Whether celebrating a new job, an important anniversary, a milestone birthday, or just surviving the week, head to the places on this list for exquisite culinary experiences paired with thoughtful service. Advanced reservations, and sometimes even monetary deposits, are required at most of these restaurants, so plan ahead for a night of revelry. Here now are 14 splurge-worthy restaurants in Los Angeles.
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14 Splurge-Worthy LA Restaurants Perfect for Special Occasions
Save up and savor these exquisite LA dining experiences

Morihiro
Acclaimed chef Morihiro Onodera brings his classic sushi style to Atwater Village. The omakase experience at this Michelin-starred spot goes for $400 per person and features seasonal delicacies imported from Japan. Reservations are available on Tock.
Gwen
Brothers Curtis and Luke Stone’s Michelin-starred steakhouse Gwen is just the place for those who associate red meat with celebrations. Dine amid the glass-enclosed dry-aging rooms with views of the kitchen’s roaring fire pit. The house-made charcuterie is particularly of note, as well as any of the fine cuts of beef, like the 30-day-aged ribeye and New York strip. The duck-fat potatoes make for a shareable side dish. Reservations are available on Resy.
Providence
Providence orchestrates one of the most pleasurable gastronomical experiences in the city. Chef Michael Cimarusti’s exceptional cooking is perfectly matched with Donato Poto’s warm and efficient service. Seafood is chef Cimarusti’s forte, so be prepared for dazzlingly fresh fish, scallops, and sea urchin preparations. The chef’s tasting menu is priced at $295 per person. Reservations are available by calling the restaurant directory or on OpenTable.
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Antico Nuovo
Chef Chad Colby’s Antico Nuovo is the perfect spot for a lower-key celebratory dinner. It’s impossible to go wrong with anything on the Italian menu, offering freshly baked focaccia bread with all the trimmings, handmade pasta that change with the seasons, and larger mains including branzino and pork ribs. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
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Manzke
Walter and Marge Manzke’s Michelin-starred restaurant is a must-visit for diners chasing the good life. The $295 tasting menu draws influences from Los Angeles and abroad, with nods to Latin America, Asia, and Europe woven throughout. The cocktails from bar director Shawn Lickliter make for an impressive opening to what is one of the most thoughtful fine dining meals in LA. Reservations are available on Tock.
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Sushi Kaneyoshi
There are many exquisite omakase experiences to be had in Los Angeles and the one served at Sushi Kaneyoshi is arguably the best. Chef Yoshiyuki Inoue serves an edomae-style progression in a hidden-away basement in Little Tokyo. The menu is priced at $300 per person. Reservations are available on Tock.
Orsa & Winston
Find Japanese and Italian influences throughout Josef Centeno’s five-course tasting menu priced at $125 per person. The menu at this Michelin-starred restaurant includes seasonally-driven crudo, vegetables, pasta, fish, and dessert. The $49 supplemental seafood porridge is a must. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
Kato Restaurant
Chef Jon Yao draws from his Taiwanese roots and Los Angeles upbringing at Kato in Downtown. Dinner starts at $275 per person and can include dishes like pigs ears, fish maw soup, and pork jowl rice with Taiwanese pickles. Reservations are available on Resy.
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Hayato
Head to the Row DTLA for a hyper-traditional kaiseki dinner orchestrated by chef Brandon Go. A meal at two-Michelin-starred Hayato focuses on washoku (traditional Japanese cooking), lasts nearly three hours, and costs $350 per person. Reservations are available on Tock.
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Damian
Dinner at Enrique Olvera’s Damian feels like a portal to Mexico City. The dining room’s lush yet industrial vibe hits a inviting note, while the kitchen prepares modern Mexican fare that feels at home in LA, offering lobster al pastor with pineapple butter, sea urchin tostadas, and hibiscus meringue for dessert. Reservations are available here.
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N/Naka
Chefs Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama serve a modern kaiseki experience for $310 per person. The menu changes with the seasons, along with the chef’s whims, while the flow of the meal adheres to Japanese traditions. The three-hour experience is beautifully orchestrated and paced just so, leaving diners pampered, satisfied, and feeling thoroughly justified for indulging in something so extravagant. Reservations are available on Tock.
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Mélisse Restaurant
Fine-dining chef Josiah Citrin and chef de cuisine Ken Takayama know how to dazzle diners at this two-Michelin-starred restaurant. Snag a seat in the 14-seat dining room for an eight-course, two-and-a-half-hour culinary experience that can include a seaweed tart with smoked salmon and roe, A5 wagyu beef with morels and pickled ramps, and more. The meal costs $399 per person and reservations are available on Tock.
Shunji Japanese Cuisine
Chef Shunji Nakao is settling in nicely to Santa Monica after moving from his original West LA location in 2022. For the most exquisite experience, book a seat inside the chef’s tasting room that fits just six diners. The $280 omakase is served personally by Nakao and comes with hot and cold small dishes, sashimi, and a variety of nigiri sushi. Reservations are available on Tock.
Pasjoli
Come to Dave Beran’s Santa Monica bistro for polished takes on French classics. The pressed duck for two ($198) comes with roasted duck breast, a salad topped with crispy duck skin, and duck leg bread pudding. Don’t miss the chocolate souffle for dessert. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
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