When it comes to dining in Los Angeles sometimes it can be more than just about the food as some local restaurants add ambience and unique experiences to the menu.
For some that may mean creating a restaurant with an unforgettable style or a themed experience or even a location that makes diners feel as if they’ve stepped into another world or time. So for those looking for a place that goes beyond the food menu, here are five of Los Angeles’ most unique dining experiences.
Posters line Halloween-themed horror bar/restaurant Beetle House LA in Hollywood on Friday, October 18, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Beetle House LA
7080 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles; beetlehousela.com
You don’t have to say Beetlejuice three times to enter the mad world of Tim Burton, just make a reservation at Beetle House LA. The themed restaurant is what would happen if you stepped into and ate inside a Burton movie. It’s decorated in gothic and dark but humorous touches — think evil pumpkins, skeletons and mood lighting — and characters from his movies make appearances and put on a show as you dine. The menu is equally themed, too, with dishes like The Edward Burger Hands and drinks like The Beetle’s Juice.
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A wax figure of actress Marilyn Monroe is posed with a cocktail at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A wax figure of actress Zendaya greets guests near the entrance of Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Matt Presland, visiting Hollywood from Melbourne, Australia, photographs Eve Henninger beside a wax figure of actress Scarlett Johansson at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Carol Forsberg poses for a photo with a wax figure of actor James Dean at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Guests dine and enjoy cocktails at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood, where wax figures of celebrities are displayed throughout the space, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A wax figure of actor James Dean, dressed in a leather jacket, is displayed at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A wax figure of actor Will Smith is positioned near a likeness of actress Marilyn Monroe at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
A wax figure of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson greets guests at the bar of Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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A wax figure of actress Marilyn Monroe is posed with a cocktail at Madame Tussauds’ rooftop restaurant in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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Madame Tussauds
6933 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles; hollywoodrooftopbar.com
This new rooftop restaurant located in the heart of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame is the place to go if you want to dine and even take selfies with A-list celebrities. This summer Madame Tussauds opened its first restaurant on the roof of the famous wax museum. So yes, these are wax figures you’ll be eating with and not the real thing, but hey, it’s still pretty cool to be able to sit at a table next to the award-winning actress and singer Zendaya, who is sitting alone just waiting for her dinner date. Near her sitting by herself at another table is the legendary Marylin Monroe, who is all smiles dressed in an orange dress.
So go ahead and pull up a chair. And then walk over to the bar where you can smell what The Rock is cooking, well actually what he’s drinking since he’s standing by the bar in a silk shirt and purple pants holding up a drink. Other celebrity wax figures at the restaurant include Will Smith, Scarlett Johansson and James Dean. Menu items include burgers, flatbreads and entrees like steaks, salmon and pasta dishes.
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The Old Place
29983 Mulholland Highway, Cornell (near Agoura Hills); oldplacecornell.com
This classic spot really earns its name because it looks like an old frontier saloon with its weathered, all-wood facade and antlers hanging above the front door. It seems like it’s 100 years old, but it opened as a restaurant in 1970. The building used to be an old country store and post office built in the early 1900s, so the renovations kept that old school charm.
With an interior that sports dark wood, a long antique bar and vintage decor inside, you’ll swear you’re eating inside a Western saloon. Adding to the charm is a private dining room that’s separate from the restaurant and looks like an old shack. There’s also a patio where people can order from a take-out window and an old truck that has been converted into a coffee shop. The specialty here are steaks cooked over fire with options like sirloin, rib-eye and bone-in fillet. Reservations are required for inside dining.
Shivam Soni (from Anaheim); Carlo Giustini (From Los Angeles); Crystal Wai (from Los Angeles); and Eric Hultgren (from Santa Ana) gather for a seafood meal at the Queen Mary’s Chelsea’s Chowder House while enjoying the beautfiul view of Downtown Long Beach. Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
The Queen Mary; in Long Beach; has three restaurants on board that all overlook the ocean with beautiful views of Long Beach. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
The Chelsea’s Choweder House on board the Queen Mary offers amazing meals with amazing views. From steaks to halibut and a shellfish tower (pictured) this restaurant offers fine dining at it’s best. Long Beach, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato, Contributing Photographer)
Chef Andre Lane presents a new item on the menu to diners Emily Seruga (of San Pedro) and Victoria Walker (of Newport Beach) aboard the Queen Mary’s Promenade Cafe restaurant. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
Chelsea’s Chowder House on board the Queen Mary offers meals that don’t just taste good; they are beautiful as well. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
Cinthia Sanchez and Timothy Smith, both from San Diego, sit with some drinks and a meal overlooking Downtown Long Beach in the Queen Mary’s Observation Bar. Long Beach, Oct. 9, 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato, Contributing Photographer)
On board the Queen Mary in Long Beach is a restuarnt with gorgeous views of Long Beach and the ocean while fine dining in Chelsea’s Chowder House. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
Emily Seruga from San Pedro; and Victoria Walker from Newport Beach; enjoy a meal in the Promenade Cafe on board the Queen Mary. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
Shivam Soni (of Anaheim); Crystal Wai (of Los Angeles); Eric Hultgren (of Santa Ana) and Carlo Giustini (of Los Angeles) do a toast over a magnificent meal while dining on board the Queen Mary’s Chelsea restaurant. An amazing view of Downtown Long Beach and the ocean is out the window. Long Beach; Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
Flat bread pizza and charcuterie board with some drinks is one of the few appetizers you can enjoy at the Queen Mary’s Observation Bar. While eating you get to enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean and Downtown Long Beach. Oct. 9, 2025. (Stephanie E’amato, Contributing Photographer)
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Shivam Soni (from Anaheim); Carlo Giustini (From Los Angeles); Crystal Wai (from Los Angeles); and Eric Hultgren (from Santa Ana) gather for a seafood meal at the Queen Mary’s Chelsea’s Chowder House while enjoying the beautfiul view of Downtown Long Beach. Oct. 9; 2025. (Photo by Stephanie E’amato; Contributing Photographer)
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The Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach; queenmary.com
There are a lot of nice restaurants located by the beach near the water, but there aren’t many that are not only actually floating on the water but have sailed the seas all over the world like the historic Queen Mary. The retired vessel is now a hotel and tourist attraction and of course it houses restaurants in its Art Deco-drenched interior.
For starters, check out the Observation Bar. It’s located at the bow of the ship in what was formerly the first-class lounge, so there are great views of the city and inside it’s decked out in 1930s stylistic touches like a semi-circular bar that sports an old mural of people partying back in the day. Here diners can order high-end cocktails and small bites like flatbreads, charcuterie boards, pork belly baos and bite-size lobster rolls.
For a more full-on dinner experience, head to the Chelsea Chowder House & Bar. This is an elegant dining spot with white tablecloths on the tables, views of the ocean and elevated seafood dishes. A must try is of course the New England Clam Chowder, the fish and chips and the Cioppino, a mix of clams, mussels, shrimp, finfish, lobster and saffron broth served with sourdough bread.
The Tam O’Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles; lawrysonline.com/tam-o-shanter
This is one of the city’s oldest restaurants that opened in 1922, but when you see it you’ll feel like you’re at an old storybook-style Scottish pub and not in L.A. anymore. The exterior looks like an old cottage where maybe Snow White’s seven dwarfs would have gone for a pint after a long day at the mines.
Inside it’s decorated with medieval weapons, kilts, family coats of arms and crests, a chandelier and statues of knights add a medieval feel to the place. The restaurant is a steakhouse so popular dishes include the gigantic prime ribs and traditional dishes like the pan-seared Scottish salmon and corned beef.
Originally Published: October 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM PDT