Zaya

Great vibe, ambiance, service, live jazz and food!! Caesar salad - bomb Nonna’s meatballs - delish Creole shrimp pasta - had flavor but needed more Cajun/creole flavor Pepperoni pizza - very good The band was amazing! Absolutely loved them. There’s a $10 parking lot around the corner. Be mindful, they automatically add a 20% service charge to your bill. Our bill was around $185 for the food above, service charge, plus 2 margaritas. Nice large bar downstairs with plenty of seating. Also small intimate tables around the restaurant. There’s more seating upstairs and a small bar but you won’t be able to see the band. Would definitely come back. @travel_lifestyle_chow

This was my first time coming here , and I'm glad I did , this is a great place to go for date night , girls night out , the atmosphere was cozy , I really enjoyed the live band , rnb vibes ... I will definitely be going back. The food was delicious, I had the short rib pasta and the garlic shrimp both delicious.

I loved the music , ambience and food. The band was awesome. However, when we received our bill we noticed it wasn’t what we added up. Until I saw the $28 service fee added to the bill. I sat at the bar, we couldn’t get a table because I didn’t make reservations, so why is this added to my tab? I thought about coming here for brunch but no thank you! The next time I’ll grab food and drinks BEFORE I visit here again.

Zaya DTLA has a really nice vibe. It is the kind of place you go to enjoy the atmosphere and the setting. I went with a group of friends, and while the food and drinks were decent, the experience was more about the environment. I recommend going when there is live music and making a reservation ahead of time. If you are looking for a spot with a great vibe, this is a good choice.

First things first: the pizzas we had were awesome. The ambiance is great, and the service was excellent. Why three stars? I called and was told the show starts at 8 pm. So I made a reservation for 7:30, so we could chill in and enjoy. The first musician arrived at 8:15 to start assembling his instruments. The show began at 8:45 - fair enough. We were told, though, when we were seated, that we were booked in for 90 minutes. The whole upper floor was empty - we were the only people there. I found it outright rude that we were put under time pressure for absolutely no reason. A 20% tip was added without advance notice. The service was great, but I'm not a fan of being taken advantage of, so I'm giving it three stars only. It would have been easy to make this a five-star experience. A shame, really.

This place is amazing. The people are so kind and the music is phenomenal. The bartender Madison was kind, welcoming, and her drinks hit the spot. I was fortunate enough to show up when Matthew Grant was performing and the music was absolutely fantastic. I wish I lived closer so I could frequent this live music gem, the vibe here is everything.

This is def my go to spot downtown. I’ve been here 3 times now. The live music is always great, as is the DJ. I’ve had the shrimp pasta and short rib pastas. So good!!…but the shrimp is my favorite. The vibes are nice. Service at the bar can be slow if it’s busy but everyone has been friendly. My favorite drinks are the Brown Sugar Baby and the Cinnamon Spice drink. I thought the house Margarita could’ve been stronger. My only real critique is that the downstairs dinner tables are SMALL/SHORT. I don’t enjoy sitting at tables that I can’t fit my legs under. The upstairs lounge/couch seating is very comfortable. Just go!!!

Music is fantastic 90% of the time. Especially on Wednesdays. They are currently upgrading the menu (both food and drink). Before it was limited to just pizza which was not so good. I mean if you had a couple drinks I think it’d suffice. As they are drink experimenting as well with new and changing recipes, the flavor is inconsistent and often not good. I ordered a drink with pineapple and rum and in it and it had a finishing taste of rubber ?🤨 I told the kind waitress i didn’t enjoy it and she happily returned it. ALL 3 STARS are for the music/entertainment and the kind waitresses. The food is eh and the drinks are eh as well. I say drink and eat before you come to vibe out

My boyfriend made a reservation for Valentine's Day and the music/vibe was so relaxing just as we were walking inside. The staff was clearly very busy but still had us checked in and at a table after a brief wait. The chairs were so comfortable and our server was very attentive and kind !! Absolutely loved the band they had playing live. They had a set menu for Valentine's Day which I was a little off put to at first, as I am a pick eater, but the meatball and garlic bread special we ordered was delicious ! I also had an endless nights cocktail which was soo tasteful. I was a little concerned at first that we would be overlooked as the place was very busy but overall had a great experience with the staff and meal all while listening to great music. 10/10 would recommend!! important to note they have a 90 minute table limit, as well as added tip to each meal ordered (not sure if it was because was a holiday night or if this is regular). Such a cute spot !!

