Nobu Malibu is a perfect kind of LA restaurant, in its way. Perched precariously close to the Pacific Ocean waves, this is the light wood and delicate dining spot where see-and-be-seen types go for sunsets and dinner. Yes, Nobu is a luxury chain, but dining here feels less like a corporate retreat and more like you’re sipping champagne at the slippery edge of the beautiful world.

Belles takes over the former Larry’s in Venice, a gastropub named after local artist that closed during the pandemic. The quick turnaround has produced an open-feeling space surrounded by teak sliding doors. There are no enclosed walls on three sides, making the entire place feel like an open-air patio, but also requires a ton of overhead electric heaters to keep it comfortable inside. A separate outdoor patio will fit another 60 or so people across the sidewalk.

Time fades away inside burgundy leather booths and beneath bolted plaques that tick off the names of famous past patrons at La Dolce Vita. Victoria Gillet helped to oversee the extensive renovation, including retro looks like a cheetah-printed carpet and refurbished Italian chairs from nearly 50 years ago. Even the staff will fit the bill, outfitted in Denis Frison-designed uniforms.

Juliet owner Rohan Talwar has managed to outfit a 120-seat restaurant with loads of marble, dark woods, and deep red tones. Rustic flooring, scalloped edges, and off-white fabrics make for a cozy setting, while a walk-up bar helps to keep the place feeling lively. The ample outdoor patio only adds to the possibilities, with some 1,500 square feet of street-side seating available every day. The kitchen isn’t hidden away, per se, but it is not the focus of the long dining room; instead, all eyes are on the glass, slate, and woven fabrics that make the place feel luxurious but comfortable. That makes perfect sense, given that Juliet was designed by Jeremiah Brent, the celebrated AD 100 designer.

Located in the palatial 10,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Fig & Olive on Melrose Place, Catch Steak is a contemporary steakhouse from the same group as buzzy nightlife spot Catch LA. The split-level restaurant features warm wood details, leather banquettes, and blackened metal touches. The abundance of greenery throughout the 375-seat space provides a verdant setting for both indoor and outdoor dining.

Gigi’s is a stylish, throwback little find that hearkens to both the midcentury panache of Musso & Frank and the vintage feel of New York City’s Bemelman’s Bar and Monkey Bar. The overall look comes from the late architect Osvaldo Maiozzi, who died earlier this year but made Gigi’s his last work. Andrew Cosbie designed the interior, looking at everything from the linens, textiles, and other tactile elements, like the reclaimed marble flooring, mohair booths, and vintage Italian light fixtures. In addition, interior architect Aejie Rhyu of ARA-la Studio handled details like brass shelving, wood paneling, and millwork. Taken together, it all feels like an ageless hotel bar but placed street side amid the part of Tinseltown where actual movie and TV magic happen.

Musso & Frank is utterly timeless, and that’s what keeps the restaurant so relevant, decade after decade. The red jackets, the sometimes surly, always loveable service; it’s all a part of the show, wrapped in dark woods and yellow lighting. Here tourists can mix with locals for classic continental fare before heading off for a night in the heart of Hollywood — which is precisely what’s been done every weekend for the past hundred years.

Ka’teen spans some 5,000 square feet of fully outdoor dining space, reminiscent of the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, designed by Studio Collective and styled by Bernadette Blanc. There’s a reeded tunnel for customers to walk through at the start of the meal, and a squared-off outdoor bar to hang out at until long into the night. Throughout the mix-and-match space diners and drinkers can find seating to fit their needs, from smaller two-tops for date night snacks to larger, longer candlelit tables for an evening with a group.

Mírate features multiple levels, two bars, and separate dining rooms with Mírate partner Matthew Egan’s photography and murals by Mexico City-based artist Jorge Telleache. The restaurant also offers views of the Griffith Observatory and even has a retractable roof. Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar from design firm Adean reworked the former event venue space, with new tiles, walled textiles, cushiony banquettes, and live plants tucked into every crevice, and room for 180 total diners at a time.

The good light has found Bacetti in Echo Park. Here rich golden wood plays against rust-toned tile and more vibrant touches like deeper reds and darker greens, all interspersed with plants and shadows for a bit of pop and splash. Really, though, the pared-back rooms glow because of the late-fall light that streams in from above, exposing the open ceiling and extensive glasswork that leads eyeballs towards the kitchen. A thick marble countertop, streaked in ink blacks and grays, buffers the separate-but-touching spaces.

Kodo looks nothing like anything the Arts District has seen before. Matching light slate tones and lots of stone with blonde wood finishes — all while toggling between smooth lines and sharp corners across multiple dining spaces — the restaurant feels like something pulled across time. It is both modern and timeless, Japanese and Angeleno, culled from the creative class and plunked down with heavy authority inside of former firehouse.