By Taylor Spill | @taylorspillofficial

Los Angeles is a unique city, home of the Hollywood stars, Dodgers Stadium, Malibu beaches, endless mountain views, and more. However, what truly makes LA special is the endless array of restaurants, each offering unique cuisine. Many of these local restaurants come with unique experiences, whether that is soaking in a city view from a rooftop, dining beside the water, or enjoying authentic cuisine surrounded by the city’s history.

Here are ten unique restaurant experiences that are worth checking out in Los Angeles.

1. Porto’s Bakery & Cafe

Porto’s Bakery opened its first storefront in 1976 after the cakes that owner Rosa Porto sold out of her house became a neighborhood phenomenon. Porto’s was the product of Rosa’s passion for baking and selling her various Cuban cakes and pastries. Eventually, the bakery began to sell assorted coffee drinks and various savory menu items such as their famous potato balls (fried mashed potatoes stuffed with minced meat). Throughout the years, the bakery gained notoriety throughout Los Angeles for its outstanding and fresh Cuban baked goods at affordable prices.

Porto’s currently has six locations across Los Angeles; Glendale, Burbank, Northridge, and more. Porto’s has different sections for each of their products: a bakery where you can purchase baked goods to go, and a cafe where you can order hot food, specialty drinks, or baked goods for dining in. The cafe has a variety of Cuban classics on its menu such as a Cubano sandwich, a Cuban-style stewed beef plate, plantain chips, and more.

The best way to enjoy Porto’s is to dine in and choose one of the many delicious options from the cafe menu, and then order baked goods to take home. The portions are generous, the food is fresh, and the prices are reasonable Ordering from the large array of pastries from the bakery is a great way to continue your experience of enjoying Cuban fare provided by the Porto family.

2. The Butcher, The Baker, the Cappuccino Maker (BBCM)

Right in the heart of West Hollywood is The Butcher, The Baker, the Cappuccino Maker (BBCM cafe), an open-concept and airy modern California cuisine cafe. Executive Chefs, Ren Nisenbaum and Craig Hobson of BBCM were also inspired by European cuisine while creating the concept for the restaurant. BCCM cafe is best known for its handcrafted lattes, such as the Colorburst Latte, and its brunch items, especially the mimosa flight and peach bourbon pancakes.

BBCM cafe currently has two locations; West Hollywood and El Segundo. BBCM West Hollywood is located in the Sunset Plaza, a prime location on Sunset Boulevard. The seating at this BBCM cafe is mainly outdoors, wrapping around the restaurant and onto the sidewalks of Sunset Boulevard. The sleek, European-inspired, decor and comfortable seating make this cafe the perfect summer dining experience.

The best way to enjoy BBCM cafe is to go on a sunny weekend for brunch in the outdoor seating area. The cafe has a wide array of seating options, from couches completely in the shade to tables covered with umbrellas to allow customers to enjoy a hint of sunshine. Brunch is not complete without a handcrafted coffee drink or a signature cocktail crafted to perfection with house-made syrups. Every menu item is well-thought-out and delicious, bursting with unique flavors and a European touch. BBCM also accommodates dogs, so it is the perfect place to bring along your beloved pet.

3. Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie is a restaurant, gourmet market, patisserie, and cafe in Los Angeles. The restaurant debuted in Downtown Los Angeles in 2009 and serves Italian/French cuisine as well as various baked goods. Bottega Louie’s head chef Sam Marvin is the brains behind the restaurant menu that serves classic Italian/French dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Bottega Louie currently has two locations in Los Angeles, one in Downtown Los Angeles and a recent edition in West Hollywood. Both restaurants are generous in size, with the ability to accommodate a large number of people. The patisserie is at the front of the restaurant, with its iconic display of colorful macarons and other carefully crafted baked goods on the menu. The restaurant serves a variety of pizza, pasta, and salad dishes.

The best way to experience Bottega Louie is actually through their weekend brunch. The large menu offers the same lunch/dinner options in addition to classic breakfast options such as French toast, breakfast sandwiches, eggs, and more. After a phenomenal brunch experience, the patisserie is your next stop. Order some of Bottega Louie’s iconic macaroons and baked goods or even grab a coffee to-go. The food and desserts offered are all high-quality, filling, and delicious.

4. Malibu Farm

Located right on the Malibu Pier, adjacent to the Pacific Coast Highway is Malibu Farm; a farm-to-table restaurant specializing in modern American cuisine. The restaurant was founded by Helene Henderson who had a strong passion for cooking and farming. She owned and raised various farm animals and produced food and once she opened the restaurant, her mission was to source ingredients from small farmers. Even in 2023, Helen has stayed true to her commitment and mainly uses locally sourced ingredients for menu items.

