Citizen Is a Cocktail-Loving Good Time in Beverly Hills

Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History From Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. He covers restaurants in every form, from breaking news to the culture, people, and history that surrounds LA's dining landscape.

Citizen takes over where Spaghettini and the Dave Koz lounge left off, delivering a fun atmosphere and evening ambiance to what can otherwise seem like stodgy old Beverly Hills. The restaurant officially opens tonight, and here's what you can expect.

Newcomer Citizen already feels like something exciting for Beverly Hills, a more contemporary space with a strong focus on craft cocktails — as opposed to, say, a place with a lengthy by-the-bottle wine list instead — and food to match. Now it's ready for a formal debut, opening tonight for dinner service along Canon Drive.

The Spacecraft-designed restaurant marks a strong departure from the Dave Koz Lounge days, as the room has been warmed up and given a much more eclectic feel. Lots of textured surfaces and color pops make the place feel fun and alive, while the strong patio should keep people engaged all night.

As for the food, expect a bit of land, sea, and air from chef Scott Howard. Most things are meant to be shared and snackable, with a particular focus on dishes like raw oysters, octopus, and other ocean delights. You'll also find a burger, some jidori chicken, and lots of vegetables on the list, making Citizen a place where everyone can congregate.

And show up they will, given Josh Goldman's cocktail list. The Soigné Group maestro is pushing a strong menu filled with gins, rums, and lots of easy drinking details. There's a mini-section devoted entirely to martinis, another for tiki drinks, and lots more surprises along the way.

Citizen opens for dinner tonight at 5 p.m., and will move into lunch down the line. There's a happy hour too, which kicks off at 4 p.m. sharp. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.