One of Los Angeles’ most sought-after dining destinations is celebrating a major honor after earning a spot on America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Somni, chef Aitor Zabala’s intimate fine-dining restaurant in West Hollywood, offers an experience unlike most restaurants in the city. The restaurant has just 14 seats and serves a single seating each night beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The evening starts outdoors, where guests gather on the patio for snacks before moving into the main dining room for what the restaurant describes as an immersive culinary experience.
Zabala himself is at the heart of the experience.
The restaurant’s 14 seats are positioned around a bar facing a central workspace where the chef and his team prepare and plate dishes in full view of diners. Guests are encouraged to interact with Zabala throughout the meal, asking questions, taking photos, and watching as the final touches are added to each course.
“It’s almost like a show in its own regard,” Zach Jorin, a spokesperson for the restaurant, told The California Post.
The tasting menu typically includes 20-26 courses, though the exact number varies depending on the evening and the dishes being served. The menu changes regularly based on ingredients and Zabala’s creative vision.
“There are some recurring dishes,” added Jorin, noting that many menu decisions ultimately depend on what the chef “feels like that day.”
For those craving a more secluded affair, Somni features a six-seat private dining room. Here, guests enjoy the same exquisite menu and attentive service, all in an intimate setting apart from the main group.
The recognition follows a long road back for the restaurant.
Originally, Somni operated at the SLS Beverly Hills as part of José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup before closing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than immediately reopening, Zabala spent the next four years searching for what he considered the ideal location, assembling a team, and refining the restaurant’s next chapter.
The restaurant has embraced a hospitality model designed to make every guest’s experience seamless and stress-free.
Reservations are prepaid, and beverage pairings are mandatory and booked in advance. Guests may choose to upgrade or adjust their pairing selections before service begins, but the goal is to ensure diners arrive with virtually every aspect of the evening already arranged.
The approach allows guests to focus entirely on enjoying the meal rather than dealing with unexpected charges at the end of the night.
Somni is also preparing for a significant operational change this summer.
Beginning in July, the restaurant will transition to a four-day workweek, a move the team says is intended to improve work-life balance for employees and Zabala himself.
Jorin explained that this kind of work schedule is becoming more common at high-end restaurants and shows a growing focus on employee well-being in the hospitality industry.
For diners, though, the main focus is still the experience: a tasting menu with more than 20 courses, direct access to one of the country’s top chefs, and an evening that feels like both a show and a meal.
It is no wonder Somni has earned its place among America’s finest restaurants.
Reservations for July are now open.
