Purple Haze: Where to Eat & Drink Lavender

by Martha Burr - Citysearch Contributor - 546 Reviews - 4 Lists

Updated: December 15, 2008

With so much craziness going on, now is the perfect time to calm those frazzled nerves with one of nature's natural cures: Lavender. Some of L.A.'s best bars and restaurants mix up the most delightful cocktails, savory dishes and soothing desserts made with the fragrant purple flower. It's famous as an antidote to anxiety, so just take a deep breath, dig in and relax.

L.A.'s Top Spots for Lavender

  1. 1 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Mashti Malone Ice Cream
    Read Reviews

    1525 N La Brea Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028 (map)

    LAVENDER ICE CREAM: Curl up with your favorite movie and a pint of creamy lavender ice cream ($4.95 per pint) from this L.A. strip mall institution. Ice cream purists swear by this Hollywood spot that also offers other homemade floral treats like rosewater, orange blossom and saffron ice creams and sorbets.

  2. 2 4 Star Rating: Recommended The Edison
    Read Reviews

    108 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

    THE EDISON COCKTAIL: For an electrifying evening, head to L.A.'s most gorgeous downtown bar (it originally opened as the city's first power plant in 1910) where mixologists create the $13 "Edison" cocktail with a lavender-honey infused Woodford Reserve bourbon, pear liquor and fresh pear juice.

  3. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended Hamasaku
    Read Reviews

    8360 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (map)

    THE BLACK MARGARITA: This cocktail at West Hollywood's upscale sushi spot has everybody buzzing--in more ways than one. The Black Margarita ($14) is made with Patron tequila, Citronage and homemade sour, then shaken with black vinegar and served in a martini glass with a fragrant lavender salt rim.

  4. 4 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Fig Restaurant
    Read Reviews

    101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (map)

    CUCUMBER & LAVENDER: Santa Monica's cheery bistro inside the Fairmont Hotel serves up some of the tastiest libations in town and the Cucumber & Lavender cocktail ($12)--Hendrick's gin, lavender puree (direct from Europe by a special mixologist), muddled English cucumbers and St. Germain--is no exception.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Anisette Brasserie
    Read Reviews

    225 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (map)

    LAVENDER ICE CREAM WITH MERINGUE: Santa Monica's beachside French brasserie is famous for more than just its zinc bar and pricey Euro-style fare. The famous lavender ice cream and meringue kisses ($8) are among the most popular desserts, each garnished with a sprig of fresh lavender.

  6. 6 4 Star Rating: Recommended Pastis Restaurant
    Read Reviews

    8114 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

    LAVENDER CREME BRULEE: At this popular patio-adorned Provencal bistro, lavender creme brulee ($7) is perhaps the smoothest way to end to a meal. Oui, oui.

  7. 7 4 Star Rating: Recommended CASA Downtown
    Read Reviews

    350 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (map)

    MARGARITA LAVANDA: Created by resident mixologist Billy Fanning, this fragrant twist on the traditional margarita is made with Casa Noble Crystal (organic 100% blue agave tequila), fresh lime juice and housemade lavender syrup, then garnished with a sprig of fresh lavender. Not bad for $12.

  8. 8 4 Star Rating: Recommended Cut
    Read Reviews

    9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (map)

    DUCKLING WITH LAVENDER & THYME HONEY: At Wolfgang Puck's Beverly Hills steakhouse the best kept secret is the duck duo for two ($70). It's a rotisserie duckling with lavender and thyme honey gastrique, magically crisped much like the Peking version--only this time, it fills the air with the scent of the floating lavender flowers that punctuate its amber sauce.