The French have always wooed visitors with their reputation for high fashion and romantic encounters bathed in love and romance. But if youâre really familiar with French culture, you already know they take their food very seriously. Commonly known for serving the most delicious and aesthetically pleasing foods in the world, the French hold the title for culinary masters and they offer to share that expertise with DTLA making sure we are all gai, from the original French word meaning âHappy.â
N° UN) PITCHOUN! – Boulangerie/Patisserie
545 South Olive Street, DTLA – (213) 689-3240 – HRS: 8:00am-4:00pm, 7 Days
Conveniently located directly across the street from Pershing Square, Pitchoun! is a family owned, artisan, farm-to-fork, fine French bakery. French native co-founders and power couple Frederic and Fabienne are excited and supportive of DTLA hosting the first annual DTLA PROUD Festival. In love and solidarity with their many loyal DTLA LGBT customers they will be offering special pastry treats and proudly flying a rainbow flag at their door for DTLA PROUD on August 7th!
They have created a special PROUD Almond Paste Macaron…
…and a special PROUD White Peach Eclair. (Cannot wait to taste test these!)
Pitchoun! made number one on the list for being a truly authentic, artisan, French family owned and operated cozy cafe priding themselves on using only the highest quality ingredients available including: locally and sustainably grown, non-GMO, organic produce, house-made yeast, compassionately raised meat and poultry without use of antibiotics or hormones. We commend their constant creativity offering new recipes every month.
N° DEUX) MIGNON – Food+Wine
128 East 6th Street, DTLA – (213) 489-0131 – HRS: 6:00pm-Midnight, 7 Days w/ Sunday Brunch 11:00am-3:00pm
For an evening of drinks in a French setting, Mignon specializes in small production, natural wines from all over the globe but emphasize on “Old World”. Open until midnight daily Mignon makes number two on the list as a great place to visit for their Sunday brunch.
Mignon serves seasonal, rustic, French cuisine, fine artisanal cheese, and charcuterie. The menu changes every several weeks and you can get a Market Menu Prix Fixe for $33, including: First, Main, and Dessert or order at your leisure from the Market Menu.
N° TROIS) INDUSTRIEL – Urban Farm Cuisine
609 South Grand Avenue, DTLA – (213) 488-8020 – HRS: Mon-Th 11:00-10:00pm Fri 11:00am-2:00am Sat 10:00am-2:00am Sun 10:00am-10:00
Self described as “cuisine served up by your grandmother in her farmhouse in Provence, France, with one little twist: your grandmother has sleeve tattoos”. Industriel prepares everything that can possibly be prepared in house, in house, including: ricotta, goat cheese, yogurt, and breads. Making number three on the list for its uniqueness offering flavorful dishes with roots in Provence traditional ways but with a modern DTLA attitude. This attitude is reflected in their farmhouse decor meets a funky flare of reds and gold and decorative pieces you would not expect to find in a restaurant.
Industriel includes menu items such as mussels in an abisinthe-spiked bouillabaisse, local watercress, roasted beet salad with made in house goat cheese, and house crafted cocktails prepared with ingredients that have never seen the inside of a supermarket.
N° QUATRE) LE PETIT PARIS
418 South Spring Street, DTLA – (213) 217-4445 – HRS: Mon-Wed 11:00am-11:00 Thu-Fri 11:00am-12:00am Sat 10:00am-12:00am Sun 10:00am-11:00pm
North of France born, Cannes raised, gone Cannes restauranteurs, and husband and wife duo, David &Fanny Rolland have brought a  Cannes restaurant to DTLA. Elegantly designed by the Rolland’s Le Petit Paris delivers an elegant, bi-level, true South of France brasserie dining experience with seating for up to 400 guests. This restaurant is an immersion of the finer things of France. Enjoy a Cannes brunch until 5:00pm or delight in dinner thereafter, open until 11:00pm on Sunday.
The mezzanine level makes for a comfortable open space and walls lined floor to ceiling with gorgeous art work of France. The venue is tranquil and brightly lit by multiple skylights overhead. However, come night watch it transition into an upscale lounge including DJ to finish up the night shaking your groove thang in an elegant and beautiful environment. Le Petit Paris is located in the 1913 built El Dorado Building and was selected for truly creating an upscale escape to Cannes. Do not forget to stop in the retail store, “La Boutique”, for an enhanced shopping in “Gay Paree” experience. Simply take in the environment and admire the displays of art by some of France’s most notable artists and/or shop your little heart out from an exclusive array of French specialty products.