Such a pleasant experience, the music the drinks, the ambiance sealed the deal. Thank you for your stellar service Raef

Had a great night! Loved the live entertainment, they had great drinks and received friendly and attentive hospitality from Eduardo. One of the best in the area!

So beautiful Originally went for the jazz and it didn't disappoint, gives such calming vibes , lights are Dimmed , romantic, and also the pasta was amazing , the music was 10/10

I came to Zaya on a Tuesday evening with a couple of friends for Reel Night. We were seated right away, and our waiter was friendly, taking the time to explain the menu and recommend a few cocktails. The music and overall vibe were top-notch, making for a great atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food and drinks didn't quite live up to the experience. I ordered the Wildflower cocktail and the That's Amore pizza. The drink was much weaker than expected, and the pizza tasted like it had been microwaved, which was disappointing. I really don't like leaving negative reviews, but I have to be honest about my experience. That said, I know every place can have an off night, and I'd love to give Zaya another shot--especially for their jazz night. I'll be back and will update my review then. To be continued...

So this place is basically located on the first level of the building that was previously Seven Grand. I believe Seven Grand is now on the 2nd level. The music is top notch and the vibes of the place was soooo fire! And the ambiance was good too. Even down to the menus...really nice touch. The service wasn't so great, and it honestly didn't have to be like that. I just think our waitress was super busy and just wasn't enjoying her night, or possibly her job period. Idk. But I took a bite of my pizza and it was nothing but dry flour on the bottom of my pizza. My mouth instantly was dry, cotton mouth. Our waitress saw it and took it off my bill, but from there...no eye contact, nonchalant attitude, and weird tone for the remainder of our reservation. Like, it wasn't her fault and we went mad. Just take it off our bill and let's keep it moving. It was all good. I honestly really hope this place lasts a long time in DTLA. It's a vibe and much needed for Los Angeles nightlife. But they do have some kinks to work out

Ended up leaving. Unpleasant experience. I was given a list or " rules" before I was able to get seated. Unfortunately, I didn't get to experience the same vibes I saw online. Wasn't even given a specific time to see the live music; it says 7pm online but I was told it could be 8-8:30.

Such a special place! Gorgeous inside, servers are so kind and welcoming. We sat and watched amazing live jazz and everything we ordered was delicious!! I can't wait to have another magical evening at Zaya

Had this on my list of places I needed to check out, so off we went to Zaya. Walking in, the front staff were very friendly. No reservation but they were able to get us seated immediately next to the band. Live jazz was being performed and that was a great addition to the dining experience Our drink order was taken immediately. The Red Velvet is a quality Bourbon and pomegranate drink, with a little maple syrup and lemon to bridge that gap between the bourbon and pomegranate. A very good drink for sure! The Endless Love is a pineapple and rum hightail which was also good, but not as good as the Red Velvet. We started out with the meatballs and, to me, probably one of the better meatballs I've had in some time. Like many meatballs that are a little more dry on the inside, these were the opposite and moist throughout. Good seasoning on the meatballs as well, plus the sauce and whipped ricotta. Just a great bite. For entrees, we had the short rib tagliatelle and the Back to the Ranch Pizza. The tagliatelle was cooked well with fresh herbs. Once thing I was hoping to taste more was the blue cheese they use in the dish and, for me, that flavor was missing completely. The pizza was also good, chicken pieces were actually moist inside, which wasn't expected with a pizza. I was looking for the house ranch that is a component for the dish, but that also didn't come forward for me. It would have really made the pizza that much better and added that element to the pizza that it was missing. The live jazz was great, just a wonderful way to enjoy a meal. Zaya provides the food, the drinks and the entertainment all in one location, so head over and take care of all your nightly needs in one place.

