Here's a look at the best new Los Angeles restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this winter. These new and renovated Los Angeles venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Philippe by Philippe Chow has a new Beverly Hills location; the New York flagship opened in 2005. The cuisine is Chinese, with dishes such as glazed spare ribs, Peking duck, and spicy prawns. There’s also a cocktail program created by mixologist Ray Ewers. The venue has a minimalist look, with a red, black, and white decor scheme.
From chef Susan Feniger and the team behind Street comes Mud Hen Tavern, which opened in December and offers seasonal pub and comfort food. Located in the former Street space, Fengier and executive chef and partner Kajsa Alger prepare a variety of rustic dishes with global influences. The bar program includes international wines, local craft beers, and artisanal cocktails. The refurbished space includes plenty of booths and communal tables, as well as a bar with a draft beer system. The patio accommodates larger groups and private events.
Top Chef's Brian Malarkey alongside Enlightened Hospitality Group partner James Brennan are slated to open the restaurant Herringbone at Mondrian Los Angeles early this year, taking over the restaurant space in the boutique lifestyle hotel. The menu will include seafood specialties from around the world, plus surf and turf dishes. It will be the hospitality group’s first restaurant both in a hotel and in Los Angeles.
The Seed Center recently turned a late-1920s warehouse building in downtown Los Angeles into a creative space for artists to come and work on their crafts. The venue is also available for event rental, with a connected courtyard available for use. The 1,820-square-foot event space holds 250 amid brick, wood, high ceilings, and raw textures. There’s also a kitchen, a dining area, and an office.
The Autry National Center of the American West has opened Crossroads West Cafe, a renovated restaurant at the museum. Operated through a joint venture between Denver-based Service Systems Associates and local partner Centerplate, Crossroads West reflects the museum’s focus, with rustic decor and a menu that pays homage to the people who conceived the foods of the American West. Crossroads West also serves as the caterer of choice for museum-sponsored and private events on the property. The café itself is also available for events of 125.
Sugar Factory's new Hollywood location has a third level available for private events, as well as a patio that overlooks Hollywood Boulevard. A DJ booth, a candy carousel, and a bright yellow crown-shaped couch are all a part of the whimsical design for the space. There’s room for 60 for a reception.
New downtown omakase sushi restaurant Q features chef Hiroyuki Naruke’s version of edomae cuisine, a historical preparation dating back to the Edo period of Japan that was the first to combine raw sashimi style fish with vinegar-seasoned rice. The venue's modern East-meets-West aesthetic comes from designer Ryan Brown, with a focus on simplicity and purity. The intimate 26-seat space has 200 glowing orbs that float above guests and illuminate the custom pendant fixtures, Japanese artifacts, and paintings commissioned from local artists. The furnishings, such as the Zaisu chairs, are based on historical Japanese designs and were custom made for Q.Â
The Factory Kitchen offers traditional Italian fare in the arts district downtown. Chef Angelo Auriana prepares dishes using fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients, with an emphasis on simple and traditional recipes. The venue’s 3,000-square-foot main dining room stays true to the former factory building’s features with concrete surfaces, reclaimed wood tables, and garage doors.
Bar Verde at Nordstrom is available for event booking at the Grove. It offers indoor and outdoor dining options with views, plus a farm-to-table concept with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients as well as a full bar. Nordstrom at the Grove is the second store to feature the new Bar Verde restaurant concept.
Selanne Steak Tavern steak house, owned by professional hockey player Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks, is now open in Laguna Beach. Located in a historic 1934 home on the Pacific Coast Highway site of the former French 75 eatery, the newly reinvented restaurant has a tavern-style bar and a patio. The venue has a residential style, with quartz mineral accents, framed butterflies, and an antique zinc horse head from mid-18th-century France. The building’s original brick fireplace and etched windows join more modern touches, like large abstract pieces by local artist Nick Gaetano, smoked glass mirrors, and bathrooms with fire-glazed patterned tile flooring and crystal chandeliers. The concept is a joint venture between Selanne and Orange County businessman Kevin Pratt.
