The Aesthetics of L.A.: Daring Dining Decor
By Nicolas Rabinovitch, Citysearch Contributor
Let's face it. In this town, looks are everything. That might sound a little cynical and even a bit bitter, but you know it's true. Keeping that rep alive is the L.A. restaurant scene, where lately it seems that high-wattage design, even more than the menu, is taking center stage. If you're a sucker for dining on the chic, check out our list featuring some of L.A.'s most stunning dining spaces.
Katsuya Hollywood
Bringing the sexy back to sushi, design rock star Philippe Starck (Mondrian, Delano Hotel Miami) has channeled the sleek sensibility of an ultra-modern Tokyo loft to the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Provocative, larger-than-life images of crimson lips straight out of Geisha erotica adorn the stark white room, offering a dual reference to passion and the rich red hue of tuna sushi.
Katsuya Hollywood
6300 Hollywood Blvd,
Hollywood,
CA
STK
Breaking the stereotype of the traditional steakhouse, designer Lionel Ohayon (Hyde Lounge, Villa) has created a new kind of WeHo meat-and-greet. High ceilings in the main dining room with white brick juxtapose with thick glass globe lights that look like suspended stars. Speaking of ... the celeb-heavy spot also features low seating designed to create a warm and social atmosphere, even if you're not BFFs with Becks and Posh.
Bastide
At this contemporary French boite, which features only two prix-fixe menu options, eating is truly an art form. Designed by venerated Parisian designer Andree Putman, the stark yet nuanced space is irrepressibly quirky: In one room, Mao portraits line the wall, while a tree trunk art installation--topped with mini bronze sculptures of iconic figures like the Statue of Liberty and a bust of Stalin--takes center stage. Another room boasts a marble fireplace, glass bead curtains and plush checkerboard carpet. Big wooden doors lead to the romantically lit stone courtyard lined with tall, knotted olive trees (real leaves included).
Bastide
8475 Melrose Pl,
Los Angeles,
CA
Foxtail
Few places capture old-school Hollywood glamor quite like this--just make sure you have a reservation or you'll never get to see what the place looks like from the inside. Designer Frank X. Medrano, famed for his work on Brent Bolthouse's home, utilizes stained glass, marble tables and plush armchairs to create a 1930's bohemian vibe at this super restrictive, two-story hot spot. When a place looks this good, who cares if the food is a mere afterthought?
Foxtail
9077 Santa Monica Blvd,
West Hollywood,
CA
Kumo
Michael Ovitz's modern Japanese restaurant finds inspiration from a cloud in its airy, dream-like Melrose space. If the sushi and small plates don't transport your tastebuds to the heavens, the ethereal white-on-white decor, iridescent tiles, and sheer bubble glass chandeliers will surely lift your spirits. The only thing missing is the pearly gates.
Kumo
8360 Melrose Ave,
West Hollywood,
CA
Nobu Los Angeles
Yet another sushi spot makes our list. (This is L.A. after all.) With his foundation in theatrical productions like "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde," lead designer David Rockwell (Kodak Theater, Buddha Bar New York) found inspiration for this A-list destination in organic Japanese fabrics and textures. Ruby-hued banquettes and earthy textures glow beneath the silkworm cocoon lanterns. Like the food, the decor mixes modern and traditional Japanese elements to create a unique dining experience.
Nobu Los Angeles
903 N La Cienega Blvd,
Los Angeles,
CA
Luckyfish
Who knew sushi could be so much fun? Designed by Tag Front (BOA), this playful spot employs a conveyor belt loaded with sushi to deliver immediate satisfaction to those seated at the long communal counter. Other design elements like the textured concave roof allow patrons to escape the 90210 scene and focus on the sushi that is literally passing them by.
Citrus
After its brief incarnation as Social's eponymous restaurant, this historic Hollywood space has undergone a facelift that's got it looking well-rested and refreshed. Instead of going the dark and romantic art deco route like the Roosevelt, the room is open and airy, decorated in sunny citrus colors. Mirrored columns, a stunning frescoed ceiling and lime-green carpeting combine to create classic glamour reminiscent of a dining room that could've easily been on the Titanic ... minus the whole iceberg tragedy.
Citrus at Social Hollywood
6525 W Sunset Blvd,
Hollywood,
CA
Ortolan
Why travel to the South of France when you can visit this superlatively decorated chateau with three distinct design aesthetics? Designed by L.A.'s latest go-to-guy, Kristopher Keith (Goa, Kitchen 24), the beautiful wood floors, antique oak bar and crystal chandeliers transport patrons to Marseilles without the airfare price tag and flight delays. Ceiling-high rows of herbs add both color and fragrance to the experience, complementing the four-star food.
Ortolan
8338 W Third St,
Los Angeles,
CA