Walking in we were greeted by the nice hostesses and the amazing ambiance. The drinks were delicious and so was the entire spread. We had pizza and a ceasar salad to share, and everything was a 10/10. Our waitress Aaliyah was very helpful on suggesting different drinks and foods off the menu.

Upon first arrival the LED pink sign Zaya gives off good vibes. The hostess welcomed us with a warm smile and a hello. While we waited for our table to be ready. The bartender Raef greeted us with his mysterious and friendly energy and gave us a few suggestions from the menu. The ambiance and energy along with live music gives sensual and sexy. Whether you're here for a girls night or date night- A time will be had!

Amazing!!! I'll definitely come back. The vibes were there and the food was great! Also there was a live band!

Zaya offers a mixed experience. While the friendly wait staff and live band are definite positives, the limited menu and slow service, even at the bar, could use improvement. The food, especially the decadent dessert, is a highlight. However, the inconvenient and potentially unsafe parking situation, particularly for women walking in the downtown area at night, is a significant drawback that could be resolved with valet parking services.

Update. Anything above a 1 star review is a definite lie. Take yourself to any of the other jazz night spots in the city and you'll have a great time.

Came here with friends about a week ago and i had a good time. Im not big on pizza but i was surprise that the food was pretty good. I didnt know the portions would be so big so i recommend sharing. I also enjoyed the music and the decor. Definitely a place to check out.

Me and my bf went to Zaya to celebrate and early Valentine's Day and was pleasantly surprised. We made a reservation for 7:15pm and were seated right away. We ordered the meatballs and garlic bread and I must say the meatballs were BOMBBB!! But the garlic bread was a little hard and lacked flavor in my opinion. We then got a pepperoni pizza to share which was fresh and delicious. We also got the toffee pudding for desert which was warm and rich. The only complaint was that we saw that the live music started at 8 but the musicians didn't arrive untill 8:30-8:45 and with the hour and a half seat limit we only got to hear one song which was wack. I was really looking forward to the live music! However the one song we heard was beautiful, the singer and musicians really put there heart into it. Overall I would recommend we'll be back !

Service was great music was fine great atmosphere and aviance, I will be coming back again great place for date night.

Don't even bother. My girlfriend and I were so excited to try this place for a girls night out and we were so disappointed. As soon as you walk in you are greeted with a sign that states all meals will include a 20% gratuity regardless of group size or the service received, that should have been our first red flag. We were seated pretty quickly and sat waiting for a server to take our order for 30 min. We waited so long that the couple next to us who arrived at the same time left because they were tired of waiting for service. Finally we went and asked the hostess to send a server to our table. I will say the drinks were delicious so we had high hopes for the rest of our meal, but we were sadly disappointed. We are on the healthier side so we ordered the Caesar salad and meatballs each (which is the only healthy-ish options available). The salad was not good, they added poached eggs onto it which added a weird flavor, and the meatball texture was crumbly and flavorless. I will say the band was great all night. This place was super disappointed overall, will not be back unfortunately.

Absolutely loved this place! It's been on my to go list for a couple of months. I finally went outside and took a friend. I spontaneously went on a Thursday night and there was an amazing band, Mathew Grant. That man sang down!! Wow! We loved the vibe. Staff was nice. The GM was there in the evening and she was so hospitable. Reservation is encouraged and we didn't know because we just walked in; so once we were in , I made a RSVP via Yelp. We were able to get seated at a table on the 2nd floor. The 1st floor table reservations give you a view of the band. The space is huge. Lighting is vibey. Definitely giving Love Jones. Can't wait to return with friends. Great for the crowd who wants good music without the club feel. Great lounge. When the band was on intermission , there was an amazing DJ. 35+ crowd who prefers real music, should definitely come here. Had a pizza and it was good.

