Los Angeles’s recent boom of modern cantinas shows no signs of slowing down. Case in point is this month’s opening in Hollywood, which arrives hot on the heels of a sister property in Malibu, both by Hospitality 70 Group, the team behind the beloved of Frida Mexican restaurants all across LA County.
Wallpaper* dines at La Nena Cantina
The mood: a Hollywood watering hole with a Mexican vibe
Walk past the Columbia Plaza outdoor patio on lively Sunset Blvd. into a calming indoor space designed by Jagar Architecture’s Jose Gonzales, with an organic colour palette featuring Roman clay walls and terracotta tiles. The long cedar bar, brushed and waxed, is perfect for drinks and full dining. Lighting is subtle, with natural fibre pendants and dimmed alabaster brass counter lamps.
The main dining room wall mural is a drawing by Mexican artist Cándida Peña on ink and paper, then carefully adhered to the wall using a wheat paste technique, finished with gilding and metallic brass and white tones, just above the light wood table booths with comfortable leather seating.
The food: complex mole and mezcal
Elotes
At this Hollywood cantina, everything is made from scratch, from handmade tortillas to sauces, and many signature dishes involve labour-intensive preparation rooted in traditional techniques. For example, the mole 'poblano' from Puebla includes over 40 ingredients, such as dried chillies, nuts, seeds, spices and a hint of chocolate. The hours-long process begins with individually toasting and grinding each ingredient to release its unique flavours, then slowly simmering everything together into a deep, rich sauce.
The mole 'negro’, originating from Oaxaca, has a darker and smokier profile, prepared with roasted chillies, plantains, nuts and spices. And when Hospitality 70 Group president and CEO, Vicente del Río, recommends a cocktail, take note: the Adelita, with 1800 Tequila, pineapple, cucumber and fresh lime, offers the perfect balance for spicy dishes.
Watermelon Margarita
La Nena Cantina is located at 6115 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States.
-
Usher opens up about breakfast playlists, banana pudding and why a glass tumbler is always on his riderOn the heels of a collaboration with Baccarat, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter breaks down his entertaining tips. 'Hosting is an expression of how you feel about your guests and also who you are.'
-
The beauty trends that will define 2026, from ultra-niche fragrances to anti-ageing dental careAs we enter the new year, we speak to experts in fragrance, skincare, aesthetics, wellness and more about the trends that will be shaping the way we look
-
The most stylish hotel debuts of 2025A Wallpaper* edit of this year’s defining hotel openings. Design-led stays to shape your next escape
-
The most stylish hotel debuts of 2025
A Wallpaper* edit of this year’s defining hotel openings. Design-led stays to shape your next escape
-
The Wilke is LA’s answer to the British pubIn the Brentwood Village enclave of Los Angeles, chef and restaurateur Dana Slatkin breathes new life into a storied building by one of Frank Gehry’s early mentors
-
Form... and flavour? The best design-led restaurant debuts of 2025A Wallpaper* edit of the restaurant interiors that shaped how we ate, gathered and lingered this year
-
New York’s members-only boom shows no sign of stopping – and it's about to get even more nicheFrom bathing clubs to listening bars, gatekeeping is back in a big way. Here’s what’s driving the wave of exclusivity
-
The Wallpaper* team’s travel highlights of the yearA year of travel distilled. Discover the destinations that inspired our editors on and off assignment
-
This cult Los Angeles pop-up restaurant now has a permanent addressChef Brian Baik’s Corridor 109 makes its permanent debut in Melrose Hill. No surprise, it's now one of the hardest tables in town to book
-
NYC’s first alcohol-free members’ club is full of spiritThe Maze NYC is a design-led social hub in Flatiron, redefining how the city gathers with an alcohol-free, community-driven ethos
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2026: City of the Year shortlistExplore the nominated urban locations making an impact in design, architecture and contemporary culture
