From candlelit dining rooms to wood-burning hearths, these L.A. restaurants offer the perfect setting for a cozy fall meal
Fall in Los Angeles may not bring much of a chill, but that doesn’t mean we can’t embrace cozy season. From candlelit dining rooms and crackling fireplaces to intimate patios and comforting dishes, these L.A. restaurants offer plenty of warmth and atmosphere for your next fall dinner.
Muse Santa Monica
Before Muse, chef-owners Fardad Khayami and David Gelland were hosting fabulous dinner parties out of their USC dorm room. But make no mistake, Khayami and Gelland are no amateurs: after graduating, the duo went on to found Muse, a sultry French restaurant just footsteps away from its Italian cousin, Giorgio Baldi, where you can walk into the welcome embrace of its warm, velvety walls. Just make sure that, in between bites of your decadent pesto creste di gallo, you observe the rotating collection of art that the owners have curated, including works by famous Spanish artist Joan Miró.
Credit: Courtesy of Muse
a.o.c.
Founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and Sommelier Caroline Styne, a.o.c. takes advantage of seasonal produce for its small plates menu. The interior of the restaurant evokes a cozy New England manor, but the food draws its influences from California and France. Be sure to order the bacon-wrapped dates!
Credit: Courtesy of a.o.c.
Dan Tana’s
Opened in 1964, this neighborhood Italian restaurant has since become a favorite spot for entertainment industry figures and WeHo residents alike. Slide into a red leather booth and enjoy some delicious spaghetti and meatballs while surrounded by decor that will transport you back to 1950s New York, without ever leaving L.A.
The Hideaway
Gather around the wood-burning hearth at this Mexican steakhouse inspired by a villa somewhere in Baja California. Feast on high-quality cuts, and finish off the night with their classic churros paired with chocolate sauce and strawberry prickly pear jam!
Firefly
Bring your most literary friends to Studio City for this American-style restaurant decorated with shelves upon shelves of books! The restaurant’s name is poetic too: Firefly was inspired by the eponymous bug’s warm glow, which can be seen in the soft ambient lighting that makes this restaurant perfect for date night.
The Front Yard
The Front Yard is at its best in L.A.’s early fall months when the weather is still warm, but the sun has finally begun to set at a reasonable hour. Opt for the outdoor seating here, and order their classic dish: The Front Yard Patty Melt!
Credit: Courtesy of The Front Yard
Tam O’Shanter
Time-travel back to Tudor-era Scotland at Tam O’Shanter, the Scottish steakhouse that was once a favorite restaurant of Walt Disney himself. You can embrace the foreign atmosphere and order the traditional corned beef platter and shepherd’s pie, or try their L.A. take on an Indian and British staple: cauliflower chicken tikka masala!
Credit: Courtesy of Tam O’Shanter
Josephine
This French-Italian restaurant located inside of an old Silverlake bungalow serves a menu that rotates every month. Named after the co-founder’s grandmothers who shared the same name, the homey exterior feels as though perhaps you have been invited over to your culinarily talented grandmother’s house for dinner. Guest favorites include the famous chicken Josephine and the hangar steak frites.
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Credit: Oscar Mendoza