Looking for a great place to wind down after a long day, catch a meal before a show or maybe just gaze at stars? Then be sure to check out this hidden gem in the heart of Tinseltown. Tucked away in historic Columbia Square—a revitalized mixed-use complex that birthed the Golden Age of Hollywood—Paley. restaurant is named for the artistic and innovative era shaped by former CBS CEO William Paley, and has become known as the designated power-lunch meeting and lunch-break spot for folks from nearby studios and offices. During dinner, lucky guests might even get to catch a glimpse of some celebrities enjoying an impromptu meal with friends and business associates (think Oprah and Keanu Reeves).
“Lunchtime is always vibrant and energetic with our neighbors from the L.A. film and music industry,” says Christopher Roache, managing director of Paley., which opened in April 2016 in a building that once housed Nestor Studios, Hollywood’s first film production company that became part of CBS Studios in 1938.
“We’re also infamous for our daily happy hours, where guests enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail to toast to the end of their work day. Dinner always attracts a mixed clientele from pre-theater dinners heading to shows at the Palladium or Pantages Theatre to local residents.”
Paley. is part of the Japanese hospitality brand Plan Do See, which operates 19 properties worldwide. Expect an art deco-inspired dining room with soaring ceilings and elegant Mid-century décor that transports diners to the La-La Land of old, along with a casual patio surrounded by lush greenery. Chef Brian Hill (former chef/owner of coastal Maine’s critically acclaimed Francine Bistro) serves a simple yet well-curated menu of classic dishes laced with local and seasonal ingredients, many grilled on an attractive wood-burning hearth or roasted in a custom-built oven. Among the most popular items? Lobster Mac & Cheese, Wagyu burgers and seared diver sea scallops with braised leeks.
There’s also a full lineup of signature cocktails, including the popular Babe (a twist on a lychee martini with a hint of lavender named after William Paley’s beguiling wife). Recent launch, “The Garden at The Paley. Patio” invites patrons to kickstart the weekend early with specially priced cocktails and bar bites from noon to sundown. And, for insiders, an exclusive no-cost “Paley. Privileges” membership program offers fun perks like a 50-percent discount off dinner on Monday and half off wine bottles on Tuesday.
“We’ll continue to thrive and be a local hot spot, yet a cozy place for all of our neighborhood locals, but we would also like Paley. to become one of the ‘must-visit’ spots in L.A. for out-of-towners,” says Roache. “After all, we’re in the midst of where all of Hollywood started, and stepping into our restaurant will bring you back to that glamour…we will continue to tell the story and history of how it all started.”