Restaurants in Los Angeles

Steaks and giant lobsters are the draw here at this bustling chain. Hand-drawn caricatures on the walls (the Palm's signature décor) date back to the 1920s when the original restaurant was on Second Avenue in New York. Portions are large, but be sure to save room for the creamed spinach in garlic oil and the New York cheesecake. Service is excellent.

There is a hushed calm to the interior of Hatfields befitting this operation that takes its food very seriously indeed. The husband and wife team (him: savoury; her: sweet) is responsible for a menu that consistently uses fresh produce. Expect mains along the lines of pan-roasted duck breast, with quinoa and mitake mushrooms, butternut squash and a whiskey prune sauce. The wine list is small, yet perfectly formed. Closed Sunday.

It would be easy to pop in for a perfect breakfast and brunch, linger for lunch and move on to a satisfying supper. This restaurant does all three with aplomb whilst managing to be both sophisticated and comfortable. Mingle with well-heeled Four Seasons guests, discreet business people, and even the odd celebrity, while looking out onto the cornerstones of Rodeo Drive.

Vegans and the health-conscious will embrace this large bohemian cafe, complete with designer wall lighting and outdoor patio, which offers veggie burgers, salads and fresh fruit smoothies. Weight watchers who love desserts will be especially at home, as the 'fat-free' desserts include marble cake, apple cake and fresh fruit cornbread cobbler with vanilla ice cream. There is another branch in Santa Monica.

This Mexican cantina is named after chef Lula Bertran (culinary guru to the restaurant's well-known Irish owner Gerri Gilliland) who also owns Santa Monica's authentic Irish pub, Finn McCools. An oasis on Santa Monica's main street, the bright décor and garden patio are the backdrop for top-notch margaritas and regional specialities like lobster taquitos. The flan and churros (Mexican donuts) are musts for dessert.

The name is no gimmick: this restaurant is in a real hunting lodge, high in the hills above Malibu. Come here to escape the LA madness, but do call for directions. Think lots of real wood, fireplaces and no mobile phone reception. It's romantic, but not if you are vegetarian. There's plenty of game; elk, buffalo and antelope are all on the menu, but then so is steak, halibut and lobster. Consider weekend brunch combined with a walk in the countryside.

Chef, Wolfgang Puck wanted to reinvent the traditional American steakhouse and has done just that. He has also established one of the most successful restaurants (and trendiest) in the city. The sleek and contemporary Cut is tucked away behind the ostentatious lobby of the Four Seasons. But don't be fooled: this is no shrinking violet and tables are hard to come by. You'd be mad not to order steak; but you have to choose between kobe, your favourite cut and a good old burger - all cooked to perfection of course. Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel

This country-style cottage in the heart of Hollywood, run by Jean-Pierre Bosc, is a welcoming spot. The simple French food is cooked to perfection and ranges from starters like Merguez sausages in cumin dip, through to salads and sandwiches, bistro standards like moules-frites or steak-frites, to full main courses, such as a braised lamb shank Provenςal. While the restaurant's hardwood interior is cosy, the charming garden setting of the front and back patios is the most sought-after.

Chef Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant continues to draw LA's rich and famous quite simply because the food is so good. Grandiose entrance doors set the stage for the over-the-top interior décor, with its etched and stained-glass, plus art by the likes of David Hockney. The centrepiece patio, with olive trees and fountain, has the most coveted tables. Fresh fish, seasonal produce, signature dishes such as prime côte de boeuf and melt-in the-mouth pizzas are all excellent. Dinner nightly, lunch Monday to Saturday.

This is LA's haven for gourmets who delight in the assured Californian-French nouvelle cuisine. Exquisite starters, like a duo of foie gras with rhubarb gelée, followed by main courses, such as monkfish with Iberian ham or lamb saddle with fava bean, impress. The fixed-price menus are sublime. The cheese list and wine offerings may be the best in LA. Closed Monday.

Chef Mark Peel has been creating award-winning dishes here for more than two decades. The remarkable building, commissioned in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin, has graceful arches that connect the elegant dining rooms and atrium courtyard to the central sky-lit room. The menu is modern Mediterranean, with robust flavours, such as beet with pomegranate and cod with eggplant puree. There's a 'family-style' Monday, and a monthly 'chef tasting' Wednesday. Closed Sunday evening.

Pronounced 'AHHgo', this Tuscan-style restaurant co-owned by Robert de Niro attracts its fair share of stars. The stylish, modern décor is enriched by candlelight and handsome Italian waiters, who dash around on split levels that cause havoc with the acoustics. Brick oven pizzas, bistecca and the porcini mushroom risotto are good main courses. The extensive dessert menu includes a delicious ricotta cheesecake.