Merois ranks first in the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. Merois—pronounced "mehr-wha"—is located on the roof of the Pendry West Hollywood, alongside the hotel's pool and the Britely, a local members-only social club. You'll notice the indoor-outdoor eatery's glittering cityscape views, colorful, patterned furniture, and luxurious, drape-lined chandelier lighting as soon as you exit the elevator. Other WeHo hotel restaurants may have a similar winning combination of ritzy, ultra-chic interior design and breathtaking urban vistas (plus the glitzy patrons to match), but only Wolfgang Puck's newest L.A. fine-dining venture strives to do more than just coast on its looks. Merois demonstrates that later works in a longtime celebrity chef's oeuvre, even one as expansive and commercialized as Puck's, can still delight and outright impress seasoned diners by combining aesthetics with actual substance.

Almost four decades after Spago first opened in 1982, one might expect Puck's now-famous approach—seasonal California cuisine with French techniques and pan-Asian influences—to be stale and out of date, but that is not the case at Merois. With newer dishes like a crispy rice crab salad and stir-fried flat noodles with short rib, head chef Matt Dahlkemper and chef de cuisine Nicole Abisror, a longtime Spago and CUT kitchen veteran, keep the well-executed menu fresh and relevant. A beautifully plated hamachi tartare served with squid ink-black rice crisp may no longer be considered cutting-edge cuisine, but goddamn is it good.

While Merois serves vegan-friendly vegetable sushi, excellent wok-seared broccolini, and a few other plant-centric small plates, the majority of its menu focuses on seafood, game, and carefully sourced (and thus expensive) red meat. Skip the Snake River Farms filet, a single three-ounce skewer with a completely unacceptable price-to-satiety ratio, from the sushi, raw bar, and bincho grilled skewer sections. Larger ticket items like Shanghai lobster, grilled Mongolian lamb chops, and a shareable Peking duck with black plum chutney may fit the bill for a big-ticket dinner, but Puck's more affordable take on Japanese omurice is just as delicious.

Location: 8430 Sunset BlvdWest Hollywood90069
Contact: 323-918-3410
Rating: 5.0/5.0

Website: pendry.com

Élephante ranks 2nd in the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. The only word that comes to mind after taking the elevator up to this Tulum-inspired, all-day rooftop restaurant and bar serving seasonal California Italian cuisine and top-notch cocktails is "amazing." Elephante, located upstairs from the Laemmle Theater, has one of Santa Monica's best indoor-outdoor spaces, with resort-like interior design straight from the pages of Conde Nast Traveler.

Inside, chic modern wood furniture and a selection of cacti and lush houseplants set the tone for the Sunset Room's stunning view of the ocean. Meet up with friends for brunch and lunch during the day, then bring a date for low-light romance at night. Their go-to is the whipped eggplant dip with puffy house-made flatbread, but there’s also excellent pizza, pasta and a sunny weekend brunch with the likes of soft polenta with eggs, crab and sweet corn.

Location:1332 2nd StSanta Monica90401
Contact:424-320-2384
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-12pm; Fri-Sat 9am-1am; Sun 9am-12:30am

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Website: www.elephantela.com

Sant'olina ranks 3rd in the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. Sant'olina is a fusion of Mediterranean and Southern California cuisine. Chefs Michael Teich and Burt Bakman combine vibrant herbs and spices to create a flavorful, healthy menu. Each dish tells a different story, from traditional recipes from Tel Aviv shuks to modern Californian touches.

The h.wood Group's (Delilah, The Nice Guy, SLAB) breezy hotel restaurant offers stunning views of the hills any time of day, as well as flavorful, upscale Cal-Mediterranean cuisine, but the Beverly Hilton's citrus tree-lined roof truly transforms into the ideal spot for romance at night. From 7 to 10 p.m. on weekends, live Greek music is performed, while h.wood Group chefs Michael Teich and Burt Bakman's flavorful Cal-Mediterranean cuisine wows from every angle. A verdant yellowtail crudo infused with citrus za'atar and a decadent caviar-topped potato latke are must-order appetizers here, though any of their wood-fired entrées will not disappoint. The cocktails are also excellent, especially the Spicy Siena, Sant'olina's take on a spicy marg.

Location: 9876 Wilshire Blvd.Beverly Hills90210
Contact: (310) 285-1260
Opening hours:Sun & Tue-Fri 5-11pm, Sat noon-10pm
Rating: 4.6/5.0

Website: www.santolinabh.com

LA Cha Cha Cha is ranks 4th in the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. If you're looking for an out-of-L.A. escape, a blue fin tuna tostada and a strawberry milk punch on this palm and cactus-lined Arts District patio will suffice. The aesthetic details of LA Cha Cha Chá are divine, channeling its predecessor in Mexico City. Scroll through the restaurant's process shots to see how those white concrete block walls, elegant hexagonal tiles, and subtropical flora ended up on the second-floor rooftop.

The seafood and tequila-forward menu adds to the CDMX terraza vibe. Though every restaurant will try to sell you on their shareables, you could make a memorable meal here just on botanas. Consider the guacamole, tacos, and tostadas a given for each visit: The charred octopus tostada steals the show, but the tuna tostada is fresh and smoky perfection, topped with crispy cilantro and chile morita aoili. Meanwhile, the fideo seco chases its heat with a fresh dollop of whipped avocado atop the pasta. The entire grilled red snapper left us wishing for just a little bit more chimichurri to soak up.

On the other hand, you could spend the entire evening at the bar pounding spicy margaritas and palomas served in a traditional clay pot for a similarly transportive experience. Try the cachaça, rhum, and mandarin Jarritos-based painkiller for a straight-up sip of paradise.

Location: 812 E 3rd StLos Angeles90013

Opening hours:Tue–Sat 5:30–10:30pm, Sun 5:30–10pm

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Website: chachacha.la

71Above ranks 5th in the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. 71Above is the highest restaurant west of the Mississippi, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and nearly 1,000 feet above ground level. Executive Chef Javier Lopez prepares elevated seasonal modern American cuisine with breathtaking 360-degree views. Guests can enjoy an uninterrupted panorama from Malibu to Laguna Hills and the surrounding mountain ranges in an upscale, romantic setting.

In addition to the breathtaking views, 71Above provides a variety of dining options. Guests can dine in the bustling bar, their relaxed bistro-style SkyLounge, or the lively main dining room. They also have an interactive chef's table facing their open kitchen, edge tables with views of West Los Angeles, and quieter, semi-private dining areas. 71Above offers one large and two small private dining rooms overlooking Dodger Stadium for special events and fully secluded dining.

Location: 633 W 5th StLos Angeles

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11:30am-11pm; Thu, Fri 11:30am-Midnight; Sat 5pm-Midnight; Sun 5-11pm

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Website: www.71above.com

Perch LA ranks 6th on the list of best rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles. They always return to Perch, one of the prettiest rooftop bars (and bistros) in town, no matter how many new rooftops open. Nightly, patterned tile floors, potted trees brimming with twinkling lights, and charming seating combine for a scene packed with Downtown locals and a few hundred of their closest friends. Though the boudoir-themed interior is frequently crowded, those who book earlier dinner tables will find a much cozier atmosphere before the late night crowds arrive, as well as a menu of traditional French favorites such as steak frites, French onion, and a vegan-friendly plat provençale.

They are thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing areas, surfaces, and touch points before welcoming guests back into their dining room. In addition to their already stringent restaurant cleaning procedures, they will continue to use their CDC-approved disinfectant to regularly disinfect all guest and team member touch points. This includes, but is not limited to, disinfecting guest tables, check presenters, menus, pens, restrooms, door handles, and other common surfaces after each use.

Location: 448 S Hill St13th floorLos Angeles90013
Contact: 213-802-1770
Rating: 4.5/5.0

Website: www.perchla.com

Margot's location—high on the rooftop of Culver City's Platform complex—might be the restaurant's main draw, but it's also nice to see that it serves a decent meal. Chef Michael Williams' menu isn't exactly ambitious, but with a few exceptions, it's appropriately targeted at its trendy clientele and mostly succeeds in providing well-executed and well-sourced dishes to large crowds. Brunch was the most enjoyable of their two visits; there aren't many better places in town for a few pleasant hours day-drinking with friends. A crudo of kampachi ($19) with pickled mustard seed, horseradish, and dill was balanced with just enough accompaniments to complement, rather than overpower, the fattiness of the fish. The wild arugula salad ($16) with hazelnut vinaigrette, baby beets, citrus, and manchego was a standout, with the peppery arugula complementing the texture of the hazelnuts and the saltiness of the Spanish sheep's cheese.

The larger brunch courses are mostly classics, but they are prepared with care and attention that is often lacking in this underappreciated meal: Fried chicken with Calabrian honey ($24) was perfectly coated and begged to be dipped into the small dish of spicy-sweet honey. Porchetta Benedict ($17) was a fun twist on a classic, but I wish the pork had retained a bit of cracklin' to add texture to what was otherwise a soft dish. The American-wagyu steak and eggs ($32) were noteworthy not only for the perfectly cooked steak or the two glistening yolks of perfectly prepared eggs, but also for an addictive side of crisp roasted fingerling potatoes that would send anyone's Keto diet to hell in a handbasket. These are also available separately as patatas bravas ($13), which would go well with a cocktail.

Location: 8820 Washington BlvdCulver City90232

Contact: 310-643-5853

Opening hours:Daily 11am-2am

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Website: www.margot.la

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the fresh bounty of Cara Cara, from golden daylight to twinkling evening. With her festive and irresistible rooftop fare, Chef Suzanne Goin's seasonal menu highlights California's best produce. An elevated dining area with endless skyline views is surrounded by a lushly landscaped lower lounge in the expansive outdoor space. Sit in one of the many cozy seating areas or by the fire pit and enjoy an innovative cocktail, wine, or beer paired by award-winning sommelier Caroline Styne.

Cara Cara would easily land on their best rooftop bars list with small plates from farm-to-table icon Suzanne Goin, highly focused, yet breezy cocktails, and amazing views of Downtown, if it weren't for one not-insignificant snag: tables take up the majority of its square footage, and they're almost always packed with reservations. Walk-ins are forced to congregate around the fire pit or compete for an open table, transforming this excellent rooftop bar into more of a light-bites lounge. Don't let all the red tape deter you—the views, food, and drinks at this Downtown rooftop restaurant are well worth the effort.

Location: 1100 S BroadwayLos Angeles90015
Contact: 213-806-1027
Opening hours:Mon–Thurs, 11am–11pm; Fri, Sat 11am–12am; Sun 11am–11pm
Rating: 4.3/5.0

Website: properhotel.com

Castaway is on track to become Southern California's most provocative and exciting restaurant and special event venue. At Castaway, everything is brand new, from the walls to the furniture, as well as the entire menu and service model - the only constant is the ever-present stunner: the breathtaking surrounding views. Castaway's design is prominent, with multi-level seating to ensure that no matter where one sits, an excellent view and an unforgettable experience are guaranteed.

The dining room has been designed to create impressive dining and drinking experiences, with operable picture windows that fully open to draw the outside in, a prominent meat dry-aging room, a floor-to-ceiling wine cellar, a compelling wrap-around bar, and a highly coveted Chef's Table set up.

Steaks from Cape Grim. The Pasture Bird. Wagyu Mishima. These are some of their culinary celebrities. Seasonally inspired cuisine with a steak-forward focus, including interesting cuts from the world's best butchers and dry-aged in their in-house aging room with a Himalayan salt wall, will be served at Castaway.

Location: 1250 East Harvard RdBurbank91501

Contact: 8188486691

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Website: castawayburbank.com

Stephanie Izard, whose Girl & the Goat outpost in the Arts District easily made their annual best new restaurant list last year, is behind The Hoxton's new rooftop restaurant. Downtown's Cabra is the second location of the Top Chef winner's Peruvian-inspired small plates concept, with Izard's usual sharp, playful takes on dishes like striped bass ceviche and lomo saltado. Cabra has something memorable and delicious for everyone, from appetizers to dessert.

The quinoa and tuna salad's cornucopia of bright flavors, as well as the caramel-covered picarones (sweet potato doughnuts topped with puffed rice), stood out for us. Together with a gorgeous poolside bar, stunning interior design and excellent cocktails, this breezy destination-worthy eatery is an obvious choice for your next big night out.

Location: The Hoxton DTLA1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, 90015

Contact: 213-725-5858

Opening hours: Sun–Thurs 4–11pm; Fri, Sat 4pm–midnight
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Website: cabrachicago.com