![\"Somni](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LAM_SOMNI_-05617_low-res-1200x851.jpg\"\/)
Credit: Irvin Rivera<\/p>\n
Spanish<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Scroll to continue reading<\/p>\n 9045\u00a0Nemo\u00a0St., West\u00a0Hollywood,\u00a0<\/strong>somnirestaurant.com<\/strong><\/a> After wowing guests with the avant-garde, 20-plus-course tasting menu experience Saam \u2014 which operated inside The Bazaar at the SLS Beverly Hills for nearly a decade \u2014 in 2018, chef Aitor Zabala transformed the cutting-edge Spanish concept into Somni (Catalan for \u201cdream\u201d). There, the Barcelona native employed what he\u2019d learned about molecular gastronomy from chef Ferran Adri\u00e0 and performance art from Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, with whom he also opened Minibar in Washington, D.C. and \u00e9 in Vegas.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While the original two-Michelin-starred Somni closed during the pandemic, Zabala brought it back to life in November 2024 in a whimsical indoor-outdoor WeHo space that previously housed a Donna Karan boutique. Each night, 14 guests begin the experience with assorted snacks<\/a> in the courtyard (Spanish-style) before entering the intimate interior and sitting along a wooden chef\u2019s counter, where, for three hours, Zabala and team will stimulate all of their senses in something of a culinary show. More than 20 stunning small courses are finished tableside and served in synchrony \u2014 paired with worldly wines or nonalcoholic concoctions. Artistic dishes, from a dehydrated egg white pizza to a shiso tartare tempura to a playful \u201cCow and Her Milk\u201d cheese course, reflect Zabala\u2019s Basque and Catalan roots. Currently, the three-Michelin-starred experience books its one seating per night within minutes of releasing reservations and attracts diners from around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2. RVR<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Japanese Izakaya<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 1305 Abbot\u00a0Kinney\u00a0Blvd., Venice,\u00a0<\/strong>rvr.la<\/strong><\/a> Chef Travis Lett proved his deftness with vegetables when he founded Abbot Kinney pioneer Gjelina in 2008, however, in 2019, he departed the beloved restaurant group.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He took a five-year hiatus before acquiring a nearby Venice space in early 2024, at which he established the ephemeral MTN (pronounced \u201cmountain\u201d) followed by another Japanese izakaya, RVR (\u201criver\u201d).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Upon opening Oct. 1, 2024, the rustic space, replete with wood and vintage records and designed by Matt Winter of M Winter Design, quickly became packed with fans. A seat at RVR\u2019s bar affords diners prime people-watching as well as an equally steamy view of the food being prepared by the team \u2014 which includes executive chef Ian Robinson, who honed his skills at Toronto\u2019s Skippa and in Fukuoka, Japan. Flavorful vegetable dishes like roasted sweet potato and grilled baby bok choy steal the show, though the menu also includes memorable hand rolls, authentic pork rib and belly gyoza, crispy chicken thigh karaage in chili honey and roasted citrus-shoyu Santa Barbara black cod.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Pair the Japanese inflected comfort dishes with highballs, classic cocktails, beer, wines (from orange sauvignon blanc to chilled red gamay and German rieslings) and stellar sakes selected by Anajak Thai alum Maggie Glasheen.\u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Seline<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n New\u00a0American<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 3110\u00a0Main\u00a0St. Ste. 132,\u00a0Santa\u00a0Monica,\u00a0<\/strong>selinerestaurant.com<\/strong><\/a> After perfecting his craft at Chicago\u2019s three-Michelin-starred Alinea and helming Next, chef Dave Beran opened Dialogue in Santa Monica. The 18-seat, 20-course tasting concept on the Third Street Promenade earned a Michelin star in 2019 \u2014 but Beran always intended for Dialogue to grow out of that space.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the interim, he launched his French bistro Pasjoli. But even before closing Dialogue during the pandemic, he\u2019d been searching for a new Santa Monica venue. Named after the Latin translation of his daughter Harvest Moon\u2019s name, Seline \u2014 which opened Dec. 3, 2024 \u2014 is an evolution of Dialogue and Beran\u2019s most personal project yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 38-seat restaurant modeled after his grandparents\u2019 warm Midwestern kitchen offers a 15-to-18-course experience that Beran designed to be exploratory \u2014 to foster connections and encourage diners to figure things out. Every detail of the dishes, which evoke various seasons, tells the story of Beran\u2019s upbringing and culinary background. Fall brings a venison tartare covered by celery root, a roasted squash with truffle, a beef tendon with yuzu suspended from branches, a pot roast-inspired short rib and even a leaf dipped in passion fruit and frozen before you.