Bavel
Restaurant · Historic Core ·
Middle Eastern cuisine with hummus, lamb shawarma, and kebabs
Middle Eastern cuisine with hummus, lamb shawarma, and kebabs
"Bavel comes from the same team asBestiaandSaffy’s, two fantastic restaurants in their own right, but this upscale Middle Eastern spot in the Arts District is our favorite of the bunch. Perfect for a big night out or special gathering, Bavel is always a model of consistency, serving incredible and deeply personal food with great service, and the stunning, blockbuster space buzzes with the same energy as it did when it opened in 2018. The menu is packed with hits, but if it’s your first time, prioritize the malawach platter, grilled prawns with tzatziki, and lamb neck shawarma." - Team Infatuation
"Bavel is a broadly Middle Eastern spot in the Arts District from the same people who run Bestia, and if for some reason you thought that this younger sibling would be any less popular, then you probably don’t understand sibling dynamics. Between their idyllic outdoor patio shaded by a grove of trees, tables filled with duck ’nduja hummus, lamb neck shawarma, fresh pita, and the strong chance you’ll see someone sorta famous here, a meal at Bavel is one of the most consistently great dining experiences you can have in DTLA." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"A wonderfully oversize restaurant with an open floorplan and hanging gardens. The vibe will remind you of the grandeur of the spa at La Mamounia, the legendary hotel in Marrakech. Just the room alone is worth coming for. Serving food from across the Middle East, from Israel to Tunisia to Yemen, Bavel feels bright, fresh, and unique. Don't skip the signature dish—the malawach, essentially a Middle Eastern roti, which is served with grated tomato, dill crème fraîche, soft-boiled egg, and an oh-so-Californian strawberry zhoug. People talk a lot about the meaty dishes, but we love the mushroom skewers just as much. Don’t forget to order the silken hummus with duck nduja—and some desserts, of course. Bavel always feels celebratory, especially since it takes so long to get a reservation." - Celeste Moure
"One would think the middle sibling between popular spots like Bestia and Saffy’s would get lost in the shuffle, but Bavel remains the best of the three. This upscale Middle Eastern spot in the Arts District is the epitome of consistency: the blockbuster space always feels like a well-orchestrated party, the service is sharp, and there’s not a bad dish on the menu. Come here to eat pumped-up dishes like spicy duck ‘nduja hummus, an impressive whole roasted lamb neck on laffa bread, and spreadable farm cheese dotted with little pools of za’atar and oil. No worries if you only make a small dent in Bavel’s sizable menu, you’re going to want to come back anyway." - sylvio martins, brant cox
"Bavel is the middle child restaurant from the people behind Bestia and Saffy’s, two of the most famous—and famously crowded—restaurants in the city. Having such well-regarded siblings might seem like a tough gig, but Bavel is our favorite of the family. This upscale Middle Eastern restaurant in the Arts District is a model of consistency, serving deeply personal food that tastes incredible, with reliably great service and a stunning, blockbuster space that still buzzes with the same energy it did when it opened in 2018. The menu is packed with hits, but if it's your first time, prioritize the malawach platter, grilled prawns with tzatziki, and lamb neck shawarma." - garrett snyder, brant cox, cathy park, sylvio martins