Insider’s Guide to Los Angeles

Top Wine Bars of Los Angeles

Bottle Rock
“Buy what you drink” at this combo bar-and-retail-store, where they’ll pop any of their 800-plus bottles with a two-glass commitment. 

Covell
No need to know your Vermentino from your Verdicchio here, where the bartenders’ recommendations come from therapy-like conversations rather than printed lists.

Vertical Wine Bistro
Enjoy Old World wines in Old Pasadena, with vertical (same winery, diff vintage) & horizontal (same vintage, diff winery) flights.

AOC
Entering its second decade, Suzanne Goin’s trendsetting wine-and small-plates bar offers entirely sustainable, organic, or biodynamic wines at its new location. 

Barbrix
An affable Silver Lake oasis with a creative, food-friendly list to match the market-driven Mediterranean menu. 

Corkbar 
California Wine Country recreated in Downtown LA, with over 70 wines to taste on the firelit patio. 

Pour Haus 
It doesn’t get more unpretentious than the bargain prices and board games at this spirited spot. 

Award-Winning Tips for Entertaining

Earn rave reviews thanks to party pointers from Christopher O’Connell, executive sous chef at The Beverly Hilton, which hosts the Golden Globe Awards.

Think Theme
An overall concept—Italian antipasti, Asian street food—creates harmony between recipes and eases wine pairings.

Get Ahead
Flavors in soups and stews intensify if cooked in advance. Many dishes thrive with pre-prepping—O’Connell favors sea bass marinated in olive oil and orange juice, then roasted.

Cook Whatever Takes Longest First
Prime example is Thanksgiving—hustle that turkey into the oven.

Vegetarian Variations
For non-carnivores, serve a one-shot entrée that covers all bases—vegan, gluten free and lactose free.

Centerpiece Savvy
Choose low arrangements that don’t block faces across the table. Think beyond flowers—O’Connell likes decorating with raw vegetables that are ingredients in the recipes.

Dining with the Stars

Nobu Malibu
Take in an oceanfront stargazing every night at this Japanese fave’s stunning new location. 

Tagine
Food takes center stage at Moroccan-born Chef Abdessamad “Ben” Benameur and Ryan Gosling’s Beverly Hills hideaway. 

Urth Caffé
Organic coffee draws members of HBO’s Entourage and such health-minded stars as Natalie Portman, Jessica Alba and Queen Latifah. 

La Descarga
Share mojitos with Zooey Deschanel or Brad Pitt at this Cuban speakeasy—if you can find the secret entrance. 

Mr. Chow
Watch the famed hand-pulled noodle show, or equally lissome regulars like Sandra Bullock, Heidi Klum or Linda Evangelista.

Cecconi’s
Unpretentious types like Ellen DeGeneres, Gwen Stefani and Amanda Seyfried flock to this convivial, affordable Italian spot.