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