LA Dining Guide to Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie is an iconic Italian restaurant and French patisserie located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. This restaurant is a great option if you’re craving basic cafe drinks, salad, pasta, pizza, dessert, cocktails, and more. I’ve been to Bottega Louie several times over the years, and the service never disappoints.

This is a great restaurant to dine at whether you’re looking for a casual lunch, a business meet-up, a date, or a special occasion. It’s a very open yet intimate setting. There are people who would work at the cafe’s mini tables, which has a vibe of its own.

Arriving at Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie does not have its own parking structure or lot. At best, there is a valet service during the evening. Otherwise, you’ll have to scout for parking, which there are a few structures and lots nearby. Here are some worth checking out (I do not have the pricing, so park at your own risk and cost):

• 725 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013
• 532 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
• 783 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Availability for a walk-in is usually wide open, but you can always call in or book online for a reservation. You can also order take out.

Once you arrive at Bottega Louie, you’re greeted with amazing interior decor. Everything looks so minimal but high-end, with the marble all over the restaurant. You head on in, past the cafe and patisserie, and on to the random host table in the middle. Once you’re seated, the experience continues.

Tuna Tartare

The tuna tartare at Bottega Louie is a work of art. Served with crispy bread, this dish is topped with some micro greens, watermelon radish slices, and some edible flowers.

Trenne

In 2016, I went here for a work dinner and ordered this dish because it had beef rib. Little did I know, it was not the beef rib that had drawn me to dream about this dish ever since. It’s the trenne paste. Ever since having this dish, I kept looking for similar dishes elsewhere but no one does it the same.

Basically, the trenne is cooked and then fried til it’s crispy. The rib sauce BRINGS back the softness of the pasta while adding the flavor. I finally had this dish again a few months ago, and it reminded me of the scene from Ratatouille where the critic remembers his childhood. Same mood here. Highly recommended if you love crispy food.

Pizza

The pizza here is legit where it’s cooked through a wood fire oven, and topped with basic ingredients. When I went to Italy, I learned that tomatoes were not native to the country, so the original pizza was topped with pesto sauce. The pizza here is delicious. 10/10.

Dessert

Don’t forget to pick up some macarons and a dessert to go! The meal at Bottega Louie is usually filling, so I don’t blame you if you don’t have room for dessert. You will in a couple of hours! I love that you can buy macarons individually (about $3 ea, or cheaper in sets) or individual baked goods/treats. I made sure to get an espresso to go!

Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-802-1470