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4. Betsy<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n American<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 875 E. Mariposa\u00a0St., Altadena,\u00a0<\/strong>betsyaltadena.com<\/strong><\/a> In Dec. 2024, Tyler Wells (of Los Feliz cafe All Time) opened the intimate restaurant Bernee in Altadena for what would amount to 31 nights before the Eaton fire devastated the area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The space was spared, and in Aug. 2025, Wells revived what he considers to be the dream restaurant he\u2019s worked toward for 20 years: a simple, rustic neighborhood spot serving food entirely sourced from farmers, fishermen and purveyors he loves, all cooked over an open fire. Traditional appliances and gas service are forgone in favor of simple ingredients and attentive cooking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The cozy eatery radiates warmth, especially for those sitting at the bar before the hearth. Start with warm dinner rolls topped with Normandy butter and a well-dressed Caesar salad coated in parmesan before moving on to hearty meats, like the New York strip or Tomahawk rib-eye.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Vegetables grilled over the fire shine, from the wood-oven cabbage to tallow-roasted potatoes, and the decadent ricotta gnocchi has a home-made feel. Finish with two crowd-favorite desserts: the cheesecake with charred crust and Betsy\u2019s fruit cobbler.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A wine list is equally rustic and personable, featuring selections from Wells\u2019 friends and growers who respect the soil. Betsy (named after Wells\u2019 late mother) is a solid neighborhood option with a homey vibe and food well worth the trip from other parts of L.A.\u00a0<\/p>\n 5. Restaurant Ki<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n New Korean<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 111 S. San\u00a0Pedro\u00a0St. B2, Little Tokyo,\u00a0<\/strong>restaurantki.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Chef Ki Kim\u2019s restaurant tucked below a Little Tokyo parking structure earned a Michelin star just six months after opening. An odyssey of New Korean cuisine,\u00a0 Restaurant Ki is a victory lap for the South Korea-born chef-owner, whose celebrated Koreatown establishment Kinn closed in 2023.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The 10-seat counter poises diners for an intimate omakase experience led by Kim and his small team. Set in a minimalist setting marked by concrete walls and a touch of art pieces, Restaurant Ki is all-in on creative vibrancy by way of food. A duck liver dish arrives in a glass chicken-shaped jar, while a lobster and morel plate with doenjang sauce gets a final touch with a sprinkling of raspberry powder.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The multicourse meal begins with a few \u201csnacks\u201d (like the perfectly crisp, expertly tender octopus) before moving onto robust plates, including a noodle bowl with pine mushroom and Dungeness crab, and ending with dessert courses. Should you choose the wine pairing, vino and sake pours\u00a0enhance\u00a0this seasonality celebration (the menu\u00a0regularly changes).\u00a0Ultimately, Ki\u00a0and team foster a relaxed, informative environment that primes\u00a0visitors for maximum enjoyment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 6. Baby Bistro<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n American<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 1027 Alpine\u00a0St., Building\u00a0B,\u00a0Chinatown,\u00a0<\/strong>babybistrola.com<\/strong><\/a> Inside the Alpine Courtyard complex is a restaurant so unassuming and residential-looking \u2014 it\u2019s housed in a century-old Victorian bungalow \u2014 you could almost miss it. But don\u2019t: The intimate new neighbor to Perilla, bordering Chinatown and Echo Park, is one of the most unique and homey experiences in Los Angeles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Upon stepping inside, you\u2019ll see chef Miles Thompson at work in a steamy open kitchen \u2014 as if you were stepping into his home. The founder of former Echo Park restaurant Allumette, who began his career at Nobu and with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo at Animal and Son of a Gun, earned James Beard Rising Star nominations when he took the helm of Michael\u2019s Santa Monica. After teaming with wine connoisseur Andy Schwartz (Lolo Wine Bar) on Baby Bistro pop-ups, the two gave the concept a permanent home in May 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n A seasonal produce-forward menu offers only six dishes, designed to be ordered as a tasting menu and split between two guests. Start with the signature onion bread, topped with cheese and rotating veggies, before moving on to inventive dishes like spaghetti squash, spiny lobster, squid with rice and Spanish mackerel \u2014 flaunting surprising combinations of flavors and textures. Pair dishes with eclectic California and European wines and finish with pine nut cookies enhanced with cucumber cream and rhubarb.