If you enjoy your visit and ever in Cannes, look for the original La Petit Paris, also owned by the Rollands.
N° CINQ) PERCH
448 South Hill Street, DTLA – (213) 802-1770 – HRS: Mon-Wed 4:00pm-1:00am, Th-Fri 4:00pm-2:00am, Sat 10:00am2:00am, Sun 10:00am-1:00am
Looking over Pershing Square is an elevated resting place, Perch, a French inspired rooftop bistro. Selected as number five on the list for their rare selection of Cognac’s, Armagnac’s, and French Cordial’s, their unobstructed views of DTLA, Sunday brunch with live music and daily late night hours (after 9:00pm Perch goes 21 and over).
Perch serves simple fresh Parisian inspired cocktails, accompanied by great music, lush landscapes, with a feel of French restaurants of old.Â
N° SIX) CREPES SAN FRONTIERES
541 South Spring Street, DTLA – (213) 863-9318 – HRS: Tue-Fri 11:00am-9:00pm Sat & Sun 9:00am-9:00pm
Crepes San Frontieres is all about healthy and tasty real quality French fare and wine. Selected for their wide variety of crepes and paninis, they even have gluten free option crepes made from organic 100% buckwheat called “galettes”.
Crepes Sans Frontieres prides themselves on serving real high quality French cuisine, with over 13 years of experience, creating a casual environment for the “most comfortable French experience around”. Bring your family for brunch or come with friends for French wine, cider, beer and champagne during their riveting happy hour!
N°  SEPT) KENDALL’S BRASSERIEÂ
135 North Grand Avenue, DTLA – (213) 972-7322 – HRS: Mon 11:30am-2:30pm Tues-Thu 11:30am-9:00pm Fri 11:30am-11:00pm Sat 10:30am-9:00pm Sun 10:30am-7:00pm
Visit Kendall’s Brasserie for fine French brasserie and an En Soiree Experience menu including: artisanal cheeses, hor d’oeuvres, house-made charcuterie, oysters from their oyster bar. They also serve 3 course meals at $30
Kendall’s Brasserie creates upscale French dishes, cocktails at their bar, and their fine French fare can also be enjoyed on their outside patio.
N° HUIT) ETCHEA – Cafe, Bakery, & Catering
254 South Hope Street, DTLA – (213) 626-0157 – HRS: Mon-Fri 6:00-5:00pm Sat 9:00am-4:00pm
Etchea uses the great bread tradition that is the Garacochea family bakery. For nearly 100 years this bakery was recognized as a must-go-to and a best-in-LA. Now, the Garacochea family is back at it again, Etchea delivers a local approach to eating using these fine artisanal breads. The crusty sourdough bread recipe was brought to LA from Les Aldudes a village in Basque.
Actually, you will find Basque flavors in every menu category using an emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients. The offerings consist of: breakfast, lunch, breakfast pastries, salads, sandwiches, soups, and offer take-out and have gluten free options. Simplicity, creating delicious dishes in a cultural environment from friendly service providers and family is what they are about.
N° NEUF) LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN
523 West 6th Street, DTLA – (213) 293-1546 – HRS: Mon-Fri 7:00am-5:00pm Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:00pm
A chain of over 200 locations worldwide, created by Alain Company who learned the art of baking as a child in the kitchen with his aunt. Although their MO is eating simple, the menu items look far from simple. They serve just-baked breads prepares with organic stone ground flour that has been milled to exact specifications.
The focus is on thoughtful, nourishing options prepared with seasonal ingredients, including: an organic vegan soup of the day, sweet jams and preservatives, just-baked breads, pastries, tarts, charcuterie and fromage platters. They even make their own natural sourdough starters and give the breads the time they need instead of using yeast.
N° DIX) MADAME MONSIEUR – Boutique Sandwiches
512 West 6th Street, DTLA – (213) 239-9440 – HRS: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Purposely kept on the down low, Madame Monsieur offers a Parisian apartment style decor restaurant created by a Parisian family joining their experience in fine dining, design, and cabaret they created a boulangerie style quick stop Boutique sandwich shop.
Chosen for their authenticity, focus on quality, and respect for their customers we add Madame Monsieur to the list, they have purposely stayed somewhat quiet in the press in order to maintain the atmosphere their loyal customers enjoy. With a less is more and focus on simple menu items crafted with only fine ingredients you will have the opportunity to soak up an authentic quick escape to a Parisian style “home” meal. Â Although, this restaurant is closed on Sundays, we wanted to let our readers know about it, you will have to make a trip here on a lunch break or date to escape to Le Gai Paris!
