Hyper-social and über-image-conscious, Los Angeles can seem like one of the most intimidating places to dine alone. The celebrity quotient is so high that in some restaurants, all heads pivot and eyes laser upon anyone who enters.

But don’t let that cow you into room service. Underneath L.A.’s too-glamorous-for-you veneer throbs a wildly diverse, downright democratic culinary scene like no other. Infused with pan-ethnic energy and supported by legions of underemployed customers, a foodie culture has flowered from humble strip malls in suburban San Fernando Valley to the tourist-overrun edge of the Pacific Ocean.

For solo travelers, here are some dining options that not only are comfortable and delicious but will infect you with the true spirit of Los Angeles.


Downtown Los Angeles: Ciudad
445 South Figueroa Street
213-486-5171

No gastronomic tour of Los Angeles—which was established by Spain and controlled by Mexico until the mid-19th century—would be complete without flavors from those founding lands. Nowhere is Latin cooking more deliciously translated and artfully presented than Ciudad in downtown L.A. A popular after-work hangout, Ciudad is an easy walk from the financial district’s offices and hotels. If you’re feeling social, sit at the rectangular bar at the center of the restaurant, which has Miró-esque walls. But don’t be surprised if other diners sidle over to admire your food—on Cuidad’s plates, even plantains and mini-tacos take on sculptural significance. For quieter and more formal dining, commandeer a linen-draped table on the front patio, where singles and groups coexist comfortably.

Dress: suits to khakis
Prices: mid-range
Reservations: recommended for a table, not taken for bar area
Close to: Westin Bonaventure


Hollywood: Campanile
624 South La Brea Avenue
323-938-1447

A short drive from the crowds along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the nipped-and-augmented world of Sunset Strip is a sanctuary of elegance: Campanile, considered by many to be L.A.’s finest Mediterranean restaurant. Housed in a stone structure commissioned in 1929 by Charlie Chaplin, the restaurant’s high glass ceilings give it a churchlike feel. But the only religion inside is food. Try the Bibb lettuce salad, which has buttery, herb-sprinkled leaves, followed by roasted baby lamb with Greek yogurt. Renowned for its wine list, Campanile also offers cheeses from six countries, including Portugal. Thursday is Grilled Cheese Night, when locals flock to the restaurant for gourmet comfort food. Service is gracious, and solo diners are often seated at small tables near the front, sometimes adjacent to each other.

Dress: creative sophisticated (silk dresses with chunky eyewear, smoking jackets with Chuck Taylors)
Prices: expensive
Reservations: recommended
Close to: Hollywood Roosevelt, Renaissance Hollywood (each three miles away)


Burbank/Studio City: Sushi Nozawa
11288 Ventura Boulevard # C
818-508-7017

Tucked into a small plaza between a nail salon and a Thai-Swedish massage parlor is a teensy eatery that many Angelenos—especially studio executives working in nearby Burbank and Universal City—swear serves the best raw fish this side of the Pacific. Diners who prefer a plush environment and unctuous service should steer clear, however, because Chef Nozawa has been known to toss out customers who have the audacity to ask for a California roll, or just whine too much. At Nozawa’s faux-wood counter, sushi and sashimi made in the traditional Japanese manner and served omikase—chef’s choice—is the rule of the house. (Read Eat Sheet: Japanese.)

Dress: casual
Price: mid-range
Reservations: none
Close to: Sheraton Universal, Universal Hilton


Beverly Hills/Century City:  Sidebar
Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel
9500 Wilshire Boulevard
310-275-5200

Forget about snagging a reservation at Cut, Wolfgang Puck’s year-old steak house and still one of the hottest spots in town. (The all-white Richard Meier decor and Herman Miller swivel chairs may be too evocative of the office anyway.) Head across the hall to Sidebar, which offers the same menu with less fuss. At this sleek bar, servers are friendly and conversations flow easily between strangers. As you savor a smoky-sweet appetizer of maple-glazed pork belly, a comedy writer on the next stool might entertain you with stories about his craft (and the several scripts and deals he has “in development”). Then go for a classic U.S.D.A. Prime or sample some new flavors from the melting-pot menu—Kobe beef short ribs peppered with Indian spices or French sea bass with Moroccan charmoula. Sidebar’s atmosphere is lively. When Prince comes on, there is the occasional spontaneous boogie in the aisles.

Dress: Rodeo Drive bling meets Hollywood casual
Prices: expensive
Reservations: not taken for Sidebar
Close to: Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hilton


Santa Monica: The Lobster
1602 Ocean Avenue
310-458-9294

Don’t let the tourist-trap location scare you away. Perched at the mouth of Santa Monica’s pier and just two blocks from the Third Street Promenade shopping district is one of the region’s most highly rated seafood restaurants. With wraparound windows offering views from the Santa Monica mountains to the Pacific, the restaurant is packed at sunset. But solo diners here won’t feel overwhelmed by moon-eyed couples. At the Lobster, you’ll find international tourists and locals, as well as solo business travelers (office parks housing Yahoo, MTV Networks, and Symantec are a couple miles away). The waitstaff is attentive and helpful and servers don’t seem to be on an endless audition for their big break. For the best people-watching, nurse your drink at the outdoor bar.

Dress: casual to dressy
Prices: expensive
Reservations: recommended for dining room, not required for bar area
Close to: Loews and Le Merigot