Best New Restaurants In Santa Monica – 2019
As locals in Santa Monica, we love to frequent our favorite restaurants for dinner (R+D Kitchen, Hillstone, Forma, to name a few!), but when new places open, we flock in hopes that we can add a new hotspot to the list!
In 2018 and 2019, we’ve been happy to welcome the following restaurants that offer delicious food and a great atmosphere.
Elephante – With a dynamic scene with a classic Italian menu, this trendy Italian restaurant delivers on every level. We love the pepperoni pizza, broccolini with cashew pesto, the branzino, crab pasta, and of course the ocean view. Reservations highly recommended.
Wally’s – In only a year, this wine bar has become THE place to see and be seen in Santa Monica. If you think the walls lined with wines from all over the world and the beautiful crowd are impressive, wait until you try the food. The burrata Margherita pizza, lentils du puy, and truffle chicken will blow your mind all over again. And if you’re a cheese lover, you’re in for a treat! Make sure to tell Hannah the head hostess we sent you.
Fia – Very new to the scene, Fia just took over the old Wilshire restaurant with a beautiful rustic renovation and inventive seasonal menu. We love the back patio for brunch or a dinner date. Thus far, we haven’t tried everything on the menu, but we can recommend the quail that even our friend from Texas loved.
Birdie G’s – From the owners of Rustic Canyon (another one of our favorites), Milo & Olive, Huckleberry, and Ester’s Wine Bar, Birdie’s comes to Santa Monica as a high-end diner.
Pasoji – On Main Street you’ll find Pasoji, fine French cuisine on Santa Monica Main Street, “making this the most notable new restaurant to open on the block in years. Expect polished throwback French dishes like beef tartare as well as an amazing pressed duck served tableside for two.” according to Eater LA.
Mason – The world-renown hwood group opened this semi-private, intimate American 50-seat enclave next to Giorgio Bali (amazingly expensive and delicious Italian) and Shore Bar (ridiculously young dive bar) on Chanel Road. This is their second location, the first being in Chicago. “The whole thing works sort of like the infamous Rao’s (with paid standing reservations for locals) in New York City, except regular folks can still slide into Mason at the bar or, occasionally, at a table themselves.”
If you’re ever looking for the hottest spots to eat (no matter the occasion) around LA, head over to Eater LA which offers seasonal heat maps and the best restaurants by year.