| L.A. has a lot to offer. The City of Angels is always | | | | Sunset Blvd.7. Mr. Chows: Another place for |
| on-the-go and seemingly driven by glitz and glamour. | | | | elbow-rubbing in Tinseltown. In Beverly Hills, the |
| And if you're willing to fight the traffic, you'll find | | | | hotspots cool off fast, but this place has held its see |
| some of the world's best restaurants, shopping and | | | | and be-seen for what-seems-like eternity (Mr. Chows |
| attractions - from studio tours to museums, from | | | | opened in 1973). Your Chinese food is "all grown up" |
| beaches to piers.L.A. is the epitome of big, bold and | | | | and fancy here - Chows offers excellent dishes that |
| beautiful - and most of the hobbies in this town | | | | will leave you wanting more (you must order the |
| hover around "the scene". So, if you've had your | | | | green prawns marinated in a spinach dressing and the |
| share of the beach, head inland to tour the | | | | grilled filet mignon). Psst... the best nights for celebrity |
| star-studded Sunset Boulevard or Melrose Avenue - | | | | star-sightings are Wednesdays and Thursdays. And |
| and keep your eyes out! Since the restaurants and | | | | you'll alwaysknow the caliber of celebs inside by the |
| bars drive the social hustle n' bustle, you'd better | | | | number of paparazzi reading their fortune cookies |
| allow yourself that afternoon power-nap if you want | | | | along the sidewalk. Mr. Chows is located at 344 N. |
| to keep up with the cool kids.Remember: the stars | | | | Camden Dr. (and Wilshire Boulevard).8. The Little |
| come out at night - this is LA after all. This town | | | | Door: (La Brea/Miracle Mile) Looking for a romantic |
| seems to shimmer after sundown... you can rock it | | | | hideaway amid the hustle and bustle of L.A.? The |
| out on the Sunset Strip or club it up in Hollywood. So, | | | | Little Door (house-turned-restaurant) is your answer - |
| if you like your bars cool, your martinis dry, and your | | | | just make sure you can find the place. With indoor |
| restaurants scrumptious, make sure you've got your | | | | and outdoor seating, this little place doesn't advertise, |
| wallet, your appetite and your energy for your night | | | | nor does it allow publicity - yes, it's that good! After |
| on the town Hollywood style.Here's our insiders guide | | | | you make your way past the two simple wooden |
| to some of the best restaurants and nightlife options. | | | | doors, you'll find a romantic courtyard with canopy |
| Know this: fights broke out between our editorial | | | | seating, a garden, twinkling candles, and an |
| staff when somebody foolishly suggested we limit | | | | impeccable menu. The Little Door can be found at |
| our journeyPod Picks in L.A. to only 10 Restaurants | | | | 8164 W. Third St. (Crescent Heights Blvd.).9. Sushi |
| and 10 Bars. We had so much fun tearing it up in | | | | Nozawa: (Studio City) Yes, it's in a strip mall (located |
| Tinseltown that we had to go with 15 selections in | | | | at 11288 Ventura Blvd.). And, yes - the lights are |
| each category. Of course, another fight ensued when | | | | brighter than the mid afternoon sun. But, take it from |
| we tried to assign numbers to all of these hotspots | | | | us, the decor isn't what matters - the sushi is what's |
| -- so cooler heads prevailed and we have since | | | | important. And what's a little abuse as you order |
| removed the rankings.Be assured of one thing... all 30 | | | | (word on the street is someone was once kicked |
| of these places are ridiculously fantabulous and | | | | out for requesting California rolls!), as long as you get |
| require your own A-game. Maybe even after a night | | | | to eat some of the best sushi this side of Tokyo!10. |
| on the town, you too will understand why even | | | | Angelini Osteria: (La Brea/Miracle Mile) Mama mia - |
| people in the biz think "Entourage" seems so | | | | now that's amore! From the paper-thin pizza to the |