Look, I'm not gonna lie. I lowkey was excepting the food to be mediocre and the music to be exceptional. To my surprise, it was the opposite (for the food and music). I had been seeing IG posts about Zaya so I had to check it out for myself. My husband and I went twice in one week (Saturday and Wednesday). When we went on Saturday, 11/23 at 7pm, it was pretty empty. We came expecting to hear live music, not knowing that there isn't any music on Saturdays. Our waiter told us that live music is on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Welp, we were already there so we said would make the best of the evening. We started with the Caesar salad. This is the best Caesar salad I've had! Traditional Caesar with a nice amount of spice. Next we tried the meatballs. Also delicious! Up next, the Truffle mushroom pizza. Listen! This pizza, boy oh boy...FIRE!!! For dessert, we ordered the sticky toffee pudding! *chef's kiss*. It reminded me of a butter cake. As for cocktails, we had the Zaya & Friends. That drink was so good. Had to order two. Service was phenomenal and food was amazing. It was like we were in food heaven. Fresh ingredients and nicely paired ingredients which made each dish have a unique flavor. Because the food and drinks were so good, we had to run it back. So 4 days later, we were back to grub and listen to live music. That was a totally different experience. Not as great as our first visit.

The food was out of this world, I had a chance to speak with the chef, a bit stand offish but very polite he explained the food in great detail and his ideas of why he crated the dishes. Made the whole experience very intimate. Our server Ernie was just as amazing. He knew everything about the menu and cocktails and help us decide what would be to our liking after letting him know we are not fans of spicy food. The only fault is I wish this place was busier. It's clear the staff loves the place and are happy to be there. But like many los angels restaurants they seem to not be as busy as they should. If you ever are in DTLA please check them out just even for a pizza. Which is painful for me to say as a New Yorker. That pizza was better than home

This is your warning to not waste your time. Reservations unorganized. Timed experience of 90 minutes. Slow and rude service. Very limited menu. 3 apps. $20+ frozen pizza. 3 pastas. $16 drinks. Underwhelming and overpriced place for socials. 20% service charge for ordering a drink from a bartender that didn't even utter the words hi or welcome. There's so many people standing around waiting to be seated that you can't even enjoy the music. Random guy walking around taking pics and videos without permission. It was bad. Not coming back here...ever. There are other spots with better menus, service, vibes and they don't charge service fees for less than mediocre service, food and drinks.

Zaya was a decent experience overall. The ambiance was nice, but the service was a bit slow. The food tasted good, but nothing really wo

Zaya is perfect for a date night or any special occasion. The garlic bread and pepperoni pizza were great and the drinks were strong. Unfortunately, I came on a night when there wasn't live music, but their playlist was amazing.

I loved the environment like the open space and middle bar. We got a side table and liked the vibes. The drinks are smooth and refreshing. We came on a day where there is a movie night and they were playing Friday lol The food I loved - we had the Truffle Mushroom and Mushroom Ravioli. And both were delicious. Service was great and we checked in on several times. Parking was hard but we found a 10$ parking structure not too far from here.

I absolutely loved my experience at Sunday brunch yesterday! Not only were the performers amazing but the host and DJ were a vibe. PLEASE DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CHEF (3/2/25) because the food was scrumptious (and I'm not easy to please but we shared: shrimp & grits; French toast w/whipped cream on the side); breakfast pizza; toffee pudding; and tequila lemon drop) I can't wait to return!

