Gemma

If you desire prime panoramic views of Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills, the 12th-story vantage point of the swanky Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is the place to find them. Enter Gemma, the newest iteration of the hotel's rooftop restaurant and lounge, which opened in May as a full reset: new menu, new lewk. Gone is the onyx bar and shimmery velvet-jungle aesthetic. Instead, a marble stone bar, plants galore and sculptural yellow lantern-inspired floor lamps set the earthy-meets-Hollywood-golden-age vibe. As for the food, chef Peleg Miron (the Waldorf's executive chef since 2022) pulls from Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Southern California for a menu that leans into raw fish (sashimi, sushi rolls) and dim sum (wagyu beef wontons with truffle black vinegar, lobster wontons with chili ponzu, shrimp har gow). Yes, crispy rice on the menu is somewhat predictable at a place like this, but the wagyu permutation is not. Definitely worth ordering. So is the citrus soy tuna tartare layered with avocado and served with lotus chips. Entrees include Singaporean noodles, orange chicken, whole branzino and kaffir lime-forward Thai curry with generous portions of branzino and shrimp. For those here to see and be seen (you’re not alone), Petrossian caviar is on offer. As are the Scorpion Bowls—multiple rums, cognac, gin, passion fruit and citrus in a large, hand-painted tiki bowl—which fall right in line with the "refined tiki spirit" cocktail program. If you're avoiding mixing your spirits, the margarita verde with Ancho Reyes Verde, pineapple, habanero and lime is as zesty as it is refreshing. When it comes time for dessert, get two: the banana (croissant) bread pudding and the colossal chocolate chip cookies finished with sea salt. Aside from the stunning vistas (planes ascending out of Burbank included), the best thing about Gemma might be the people-watching. From wedding parties to multigenerational Beverly Hills family gatherings to first dates dressed several notches above the occasion, it’s a sight to behold in any direction—which, let’s be honest, is part of what you came for.