In Spain, they eat one grape at midnight for every toll of the clock bell. In Mexico City, tamales are the go-to food. In Japan, households bid farewell with a bowl of soba noodles. While the particulars of what one eats to welcome in the new year, one thing is certain: food and drink are often used to ring in a fresh year of prosperity. Yet, heading out to restaurants to celebrate the new year may take some research and a little preplanning. 

For Los Angelenos who don’t need to spend all New Year’s Day recovering from New Year’s Eve, January 1 can be quite a peaceful day in the city, with many shops, businesses, museums, and restaurants closing their doors for the holiday. If you would rather kick off the new year enjoying someone else’s culinary skills, there are plenty of restaurants that are open in Los Angeles on January 1—but you want to make a plan before 2025 arrives, as New Year’s Day reservations tend to get booked quickly.

Below are some of the top tasty spots you could head to for New Year’s Day celebrations.

The Lonely Oyster

The Lonely Oyster, a seafood restaurant in Echo Park, is open every day of the year—including New Year’s Day. Consistently proving to be one of Southern California’s best places for lunch or dinner, you can welcome in 2025 with The Lonely Oyster’s saltwater menu, featuring crab cakes, fish and chips, cioppino, lobster rolls, and fresh oysters. Looking to celebrate with a drink? Check out this spot’s wine and cocktail list, curated to pair beautifully with every item on the menu. 

1320 Echo Park Ave (Sunset), Los Angeles, CA 90026

(213) 279-9413

Encanto

Located in Los Feliz, Encanto is a Baja California-inspired restaurant that is ringing in 2025 with an on-site DJ and specials. Partnering with local brewer Skyduster, Encanto is offering a $45 per person brunch on New Year’s Day. The brunch will feature micheladas on deck, a bloody mary/maria cart, oysters, churro French toast, an open-faced lox torta, and more.

2121 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

(323) 741-0140

The Benjamin

Open for dinner on January 1 is partner Ben Shenassafar’s Hollywood restaurant, The Benjamin. Chef Johnny Cirelle will be whipping up deviled eggs, crab beignets, branzino, and a hearty cheeseburger for guests (don’t forget to order yourself a martini). If you’re looking to spend New Year’s Day at The Benjamin, you’ll want to act fast, as reservations tend to get booked quickly.

7174 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90046

(323) 888-9000

Ronan

Prefer to keep celebrations simple and easy? Check out Ronan, whose menu features excellent dishes such as blistered pizzas, broccolini, and pork meatballs covered in sauce, basil, and Parmesan. Ronan’s drink menu features craft cocktails and biodynamic wines that are worth checking out. You may like to consider sipping the French 36 with Old Forester Bourbon, pomegranate, lemon, Angostura, and prosecco as you say hello to 2025. 

7315 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 917-5100

La Boheme

In West Hollywood, you will find La Boheme hosting brunch from noon until 3:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day, serving up oysters, grilled octopus, omelets, and brioche French toast with berries. La Boheme is ready to celebrate 2025 with you, offering bottomless mimosas for $19 and a selection of non-alcoholic options from their innovative, zero-proof menu. 

8400 Santa Monica Blvd (at Orlando Ave), West Hollywood, CA 90069

(323) 848-2360

Ryla

Welcome in the new year in Hermosa Beach, with chefs Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger’s restaurant Ryla. Just blocks away from the Pacific, this South Bay hotspot features dishes such as Hokkaido milk bread, fried snapper collars with chile-lime sauce, blue crab California rolls, miso ramen, and a Sichuan-laced grilled lamb chop. 

1220 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach, California 90254