\u00a0<\/p>\n 7. Marea<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Italian<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 430 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills,\u00a0marearestaurant.com<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Angelenos have former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse to thank for this award-winning Italian seafood stunner \u2014 beloved by the Obamas, Jay-Z and Beyonc\u00e9 since opening on New York\u2019s Central Park South 16 years ago.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Bossi entreated Altamarea Group CEO Ahmass Fakahany (with more than 20 restaurants in the U.S., Asia and the Middle East) to bring his first concept, Marea, to Beverly Hills, and the hot spot opened in a coveted space on Camden Drive in January 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n Inside an upscale dining room boasting the brand\u2019s signature onyx bar, a blue Murano chandelier and artwork of Sophia Loren, well-heeled fans gather for top-notch crudo and lavish seafood dishes from chef PJ Calapa (of New York\u2019s Bouley, Eleven Madison Park and the group\u2019s Ai Fiori).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Italian for \u201ctide,\u201d Marea serves what Fakahany calls \u201clighter-side Italian.\u201d Start with the decadent bruschetta topped with Kaluga caviar and burrata, a crudo sampling and raw bar offerings. Then, move on to staples such as the branzino tartare, lobster with burrata, fusilli with bone marrow and the Dover sole \u2014 along with newer creations made with California ingredients like Dungeness crab and Santa Barbara sea urchin.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A weekday aperitivo hour offers shoppers an afternoon reprieve with caviar and lobster rolls. The restaurant also recently debuted a three-course Sunday Supper as well as cocktails inspired by Loren\u2019s beloved films.\u00a0<\/p>\n 8. Electric Bleu<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n French<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 3523 S. Centinela Ave., Mar Vista,\u00a0<\/strong>electricbleu.com<\/strong><\/a> Electric Bleu was a long time coming for Australia native and 30-year industry veteran Craig Hopson, who worked for three-Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris as well as at New York\u2019s iconic Le Cirque before moving to Los Angeles in 2015.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Hopson toiled at Farmhouse and The Strand House before taking the reins in 2023 at Shirley Brasserie, where the French-trained chef put out stellar French onion soup and beef oxtail bourguignon from the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hopson had been trying to open his own place for years when he found the former Rustic Kitchen space in Mar Vista. Hopson and his wife, creative director Mai Sakai, debuted the 60-seat indoor-outdoor Electric Bleu on Aug. 13.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The cozy neighborhood spot conjures their favorite Parisian neo-bistros and features blue accents that reference its namesake, a color coined by French artist Yves Klein. Here, Hopson is cooking what he\u2019s passionate about. His mix of classic and contemporary French dishes range from steak au poivre to roast chicken to duck breast. Don\u2019t miss the smoked salmon blini, French fries with chicken salt and chocolate mousse. Pair dishes with French and California wines as offbeat, adventurous and accessible as the restaurant itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n 9. Alba Los Angeles\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Italian<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 8451\u00a0Melsrose\u00a0Ave., West Hollywood,\u00a0<\/strong>cucinaalba.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n After launching Italian hot spot Cucina Alba in Manhattan in 2022, Prince Street Hospitality partners Cobi Levy and Will Makris (New York\u2019s Little Prince, Lola Taverna) teamed up with Julian Black (Major Food Group) to bring the concept to L.A.