Good Food, Great Parking in L.A.
Updated: October 20, 2009
Because even though you will never find a Batmobile-sized spot in the courtyard at the Arclight, there are still surprisingly easy ways to roll out for a good meal in Los Angeles. WeHo's new "It" joint is free till 6pm, a festive lunch downtown will run you $1 and one of Mid-City's major thoroughfares has free valet on the weekends. What are you waiting for? Robin?
On this page:Free Valet, Easy Lots.
Free Valet
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Cecconi's
Read Reviews8764 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (map)
Sure, it's valet. But this "It" spot at the corner of Melrose and Robertson doesn't charge for parking until 6pm! Kind of a nice surprise after soaking up that much scene for a late lunch, no?
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Fig Restaurant
Read Reviews101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (map)
The Fairmont Miramar Hotel is not only home to this cheery, relatively affordable bistro, but parking inside its lovely, ocean-adjacent gates is totally gratis.
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Avalon Hotel Of Beverly Hills
Read Reviews9400 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (map)
Heading to the pool? Have a hankering for a cockail or a dish at Blue on Blue? If the answer to any of those questions is "yes," then be glad that all you're paying for is what you're putting in your tum. The valet is free.
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Messob Ethiopian Restaurant
Read Reviews1041 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019 (map)
Little Ethiopia's heavily trafficked stretch of street is a notorious parking purgatory. Who knew weekend nights would actually be the best times to go? Valet is free on Friday and Saturday.
Easy Lots
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Taste at the Palisades
Read Reviews538 Palisades Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (map)
The WeHo mothership is a superb dinner destination, and the brunch is the business, but parking can be a little tricky at the corner of Melrose and La Cienega. Enter the Palisades offshoot. It's an actual lot. You know, like the kind where you just drive in, pull into a spot and get out. Aaaah, the Palisades ...
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Blue Plate
Read Reviews1415 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (map)
There's a lot in the back of this Montana mainstay. Is it huge? No. But there's an actual free lot attached to a business on Montana. We think this calls for an order of pink grapefruit pancakes.
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Din Tai Fung Dumpling House
Read Reviews1108 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007 (map)
Arcadia's dumpling mecca means you're in for those scrumptious and elegant delicacies from the Far East and the sprawling suburban parking lots of L.A.'s farthest eastern reaches. There's actually plenty of room for everyone!
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Yxta Cocina Mexicana
Read Reviews601 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021 (map)
Downtown's sister restaurant to Highland Park's El Arco Iris serves up fresh handmade tortillas, Mexican sweet shrimp taquitos and a rad happy hour with jamaica margaritas. It was also designed by a NYC architecture firm, but we don't know if they were the ones who decided to charge $1 for the lunch valet and zero after 6pm. If so, bravo!
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Henry's Hat
Read Reviews3413 Cahuenga Blvd West, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (map)
This hoppin' gastropub is just blocks from the swarms of fanny packers at Universal Studios, but it's a welcome respite for those who want to grub on organically-driven American favorites, down a few brews, watch the game (or play one--they've got an entire menu of board games on offer) and actually park the car in a free lot!
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