Cafe Stella

Parisian brassiere in a Moroccan-styled setting

Noteworthy for: Tucked away behind Sunset Boulevard, there's no neon sign directing you to this hidden gem.
Tipple of choice: Do a European crawl, starting with a Kir Royale aperitif before sinking a Belgian beer or a fine French wine, topped off with an Italian digestif. Then do not drive home.

Poised in the ever-trendy Sunset Junction section of Silver Lake, Cafe Stella is the ultimate East Side address to celebrate a special occasion. The French bistro illuminated by rusty, Moroccan lamps delivers all the classics with aplomb, from the filet mignon to the duck crispy confit, moules frites to coq au vin. Charcuterie and fromage offerings are also top notch.
For such a hip eatery, the menu is still relatively affordable (apart from the USD 100 dry aged prime rib eye steak) which is one of the reasons it's almost impossible to get in without a reservation. Just don't try to speak to your server in French - this is still LA, baby.