\u00a0<\/p>\n The team transformed a parking lot into a whimsical open-air dining room that conjures an Italian garden, with wooden trellises and vibrant murals by Alex Proba. But the 10,000-square-foot eatery that debuted Feb. 6 isn\u2019t just a looker: Angelenos (including Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber) have been flocking to the sexy space due to chef Adam Leonti\u2019s dishes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n An alum of Philadelphia\u2019s Vetri Cucina and the founder of Brooklyn Bread Lab, Leonti employs California ingredients in what he\u2019s deemed \u201cvacation Italian\u201d cuisine (the food you eat on holiday). All meals should start with the focaccia he has down to a science, accompanied by whipped ricotta. The chicken alla diavola with spicy bomba sauce is another staple \u2014 alongside addictive pastas like agnolotti with black truffle fonduta and an orecchiette arrabbiata topped with burrata snipped up tableside. The more market-driven L.A. menu draws from local seafood and produce in regularly changing dishes. Pair them with bright spritzes, martinis and Negronis, and finish with the white tiramisu.\u00a0<\/p>\n 10. Max & Helen\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n American<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n 127 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont,\u00a0<\/strong>maxandhelens.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n On a May 2022 episode of his Netflix travel show\u00a0Somebody Feed Phil, producer and host Phil Rosenthal visited Maine\u2019s historic 15-seat Palace Diner. Blown away by the elevated classics served inside a 1927 train car, he decided to open a diner for his Larchmont community.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mozza investor Rosenthal enlisted chef Nancy Silverton<\/a>, who reinvented traditional diner staples, from a New York-style bacon, egg and cheese to a Larchmont grand slam to a patty melt modeled after Ships Coffee Shop\u2019s Ship Shape Burger.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0Vintage buff Matt Winter of M Winter Design transformed the former Le Petit Greek space into what Rosenthal envisioned as a diner from 100 years ago. The 6,100-square-foot restaurant, which seats 45 inside, conjures a train car with wooden booths and vintage fixtures. Personal details honor Rosenthal\u2019s parents Max and Helen, to whom the diner is a tribute \u2014 and Rosenthal\u2019s daughter Lily and her husband, chef Mason Royal, are on the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Max\u2019s favorite fluffy scrambled eggs and Helen\u2019s matzo ball soup are on the menu, but the biggest crowd-pleaser is Silverton\u2019s waffle \u2014 topped with \u201cmaple butter,\u201d her clever combination of butter and maple syrup.\u00a0<\/p>\n Check out our new favorite casual spots<\/a>, eateries full of heart and soul<\/a>, drinking destinations<\/a>, restaurant for the scene<\/a>, and coming attractions<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cI always believed interaction is\u00a0a\u00a0really key part of an experience,\u201d says Somni chef Aitor Zabala. In June, the…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":502297,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5123],"tags":[38699,1582,276,209209,2961,224,5337,225254,15604],"class_list":{"0":"post-502296","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-best-new-restaurants","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-january-2026","12":"tag-la","13":"tag-los-angeles","14":"tag-losangeles","15":"tag-rvr","16":"tag-somni"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115861790715762376","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/502296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=502296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/502296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/502297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=502296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=502296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=502296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"RVR](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20240906_0993-960x1200.jpg\"\/)
Gyoza with Peads & Barnetts pork rib and bellyCredit: Graydon Herriott<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/seline-autumn-25-3098-927x1200.jpg\"\/)
Pheasant in Falling LeavesCredit: Pete Lee<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BetsyFirstNight-194-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Betsy\u2019s cozy bar seating Credit: Danielle Evonne<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2025-10-21-RestaurantKi-058-800x1200.jpg\"\/)
Tomato salad with perilla sorbetCredit: Wonho Frank Lee<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Baby-Bistro1174_v1-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Credit: Kort Havens<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2024-12-17-Marea-intext-029-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Credit: Courtesy Marea<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LAM_ELECTRIC_BLEU_FOOD_0002-1200x1200.jpg\"\/)
The duck breastCredit: Irvin Rivera<\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ALBA_093025A-00206B-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Roman artichokes and the Accanto saladCredit: Courtesy Alba Los Angeles<\/p>\n![\"Lily](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LR-1-credit-Catherine-Dzilenski-800x1200.jpeg\"\/)
Lily Rosenthal Credit: Catherine Dzilensk<\/p>\n