It’s not uncommon to stop and admire the natural beauty of Los Angeles, with over 70 miles of coastline, sweeping valleys, and stunning lights with plenty of sunshine. Southern California is still incredible to behold even when the weather takes on a cloudy or marine layer mood. Some take advantage of ocean or mountain views while others make the best of rooftops in the middle of the city for a sweeping skyline vista. Just know that most of the time menus will adapt to the crowd most likely to visit these kinds of restaurants, so the food is meant to please a wider audience instead of challenging palates. Here are the best places to enjoy great views from restaurants in Los Angeles.
Read More18 LA Restaurants and Bars With Incredible Views
Soak in a great view with some decent food and drink
Elephante
Santa Monica’s Elephante reveals itself like a slow gift, taking diners from an unassuming entrance at street level to a serene destination to catch the Santa Monica ocean views. The elevated views match the atmosphere inside. The casual Italian food includes wood-fired pizza, well-made pasta, and fresh vegetables that reflect a California mentality.
Terra at Eataly
Situated on the fifth floor of Eataly at Westfield Century City is Terra. The rooftop restaurant has an open wood-burning Italian grill for all to view, along with sight lines of the shopping complex and Los Angeles. The food reflects some of the best ingredients from Italy, like burrata, pasta, and grilled skewers. To drink, build your own gin and tonic or tap into one of the cocktails that mix Italian aperitivos.
The Strand House
The Strand House is an upscale dining staple not just for Manhattan Beach, but for the entire South Bay. The location is ideal right on the namesake Strand and is the spot for date night views of surf and sunset, alongside crowd-pleasing dishes like grilled octopus or bone-in ribeye with miso potato mille feuille conceived by chef Chris Park. Just walk right down to the beach after dinner.
Funke
When the elevator doors open on Bar Funke’s rooftop, it’s a breathtaking view. Palm Trees, office buildings, and the pricey homes surrounding the Beverly Hills restaurant are only part of the fun. Dive into the extensive mostly Italian wine list, try some of the top-notch cocktails, or take in one of chef Evan Funke’s drink-friendly carpaccios.
E.P. & L.P.
Arguably one of West Hollywood’s best views, E.P. & L.P.’s rooftop remains a draw for locals and visitors alike. In the cooler months, there’s a see-through tent to help keep things warm, but the views still stun along with the salt and pepper calamari, Baja fish tacos, Wagyu cheeseburger, and frozen cocktail slushies.
Harriet's
Harriet’s is ideally located at 1 Hotel West Hollywood in the heart of the famous Sunset Strip with sweeping views of the city below. Snacks and large plates pair well with cocktailing including mac and cheese, a lobster roll, or vegetable crudites.
Videre
This gorgeous, relaxed rooftop experience at the top of the Kimpton Hotel offers a solid mix of thoughtful cocktails and easygoing food, all managed by a veteran of West Hollywood’s Employees Only. Expect breezy poolside vibes, a tremendous burger, and shareable plates like miso Caesar salad or nduja clams with garlic and fennel. Of course, there are sweeping views of the city and hills, which help everything taste a little bit better.
Mother Tongue Restaurant
If dining at Mother Tongue in the evening, take in the candles and low light emanating from the fifth floor above the 75,000-square-foot fitness club Heimat. Centrally located on La Brea south of Santa Monica Boulevard, Michael Mina’s restaurant has gorgeous views while servicing crowds centered on specific dietary needs, including keto, anti-inflammatory, gluten-free, vegetarian, and plant-based dishes.
Grandmaster Recorders
After sampling the food at Grandmaster Recorders, take the elevator to the top floor. Once the rooftop bell dings, the doors open to reveal a striking view of the Hollywood skyline, complete with the Hollywood sign and Capitol Records building.
Lemon Grove
Chef Marcel Vigneron opened his Hollywood restaurant in Aster Club and Hotel in 2022. Lemon Grove’s rooftop overlooks the Hollywood Hills including the Capitol Records building where he preps dishes like grilled prawn with spicy sesame aioli, bone-in rib-eye; and a chitarra lemon pasta with turmeric, tom kha cream, and tomatoes to go with the skyline view.
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Castaway
Head to Burbank’s Castaway for the San Fernando Valley’s best views. Tucked atop a hillside that sweeps over the San Fernando Valley, this is the place to bring family, a date, or anyone else — and all without leaving the Valley. Try to secure an outside table, and marvel at the vista.
Sendero
With three restaurants in one on the 24th floor of the Ritz Carlton, Sendero has vast views of the DTLA skyline and beyond. Choose the steakhouse-style menu at Leña or the more a la carte dishes from Corteza to try chef chef Kevin Luzande’s menus which track his travels throughout Central and South America.
La Boucherie
If a sky-high steakhouse is what you’re after, La Boucherie at the InterContinental is it. This Downtown power-player restaurant sports some of the city’s best (and biggest) views alongside prime cuts of meat and an extensive wine list.
Cabra
Chicago chef Stephanie Izard’s Cabra is on the Hoxton hotel’s rooftop where her menu keeps Peruvian fare with a touch of California sensibility. Everything is delicious with the empanadas, hot chorizo and queso dip, bass ceviche, or the crispy pork shank with a sungold tomato salad. The pisco sour is one of the best in the city.
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71 Above
Downtown’s most notorious luxury restaurant may well be 71 Above, the 71st-floor eatery stationed inside the US Bank Tower building. Not only is the entire building iconic, but the restaurant itself is turning out some of the area’s best-tasting menus. A three-course dinner is a reasonable $98 with bluefin tuna crudo or nori bucatini pasta for starters, A5 Japanese wagyu or Ora king salmon for mains, and a spiced carrot granita for the final course.
San Laurel
Chef José Andrés Downtown spot sports views of the San Gabriel Mountains plus a terrific vantage point to study Walt Disney Concert Hall. Spanish food rules at San Laurel with the menu with a fennel soup made with crab and Manchego foam and a lobster salpicon. Staff prepares other specialties like the mole rack of lamb.
LA Cha Cha Chá
Getting an eastern view of the DTLA skyline is a rare sight when dining in LA. Cha Cha Chá hails from a Mexico City restaurant group with excellent Mexican fare while music plays, lights sway, and some of the city’s coolest people congregate over cocktails on the second-floor rooftop.
Ballast Point Brewing Long Beach
It doesn’t get much closer to the water than Ballast Point. A true waterfront brewery and restaurant is a Long Beach go-to with craft beers and extensive seaside views to go with the small bites like calamari or barbecued shrimp, salads, pizzas, burgers, and a hearty plate of Szechuan glazed ribs.