Haute For Summer: The Best New Restaurants In LA

Where to dine in the City of Angels this summer.

ALBA

Photo Credit: Alba

ALBA, from the team behind Cucina Alba in NYC, has officially landed in West Hollywood. Helmed by chef Adam Leonti, the menu blends California’s seasonal bounty with Italy’s coastal soul. Standouts include Calabrian tuna tartare, squash blossoms with lemon potato mousse, and the rich, drizzled raviolo fornografia, along with housemade pastas and perfectly composed crudi. The cocktail program is equally transportive: think Monastero Negronis, strawberry whiskey highballs, and an elegant martini “frozen in time.” As designed by GRT Architects, the space is an ode to breezy Mediterranean glamour with an LA edge thanks to a retractable striped roof, lush greenery, pastel accents, muraled walls by Alex Proba, and a hidden entrance — which means that if you know, you know. 8451 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, 90069

MAREA BEVERLY HILLS

Photo Credit: Marea

New York’s beloved Marea has come to Beverly Hills, and with its new 90210 digs, manages to bring the refined spirit of Italian coastal cuisine to the West Coast. Executive chef PJ Calapa, formerly of Eleven Madison Park and Ai Fiori, presents signature dishes like crudi, lobster astice with burrata, and Marea’s famed octopus and bone marrow fusilli, alongside new SoCal exclusives like pappardelle al granchio with Dungeness crab and “The Avocado” — a halved, torched California avocado filled with spot prawn tartare. Inside, Marea Beverly Hills feels like a love letter to understated elegance. The space features a honey onyx bar, a hand-crafted Murano blue chandelier, and a private art collection, anchored by an original oil painting inspired by Sophia Loren. The wine menu offers vintages that span classic to bold. 430 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, 90210

MXO BY WES AVILA

Photo Credit: SBE

Sbe and two-time James Beard Award finalist chef Wes Avila have opened MXO, a refined Mexican restaurant on La Cienega in West Hollywood. Avila, who is known for his genre-bending take on regional California-Mexican cuisine, serves up a wood-fired menu that’s both soulful and innovative, with standout dishes that include the birria beef hammer (a whole braised wagyu beef shank with consomé and salsas), ribeye perron tacos (saIsa roja, cheese, frijoles, and avocado), and the 20-ounce cowboy ribeye, alongside fan favorites like the grilled cabbage cesar. The cocktail program balances sophistication and spice with a natural focus on tequilas and mezcals. Meanwhile, the space is the perfect foil to the fare with its elevated Mexican decor, sleek central bar, and outdoor firepits. 826 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, 90069

SELINE

Photo Credit: PETE LEE

Chef Dave Beran, known for redefining LA’s fine dining scene with Dialogue and Pasjoli, has opened his most intimate and ambitious restaurant to date in Seline. Located on Main Street in Santa Monica, Seline reflects Beran’s evolution as both a chef and a father (the eatery is named after his daughter). The 15-18 course tasting menu, priced at $295, draws on SoCal’s seasonal abundance, with dishes that change frequently. Wine director Matthew Brodbine offers two thoughtful pairings to accompany the meal: a global-forward wine experience and an imaginative non-alcoholic pairing that mirrors the menu’s progression. It’s certainly a place where many hours can be enjoyed dining, with its plush fabrics, gold and silver accents, provocative art by David Choe, and open kitchen.                                          3110 Main St, Santa Monica, 90401

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