The 10 Must-Try Restaurants In Silver Lake, Los Angeles

Barbrix is the perfect destination to sample a variety of wines and share small plates of Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with good friends and loved ones. There’s a square bar with seating on all sides that makes for a convivial atmosphere, as well as an outdoor patio area ideal for their bottomless Mimosa brunch. The menu boasts a large selection of charcuterie and cheeses as well as delectable dishes like pork and ricotta meatballs and grilled Spanish octopus.

Blair’s is a welcome respite from the current minimalist design trend with its intimate candlelit ambiance. With a focus on New American cuisine, traditional comfort foods like deviled eggs and ribs are taken to the next level with gourmet inflections and locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. The incredible, to-die-for truffle mac ‘n’ cheese merits a trip to Silver Lake on its own but the charm of Blair’s is that it has retained the feeling of a hidden neighborhood venue in which to savor a languid evening with food and people you love.

Located in the heart of Silver Lake at Sunset Junction next to the extraordinarily popular Intelligentsia coffee bar, Cafe Stella is a neighborhood institution whose charming old-world decor instantly transports its guests into a little Parisian haven. This is the place to satisfy your cravings for a steak au poivre or coq au vin and a hearty French red wine. If you want to keep the dreamy romantic evening going, the adjoining Bar Stella is full of sultry dark corners in which to savor a cocktail served by bartenders in retro white jackets.

A well-known neighborhood destination for the coffee connoisseur, LAMILL COFFEE is known for its hand-drip and siphon-brewed coffee made from beans roasted on site, and as a coveted locale for a leisurely breakfast or lunch. The Louis XIV-style decor, complete with turquoise leather chairs, ornate chandeliers and large panels of scenes from antiquity adorning the walls, is the perfect setting in which to enjoy the delicious house-made brioche doughnut holes or a frisée aux lardons salad.

Calling itself a cantina suavecita, Malo straddles the boundary between updated and traditional Mexican fare, earning accolades both for its inventive twists on classics, like the beloved ground beef and pickle tacos, and staples like chips and salsa. With a selection of over 150 different tequilas, and creative cocktails like La Guera (rum and horchata) or the Piñata Smash (tequila, Serrano chile, cilantro, pineapple, lime juice, and agave), Happy Hour is always a popular choice, offering a number of food specials as well. The patio is a great spot on a warm evening, and late nights can be spent ensconced in the bar’s cozy leather banquettes.

The Red Lion Tavern is an authentic slice of old-school Silver Lake. This restaurant boasts a traditional biergarten festooned with Bavarian beer banners that makes for an idyllic spot on a sunny afternoon. The hearty German fare is not exactly vegetarian-friendly (though a vegan bratwurst has been added to the menu recently), but the sausage platter—a serious helping of bockwurst, knackwurst, and bratwurst served with mustard and pickles—is a perfect accompaniment to the excellent selection of German beers, available in a 2-liter boot-shaped stein for the true beer enthusiast.

The French Taix family has operated a restaurant in Los Angeles since 1927, making it one of the oldest French eateries in the city and a true Angeleno landmark. Taix (pronounced ‘Tex’) has won awards for its extensive wine list, and traditional French menu items like escargots and frog legs served in a throwback atmosphere.