Los Angeles is a great rooftop city, a lot thanks to the climate being warm and pleasant all year round. This means you can find plenty of great rooftop restaurants LA, for some really elevated lunches and dinners.
The Los Angeles rooftop restaurants can be found all over the city, from Venice Beach and Santa Monica to Downtown and Hollywood.
The style of the restaurants vary a lot as well. Fine dining, relaxed atmosphere and sunset dinners. Los Angeles has it all.
Here’s our list of the 11 best rooftop restaurants in LA. A list made by the world’s leading rooftop experts.
Located in the Arts District of downtown, LA Cha Cha Chá brings all the vibes from the Terraza Cha Cha Chá in Mexico City to the heart of Los Angeles.
The tropical 11,600-square-foot-rooftop feels like Acapulco or Palm Springs among the concrete, filled with cacti, palm trees, and moody string lights. And views over the LA skyline.
Up here you can enjoy a wide range of Mexican favorites, from 'Botanas' like tostada and ceviche, to 'Principales' like the Lengua en Salsa Verde (Waguy Beef Tounge, purslane, tostada crumble). There is (of course) also a tasty selection of tacos.
Complementing the food is a wide selection of wines, and the rooftop bar serves plenty of classic cocktails sparkled with mezcal and tequila.
Filled with vibes and flavours, LA Cha Cha Chá is the obvious rooftop restaurant for a visit to Mexico, without having to make the travels south.
LA CHA CHA CHÁ
The Rooftop Beverly Hills offers one of the largest terraces in LA. And not at all only about size, it also serves a beautiful garden setting and some amazing views over Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
Set on top of the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, the rooftop restaurant comes with an equally upscale and stylish vibe.
Settle down in one of the comfy lounge sofas or by a dining table and enjoy a refined selection of authentic, Asian-inspired dishes, created by Executive Chef Peleg Miron.
The food is served daily as lunch and dinner, and on weekends also as rooftop brunch. Apart from top class food, the rooftop bar also offers a wide selection of crafted signature cocktails, crafted brews, champagne and wines.
Equipped with heaters and blankets, the rooftop restaurant is available year round. A bit on the pricey side, so a perfect destination to celebrate a special occasion or to really impress a date.
THE ROOFTOP BEVERLY HILLS
Takami Sushi & Robata sits on the 21st floor, above Downtown L.A's Financial District, offering one of the most unique restaurant concepts Southern California has ever experienced.
Surrounded by amazing 360° views of downtown’s most beautiful high rises, the luxurious and modern penthouse venue holds a bright and airy interior dining room with panoramic windows, as well as a wrap-around outdoor terrace.
Featuring 3 kitchens, Takami offers the best of Japanese cuisine. Indulge in the highest quality sushi, try something from the Robata grill, or go for Japanese-influenced entrees, ranging from 'Black Truffle Filet Mignon' to 'Champagne Yuzu Seabass'.
The food is complemented with a selection of unique and freshly prepared signature cocktails, as well as a fine selection of wine, champagne and sake.
For unforgettable and elegant evenings with an LA view, Takami Sushi & Robata is hard to beat.
TAKAMI SUSHI
Found on top of the Century City Westfield Mall, pretty much in between Hollywood and Santa Monica, Terra is the rooftop of the Italian market and eatery called Eataly.
Eataly can be found at several US cities, and is also home to several restaurants. But the lush and charming Terra rooftop restaurant might very well be the best of them all.
Inspired by earth, gin, and fire, the indoor / outdoor venue centers around a wood-burning Italian grill. Up here you can enjoy Italian flavours as both lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
Pasta, Insalate, small things, dishes to share and more filling grills, the Terra menu is truly impressive. It also includes refreshing botanical cocktails, premium Italian wines and American craft brews.
The bright rooftop terrace offers panoramic views over the Hollywood Hills, and with a friendly and relaxing it is a great LA rooftop restaurant for both a sunny lunch and a romantic evening.
TERRA
Considered "much more than just a simple rooftop", Mama Shelter is an ideal location for those looking for delicious food and a vibrant atmosphere.
Overlooking the Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles skyline, Mama Shelter is known for its Californian cuisine, homemade dishes, and top-notch lunches.
The decor is fun and colorful, with large lounge sofas, regular tables, and a general patio ambiance that makes a visit to this restaurant one to remember.
As for drinks, you can enjoy a variety of beers and wines –both international and Californian– as well as creative signature cocktails, like "Mama's Own Mule Bar".
Most dishes served are large enough to share, which makes Mama Shelter a fantastic choice for an extended visit with friends or after-work drinks.
MAMA SHELTER'S ROOFTOP
Located above the buzzing streets of the West Hollywood design district, on the corner of Melrose & San Vicente, CATCH LA is the west coast outpost of the famous New York restaurant with the same name - CATCH.
A well known and globally influenced seafood restaurant, with locations in New York, Dubai and Playa del Carmen, CATCH is a popular shop for food and beverage experiences, providing something for everyone both during daytime to dining, nightlife and events.