I really was looking forward to going to this place. Me and a few of my girls went this past Saturday and we were truly disappointed. So we get there and it wasn't a lot of people there. I say this because we asked to sit upstairs and the hostess said we couldn't. We did have reservations. So we let that go and was seated. Our waiter came and he let us know up front that he was new which was fine. He said give him a second and he would be back. He was gone for like 15 minutes and I ended up going to the bar and ordered our drinks. I asked the bartender what top shelf vodka he had he said they didn't they only had well vodka. I then asked how about tequila and they didn't have any selections on that either. I really wanted to be able to give a 5 review or 4 but it wasn't nothing what I expected. We agreed that because of the circumstances that was happening in LA with the fires that we would say it was because of that. Our waiter also advised they have been open for a year so it takes time. We agree that we will try this place again in the near future and on a different day. The concept of having the screen on with music playing as well is a great idea. It was only 3 of us and there was a gratuity added to the bill. I thought adding gratuity to the bill was something they stopped in California. And I thought it was for big parties only. I said I would look that up regarding gratuity. We did however end the night at 7 and had a few drinks there. They for sure had a large selection of alcohol.

On December 26th, I visited this restaurant for a 7:45 PM reservation after being captivated by a viral video showcasing its unique atmosphere and promised experience. Upon arrival, I was greeted warmly by the host, who welcomed me with a radiant smile and promptly asked about my seating preference, accommodating my request effortlessly. Our server, while polite and attentive, appeared either new to the role or naturally introverted, striving to provide good service with noticeable effort. We began with two espresso martinis, but unfortunately, they tasted more like watered-down iced coffee. After just one sip, I requested replacements, opting for a Jack and Ginger and a Jack and Coke. Disappointingly, these drinks were no better. The appetizer was equally underwhelming. The garlic bread arrived cold, as did the accompanying marinara sauce. For the main course, I chose the short rib pasta, which turned out to be a letdown, a few small, shredded pieces of short rib atop cold pasta. On the other hand, my date seemed to enjoy the pizza. Since I don't eat pork, I was left with little to enjoy from my dish. The primary reason for visiting was the restaurant's advertised movie night, set to begin at 8:00 PM. Unfortunately, the movie didn't start until 8:30 PM, which added to our growing dissatisfaction. By that time, the evening had lost its charm, and we decided to leave. We ended up at 7 Grand, where the night took a delightful turn. There, we enjoyed some of the best espresso martinis I've ever had--complete with the perfect froth--and danced to live music that started promptly at 10:00 PM. It was the highlight of our evening and a great way to salvage what had started as a disappointing experience.

Booked on 12/27 and called on 1/22 to make sure everything was great. I was told by the GM that she cannot find my reservation. I sent screenshot showing she first said it just came through. Then she told me that it didn't matter they are fully staffed and have a long waiting list. My finesse was in the background saying that's not fair because it was her 40th birthday! So we was told we had to sit at the bar! The worse experience first time ever. I couldn't go anywhere else in such short time! I had waiter at bar ask and I'm still sitting at bar waiting to find out when we will get a table! Meanwhile, we have ate two salads and two pizzas! I Had four drinks! Watching people come and go with no line!

Made it to Zaya. Went on a Friday. I was tryna be outside. I must say, if your looking to meet men, that's not the place or maybe friday aint the right day. It was so many fabulous women there though. Atmosphere was cool. Music and vibe was nice. Food was not poppin and im a foodie. Drinks were not strong. Server was real cool.

It's a beautiful restaurant. Really is..my friends and I came for the Covers for Lovers event and seemed like everyone left extremely early. Like really really early. We were bored. We also left early because the service wasn't great. Some were stand off ish, looked depressed..20 minutes until we saw our server, almost another 20 minutes to get our drinks..I'd say, get a better staff.

I came to celebrate a friend's birthday, and our main frustration was that we were not made aware that tip was included in our check. When our server presented the bill on the tablet, I signed off on an additional 20% trying to be polite, only to discover later it was 40% that we tipped!! ...On SUPER subpar service at that. Our server did not disclose that tip was included at any point... I even asked her to print the receipt and even that was STILL unclear that my final tip was 40%. The receipt only included the total amount shown that was initially on the tablet check. It wasn't until I checked my bank account that I was able to confirm that it was 40% tip I gave. Talk about Shady! Not sure if the restaurant is shady or just our server, but I'd say that the servers are a representation of the whole service provided. At first glance this spot is a charmer: Jazz, drinks, food -- but in hindsight, the jazz was so loud we had to scream across the table to hear each other, the (pretty much) microwavable pizzas we got took almost a whole hour to prepare.. not sure why, the drinks were tiny and barely had a lick of alcohol in it, and they were out of some of the menu items we wanted to order. Save your time, and save yourself of finding an extra charge on your bank account statement and find some place nicer to dine at. This is not it.

