Laya Restaurant

"Sorry to Hollywood’s many rooftops, but the hottest outdoor space in town can be found ground-level at snazzy Middle Eastern spot Laya. This massive patio on Cahuenga was a string of messy club concepts for years, but now has matured into a proper restaurant with an enormous patio, complete with fire pits, fig trees, and spacious curvy banquettes. A towering white wall in the back makes the place look like a studio backlot, while illuminated stone archways give the effect of a courtyard in a grand Mediterranean estate. The menu of dips and skewers holds its own, too. Prioritize appetizers like a za’atar and goat spread with pita and roasted sweet potatoes drizzled with avocado green goddess." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park

"If fig trees, string lights, and copious amounts of mezze are your holy trinity for glitzy birthday dinners, head immediately to Laya. This snazzy Middle Eastern restaurant in Hollywood from the Ladyhawk chef is essentially one giant patio with fire pits, an outdoor bar, and spacious banquettes designed for groups. There’s a towering white wall in the back that makes the place look like a studio lot. If you’re looking to feed a full table, prioritize appetizers like like a za’atar and goat spread with pita and roasted sweet potatoes drizzled with avocado green goddess, plus a few of the grilled skewers." - brant cox

"A clubby Lebanese restaurant featuring a variety of Lebanese dishes including mezze." - Matthew Kang

"Though it might be challenging to secure seats near Laya’s coveted central fireplace, it’s visible from every seat in the house. Chef Charbel Hayek’s second restaurant, located in the heart of Hollywood, features a familiar yet casual menu that takes culinary cues from his other restaurant, Ladyhawk. At Laya, Hayek incorporates farmers market ingredients with California, Lebanese, and other flavors from the Middle East." - Mona Holmes, Eater Staff

"Laya might be Hollywood’s most stunning place to enjoy a cocktail with its open-air patio, inviting fire pits, and cushiony banquettes. Order one of chef Charbel Hayek’s Middle Eastern dishes and a deep red Jinn Venom cocktail with Andray scotch, Arak anise, pomegranate, and ginger." - Rebecca Roland, Mona Holmes, Eater Staff