Malibu Farm currently has four locations across California, but its flagship location is in Malibu. Their Malibu location is unique as it offers two different dining experiences; the restaurant, and the cafe. The restaurant is full service with a full bar and is located at the start of the pier while the cafe offers counter-service at the end of the pier. The cafe’s menu offers classic sandwiches, salads, quick bites, and beverages in addition to a couple of entrees such as skirt steak and salmon. The restaurant’s menu focuses more on entrees and plates, the classic sit-down experience, in addition to an expansive list of cocktails.

The best way to enjoy Malibu Farm is during lunch hour. Each table offers an ocean view, a great way to dine in the rustic-themed restaurant. Soak in the sun and ocean breeze while enjoying a hand-crafted cocktail and a variety of farm-to-table dishes. Make sure to request an outdoor table for the best views and experience fine dining along the Malibu Pier.

5. La La Land Kind Cafe (La La Land)

Located on Montana Avenue in the heart of Santa Monica is La La Land Kind Cafe (La La Land). What makes La La Land so unique, aside from its colorful and flavored hand-crafted beverages, is its philosophy; spreading kindness, especially through its yellow coffee sleeves each with a unique message about being kind. The cafe prides itself on hiring and mentoring foster youth. La La Land focuses on providing delicious and high-quality coffee and tea beverages in addition to giving back to the community at large.

La La Land has various locations across Los Angeles and Texas, but their Santa Monica location is definitely worth checking out. The all-white cafe has various couches to lounge on inside while enjoying the breeze through the opened windows. The menu offers a unique array of coffee and tea drinks such as a French toast latte, cookies & cream matcha or latte, matcha tea with butterfly pea tea, organic reserve teas, and more. You can also enjoy various forms of avocado toast and other small bites.

In addition, there is plenty of comfortable seating outside where you can soak up the sun, enjoy a coffee, and relax. The best way to experience La La Land is outdoors on one of their white couches. Order one of their several iced drinks which comes with a yellow coffee sleeve that has messages written on it, reminding you to be kind. Enjoy one of their many toast options as a small bite with your drink. La La Land is also dog-friendly, so bring your furry friend along and make sure to ask for a “pup-a-cino”!

6. Terra

Located on the rooftop of Eataly LA at the Century City Mall, Terra is the perfect way to experience a European summer right in the heart of Los Angeles. Terra translates to “Earth” in Italian, so the restaurant focuses on Italian grilled dishes in addition to having a variety of botanical-themed cocktails. The menu rotates, as the chefs focus on making dishes with locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. In addition, the drink selection and bar attract people to this rooftop oasis.

There are several locations of Terra across the globe in various Eataly locations such as London, Dallas, and Boston. However, what makes the Los Angeles location unique is the fully outdoor concept, perfect for the mild climate and views of the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. The menu offers a variety of pasta, but the main focus is grilled meats such as skewers, wood-fired chicken, branzino, and more. For drinks, the cocktail menu is endless with spicy drinks, house specialties, spritz, mocktails, and even a customizable gin and tonic with specialty gin.

The best way to enjoy Terra is spontaneous during the day when it is typically less busy, and sitting in their bar/lounge area. During lunch and dinner hours, the bar is full-service so you can enjoy a meal without having to make a reservation. The bar and lounge offer the same picturesque views and are a great way to enjoy a quick bite as well. Soak in the sun, enjoy the view of the hills, and enjoy a specialty drink at this European-inspired rooftop surrounded by beautiful greenery.

7. The Penthouse at the Huntley Hotel

The Penthouse, tucked away on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica is the ultimate penthouse experience. The hotel and restaurant were both designed by Thomas Schoos offering 180-degree views of Santa Monica Beach and the surrounding area. The Penthouse serves a variety of modern Californian-inspired dishes as well as an extensive menu. The restaurant was designed to emulate the simple luxury of the Huntley Hotel with its chic and modern decor.

The Penthouse is exclusive to the Huntley Hotel and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. For breakfast/brunch, there is a variety of fresh-squeezed juices, traditional pastries/breakfast entrees, and a selection of lunch entrees at brunch. Lunch offers a variety of handcrafted cocktails, salads, sandwiches, plates, and more. You can also enjoy a variety of small bites and cocktails at the lounge. Finally, dinner offers many shareable items, including a raw bar, hand-made pasta, entree plates, and more. You can also swing by for happy hour for small plates and discounted drinks.

There are many ways to bask in the ocean views at the Penthouse, however, the best way to experience it is through brunch. The brunch menu offers the best of both their breakfast and lunch menus, with a wide variety of cocktails and specialty beverages. You can request a table next to the window for the perfect backdrop for a delicious brunch. The Penthouse is the perfect place to mark a special occasion, and it is hard to leave without paying a visit to their photo booth.

8. Juanita’s Cafe & Olvera Street

Built in the 1930s, Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles was created to remember “old California” and preserve Mexican-American history/tradition. Olvera Street is meant to resemble a Mexican marketplace with an array of gift shops, restaurants, vendors, and cafes. The street was also home to the city’s first church, firehouse, and theater. The restaurants include La Luz Del Dia Restaurant, a cafeteria-style Mexican restaurant, Mr. Churro, a Mexican dessert stand, Kitty’s Sno-Cones, an ice cream spot, and finally, the iconic Juanita’s Cafe, a Mexican cafe and restaurant.

Founded in 1944, Juanita’s is one of the most popular restaurants on Olvera Street, and it is well-known for its taquitos. Usually, Juanita’s is known as a take-out restaurant due to the fact that it is in a smaller building. However, there is seating available both inside the restaurant and right on Olvera Street, which is their only location. The menu offers a variety of Mexican classics such as tacos, burritos, and flautas as well as a refreshing house-made horchata. Usually, the most popular time to visit is during lunch as the service is quick.

The best way to enjoy Olvera Street is to eat a late lunch at Juanita’s post-lunch rush. Sit outside, take in the beauty and culture of the street, and enjoy the various classic Mexican dishes while sipping on a refreshing horchata or cream soda. After lunch, walk around the street, grab some goodies from one of the many gift shops, and maybe grab a churro from Mr. Churro. You can even take a walking tour of Olvera Street and check out the firehouse or church.

9. Beauty & Essex

Located right in the heart of Hollywood, Beauty & Essex is a 10,000-square-foot restaurant under the Tao Group. The restaurant (led by Chef Santos) serves a variety of multi-ethnic dishes with modern touches and is only open during dinner hours. The large space includes a retail pawn shop when you first walk in, a two-story outdoor dining area, private dining rooms, two full-service bars, indoor spaces suitable for performances, and a lounge area. Beauty & Essex is the perfect, lively nighttime destination.

The regular menu includes a raw bar, a variety of sharable appetizers and plates, high-quality meats, and various specialty cocktails and mocktails. In addition, their happy hour “Beauty Hour” offers small bites and drinks at a discounted price from 5:00-8:00 PM. One of the specialty events at Beauty & Essex is Jazz Sundays, where a live jazz band performs while spectators enjoy their signature dishes and cocktails. Even without live performances, the restaurant has the feel of a nightclub, with the lounge and bars and dance music heard around the large space.

The best way to experience Beauty & Essex is to go during Jazz Sundays or whenever there is a live performance with a group of friends. You can choose to sit in one of the many dining rooms indoors and outdoors. It is best to get there early so you can check out the in-house pawn shop and get a drink. Even the lounge is happening, as there are many people around engaging and enjoying drinks from the bar. Once you sit down, you can enjoy the music heard all around you which is a fun way to enjoy a dinner and celebrate with friends.

10. Topanga Social

Finally, there is Topanga Social, which is the Topanga Plaza Mall’s latest spin on mall food and a food hall that opened on May 11, 2023. Topanga Social, located inside the Topanga Plaza Mall, boasts over 27 different restaurants serving different styles of cuisines, drinks, desserts, and even candy. The restaurants included are popular throughout the city and more niche businesses are highlighted in this unique food hall experience. In addition, guests can order ahead or order their food using machines, proving that Topanga Social is the wave of the future.

Some of the restaurants and businesses featured include Fat Sal’s, Katsu Sando, Jay Bird’s Wanderlust Creamery, Oakberry, and more. The food hall also boasts options to buy drinks with a margarita garden, a champagne bar, and more. Many types of cuisines are encompassed into one space, you can find almost everything you’re craving under one roof. Ordering food and picking it up is a simple process that can be done anywhere in the mall or the hall thanks to the Topanga Social website and screens near the restaurants.

The best way to experience Topanga Social is to come hungry during lunch. You are able to order appetizers, entrees, drinks, and desserts all at entirely different restaurants. Trying the multiple different options adds to the uniqueness of the experience and is an easy way to get close to trying all 27 restaurants. Guests can come and hang out at the food hall, especially at the bars, however, it is located in the Topanga Plaza Mall. After a filling lunch, you can stroll around the mall and explore the various shops as well.

The Top Ten Unique Restaurant Experiences in Los Angeles

By Taylor Spill | @taylorspillofficial

Callie Johnson

Elizabeth Pipko