Culver City has quietly become one of the most interesting dining and cultural destinations on the Los Angeles Westside – and it did so without making a lot of noise about it. Anchored by a historic downtown that has been thoughtfully developed over the past two decades, the city sits at the intersection of the entertainment industry, the art world, and a food scene that has attracted some of the most ambitious chefs in Los Angeles.

The Culver City Arts District runs along Washington Boulevard and the surrounding streets with a concentration of galleries, creative offices, and design studios that gives the neighborhood a cultural density unusual for this part of the city. The dining scene that has grown up alongside it reflects the same ambition – farm-to-table kitchens, Japanese-inspired restaurants, natural wine bars, and the kind of chef-driven spots that become destination restaurants without trying to be.

Mar Vista sits just west, a residential neighborhood with a Saturday farmers market that is among the best in Los Angeles and a Main Street dining scene that operates with the quiet confidence of a community that knows what it has. The restaurants here tend toward the independent and the personal – the kind of places that reflect a neighborhood rather than a brand.

Palms connects the two – a dense, diverse neighborhood where the dining options reflect the full range of Los Angeles’ cultural makeup, and where some of the most authentic and affordable restaurants on the Westside operate without any of the fanfare that their quality deserves.

This guide covers where to eat and the special places that make Culver City, Mar Vista, and Palms some of the most rewarding and genuinely local destinations on the Los Angeles Westside.

Experiences

Eat

Alta Adams

Southern Cuisine & Soul Food

Alta Adams was a welcomed joy of Southern comfort cuisine in West Adams, California ...

Destroyer

Danish

Destroyer is a modern lunch destination, offering inventive, seasonal Scandinavian inspired dishes - in Culver City, California ...

Farmhouse Kitchen – Los Angeles

Thai

Dinner at Farmhouse Kitchen's Culver City adjacent location was a decadent experience in fun, colorful Thai cuisine in Los Angeles, California ...

Hatchet Hall & Old Man Bar

Southern Cuisine & Soul Food

Hatchet Hall & Old Man Bar is a hidden oasis of Southern cuisine - alongside an outstanding whiskey bar and selection - in Culver City ...

Los Angeles Ale Works

Brewery Tours & Tastings

After biking 11 miles during cicLAvia Venice, beer at Los Angeles Ale Works was a much needed treat, in Culver City, California ...

Love Coffee Bar

Coffee & Tea

Love Coffee Bar in Mar Vista offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with expertly crafted coffee and unique drinks. ...

Lustig

Alpine and Swiss Cuisine

Lustig in Culver City is a trendy, intimate spot known for its modern European-inspired menu and expertly crafted cocktails. ...

Meet in Paris

French

Dining at Meet in Paris has always offered me a savory taste of Paris - and my favorite moules frites - in the comfort of Culver City. ...

n/naka

Fine Dining

n/naka presents an exquisite kaiseki dining experience, where Chef Niki Nakayama masterfully blends traditional Japanese techniques with modern influences in a meticulously curated tasting menu ...