After a four year absence, Jordan Kahn’s ambitious restaurant Vespertine finally reopened this spring —and has already earned two MICHELIN Stars and a Green Star for its artfully plated tasting menus. After stepping foot in the architecturally stunning, Eric Moss-designed building, enjoy 16 courses that take you on a fully immersive journey that incorporates all five senses. You’ll even move from floor to floor during the two- to three-hour experience unlike any other in LA.

This year, sister-and-brother duo Lauren and Philip Pretty of MICHELIN-Starred Heritage debuted Olive & Rose, their chic Cal-French bistro in the newly renovated City Center hotel. Settle into the compact, mid-century-inspired dining room or at the intimate chef’s counter to dig into crudos, Hope Ranch mussels in dashi broth, and beef tartare with grilled bread, cornichons, and garlic mayo. Don’t miss the perfectly cooked kurobuta pork chop with grilled lettuce and a complex romesco.

Chef Aitor Zabala struck out solo with the latest interaction of critical darling Somni (the original concept earned a MICHELIN Star and closed in late 2020). The newly opened reboot is located on a serene, tucked-away street in West Hollywood. Dinner starts with small bites in the lush garden, then moves on to larger courses inspired by Zabala’s Catalan upbringing in the modern, minimalist dining room with just 14 seats. Opt for wine pairings or house-made nonalcoholic cocktails made in-house.

Italian food is still having a moment in LA, and Stella from dynamic culinary duo Janet Zuccharini (Felix Trattoria) and Canadian chef Rob Gentile is no exception. Come for elegant Italian dishes like branzino crudo carved tableside and house-made pastas like tortelli with Tahitian squash and black truffle. The stunning, mid century-inspired dining room outfitted with dark wood and black-and-white tiled floors is the perfect setting for a date night or special celebration.

Camélia is where you go for smart Japanese-French fusion from James Beard Award-winning duo Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan (Tsubaki and OTOTO). Settle into the stunning, dark-wood space for standout dishes like a croque madame with ham katsu and koji-roasted chicken with a seaweed cream sauce. Add in standout wine and sake pairings, and it’s easy to see why the restaurant earned a spot on 2024’s LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list.

James Beard semifinalist Ricardo Zarate goes all in on playful, Peruvian-meets-Japanese fare at The Hummingbird Ceviche House, his latest concept in Echo Park. Grab a seat at the counter in the colorful, compact space for a feast of knockout Nikkei-style hand rolls, tostadas, tiraditos, and ceviche. Nonalcoholic drinks like a house-made purple corn iced tea and horchata with Japanese rice are as whimsical as the vibrant dining room, where an energetic soundtrack fuels the feel-good vibes.

Somerville is an homage to Historic South Central and its midcentury jazz scene. The Art Deco-style dining room features a sweeping mahogany bar and a piano for live performances; cocktails are named for Black jazz greats and pop-culture icons. The food goes all in on steakhouse faithfuls with a soul food twist— think Parker House rolls with truffle butter, a chicory and crab salad, and collard greens lasagna.

In a banner year for tasting menu-driven restaurants, James Beard Award-winning chef Dave Beran’s ambitious Cali fusion spot SELINE stands out from the crowd. Named for his daughter, the restaurant resembles an upscale home, complete with a large outdoor courtyard, open kitchen, and cozy nooks filled with plush furniture. Settle in for a blockbuster 15-18 course meal that could include squash and apple with truffle, complete with optional wine or non-alcoholic drink pairings.

Bold international flavors meet bold design at Santa Monica’s Edgemar Restaurant + Lounge, located inside a Frank Gehry-designed development on Main Street. The contemporary menu spans the globe, from Hawaii (beet poke), to Southeast Asia (ruby chicken curry with chaat masala), and England (fish and chips with yuzu tartare). Don’t miss the classic cheeseburger, topped with bourbon-spiked caramelized onions.

Long Beach speakeasy-meets-izakaya Tokyo Noir is an homage to Japanese bars and cocktail culture. Grab a seat at the bar in the dimly-lit space with red accents to watch bartenders hand carve ice and whip up innovative cocktails like an old fashioned riff with a truffle garnish. Pair them with Japanese-inspired small plates like robata-grilled chicken thigh skewers and miso-spiked deviled eggs.

MICHELIN-pedigreed chef Akira Back focuses on exquisite hand rolls and refined izakaya fare at this gorgeous Koreatown newcomer. The sleek, modern space dressed in gold and black features a large central bar, where you can dig into temaki filled with the likes of blue crab, spicy tuna, avocado puree, and Pop Rocks. Other bold, Japanese-forward small plates include grilled baby corn with “snow cheese powder.” An extensive list of sake rounds out the menu.