For a quintessentially Californian celebration, grab a table in one of LA’s prettiest gardens. The lush outdoor courtyard at A.O.C.—James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin’s French-accented wine bar—is where you want to plan a big birthday dinner or bridal shower. But it’s also just as perfect for a midweek pick-me-up. Go for the cheese and charcuterie boards, wood-fired clams, and 24 by-the-glass wines, picked by acclaimed restaurateur and sommelier Caroline Styne.

Take a whirlwind trip through the Middle East when you celebrate at the second restaurant from the award-winning Bestia team. This is Casablanca in the Arts District, splashed with turquoise, saffron, and brass accents for days. The menu travels to Israel, Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt, featuring spectacular roasted meats with lots of harissa and tahini. No birthday party here is complete without the strawberry and sumac pastry and a scoop of pistachio ice cream.

Save this modern Taiwanese hotspot for celebrating something extra-big. Kato’s newer location—its first home in the Row DTLA was showered with honors, including a MICHELIN star—is bigger but still about chef Jon Yao’s inspired multi-course tasting menus (pig ears with tomato and sesame, freshwater eel with stone fruit) on gorgeous plateware. Wine director Ryan Bailey more than understood the assignment when it came to designing an equally unique natural wine list.

Alinea vet Dave Beran opened this elegant French spot in 2019, but really turned heads for a tasting menu he launched in 2023—because nothing says special occasion like a limited-edition meal. Beran brings MICHELIN-starred swagger and unexpected Japanese touches to his 12 gorgeous courses, which also include a wine pairing option. If you’re going the a la carte route, get the duck for two, pressed in front of your eyes for a little tableside je ne sais quoi.

Gear up for one of the fanciest nights of seafood you’ve ever had. Providence—which added a Green MICHELIN star to its growing list of awards this year—is led by James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner Michael Cimarusti, who works his technical magic on an eight-course tasting menu starring the ocean’s most elite like golden Kaluga caviar and luscious uni. Don’t be surprised if a meal here takes a whopping three hours to finish. Bring anyone you want to impress.

Even 40-plus years after it opened, Wolfgang Puck’s Beverly Hills icon is still a stunner. A special-occasion meal here means you’re celebrating your big night with elegant Californian dishes that made the award-winning chef/restaurateur one of the most recognizable names in the food world, such as rack of lamb with harissa and za’atar brittle or pizza with smoked scamorza and garlic confit. Whether you’re looking for a romantic meal or a full-on LA blowout party, Spago’s got you covered.

Two-MICHELIN-Starred restaurant Mélisse recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, but chef Josiah Citrin’s 18-course tasting menus still feel fresh. The intimate 14-seat dining room is beautifully appointed for indulging in Citrin’s modern California cooking in dishes like Santa Barbara spot prawns with chanterelles and hay-baked chicken with egg-yolk ravioli. Toast your big night out with a bottle of Champagne from the restaurant’s impressive wine list.

From the stunning setting to the exacting attention to detail, every element is carefully planned at chef Jordan Kahn’s recently reopened Vespertine. Settle in for a multi-course menu that’s intended to blow your mind with dishes like a raw scallop brushed with concentrated passion fruit juice and aji amarillo chile, and finished with slivers of raw turnip, cyclamen petals, and a crisp of horseradish. Allow three hours for the sensory explosion that’s sure to spark plenty of conversation.

The chefs at Umaya have more than 50 years of sushi experience combined, so it’s no surprise that every piece of fish that comes out of the kitchen looks like a work of art. Opt for an omakase menu for an unforgettable meal filled with the likes of chawanmushi, seasonal broiled fish, and toro sushi topped with truffles, all served in a modern, serene dining room. Don’t sleep on the bar’s gorgeous cocktails, like the Smashing Leaves, made with bourbon, kumquat, shiso, and lemon.

Make it a special night by booking a seat at Antico Nuovo’s marble chef’s counter, where you’ll be rewarded with a view of the kitchen’s wood-fired hearth and all the action surrounding it. There, chef Chad Colby turns out beautiful handmade pastas like tortelli with lemon, ricotta, marjoram, and pine nuts that transport you to the Italian countryside. Then move on to mains like chicken roasted over focaccia with salsa verde paired with one of the plentiful Italian wines.