasting in Santa Barbara’s downtown “Funk Zone”, in-the-know diners head to The Lark, a tucked-away restaurant with a bustling bar, beautiful patrons, and spacious patio seating. The creative “contemporary American” menu stays local, serving up smoked pork belly alongside a pear and burrata salad.
Manhattan Beach Post
1142 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach Post is a brunch staple, with cheddar biscuits and bacon that both look and taste delectable. It’s always busy with hungry diners downing Bloody Marys and chowing down on those biscuits, all housed in a refurbished post office building just steps away from the beach.
MUA
MUA is a one-stop shop for your evening needs: an industrial-chic, spacious bar up front gives way to a high-ceilinged dining area decorated with rotating displays of local art. As the evening passes, a DJ will turn up the tunes to keep the night going. Even Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ basketball star, was recently spotted here.
The Nest
75-188 Highway 111, Indian Wells
The Nest is the Indian Wells go-to as both a restaurant and a fun place to let loose for all (drinking) ages. Classic meals like a rack of lamb are given the thumbs up, and two different dancing rooms — one with live music and one with a DJ — satisfy multiple generations at once.
The Nice Guy
401 North La Cienega, West Hollywood
The Nice Guy is a WeHo celebrity hangout for young starlets — Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Hailee Steinfeld have all been spotted here. It’s known for its tasty handmade pizzas and Italian classics (like a Monday night lasagna) served up in a speakeasy setting, with live jazz on some nights and on-site photo booths to sustain the memories.
Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila
When a strong margarita and classic Mexican food are the craving, Hermosa Beach’s Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila will fit the bill. From a worthy guacamole to tri-tip enchiladas, the food gets good reviews, as does the party atmosphere. The waiters also get top marks for being both beautiful and accommodating.
Perch LA
448 South Hill Street, 13th Floor, Los Angeles
For a different kind of California view, Perch is downtown LA’s answer to a rooftop bar scene. An upscale interior and spacious outdoor patio give patrons a bird’s-eye perspective, often accompanied by live music.
Pump
8948 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
The success of Pump is all in its magical outdoor courtyard, where centuries-old olive trees arch over the elegant tables. The romantic ambience encourages lingering late into the night over cocktails and Mediterranean cuisine.
Republique
624 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles
By day, Republique is a casual French-style bistro: sun-filled and serving up tasty pastries and photogenic brunch dishes. At night, it turns into a hopping dinner scene. Diners love the kimchi fried rice in particular, but the real allure is the impeccable atmosphere in a historic building.
Sur Restaurant
606 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood
WeHo continues to be California’s hottest neighborhood, with Sur another entry on the list. The purple-lit bar and lounge includes a tree-shaded patio and many cozy dining rooms. It’s a reality show celebrity hangout, with many patrons coming in more for the experience than the dining.
Toca Madera
8450 West 3rd Street, West Hollywood
The WeHo fun continues at Toca Madera, a Latin-themed restaurant and lounge serving up fresh takes on Mexican classics — and plenty of cocktails. Churro ice cream sandwiches are a recommended sweet treat before settling in to the DJ tunes for the night.
The Tropicale
330 East Amado Road, Palm Springs
Emphasizing “Pacific Rim specialties”, The Tropicale has both a main dining room offering up a seafood-heavy menu and a separate bar area with a buzzy scene and top marks for people-watching.
Vitello’s
4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City
Vitello’s dishes out classic, hearty red-sauce Italian in a chic, contemporary dining room, where strong cocktails and live piano music complete the upscale scene.
Ysabel
945 North Fairfax Avenue, West Hollywood
When it comes to inventive contemporary American cuisine, a patio setting, and beautiful people, Ysabel checks off all the boxes. The West Hollywood restaurant offers everything from kimchi-spiced Brussels sprouts to grilled octopus, signature cocktails, and plenty of action at the busy bar.
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