| real...Restaurants1. Koi: (West Hollywood) If your goal | | | | garlic-infused lasagna, everything here is scrumptious - |
| is to spot Hollywood's A-list of celebrities, make | | | | though you may not guess it at first, as you waltz |
| reservations at L.A.'s hottest Asian-fusion restaurant | | | | your way into the unassuming, often congested |
| where you go to see and be seen. Though service | | | | dining room in one of L.A.'s most celebrated Italian |
| might be rushed sometimes, who really cares? The | | | | restaurants. Not only will you be greeted like family, |
| food is just too damn good. A welcome relief from | | | | you'll be offered a menu filled with some serious |
| the hectic Melrose scene, Koi is a haven of feng-shui | | | | selections - don't forget to pay special attention to |
| elements (candles, water and open patios). Here's a | | | | the desserts. You may even be privy to Justin |
| tip: request one of the horseshoe booths on the | | | | Timberlake and his girl, Cameron, dining here (since |
| back patio. Located at 730 N. La Cienega Blvd | | | | this place tops their list). Located at 7313 Beverly |
| (between Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd.)..2. | | | | Blvd. and Poinsettia Ave.11. Sushi Roku: (West |
| Morton's The Steakhouse: (West Hollywood) | | | | Hollywood) The beautiful interior is as noticeable as |
| Legendary for its Oscar-night parties, star-struck | | | | the people who flock here - many Hollywood deals |
| celebrity watchers can often see their favorite | | | | ensue over the innovative and succulent sushi dishes. |
| actors in culinary repose at this Tinseltown | | | | The "Cali touch" is evident in every dish, and the |
| power-elite restaurant. Do not, we repeat - do not | | | | sake/beer options are limitless. Don't even think |
| confuse this with the Arnie Morton's of Chicago | | | | about leaving without tasting the scallop dynamite, |
| steakhouse chain. And, if you have enough room | | | | the espresso profiteroles and the "Roppongi" (a |
| after you've chow'd down the hearty dry-aged steak | | | | mouth-watering mixture of vodka and sake served |
| you came here for, order the banana-walnut beignets | | | | with a ginger stick). And, don't bother arriving without |
| with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce or the warm | | | | a reservation. Located at 8445 W. 3rd St. (between |
| melt-in-your-mouth chocolate espresso cake. Morton's | | | | N. La Cienaga Blvd. and S. Croft Ave.).12. Matsuhisa: |
| can be found at 8764 Melrose Ave. (and Robertson | | | | (Beverly Hills) If you love your sushi and don't mind |
| Blvd.).3. The Ivy: (West Hollywood) Dealmakers and | | | | adventure - don't walk, run to this place. With |
| dream-makers dine at this cottage with white picket | | | | groundbreaking cuisine, Matsuhisa offers more than |
| fence (this is where most celebrities go when they | | | | 100 dishes. If you let us do your ordering, we are |
| actually want to get photographed by the | | | | going with the unforgettable omakase tasting menu |
| always-lurking paparazzi). While the shabby-chic | | | | which begins with master chef Nobu Matsuhisa's |
| furnishings (think antique French furniture that needs | | | | signature cold dishes and ends with a procession of |
| painting) may not be all that inspiring, the traditional | | | | cooked dishes like Kobe beef and black cod in miso. |
| American comfort-food is. Just make sure you taste | | | | Though the setting is modest, do not be fooled! The |
| the Caesar salad (the-most-perfect one we've ever | | | | sushi here is as-good-as-it-gets. Matsuhisa is located |
| eaten) before you let yourself be seduced by the | | | | at 129 N. La Cienaga Blvd. (and Wilshire Blvd.).13. La |
| decadent desserts. Look closely for the sign (it's | | | | Terza: (Beverly Hills) Sophisticated - Italian - Simplicity. |