With its signature open kitchen and breathtaking views of downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills, CATCH is one of the best rooftops in California when speaking of food, service and atmoshpere. This 340 seat retractable rooftop haven invites all guests with great seafood like sushi and Asian influences of most dishes.
With a focus on the food CATCH LA keeps it fresh, incorporating local and sustainable ingredients wherever possible as it cultivates a menu mix of Catch classics like the Catch Roll, Truffle Sashimi, Wagyu on a Rock and Cantonese Lobster with inspired renditions of Vegan and Gluten Free additions.
CATCH LA
Merois is perched on top of the superb Pendry West Hollywood, taking LA fine dining to new heights.
Created by legendary LA chef Wolfgang Puck, this beautiful rooftop restaurant floats high above Sunset Boulevard, offering both indoor and outdoor seating with panoramic views over the Los Angeles skyline.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, the rooftop menu spotlights Chef Wolfgang Puck’s eye for the sophisticated subtleties of Japanese, Southeast Asian and French/California cuisine. Tempting mains are complemented with Sushi and Raw Bar.
Contemporary and sophisticated, Merois is on the expensive side, but it offers a LA rooftop dining experience hard to match.
MEROIS
At the beautiful LouLou Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge you can experience the 'Joie de Vivre', and transport yourself from the heart of Santa Monica to the French Riviera.
Found on top of Santa Monica Place, the breezy, bright and natural rooftop comes with all the right Mediterranean vibes, overlooking the ocean and the Santa Monica rooftops.
The LouLou menu showcase French Mediterranean flavors with a classic California twist, while honoring the generosity of artisanal and homemade ingredients, as well as local organic produce.
Here you find salads and pasta made freshly in the house, as well as 3 day proof dough pizza and entrees like 'Steak & Frites' and 'Vegan Moussaka'.
The food is complemented with a carefully selected array of wines from both France and California, as well as colorful and crafted specialty cocktails and classics.
Open daily from around noon to midnight, LouLou Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge invites to sunny lunches and vibrant weekend brunches, as well as sunset drinks and elegant dinners in an intimate atmosphere with subdued lighting.
LOULOU
Cork & Batter is a modern and multi-level restaurant, bar and rooftop, located in the heart of Inglewood's entertainment and sports district. Across from the LA Forum and SoFi Stadium, and next to the Intuit Dome, the new home for LA Clippers.
Spaning over 10,000 square feet, here you find an interior ground floor bar and lounge, and a second floor dining space, topped off with a stylish, open-air rooftop lounge.
Surrounded with greenery and sweeping views over the surroundings, the rooftop terrace comes with plenty of comfy lounge spots, perfect for both sunny session and cosy nights by the fire-pits.
Open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend breakfast, Cork & Batter serves a varied selection of bites and dishes, ranging from bowls, calamari and tacos, to salads, sliders, burgers, flatbreads and mains, including Pasta Primavera and Skirt Steak.
The food is complemented with a wide selection of beers on tap, as well as exclusive signature cocktails and a dedicated margarita menu with plenty of flavours.
CORK & BATTER
Perch is one of LA's most popular bar and bistro, and with good reason.
Offering magical views of downtown LA, as well as a relaxing atmosphere and delicious French-inspired food, Perch is an ideal choice for those looking to enjoy a filling brunch, dinner and refreshing drinks with a view.
Perch is split into two different floors, with the restaurant, bar, and lounge located on the lower level, and the rooftop terrace one floor up.
The restaurant has a French bistro atmosphere to it, with classic furniture, lush plants, and both inside and outside seating.
Here you can enjoy an everyday dinner menu between 5-11pm, including Steak Frites, Bouillabaisse and Pan Roasted Salmon. On weekends between 10am-4pm, tasty food is also served as rooftop brunch.
The rooftop terrace is a drink-only area and offers sweeping views of downtown Los Angeles, and access to Californian beers and wines, as well as expertly mixed cocktails.
Prices are reasonable, the dress code is upscale casual, and while walk-ins are welcome, reservations are encouraged.
PERCH
Technically more of a cliffside restaurant than a rooftop restaurant, but for dining with Pacific Ocean views, Moonshadows in Malibu is pretty hard to beat.
Set right on the Malibu beach, Moonshadows offers seating inside by the large panoramic windows, or out on the open air sundeck. Wherever you sit, you will be face-on with panoramics over the majestic ocean.
The restaurant serves a mix of seafood and signature dishes with Asian fusion, Italian and American influences, available as weekday lunch, weekend brunch and daily dinner.
Perfect for casual dining with ocean views, pretty much anytime. The outdoor terrace and Blue Lounge Bar is also a highly popular spot for sunset cocktails and weekend vibes with live DJ's.
MOONSHADOWS
Tip: A quick travel suggestion: when you land in LA, opt for a stress-free start with a pick up at LAX. It's the most comfortable way to journey from the airport to the heart of the city, setting the tone for the adventures that await. Looking for more elevated US dining with majestic skyline views? Check out our list of the best rooftop restaurants NYC, or the top places to dine with a view among the rooftop restaurants Chicago.
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
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