:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24510251/2023_03_08_LaDolceVita_019.jpg "La Dolce Vita by Wonho Frank Lee")
Step into La Dolce Vita, a revamped Beverly Hills gem where '60s glam meets Italian American comforts, including pasta classics and dreamy martinis.
"Thanks to a recent renovation, the La Dolce Vita you’ll see today is practically a new restaurant. But that doesn’t mean its history—and Old Hollywood cred— were thrown into the dumpster. With retro cheetah print carpet and lilac-hued brick walls, this tiny, windowless room in Beverly Hills looks like someone decided to serve perfectly stirred vespers and veal parmesan the size of pizza pans inside Liz Minelli’s private dining parlor. You’ll have to fight with every studio exec in town for a table, but we like heading to the gold-tinted bar instead. The whole menu is available and the plush green stools do wonders for lumbar support." - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"Originally opened in 1966 with Frank Sinatra as an investor, La Dolce Vita’s Old Hollywood credentials are undisputed. But a great time at this revitalized Beverly Hills landmark doesn’t rely on nostalgia alone. You’ll find Italian American classics done right, elite service, and one of the best martinis we’ve ever tasted—all in a tiny, windowless room that feels like a boozy Oscars afterparty. In other words, take all the best elements of Dan Tana’s and throw in food so good it'll have your table fighting over the leftovers. That’s La Dolce Vita." - brant cox
"Opened in 1966; closed in 2020 for three years Los Angeles is full of historic restaurants where someone is all too happy to explain that Marilyn Monroe dined there in the ’50s. But La Dolce Vita, a portal to another era, is one of the few places providing that history and a phenomenal meal. After a few years of restorations, La Dolce Vita reopened with plenty of substance to back up the hype. Italian American classics like the bone-in veal parm would make even the most skeptical red sauce fanatic blush. And, yes, that was Adam Sandler over there in the corner drinking a gibson and nibbling on table bread." - anne cruz
"This revival of a classic Frank Sinatra hangout in Beverly Hills might’ve been the toughest table to get in 2023. Credit the tiny, but stylish dining room recalling ’70s over-the-top decor and a bustling energy that diners don’t want to leave. The diminutive but fast-working kitchen churns out spaghetti and meatballs, veal parmesan, and mussels marinara on white tablecloths likely flecked with wine circles and tomato sauce. The chocolate tart with espresso-caramel ganache makes for an indulgent finish." - Matthew Kang, Eater Staff
"The Old Hollywood spot is a beloved LA restaurant category, but the reality is most rely on kitschy history to get people in the door—not great food or an exciting atmosphere. But La Dolce Vita has all three in spades. Dinner at this revitalized Italian American landmark in Beverly Hills feels like a portal to a different era, one filled with excellent red sauce classics, elite service, and some of the most titillating people-watching in the city. You might catch a Grammy winner eating spumoni, or drink a martini next to someone who owned a movie studio in the '90s. You know you’ve done a meal here right when your table’s filled with spicy shrimp diavolo, tableside caesars, and a gooey bone-in veal parm that feeds three grown adults. " - brant cox, nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins
