Photo Credit: Solid State Marketing

The most beautiful new beach restaurants to take over LA. 

MANHATTAN BEACH

Esperanza

  Photo Credit: Solid State Marketing

Esperanza brings the spirit of coastal Mexico straight to the sands of Manhattan Beach, with a setting and vibe that feel both celebratory and chic. The restaurant leans into its beachfront address with open, airy interiors, ocean views, and a lively energy that stretches from brunch through late-night cocktails. Here, the emphasis is on bold flavors and an unapologetic love of agave—tequila and mezcal take center stage on a cocktail list that’s as playful as it is polished. The menu blends contemporary California sensibility with traditional Mexican roots. Think elevated tacos with fresh, local seafood, sharable plates perfect for groups, and house-made tortillas that add a layer of authenticity and warmth. It’s the kind of place where you can come straight off the beach for a margarita or settle in for a full evening of mezcal flights, oysters, and music. Design-wise, Esperanza feels polished but not precious. Pops of color, natural textures, and modern lines create an atmosphere that’s equal parts stylish and relaxed. It’s destination dining that doesn’t take itself too seriously—a social hub where Manhattan Beach’s beach-town soul collides with the flair of a modern Mexican escape.

HERMOSA BEACH

Attagirl

Photo Credit: Ron De Angelis

Hermosa Beach has a new culinary star in AttaGirl, the much-anticipated bistro from Chef Alice Mai in collaboration with acclaimed South Bay restaurateur David LeFevre. Just steps from the sand, Attagirl marries the laid-back ease of its oceanfront setting with a polished, ingredient-driven sensibility that reflects the duo’s South Bay pedigree. The space is effortlessly chic, designed with sunlit tones, natural woods, and playful details that channel the spirit of coastal California. Equal parts casual and sophisticated, it feels just as suited to brunch by the beach as it does to dinner that lingers long after sunset. Mai, who honed her craft at Fishing With Dynamite under LeFevre, brings a fresh perspective to the kitchen. Her market-driven menu celebrates California’s bounty with dishes that are vibrant, nuanced, and layered with unexpected flavor. Highlights include citrus-forward crudos, charred vegetables elevated with spice and texture, pristine seafood, and satisfying mains anchored in seasonality. The beverage program follows the same ethos, offering cocktails that balance brightness and refreshment with coastal flair. With Mai leading the kitchen and LeFevre lending his signature South Bay vision, Attagirl isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a new Hermosa Beach essential, where community, creativity, and coastline converge.

VENICE

Kassi

Photo Credit: Wish You Were Here Group

Venice has no shortage of stylish dining destinations, but Kassi manages to feel both effortlessly cool and transportive. Conceived by restaurateur Nick Mathers (of Elephante fame), the space channels the sun-soaked ease of the Greek isles while keeping its toes firmly planted in California sand. Think whitewashed walls, earthy textures, and flickering candlelight — a backdrop that feels more like a summer escape than a night out in L.A. The menu follows suit, blending Mediterranean traditions with coastal California produce. Mezze plates are designed for sharing — wood-grilled octopus with lemon and oregano, delicate zucchini chips, and creamy taramasalata — while heartier dishes like lamb chops or branzino straight from the grill anchor the table. Seasonal cocktails lean light and citrusy, with a focus on fresh herbs and botanicals that echo the breezy Aegean vibe. What sets Kassi apart, however, is its energy. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a scene. Guests spill from the indoor dining room to the airy courtyard, where conversations stretch long into the night. With its mix of languid elegance and coastal cool, Kassi has become the kind of place where Venice locals and out-of-towners alike gather — a little slice of Mykonos just steps from the beach.

SANTA MONICA

Pasjoli

Photo Credit: Wonho Frank Lee

Few restaurants capture modern French dining in Los Angeles quite like Pasjoli, Chef Dave Beran’s Michelin-starred jewel in Santa Monica. Refined yet approachable, it reimagines classic French cuisine with a California sensibility, where market-fresh produce and precision technique meet in one of the city’s most coveted dining rooms. The space itself is understated elegance — intimate, softly lit, and designed to let the food take center stage. Here, French tradition is both honored and elevated: dishes like the signature pressed duck, prepared tableside in true old-world fashion, sit alongside market-driven plates that celebrate the vibrancy of Southern California’s seasons. The result is a menu that feels timeless yet alive, deeply rooted in heritage but unmistakably of the moment. What makes Pasjoli truly special is Beran’s insistence on detail — from the warm, thoughtful service to the extraordinary wine list curated to complement every nuance of the cuisine. It’s a restaurant that doesn’t just serve dinner; it delivers an experience, one that unfolds with elegance, restraint, and delight.

Orla Santa Monica

Photo Credit: Tanveer Badal

Orla, the flagship restaurant inside the newly opened Regent Santa Monica Beach, is already one of the most captivating additions to Los Angeles’ dining scene. Conceived by celebrity chef Michael Mina, the concept fuses the flavors of the Mediterranean with the rich culinary traditions of Egypt, a nod to Mina’s heritage. The result is a menu that feels both refined and soulful, balancing smoky char from the wood-fired grill with bright, herbaceous layers and vibrant spices. Standout dishes like charred octopus with tahini, slow-braised lamb, and jewel-toned vegetable plates showcase the kitchen’s devotion to seasonal ingredients and bold flavor. The cocktail list leans into that same ethos, with creations built around fresh produce — think watermelon-tomato tequila or a rum-spiked celery-mint refresher. But what truly makes Orla special is its setting. Designed as a modern Mediterranean escape, the dining room layers warm stone, handcrafted wood, and glowing light to frame views of the Pacific. It’s chic without being cold, transporting without losing its sense of place.

COMING SOON

La Monique

Photo Credit: La Monique

La Monique, designed by the legendary Martin Brudnizki, is Hollywood Regency reimagined with a distinctly European sensibility and a wink of old-school decadence. The space — which opens October 17 — feels cinematic yet intimate, every detail hand-selected not just for look but for texture, tone, and emotional pull. It’s an ode to curated excess, where the experience unfolds layer by layer. Rich rust, emerald green, and sapphire blue set the palette, accented with lustrous finishes and striking tonal contrasts. Plush velvets, reflective surfaces, and hand-crafted marquetry invite touch as much as admiration, creating a sumptuous tactility that shifts effortlessly from day into night. The effect is indulgent without ever tipping into coldness — a balance of grandeur and warmth that invites intrigue at every turn. Brudnizki has given Santa Monica a dining room that envelops you the moment you step inside, equal parts glamorous, playful, and transporting. La Monique is less a restaurant interior than a sensorial journey, where showmanship meets modern sophistication, designed to be felt as much as seen.