Bastille Day is right around the corner, commemorating the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 and the birth of the French Republic. For the first time ever, the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, in partnership with Grand Performances, is launching a large-scale Bastille Day celebration in the heart of Downtown! The sizable French population in Los Angeles is represented by a creative wave of artisans, entrepreneurs, and restauranteurs who are making a significant impact on our culture and dining habits. From Parisian-style bistros and romantic wine bars to delectable pastry shops – many close to Circa, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites to celebrate your joie de vivre in DTLA.
Bastille Day Celebration California Plaza 350 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA, 90071
July 15 Join the Consulat Général de France in Los Angeles, in partnership with Grand Performances, for an unforgettable Bastille Day celebration in the heart of Downtown! Be immersed in an open-air celebration combining live music, French food specialties, and artisanal discoveries. Local French vendors will offer delicious bites and products that showcase the French art de vivre, such as crêpes, quiches, pastries, and handmade goods. The night wraps up with a DJ set from Joachim Garraud, a pioneer of the French Touch, who will turn California Plaza into a giant open-air dance floor. Free admission.
Le Petit Paris 418 S Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Housed inside the historic El Dorado Building, Le Petit Paris is the vision of Cannes-based restauranteurs David and Fanny Rolland. The 300-seat restaurant brings a quintessential brasserie dining experience to Downtown LA’s Historic Core. The venue is an architectural marvel designed by the Rollands, featuring multiple skylights, two bars, a mezzanine level, and a large outdoor patio. During the daytime, Le Petit Paris provides a tranquil, bright venue, and at night it transforms into an upscale fine dining restaurant with a lounge.
Perch 448 S Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Perch Los Angeles is a French-inspired rooftop bistro offering unobstructed views of Downtown Los Angeles that will make you feel as if you’re floating over the skyline. The elevated spaces offer outdoor fireplaces, fir pits, lounge, and table seating. Enjoy classic French dishes with a twist from the menu for dinner, or sip beer, wine or Parisian-inspired cocktails at any one of the bars. Perch also offers a unique and elegant list of rare Cognacs, Armagnacs, Calvados, and French Cordials.
Garçons de Café 541 S Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Garçons de Café is a chic wine bar offering a curated selection of wines from France, Mexico, Italy, Spain, California, and more. A piece of France in downtown LA, Garçons de Café is the beautiful aftermath of what happened when three French traveling friends were united by their big dreams, expensive tastes, and love of California. Their adventure most recently culminated with the merger and move of L’Appart, the popular DTLA bistro run by chef Thierry Babet and partner Marc Moubarak, with Garçons de Café.
L’Appart 541 S Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
L’Appart by Air Food will make you feel like you flew straight to Paris, where you’ll enjoy an exclusive French culinary experience. Created by two passionate visionaries, Marc and Thierry, L’Appart blends the art of fine dining with the exclusivity of a refined bar. Discover a unique venue where every moment becomes an unforgettable experience.
Pitchoun Bakery & Café 545 S Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Pitchoun is a family-owned fine French bakery, pastry store and restaurant, offering fresh artisan breads and home-made pastries and cakes, along with an array of healthy salads, sandwiches, hot dishes, soups, and more. Using traditional French family recipes, everything is home-made daily from scratch, using house-made starter levain and organic or local ingredients. The flavors are crisp, authentic, and clean, and all products aim for pure simplicity and high quality.
Zinqué DTLA 939 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Inspired by the zinc-topped bars found all over France, Zinqué is a high design, low-key all-day neighborhood restaurant serving French-inspired dishes and small plates, along with a craft cocktail menu and uniquely curated wine & beer selection. Soak up the atmosphere at a wooden table on their sidewalk patio or sidle up to the beautiful bar.
Cameiia 1850 Industrial St. Los Angeles, CA 90021
Located in DTLA’s Arts District, Camelia offers an intriguing blend of French and Japanese cuisine. Chef/Owner Charles Namba was inspired by a childhood eating his mom’s homemade Japanese cooking, combined with years working in French kitchens. Camelia boasts an extensive wine and saki list curated by Owner/Wine + Saki Director Courtney Kaplan. Estevan Silva, Pastry Chef, rounds out the menu with his decadent pastries, soufflé tarts, puddings, and housemade mochi.
Camphor 923 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Michelin-starred modern French bistro Camphor, located in Downtown LA’s Arts District, is a testament to the visionary approach of No. 8 Hospitality, a premier hospitality and development group. Owned and operated by Sarah Lam and Cyrus Batchan, No. 8 has cultivated Camphor into a dining destination that re-imagines the classic bistro experience. Guests can indulge in shareable small plates, heartier mains, scenographic desserts, classic cocktails with a French twist, and an enviable selection of French and European wines, all curated to reflect the distinctive culinary vision that No. 8 brings to the table.
Kendall’s Brasserie 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Soak in the conviviality and energy of a lively French oasis located at The Music Center on Grand Avenue below the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Kendall’s Brasserie offers French cuisine with a California-flare, balancing beloved classic French styles of cooking with a focus on locally sourced, seasonal dishes. The recently reimagined space was inspired by mid-century French art and the cut paper of Henri Matisse, along with hidden nods to honor Kendall’s history and location, such as chandeliers from Stern Grand Hall in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and drawn curtains from the Ahmanson Theatre.
Mignon Wine Bar 128 E 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90014
Mignon is a cozy wine bar in the heart of the Historic Core in Downtown Los Angeles. True to its name (mignon roughly translates to “small and cute” in French), this elegant little spot aims to be an oasis for anyone who is weary of the ubiquitous bar experience. They specialize in boutique wines, mostly natural/organic/biodynamic, paired with gourmet cheeses and charcuterie, along with seasonal, rustic French cuisine.
Café Basque The Hoxton 1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Café Basque celebrates the rich heritage of classic French tradition intertwined with the vibrant flavors of the southwest coast of France. The culinary inspiration stems from the region’s renowned use of sweet and mildly hot peppers. Drawing inspiration from their Californian surroundings, the team brings a local touch to each dish, highlighting the bounty of high-quality ingredients sourced from land and sea.
Photo Credits:
Photo #1: Le Petit Paris
Photo #2: Consulat Général de France in Los Angeles/Grand Performances
Photo #3: Le Petit Paris
Photo #4: Perch
Photo #5: Garçons de Café
Photo #6: L’Appart
Photo #7: Pitchoun Bakery & Café
Photo #8: Zinqué DTLA
Photo #9: Camelia
Photo #10: Camphor
Photo #11: Kendall’s Brasserie
Photo #12: Mignon Wine Bar
Photo #13: Café Basque