The private cellar room at Somni

Why it is on the list

Somni holds three Michelin stars in the 2025 and 2026 California selections; with Providence it is one of two restaurants in Los Angeles at that level.¹ Aitor Zabala, who trained at El Bulli, cooks from his Basque and Catalan roots and from California.² The cellar room is the private way into that menu: the evening starts with a few bites on the patio, weather permitting, then moves to a room beside the wine cellar that stays with one party for the night.² It serves the same tasting menu of more than 20 courses as the counter, in about two to two and a half hours.³

It is the wrong room for more than six, and for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions, which the kitchen cannot accommodate at present; guests under 12 are asked not to come.³ For two or four who would rather watch the kitchen, the 14-seat chef's counter in the dining room serves the same menu at one seating, 7:30 pm.²³

How to get it

Book the cellar room on OpenTable or write to info@somnirestaurant.com; the seating starts at 5:30 pm.²³ Reservations open one month ahead, and there is a waitlist when a date is taken.³ Cancellations get a full refund up to 7 days before; after that the deposit is kept and cannot be moved to another date, though the booking can pass to other guests for an emergency.³ At the counter the menu is $495 a guest before tax, service and drinks; service is not included.³ Two wine pairings are offered, and corkage is $150 a 750 ml bottle, two bottles at most.³ The dress code is business casual: no jeans, athletic wear, t-shirts, shorts or flip-flops.³

Discretion

The room is booked for one party and is yours for the night.² Somni is at 9045 Nemo Street, just off Santa Monica Boulevard, with free valet at the door.³