| hidden in the ivy) as you stroll up to 113 N. Robertson | | | | Attached to the Orlando Hotel (formerly the Beverly |
| Blvd. and Alden Dr.4. Dolce Enoteca: (West | | | | Plaza), this multi-tiered, multi-faceted restaurant is |
| Hollywood) Talk about the quintessential celeb-hot | | | | flawless, in its menu selections and design. Tuesdays |
| spot (Ashton Kutcher - and about half the cast of | | | | are "Tavola Italiana" night, when chef Nancy Silverton |
| "That 70's Show" - owns it)! Hollywood heavy-hitters | | | | cooks up a table of antipasto choices in the middle of |
| lounge in big booths and enjoy the sexy decor of | | | | the restaurant. No reservations are taken here - so |
| black leather and marble. Nibble on Italian-style tapas | | | | it's on a first-come, first-serve basis (and definitely |
| -perfect for sharing. Make sure you try the Risotto | | | | worth showing up for!) La Terza is located at 8384 |
| entrée with Gorgonzola, and save enough | | | | W. Third St. (at Orlando).14. Massimo Ristorante and |
| room for the sumptuously rich ricotta cheese custard | | | | Bar: (Beverly Hills) Feel like a taste of Tuscany? |
| for dessert. Located at 8184 Melrose Ave. and | | | | Massimo, located just off Rodeo Drive in the heart |
| Sweetzer Ave..5. Dan Tana's: (West Hollywood) Who | | | | of Beverly Hills (9513 S. Santa Monica Blvd.) is graced |
| says LA doesn't have good Italian food? Walking into | | | | with celebrities and entertainment folk who are |
| this restaurant is like entering a time warp back to | | | | deep-rooted fans of Chef Massimo Ormani's |
| 1950's NYC. The old Hollywood atmosphere is | | | | authentic fare. Try the famous all-beef Bolognese |
| matched only by the food (simply delicious and | | | | dish. FYI: Massimo has most recently been on NBC's |
| loaded with garlic). Hollywood moguls, actors, | | | | show "Recipe T.V." featuring the world's greatest |
| screenwriters (and wannabes in all three | | | | Chefs.15. A.O.C.: (La Brea/Miracle Mile) Perhaps not the |
| aforementioned categories) flock for Spaghetti | | | | first tapas restaurant in the city, but definitely the |
| Carbonara and Shrimp Diavolo. Since a reservation | | | | hottest! If grazing is an art form to you, A.O.C. is the |
| here is still one ofthe hardest to get in town, be | | | | place to be... sleek, modern and chic, the gang here is |
| flexible on timing (psst...eating late here is better | | | | pure Hollywood glam. Almost everyone here looks |
| anyway). Located at 9071 Santa Monica Blvd. at | | | | and parties like a rock star regardless -- and they all |
| Doheny Dr..6. Asia de Cuba: (West Hollywood) Feel | | | | come for the extensive wine list and the |
| like rubbing elbows with Hollywood's elite? Then head | | | | Mediterranean-influenced small plates. The menu |
| over to the place that has been doing Fusion since | | | | changes daily, but be assured that each dish is |
| before "fusion" was even its own type of food | | | | savored by all. A.O.C. is located at 8022 W. 3rd St. |
| category. Asia de Cuba is Sunset Strip's entry for | | | | (and Crescent is the only place you need to visit for |
| Asian-Latino fusion, the menu choices range from big | | | | information on the trendiest bars and restaurants, the |
| (to bigger) budget portions served family-style (try | | | | most luxurious hotels, and the most exclusive parties |
| the savory calamari salad and finger-lickin' good | | | | and shops for discriminating travelers. Visit for the |
| coconut layer cake). You can choose to sit indoors or | | | | lowdown on where to go in Atlanta, New York, |
| out - but keep in mind that the outdoor patio offers | | | | Miami, LA and other major cities around the world, |
| spectacular views and is one of the best in L.A. At | | | | and listing to our monthly travel podcast for the best |
| night, Asia de Cuba is transformed into a luxuriously | | | | in upscale travel and entertainment. |
| sexy soiree. Located inside the Mondrian at 8440 | | | | |