This place is a great chill R&B vibe, I planned my engagement proposal and party here the Manager Candice took great care of me and my large party of about 12. I definitely would recommend this place for date nite or a party and if you arsingle and trying to mingle.

Zaya is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The vibe and energy is unmatched! If you come, please make sure you ask for Rafe! He makes the best drinks in town!

I met some friends here for a drink and some live music tonight. We sat in Terrance section and he took great care of us. And he was great eye candy lol. The band was amazing and the vibe was right for a rainy Wednesday. We will definitely be back next week.

10/10 food , drinks and band! Top tier service!!!! Get the pink moon and the sticky pudding

I met with a few girls at the spot for the first time. The ambience was better than expected. The food was good, unfortunately there was no live band, but the DJ was awesome! The service was OK no complaints

Love coming here!!! Monday is so full of life and such a vibe. Have to give a shot out it Raef bartender of the century !! Let's goooo!! Zaya os really a place to be

Service was amazing. Drinks were good, and they were having a live band when we came in. Love this spot would come back wrote sure.

Go here often, mostly on Wed nights and always a vibe. Yummy pizza, nice staff and great music.

Raef the bartender created an amazing signature drink for me! If you are looking for a nice vibe and a good drink, Zaya is the perfect place.

Beautiful place, I went on a Wednesday night loved it, just know you'll have a good time on any day you come, I had their endless love cocktail 10/10, the sauce on that pepperoni pizza is delicious, keep in mind if you make reservations everyone has to be there to get your table

Great food, great drinks, overall great service!!!! Wednesday night live band and DJ!!! I highly recommend coming here. Our waiter Milan was fantastic...hands down the best service I've had in a long time!! Our hostess Amaya was also great!! Just A+ experience all around. .

Raef was such a fucking sweet heart !!!! The drinks were on fucking par !!!!! Definitely loved the kiss of life so sweet and so delicious.

Great experience nice atmosphere met the chef Ali he was great & has created a great menu had pizza & salad it was very good no complaints on our end our waitress aaliah was great and we would definitely be coming back on a Wednesday for the show and experience the whole staff that we encountered on our night was completely amazing and awesome thank you all

We made a reservation for 8pm, I called to push it back to 8:30pm, got there a little late but they were very accommodating and sat us down right away. Huge plus here! The ambience and vibe of the place was really nice! We ordered the meatballs (really good), Truffle mushroom pizza (I liked this) and Gangnam style pizza (ok for me). The menu is a little limited, but glad with the items we ordered. We'll be back, I loved the band!

The place is Beautiful Historical Building, your parking is across the street at Velvet only where it is safe we had reservations at 7:00 we got there a little late 10:00 minutes But this Beautiful Lady greets you at the Entrance I told her I'm sorry we're late will there be a problem she said absolutely no problem Ms Barbara I loved it then she showed us to our table, we took a Corner table just a way from the musicians band that was warming up, then we ordered our delicious signature drinks with very sweet names, then we service was prompt and nice very friendly kind and all the girls, were Beautiful, we ordered our pizzas ( But) they were out of a few items that were on there menu pizza ( like) mushrooms omg But over all the pizzas came we ordered about 4 and shared them all yummy, the music was playing it was nice pleasant atmosphere Beautiful people coming in nicely dressed, this restaurant has a Great future the food area were the chefs made the food was nice n clean I definitely will come again and again I can't wait to see what they do in the summer.

Great ambiance with even greater staff. Our waiter Terrence is the best ! Glad I came here. Live music and food equals happiness

Best sticky toffee I've ever had! And everything came so fast!!! Amazing food and service! I was served way faster than expected by polite staff and enjoyed the ambiance!