Cara Restaurant

Surrounded by century-old olive trees, flattering Instagram lighting and the hotel’s pool, the eponymous restaurant at the Cara Hotel in Los Feliz offers an extremely L.A. outdoor dining scene that can’t be beat on date nights, birthdays and other special occasions. Technically, it’s just outside of Thai Town, but the chaos down the street feels a million miles away due to the first-rate ambience. Come nightfall, the space's mood lighting transforms Cara's coastal Mediterranean design from merely breezy to downright romantic. Book a reservation to snag a seat by the pool and order from a crowd-pleasing, straightforward menu, including a tasty prosciutto and burrata starter paired with grilled sourdough from Santa Monica's Jyan Isaac Bread. On busy nights, walk-ins are likely to end up in the front patio and bar area, where Wednesday salsa dancing and weekend DJs liven the space up for an impromptu date night.