(+1 323 653 6359)

AOC

In the Fairfax area, this fab French wine bar (associated with Lucques restaurant) serves plates of cheese and charcuterie as well as other treats to share alongside fine wines.

8022 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

(+1 323 656 1010)

Chateau Marmont

A restaurant every bit as glamorous as the infamous hotel, Chateau Marmont, one now overseen by the former chef of NY hotspot The Spotted Pig; ask for a table in the patio bar.

8221 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90046

(+1 310 392 9025)

Chinois on Main

Santa Monica has plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from, including this LA classic run by Wolfgang Puck – the US celebrity chef largely responsible for America's Asian-Californian fusion-food fashion. (Incidentally, Puck's first apprenticeship was at L'Oustau de Baumanière in France.)

2709 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

(+1 310 457 1519)

Geoffrey’s

Perched on a hillside in Malibu, this restaurant has unbeatable coastal views and glamorous cuisine.

(+1 323 655 6277)

Lucques

This vibey place on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood serves excellent French Californian cuisine – set-menu suppers on Sundays are a speciality here. We love the beamed ceiling and stone fireplace.

8474 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

(+1 323 654 8583)

Pacé

Up in Laurel Canyon, this is the hottest pizza and pasta joint in town. Wrap your lips around Pacé's tasty pizza pies, secure in the knowledge that every single ingredient is organic.

2100 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046

(+1 323 951 1210)

The Little Door Restaurant

This hidden Mediterranean gem is romantic and candlelit, with four interjoining rooms and an outside courtyard that's lovely for warmer evenings. The menu represents influences from France, Greece and Italy. If you are dining here, pop into El Carmen two doors down for pre-dinner margaritas.

8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California

(+1 323 852 1552)

El Carmen

This hip little joint on West Third Street is great for pre- and post-dinner margaritas (and serves several hundred varieties of tequila).

8138 West Third Street, Los Angeles, California

(+1 323 650 8999)

Skybar

This open-air bar at the Mondrian hotel on Sunset Boulevard remains one of the top places to see and be seen in LA.

(+1 323 650 9090)

The Standard Bar

This ultra-hip hangout on the roof of the Standard Hollywood hotel has quickly become a favourite of California's beautiful people. Laid-back tunes and live DJs make those signature martinis slip down dangerously fast, telescopes allow guests to oglee the LA cityscape, and ping-pong tables offer a diversion from the drinks.

8300 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles 8300

(+1 310 399 1171)

Abbot’s Habit

On Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, this café captures the area’s arty vibe with turbo-charged coffees and open-mic nights. Great for people-watching.

(+1 323 651 4202)

Doughboys

This bakery and café on West Third Street in Fairfax is extremely popular for brunch and buzzes with clientele all day long.

(+1 818 956 5996)

Porto’s Bakery

If you head out to the Valleys at the weekend, drop into this long-established bakery on North Brand Boulevard in Glendale for fabulous pastries, party favours, piñatas and Cuban specialities, including deep-fried plantains stuffed with black beans.

(+1 310 276 2251)

The Fountain Coffee Room

Also on Sunset, this café at the Beverly Hills Hotel is open 7am till 7pm and has a 1940s feel straight from the golden age of film; check out the classic soda fountain and banana-leaf print wallpaper.

Forty Deuce

A very cool bar, complete with jazz band and DJs, on Melrose Avenue; this perfect formula is set to go global soon (www.fortydeuce.com).