Best Places to Sample the Food While You Shop in LA

Groceries are going gourmet around Los Angeles, with recent opening of amazing European-style food halls. From expo kitchens to in-house dining, check out our picks for the best places to shop and dine at the same time.

Stir Market

Why just buy a bottle of wine when you can try it first? Stir Market has made quite the splash since taking over the long-vacant Buddha’s Belly on Beverly—and with the huge variety of food experiences, it’s easy to see why. The market hall features a collection of specialty food stalls, serving everything from duck liver pate to poached salmon and gourmet porchetta plates. The weekend brunch menu is particularly delicious (look no further than the Moroccan baked eggs), but with an artisan bakery, cheese station, espresso and craft beer bar all under one 4,000-square-foot roof, there may quite literally be something for everyone at Stir Market.

Gjusta

Fans of Gjelina may have already discovered the eatery’s new Venice creation last fall, but with Gjusta’s recent expansion in both time and space, it’s time for all to check out this premium dine-in/take-away bakery. The once-limited hours at Gjusta are gone, with daily service from morning, noon and night now available. The baked goods are reason enough to stop by, but it’s Gjusta’s expansive display cases, packed with the colorful fish, cured meats and other assorted delicacies that have diners lining up to grab some counter space or premium patio seating. And if you’re in need of some true midnight dining past Gjusta’s hours, have no fear. Head over to parent restaurant Gjelina on neighboring Abbot Kinney, which serves up a fantastic European-style late night menu.

GC Marketplace

Showcasing the signature open and clean cafeteria-styling of markets across Europe, GC Marketplace has infused Hollywood with a plethora of gourmet dining and drinking options. From the wall of bubbly to lines of carving stations, GC Marketplace clearly doesn’t believe in a limited menu. The brainchild of Gary Arabia (of famed catering company Global Cuisine), close attention is paid to detail in both the sprawling space and the cuisine itself. And like other high-end eateries around L.A, GC Marketplace has take full advantage of the recent lift on California’s foie gras ban, with the introduction of a foie gras burger and vin santo gastrique, on house-baked challah bread.