Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Downtown

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Downtown? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

USC University Club

4.6

4.6 (101)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The University Club Restaurant is an elegant space to host work meetings or enjoy a gracious setting with friends. Our menu changes seasonally and reflects the best of local produce.

Reservations are recommended. Our dress code is Business Casual.

For reservations, call (213) 740-2030

Top review

Gordon

Dined on Oct 21, 2024

Great service and wonderful food! Thank you . I look forward to returning and am proud to have USC guests there.

Manuela

4.8

4.8 (215)

$31 to $50

Californian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in the Arts District of Los Angeles, Manuela unites chef, farmer and artist to create an authentic and original dining experience. Under the direction of Executive Chef Kris Tominaga, the menu celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from the best farms and producers in Southern California.

Serving a wide range of vegetables, grains, fish, and game, Manuela also features an exemplary bar program, which serves classic cocktails using house-made bitters and tonics. Local beers are on tap, while the carefully selected wine list is designed to pair with the smoke and acid at the heart of Manuela’s menu.

Designed by Los Angeles native Matt Winter and named for Manuela Wirth, the restaurant is illuminated and animated by specially commissioned works from artists Paul McCarthy, Mark Bradford and Raymond Pettibon.

Top review

Carolinavip

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing everything Food, drinks, waitress I would clarify a bit more about parking (only confusing thing)

Eigikutei

4.9

4.9 (83)

$50 and over

Japanese

Little Tokyo

About the restaurant

Eigikutei is a Japanese cuisine, sushi, and Shabu Shabu Kaiseki restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. We have a bar and offer high-end Japanese sake.
Eigikutei serves Japanese Kaiseki cuisine courses. Each Kaiseki course expresses the traditional Japanese culture and simple but deep tastes that Japan has grown from time immemorial. We hope all of our guests can enjoy our Kaiseki cuisine with Japanese cultural experiences.
**If you wish to select multiple courses, simply choose 'Standard' to reserve seats. We will take your orders at your table. Please do not select menu experiences.

Top review

Bobby

Dined 3 days ago

The Gozen is highly recommended. Excellent presentation, fresh Ingredients, superb value. We had great dining experience!

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Experience

Sushi Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Experience

Plant Based Vegan Kaiseki Experience

Experience

USDA Prime Beef Shabu-Shabu Kaiseki

Deme

4.7

4.7 (18)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Deme, short for Demeter, (the Greek Goddess of the Harvest) is a new Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea-inspired poolside eatery at Hotel Figueroa, with nods to the sea-faring communities along the Eastern Mediterranean Coast, Turkey, and Israel, led by Executive Chef Blake Shailes. Think: housemade Mediterranean dips served with freshly made pita bread using a combination of ancient Kamut flour and Tehachapi Farms Red Fife Flour, Crispy Lobster Kataifi, Turkish Manti (Turkish Lamb Dumplings), Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza // Spiced Wagyu Flatbread), a Greek-inspired Glazed Octopus & Grilled Grape Skewers, and large-format platters designed for shareable feasts including Slow Cooked Lamb Neck Shawarma, Half Heritage Chicken Mansaf and desserts including housemade Baklava, and housemade Soft Serve paired with a refreshing and playful cocktail program developed by Bar Director, Milosz Cieslak. Open for dinner nightly from 5pm - close.

Top review

Alexisvip

Dined on Nov 10, 2024

The setting is utter magic, pool on one side, Deco fireplace on the other. The food is terrific, especially the ethereal dips (best baba ganoush ever) and veggie mezze. Service is warm and friendly. And love, love the banquette seating. Get there before the hordes find out about it.

TENSHO

4.9

4.9 (69)

$50 and over

Shabu-shabu

Little Tokyo

About the restaurant

Even if seats are full, we may still have availability. Also, special requests or inquiries would be welcome. Please do not hesitate to reach us by phone (213-617-1016).

5.3.2022 Tue
NEW OPEN in Little Tokyo
[TENSHO]

Right in the heart of Little Tokyo, “Kagaya” has established itself a top tier shabu shabu restaurant. Now, the torches have been handed to a new head chef and owner, the next generation to carry the torches of tradition and exquisite flavor, with the new name of TENSHO.

Trained in traditional Japanese cookery, this 23 year veteran chef is on his way to introducing a new wave of Japanese delicacies to the States. As close as you can get to Japan itself, this chef brings his revisioned menu, with patron favorites, and extensive sake list. The desert and a la carte menu is designed by their French trained chef.

The wagyu beef is of A5 rank. The seafood, carefully selected to be of highest quality. Food that is not only delicious but also good for the health.

