Top Los Angeles Dining Experiences

Explore secret bars and truly cinematic settings with the help of a guide who’ll have you wining and dining like a Beverly Hills local. Not only will you eat at spots many tourists miss, you'll also get special access to a fashion house on Rodeo Drive. Whether you’re new in town or you’ve lived here for years, you’ll likely discover something new about the neighborhood.

If homemade pasta sounds intimidating, this class is about to change your mind. Hosted in a lively local venue, this hands-on experience teaches you how to make authentic Cacio e Pepe completely from scratch with guidance from Chef Amy. You’ll begin by mixing flour, eggs and water into fresh pasta dough, learning how to knead it until smooth and shape it into handmade noodles. Then you'll discover why one of Italy’s most beloved pasta dishes depends more on technique than a long ingredient list. Using pecorino cheese and cracked black pepper, you’ll create a rich, velvety sauce that clings to every strand. Expect practical skills you can use again, from working with dough texture to mastering pasta cooking times. The vibe is welcoming, interactive and free of culinary ego. There’s something deeply satisfying about transforming a few humble ingredients into a restaurant-worthy plate. Fair warning: after this, boxed pasta may start feeling a little nervous.

Formosa Cafe offers a truly unique experience that transports you back in time to the glamorous era of Hollywood's past. The carefully crafted cocktails at Formosa Cafe are more than just libations; they are a sip of history. As you savor each drink, you'll be surrounded by the essence of Hollywood's golden age, creating a unique and nostalgic atmosphere. The bar not only serves classic Hollywood cocktails but also offers diverse merchandise, allowing you to take a piece of this historic experience home with you. The adventure continues with a culinary journey that introduces you to a delightful fusion of flavors from Chinese cuisine. With every bite, you become fully immersed in the captivating narrative of Hollywood's past, making the dining experience at Formosa Cafe a true celebration of history and culture.

Tables at Hollywood’s Hard Rock Cafe fill up quickly. With this pre-fixe lunch or dinner, guarantee that you’ll get a reservation and your meal of choice. Enjoy a high energy atmosphere and an unbeatable soundtrack as you dine, and choose a menu theme (2- or 3-course) to match your favorite tunes. A drink and dessert are included, and Hard Rock’s menu is diverse enough to suit all tastes, including vegetarians.

For visitors to a new destination, it can be difficult know how to cut through the tourist traps and find the best places to eat. This food-focused tour of West Hollywood will take the guesswork out of your visit by taking you to five different eateries where you will enjoy dishes that range from tacos to Thai cuisine.

Tasting some of the best food in Los Angeles isn't just about experiencing the local cuisine, but learning about the dynamic food culture that's emerging in Downtown LA. On this foodie-friendly walking tour, you taste creations at a few standout downtown eateries. Start walking from Pershing Square, enjoy your guide's live narration about LA and Hollywood history, and hear about the local food scene while you explore.

Tail o' the Pup offers a unique fusion of experiences tailored to every traveler's desires. We seamlessly intertwine the allure of Los Angeles' concealed historical gems with the pure delight of relishing hot dogs and refreshing beverages. Tail o' the Pup is a prime example of programmatic architecture. It's not just a place to indulge in mouthwatering hot dogs; it's an exquisite slice of LA's architectural heritage. At Tail o' the Pup, we blend LA's hidden history with hot dogs and unique souvenirs. This iconic hotspot, once The Doors' workshop for 'L.A. Woman,' adds a legendary touch to your journey. Plus, it's the perfect place to snap iconic photos.

Experience the satisfaction of crafting pasta from scratch in the heart of Los Angeles. In this interactive class, Chef Cici shares authentic Italian techniques for making cavatelli and a rich cacio e pepe sauce. Start by preparing pasta dough using semolina flour and egg yolks, learning how to mix and handle the dough for ideal elasticity and structure. Next, shape the dough into cavatelli by hand, creating small pasta pieces designed to hold sauce beautifully. Chef Cici then walks you through building a creamy cacio e pepe sauce using ricotta, Pecorino Romano and black pepper, finishing the dish with fresh basil and chives. Enjoy your freshly made pasta in a relaxed local setting and leave with the skills to recreate this classic Italian dish at home.

There’s something weirdly therapeutic about folding dumplings while pretending you’re in a tiny Tokyo food stall. In this lively cooking class with Chef Darren, hosted at a stylish local venue in Los Angeles, you’ll learn how to craft authentic Japanese pork gyozas from scratch in a relaxed, social atmosphere. Start by preparing fresh dumpling dough before mixing a flavorful filling with ground pork, garlic chives, ginger, soy and sesame. Chef Darren will teach you how to properly fold and seal each gyoza so they cook evenly with that crispy-bottom, juicy-center situation everyone loves. The class is beginner-friendly, hands-on and packed with practical techniques you can absolutely recreate at home when you want to impress friends without spending three hours in the kitchen. Expect plenty of tasting, laughter and “okay wait, I made these?” moments as you enjoy your homemade dumplings fresh off the pan.

Los Angeles is known for its incredible foodie scene. Tacos are a local staple of Angeleno's diets. You can find tacos everywhere, but if you want to find the secret, locals only stand out tacos, come ride with us. Starting out at LA's historic food hall, Grand Central Market, with so many choices you'll want a guide to show you the best stalls to visit. We've curated the rest of our taco cruise to highlight a variety of the best tacos downtown LA has to offer; from Michelin starred chefs, to street stand, off the beaten path taqueros, we'll try as many as we can before you're full. Riding bikes while chasing tacos enables us to bypass the traffic, and seek out the hidden local treasures and pathways only accessible by bike.

You walk into a laid-back South Bay brewery expecting a drink, but end up learning to build little pockets of flavor from scratch. Chef Darren keeps things fun and simple enough that you don’t overthink a single fold. You start with the filling: ground pork, cabbage, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onion, mixed until it already smells like you know what you’re doing. Then you move into assembly, spooning filling into gyoza wrappers and learning the pleat-and-seal technique. It’s easier than it looks, addictive, and you get better with every dumpling. Next, you pan-fry your gyoza until the bottoms turn crispy and golden, then splash in water to steam them until tender inside. While they cook, you whisk a dipping sauce of soy, rice vinegar, and chili oil that pulls everything into a sharp, addictive bite. It’s relaxed, social, and a little messy in the best way. You’re in a brewery, folding dumplings, thinking… yeah, store-bought gyoza is officially on notice.

You walk into a South Bay brewery expecting a drink, but end up turning potatoes into gnocchi from scratch. Chef Darren keeps things easygoing and fun, guiding you step by step so you never feel lost. You start with warm potatoes, mashing them until smooth, then mixing in flour, egg, and salt to form a soft dough. You learn how to knead it just right so it comes together without becoming heavy. Then you shape your gnocchi: rolling, cutting, and pressing each piece to get that signature texture. It’s hands-on, slightly addictive, and you’ll notice your technique improving fast. After that, you boil your gnocchi until they float, then toss them in a sauce like sage brown butter or slow-cooked tomato. You pick up simple techniques for timing, texture, and sauce pairing that make a big difference. It all happens in a relaxed brewery setting with a laid-back vibe. You’re cooking, tasting, and thinking… yeah, potatoes didn’t need to be this exciting!

Swap the busy city of Los Angeles for a more chilled-out alternative—a wine-themed day trip. Explore downtown Santa Barbara and enjoy a scenic ride down the Pacific Coast Highway to visit Santa Ynez Valley wineries for tastings. As well as trying wine, the tour also passes areas of spectacular natural beauty such as Lake Cachuma and Los Padres National Forest.