Food for Thought on Some Los Angeles Architecture

Source: venuereport.com, Brian Gove

Source: martinturnbull.com

Food for Thought on Some Los Angeles Architecture

by SweisKloss
June 18, 2020

Without a doubt we ALL miss our local restaurants, and in my humble (and yes, biased) opinion we have the best here in LA. While we have supported them by way of carryout and delivery these last few months, there is nothing like sitting down at a table in a beautiful, well-designed space and eating delicious food with your favorite person or group of people. As an architectural designer, I always take in the design of architecture and interiors everywhere I go. But because I love to cook and entertain, I am especially drawn to restaurants when they make the most of their built structure and create an inviting atmosphere. Now that restaurants are slowly opening back up for dine-in—with limited capacity, a lot of outdoor seating and safety protocols in place—I am looking forward to going back to Republique (republicquela.com) on La Brea Ave. Republique is an architectural gem; its Spanish Gothic style is a rare find in Los Angeles. Built in 1929 as an investment property for Charlie Chaplin, the building has stood the test of time. It was home to the famed Campanile restaurant before Republique owners Walter and Margarita Manzke took over and turned it into their contemporary French bakery, café, and dinner spot. I really like how the current owners renovated the space to respect the 1920s architecture. They stripped it down to the original finishes and added both modern and historic touches with restored light fixtures and reclaimed-wood tables, which complements the space. The geometric tiled floor and original brick walls add a wonderful textural backdrop. The windows in the high ceilings allow for the space to be drenched in natural light. It’s grand yet intimate. And did I mention how incredible the food is? We asked our SK staff some of their favorite dining places for great food and a well-conceived atmosphere, and here are their top picks: Manuela in the Arts District in DTLA; Cicada in DTLA; Dama in the Fashion District in DTLA; Plant Food + Wine in Venice; Felix in Venice; Cliff’s Edge in Silver Lake; The Bazaar in Beverly Hills; Local Kitchen + Wine Bar in Santa Monica; Palma at the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica; Herringbone in Santa Monica; The Draycott in Pacific Palisades; Firefly in Studio City; Fig & Olive on Melrose; and Saladang in Pasadena.