Years ago, one of my Tour guests had an interesting comment when taking in the patio at Monsieur Marcel and all around the Market, then all of the sidewalk and outdoor dining on West 3rd Street – which was once an expansion of our Farmers Market Tour.
Isn’t that all people in LA do? Eat at restaurants outdoors? All the time?
Sure, I replied. That’s all we ever do. All the time. (Didn’t I wish.)
At least now maybe that’s a little closer to the truth …
This is a summer like no other, at least in and around LA. More than ever before, more of us are dining al fresco. If you want full service in this town well, that is only box that may be checked at this time.
Thankfully we have had stellar weather so far this summer, neither unbearably hot nor humid, and many restaurants are grateful for getting to carry on quite well.
Lots of neighborhoods have new parklets and other unusual seating designs – so creative – it’s all definitely worth checking out, so here are a few tips to get started.
Old Pasadena must be first on our list, because you can dine around the globe so gloriously. Our cherished Tour merchants would love you to drop in for takeout so that you dine well tomorrow too! Visit this dining directory and use the Outdoor Dining, Patio, and even Dog-Friendly filter options.
If you’re in the general Pasadena area, Glendale’s historic old town is Montrose Shopping Park, now sprinkled with new parklets along Honolulu Avenue.
Downtown Sierra Madre just at the foothills north of Pasadena, is another fantastic, small-town-USA type neighborhood to enjoy great dining summer-style.
And Downtown Burbank has three blocks beginning at Angeleno Avenue and ending at Magnolia Boulevard that are closed for outdoor dining, through Labor Day.
The Greenleaf Promenade in Uptown Whittier is now a temporary pedestrian-only corridor for outdoor dining.
By the sea …
Santa Monica has a summer Main Street Al Fresco project, for the largest collection of outdoor restaurants in Santa Monica … definitely a hotspot for the finest and coolest of international cuisine.
Long Beach is said to have 80 parklets installed throughout the city for outdoor dining; check Yelp and Trip Advisor for latest listings.
Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village has one of the most charming setups in all of greater LA. Along Catalina Avenue, with twinkly lights at night, the corridor is reminiscent of Place St. Michel in Paris … with ocean breezes coming from 2 blocks west.
Downtown Torrance Does Dining Alfresco runs Fridays-Sundays with street closures and safe space.
Other experiences that you might love ~
Beach Eats to Go, Marina Del Rey
Lady Byrd Café in Echo Park – with individual greenhouse table enclosures!
