Fun Birthday Venues in Los Angeles

Planning a birthday is easy in LA. The city has so many fun celebratory venues for brunch, roof top soirees and festive dinner affairs.

When friends ask for my advice about a fun birthday destination, I always give them a list of three. Now my list has grown. Here are my favorite restaurants to celebrate with family and loved ones.

1. BARTON G. for over the top FUN – This is truly a one-of-a-kind, birthday experience nothing short of amazing. As servers bring artistic culinary presentations from the kitchen to the table, the cause the birthday party to ooh and ah. Every diner enjoys a glamorous and unique evening of avant-garde dishes complete with vaporizing cocktails.

Atmosphere: Elegantly Whimsical
Food: Over the top dining experience – Lobster pop tarts, popcorn shrimp, surf & turf and desserts that are Instagram ready.
Price: $$$ – Website: http://www.bartong.com
Address: 861 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 – Phone: (310)338-1888.
Link review in the Beverly Press– https://beverlypress.com/2015/07/barton-g/
Link review in Just Luxe – http://www.justluxe.com/community/extraordinary-culinary-delights-at-barton-g-los-angeles_a_1966578.php.

2. Melody is casual French in Virgil Village near Silverlake.

Atmosphere: Set in a decades-old bungalow with breezy indoor/outdoor vibes.
Fun: There is a DJ area near the bar. Guests can rent out an interior back room that fits up to 30 people with the option to play your own music (records or compact disks are preferred but not required). Rather dine al fresco on the patio? Two large tables are available for up to 24 people.
Chef: Justin Abram (a favorite)
Food: Innovative “Lazy French” warm French baguettes, mussels, housemade agnolotti, oysters, wine bar and craft beer.
Price: $$
Brunch Hours on Saturday and Sunday (10am-4pm) open for dinner starting at 5 pm.

Reservation: via Opentable or call (323) 922-6037. For events and buyouts, email info@melodyla.com. Website: Melody

3. Salazar – Fun for families, dogs and millennials sipping mezcal cocktails. Created by Billy Silverman and Mexicali Taco co-founder Esdras Ochoa, Salazar occupies a former auto body shop near Silver Lake, the Golden State Freeway and Glendale Boulevard.

Location: Frogtown
Chef: Jonathan Aviles
Brunch Hours: Saturday-Sunday are from 10am-3pm
Food: Sonoran-style BBQ chops, street tacos and killer guacamole. Terrific tequila and mezcal cocktails, craft beer and boozy slushies in the summer.
Reservations: Salazar does not offer reservations, but weekend brunch waits tend to be much shorter than dinner.
Price: $$
Read my review – https://beverlypress.com/2018/06/summertime-fun-at-salazar/
Address: 2490 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles.

4. Baltaire specializes in elegant dishes in a fancy, steakhouse setting.

Food: The classic brunch fare includes Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast, Harissa Spiced Lamb and Eggs, and Prime Filet Benedict. This summer, Baltaire also offers a special “Toast to Rosé” menu, which pairs seasonal toast dishes with a special rosé – think Black Label Prosciutto De Parma toast with goat milk ricotta and baby squash paired with a pink Spanish Txakolina.
Chef: Travis Strickland (a favorite)
Price: $$-$$$ – Location: Brentwood – – Birthday Brunch Hours: Saturday & Sunday (11am-2:30pm).
Address: 11647 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles (424)273-1660.
Read my review – https://beverlypress.com/2018/06/brentwood-brunch-at-baltaire/ .

5. Jewel – Enjoy a birthday celebration inside the light and bright dining area with a jukebox or out on the cozy patio. This is ideal for a vegan and vegetarian birthday celebration.
Location: Virgil Village near Silver Lake.
Chef: Jasmine Shimoda
Hours: Open daily from 9am-4:30pm.
Price: $$
Food: Smoky Beet Pastrami, Avocado Toast, housemade vegan donuts, and chia pudding. There’s something for every dietary restriction or picky eater. Jewel doesn’t serve alcohol, so just BYOB or walk to the Vinovore wine shop. Here’s my review – https://beverlypress.com/2018/04/a-culinary-jewel-in-los-angeles/

6. Hollywood Rooftop Fun for brunch at Filifera. Take the elevator up 22 floors up to open to stunning views of Griffith Park, Capitol Records, and the Hollywood Sign. Skip the lines and the crowds.

Chef: James Wilschke
Brunch Hours: Saturday & Sunday (12pm-3pm)
Reservation: Resy
Food: Enjoy house-made sangria, fresh pressed mimosas, and dishes like Prosciutto Eggs Benedict. For events and buyouts, email events@filiferahollywood.com.

7. El Torito – Anyone celebrating their birthday not only receives a party hat, but also a birthday dessert.

Menu: Lively Mexican cuisine – tacos, tamales, burritos, enchiladas
Unique: Staff Ready to serenade “Happy Birthday” at your table
Setting: Hacienda style setting
For more information and locations, visit www.eltorito.com.

8. SOCA is located in Sherman Oaks for Valley birthday celebrations. Guests will enjoy globally inspired dishes with tiki-inspired cocktails. During brunch larger groups can enjoy SOCA’s front patio for a secluded, yet light-filled space to celebrate.

Food: The Baller Brunch includes a 32 oz 30-day dry-aged Prime Creekstone Tomahawk ribeye, 6 fried eggs, sautéed onions and arugula, béarnaise for $145. Price: $$
Location: Sherman Oaks – Chef: Aaron Robins – Brunch Hours: Saturday (10am-3pm), Sunday (10am-3pm). Dinner opens at 4 p.m.
Address: 14015 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 – Phone: (818) 301-4300. Menu and reservations: soca-la.com, opentable.com.

9. Beverly Hills by the pool celebration at Viviane

Location: Inside the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills, birthday parties can be reserved in the colorful cabanas with seating for up to 10 guests. Enjoy chic California cuisine in the heart of Beverly Hills from new Chef Michael Reed.
Hours: Breakfast starts at 7 am., brunch on Saturday-Sunday 7am-3pm and dinner follows.
Read my review of the former chef https://beverlypress.com/2015/11/viviane/.