From the driving, to the parking, to the not knowing where to drive or park, dinner in L.A. is harder than it should be. That’s why we created Dinner Plan — your itinerary to a damn good time. This week, we’re off to Hollywood for the canonical group date night.
Pre Dinner Drinks: La Fête
West Hollywood
Have everyone meet at La Fête, a sly new cocktail lounge beside Norah in West Hollywood. Sit in the comfy leather couches by the bar, and sip on martinis and sidecars that come with a wide range of potencies, from dirty to dry. The vibe is chill and the drinks are strong, so pace yourself.
8277 Santa Monica Blvd (map)
Website
Images: La Fête/Facebook
Dinner: Ronan
Hollywood
Ronan is L.A.’s newest wood-burning pizza haunt, and it differentiates itself with an eclectic array of toppings, like beef cheeks with golf ball-sized dollops of ricotta. For our money, the mustard greens with sausage and straight margherita are where it’s at. For four people, you’d be wise to stick to two pies, as they’re very doughy. Spend more time on the apps, like asparagus with a base of burrata or the chicken liver, which comes in a jar with thin sheets of crisp bread and acidic pickles.
7315 Melrose Ave. (map)
Website
Images: Stan Lee
After-Dinner Drinks: Harriet’s Rooftop
West Hollywood
Harriet’s is the new rooftop concept from the H.wood crew (Nice Guy, Delilah’s), and its panoramic views of our twinkling sprawl are only rivaled by the SoHo House. And like SoHo, Harriet’s has an open-air roof canopied in greenery. It’s dim. It’s sexy. It’s also a bit of task to find the entrance: enter the upcoming 1 Hotel West Hollywood, which feels a bit austere for 2018 (probably why they’re about to redesign it), go downstairs and then head to the left of the little cafe. Toward the back corner there’s an elevator where you’ll check in; email for a reservation. The crowd typifies the Strip’s glitz, yet the staff shows none of that pomp and circumstance; they’re friendly and laid back. Go with a spicy tequila drink and see where the night (and the perfectly curated tunes) lead you.
8490 Sunset Blvd. (map)
Website
Images: Harriet’s Rooftop/Facebook
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