From candlelit brasseries to sleek, chef-driven tasting rooms, Los Angeles’s French scene is having a moment. Whether you’re plotting a romantic date, a celebratory splurge, or a leisurely terrace lunch, our guide to the best French restaurants in Los Angeles has right now picks that balance polish with charm. Check out the top spots for French cooking in L.A., which is as vibrant as ever.
Pasjoli
Location: 2732 Main St | Santa Monica
Chef Dave Beran’s Santa Monica bistro has relaunched with an à la carte, everyday-elegant menu—think a petite, deeply savory French onion “souplette”, a decadent burger glossed with marrow aioli, and shareables like duck poutine and grilled prawns. The pressed duck remains (pre-order), and dessert fans should save room for the vanilla sundae with duck-fat caramel. Book for prime time.
Coucou
Location: 218 Main St. | West Hollywood
Cocktail-first French dining with playful bistro classics: start with a “French Fashioned,” then move to steak frites, market crudités, and the hulking L’Haute Dog layered with French onion marmalade and fondue. The Venice original brings beachy energy, while the West Hollywood sibling adds brunch and a lively patio.
Violet Bistro
Location: 1121 Glendon Ave | Westwood
A hidden-in-plain-sight charmer featuring one of the city’s prettiest brick courtyards. Expect a concise, confident menu—truffle frites, a craveable French smash burger, and bistro steak—plus an upstairs cooking school for Francophile date nights and team events.
Petit Trois Le Valley
Location: 13705 Ventura Blvd | Sherman Oaks
Ludo Lefebvre’s Valley address channels a Paris brasserie—roomy dining, marble and checkered floors, and all-day service. Don’t miss the cult Big Mec burger or the tongue-in-cheek Mec Muffin at breakfast.
A Food Affair
Location: 1513 S Robertson Blvd | Pico-Robertson
A family-run stalwart with old-school warmth and classics that never fade: duck confit, bouillabaisse, boeuf bourguignon, and more. It’s the kind of neighborhood place where candlelight and comfort rule the room.
Monsieur Marcel Bistro
Location: 6333 W 3rd St, Stall #150 | Original Farmers Market
Part market, part bistro, all Parisian spirit. Refuel after The Grove with oysters, charcuterie, and a broad French wine list; browse the adjacent gourmet shop for cheeses and pantry treasures to take home.
République
Location: 624 S La Brea Ave | Central LA (La Brea)
An architectural showpiece with a serious all-day bakery up front and a refined dining room in back. By day: croissants, tartines, and café fare; by night: oysters, roast chicken, Dover sole meunière, and seasonal plates from Walter and Margarita Manzke.
Mr. T
Location: Hollywood — 953 N Sycamore Ave
A Paris import with downtown-chic attitude: thumping soundtrack, polished cocktails, and a menu that riffs on French comfort (croquettes, truffled mac) and market-fresh crudo. The team’s daytime café and brunch service keep the vibe going from morning to late.
Maison Matho
Location: 4770 Melrose Ave | Melrose Hill
A takeout-only French café known for textbook jambon-beurre on house baguette, buttery viennoiserie, and regional specialties. Ideal for a park picnic or a low-key luxe lunch at home.
Loupiotte Kitchen
Location: 1726 N Vermont Ave | Los Feliz
Sunlit, farmhouse-style café serving all-day bistro comforts: soft-scrambled eggs, brioche French toast, quiche, and a simple goat-cheese salad. The neighborhood vibe makes it a favorite pre- or post-Griffith stroll.
Camphor
Location: Arts District — 923 E 3rd St, #109
Polished, modern French cooking from a Ducasse-trained team: pristine seafood, a laser-precise steak au poivre, and clever Southeast Asian accents—all in a sleek DTLA room. A destination for special-occasion dining.
Perle Restaurant
Location: Old Pasadena — 43 Union St
Chef Dean Yasharian brings classic technique to a cozy Old Town address—escargots, onion soup, steak frites—available à la carte or as a four-course menu. One for date nights and long conversations over Burgundy.
Camélia
Location: Arts District — 1850 Industrial St
From the Tsubaki/Ototo team, this French-Japanese bistro imagines what a Paris kitchen might cook in Tokyo: Parker House rolls with black sesame and ikura, koji-roasted chicken with seaweed cream, and donabe-steamed clams. Sleek, intimate, and very now.
Amour
Location: West Hollywood — 8715 Beverly Blvd
Romance lives on this candlelit patio, where classics—escargots, frogs’ legs, steak au poivre—share the table with contemporary, French-inflected dishes. Come for the mood; stay for the mille-feuille.
L’APPART by AIR FOOD
Location: DTLA (Spring Arcade) — 541 S Spring St, Unit 112/113
A Paris-style bistro tucked inside the historic Spring Arcade: affordable French comfort, regular live-jazz evenings with the neighboring wine bar, and a setting that feels worlds away from the bustle outside.