Top review

Emmavip

Dined on Oct 30, 2024

Tensho is the best always! Best food and people! :)

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Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU (JAPAN, 8oz)

Experience

USDA Prime Beef (Rib, 8oz)

Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU & Seafood

Cara Cara

4.7

4.7 (1465)

$31 to $50

Californian

Downtown

About the restaurant

From the golden daylight to the twinkling evening, all are welcome to experience the fresh bounty of Cara Cara. Chef Suzanne Goin’s seasonal menu showcases California’s best produce with her festive and irresistible rooftop fare. The expansive outdoor space features an elevated dining area with endless skyline views surrounded by a lushly landscaped lower lounge. Slip into one of the many cozy seating arrangements or sit by the fire pit and enjoy an innovative cocktail, wine, or beer paired by award-winning sommelier Caroline Styne.

Top review

Ivyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Cara Cara never disappoints! Another great evening. We love this restaurant! Fabulous atmosphere, amazing service, and DELICIOUS food!

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Popular dish

Cara Cara Cobb

Popular dish

Piri Piri Fried Chicken

Popular dish

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Redbird - Los Angeles

4.8

4.8 (3070)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Los Angeles, Redbird is carved into one of the city’s most historic edifices, inside the rectory building of Vibiana – a premier wedding, events and performing arts venue. Chef | Owner Neal Fraser and Owner | Operator Amy Knoll have crafted a beautifully dynamic restaurant space within which to enjoy Chef Fraser's critically acclaimed Modern American menu. Wine Director Christopher Dugan’s wine list is well-rounded with great finds from both established and emerging regions throughout the world. Bar Director Tobin Shea's cocktail offerings feature well-balanced, bespoke renditions of the classics, as well as inventive and inspired originals. Indoor and outdoor seating options are available for brunch, happy hour + dinner.

The Main Dining Room offers open air dining under our retractable roof with views of the Vibiana bell tower and the upper balconies of the rectory building. The Lounge offers dining tables along the banquette and windows overlooking 2nd St.

Top review

Sara

Dined 6 days ago

Best place for Brunch in DTLA! Can’t wait to eat there again soon.

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4.8

4.8 (70)

$30 and under

Italian

Arts District

About the restaurant

Propaganda focuses on organic, biodynamic, Italian natural wines, aperitivi cocktails, Italian style Tapas and the authentic Pizza (Pinsa) Romana.
Aperitivo Happy Hour everyday till 6pm and till 5pm on Sunday

Top review

Brent

Dined 7 days ago

So FABULOUS!!! They made such a mistake going so close to our theater time because this is a place to savor and enjoy. I could rave on and on about the wine selection and the food – especially the charcuterie platter – but honestly, the service was so far beyond what you would normally get at this price point that I can’t even begin to say enough. Phenomenal experience and can’t wait to go back.

San Laurel

4.8

4.8 (344)

$50 and over

Spanish

Downtown

About the restaurant

San Laurel is one of the flagship restaurants in Chef José Andrés’ collection at Conrad Los Angeles. Here, he effortlessly combines his signature forward-thinking approach to Spanish cuisine with the gorgeous produce found at Southern California’s year-round farmers’ markets. San Laurel is open daily for breakfast and dinner service.

The restaurant’s interior combines organic, earthy tones and natural wood finishes with richer hues to complement what’s on the plate: the flavors of Spain as seen through a California lens.

Top review

Julie

Dined 1 day ago

We visited the San Laurel for the Thanksgiving experience. We were so pleased they could accommodate our 24 hour notice. Our table was outside on the 10th floor with a gorgeous view of the city lights and neighboring Disney Concert Hall. They provided blankets and a heat lamp to add to the cozy ambiance! The service was impeccable and food and wine pairings were spot on. Each course was a delight to our taste buds. Would highly recommend this restaurant .

H&H Brazilian Steakhouse - DTLA

4.6

4.6 (112)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Number #1 Brazilian Steakhouse in Los Angeles!
We are a Modern Brazilian Steakhouse.
We open the table with Picanha, Prime Steak!
We have the Highest Grade quality meat in US, Serving Halal Beef, Lamb and Chicken and A5 Wagyu.
We have the most beautiful Restaurant for Private Events with Four Season Rooms.
We are focus on Organic everything, Wines, Produce and Meat!

H & H Brazilian Steakhouse is own by Brazilian Henrique Huyer , with a mission of bringing to the American market the vanguard of this concept, bringing the best of Brazil today.

Top review

Alanvip

Dined 1 day ago

A wonderful way for my wife and I to celebrate Thanksgiving! The food was plentiful and delicious. The service was exceptional. A fantastic dining experience!

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Experience

Looking to host a private event?

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