2. La Velvet Margarita Cantina
1612 N Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood
323-469-2000
www.velvetmargarita.com
The hottest addition to the Hollywood “Cahuenga Corridor” district. The 4,000 square-foot restaurant/ultra lounge can best be described as “the consummate in Tijuana chic.” This motif includes the “Blue Velvet Elvis” dining area, the “Dante’s Inferno” bar and the tropical “Yucatan Penisula” outdoor dining patio. Classic Mexican recipies (cooked by owner Bid Daddy Carlos’ grandmother when he was a young boy) and his signature designer fruit margaritas are both focal points for the Nuevo Latino menu. Celeb fans include Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore, Benicio Del Toro, Entertainment industry execs and the power lunch crowd.

3. Memphis
6541 Hollywood Blvd (at Hudson)
Hollywood
323-465-8600
www.memphishollywood.com
This restaurant/lounge successfully fuses Hollywood nightlife with exquisite fine dining. Lavishly decorated by LA’s trendiest new interior designer, Grady Cooley, Memphis is revolutionizing the Los Angeles restaurant landscape. The high-end Southern Cuisine is perfection, teaming top chefs Francisco Chaidez and Terry Fortia. The classic stretch of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Vine sees yet another addition to its growing collection of nightlife options for local scenester and visiting traveler alike. Celebs such as Chris Rock, Eva Longoria, Jaime Foxx and Kanye West all frequent Memphis.

4. Smitty’s Grill
110 S Lake St (at Green)
Pasadena
626-792-9999
www.smittysgrill.com
If you are looking for all-American comfort food served in an upscale environment, Smitty’s in Pasadena is the place to be. There’s no skimping on flavor or size - their homemade chicken pot pie measures 14″ in diameter - and favorites like meatloaf, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Cornbread, Macaroni & Cheese are deliciously prepared. Smitty’s walls are lined with archival photos of American icons from the worlds of entertainment, sports and politics providing a historic element that evokes as much nostalgia as the homespun cooking coming out of the kitchen. The bar turns out both contemporary and classic cocktails and you can top off your evening with a Hot Fudge Sundae or a tart Michigan Cherry Crisp.

5. Bridge
755 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood
310-659-3535
The innovative Koi Hospitality Group opened Bridge restaurant and lounge in Los Angeles, which promises an equally profound impact on the dining scene as its Los Angeles and New York sister restaurants Koi. Bridge reflects a sense of style worthy of the restaurant’s fashionable clientele, featuring a dramatic design and authentic Italian cuisine paired with a bar & lounge serving classic cocktails and a private lounge that features its own bar. Bridge will offer the luxury, contemporary style that attracts Hollywood’s A-List crowd. An intriguing menu with bold yet nuanced Italian flavors will be featured including favorite dishes such as the Asparagus Ravioli with Ricotta Cheese in a Sage Butter Sauce.

6. L Scorpion
L Scorpion
6679 Hollywood Blvd (@ Las Palmas Ave)
Hollywood
323-464-3026
Scorpion is a uniquely authentic bar and restaurant that speaks to the true tequila culture and traditions of Mexico. To complement their selection of over 160 hand-selected tequilas and mezcals, L Scorpion also features a full bar and a menu of signature small plate dishes that showcase a contemporary approach to highlighting the classic flavors of Mexican cuisine. The elegant design of L Scorpion features dramatic eighteen foot arches wherein their tequilas and mezcals, backlit in hues of amber, are displayed against antiqued mirror. Celebrity fans include: Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra.

7. Bella
1708 Las Palmas Ave. (at Hollywood)
Hollywood
323.468.8815
www.bellahollywood.com
From the Dolce Group comes Hollywood’s hottest Italian Cucina. This indoor/outdoor eatery has menu selections ranging from spaghetti and meatballs to chicken parmesan to veal picatta, this Hollywood hot spot is perfect for foodies and scenceters alike. Bella accommodates all, whether it’s dinner with a nice bottle of wine, or a stop before a night on the town for their famous Bellini� Bella is perfect for any day of the week. Celebrity fans include: Eva Longoria, Tara Reid, Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz.

8. BlackSteel
6683 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
323- 469-3456
www.blacksteel.tv
BlackSteel’s mission is to provide its guests with an unprecedented dining experience that excites the senses through a combination of excellently prepared quality food, superior service and a unique design that uses rich tones and soft textures to create a distinctive and unforgettable setting. Chef Jason Harley seduces his guests with an original menu that will stimulate by featuring new style French international fusion blended with traditional Eastern culinary ingredients and modern Western techniques, presentations and styles. The bar and lounge area features an incredible vodka display. Celebrity fans include: Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, Lindsay Lohan, and Kirsten Dunst.

9. Citizen Smith
1602 N Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood
323-461-5001 www.citizensmith.com
Introduced in April 2006 by Andrew Belchic as the “everyman urban bistro,” Citizen Smith is as much instant classic as it is Hollywood hot spot. Executive Chef Taylor Boudreaux’s menu or high end “comfort” classics, such as Jalapeno Mac N Cheese, Fried Chicken, Petit Filet, Chopped Steak Sliders and, the one-of-a-kind Pecan Pie, are served in a setting reminiscent of the sultry feel of turn of the century back alley Paris. Belchic co-designed the subtly ornate, loft inspired space with Thomas Schoos, to include such unique details as, hand made raw hide wall coverings, cushy leather banquettes and enormous hand carved wooden doors imported from Paris and Cairo. Celebrities include: Sting, Lance Armstrong, Nicky Hilton and Kevin Connolly.

10. Table 8
7661 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood
323-782-8258
Located on famously eclectic Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Table 8 offers an outstanding dining experience in a decidedly relaxed, yet sophisticated environment. With an ever-changing menu of market-driven California seasonal cuisine, the sexy ambiance and delectable “small plate” menu of the Table 8 lounge has made it a customer favorite. While the restaurant’s celebrity clientele may have thrust it into the limelight from the beginning, it is such widely praised dishes as Chef Govind Armstrong’s salt roasted portherhouse that have propelled Table 8 onto the international culinary stage. Celebrities include: Jennifer Aniston, Elton John and Leonardo DiCaprio and Chris Noth.