A stylish Afro-Caribbean dining destination has landed in Los Angeles's Fairfax District. The eatery, called Lucia, is the project of hospitality entrepreneur Sam Jordan, who previously worked on LA's Issima restaurant and Oakland's Kissel Uptown hotel. With Lucia, a labour of love that took three years to develop, Jordan is shining a glamorous spotlight on an under-represented cuisine.
Wallpaper* dines at Lucia, Los Angeles
The mood: a modern Caribbean daydream
Bar
Alexis Readinger of LA-based hospitality design firm Preen, Inc. imbued Lucia with a seductive Caribbean atmosphere. The vibes start at the front door, which features a snake-shaped handle, and continue into a golden mirrored chamber. You’ll be tempted to linger over a round of okra martinis at the central white terrazzo bar, which is framed by three towering verdigris palms fabricated by local multi-media artist Guerin Swing, or nestle into the shell-like domes ensconcing five plant-patterned velvet booths.
A smoky glass window separates the kitchen from the dining room, and if you venture behind the bar, the Palm Room offers a slightly more formal setting, with bespoke wallpaper by textile designer Candice Kaye and a variety of textured fabrics in deep emerald, coral and gold mohair.
Shell booth
The food: smoke, spice and roots
Saltfish & Fig Croquettes, Plantains & Trini Mac Pie
Jamaica-born chef Adrian Forte is the force behind a modern Caribbean menu rooted in the African diaspora. The elevated recipes celebrate the method of ‘jerk’ – using not only the signature spices but also pimento wood chips sourced from Jamaica.
For heartier appetites, opt for the jerk-spiced dry-aged tomahawk steak or the coconut fried chicken served with ‘Trini’ mac pie. Smaller plates, which are also available at the bar, include half-moon-shaped beef patties, saltfish and fig croquettes, and a must-try sweet potato sticky pudding for dessert.
Jerked Steak with toum & spiced jus
Beverage director Melina Meza draws on spices and native fruits from St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, paired with Caribbean rums. The Oxtail Old Fashioned blends oxtail-washed bourbon with sweet potato, sugar cane and Creole and Angostura bitters. Wines by the glass include selections from South Africa and Red Bear Winery in Sonoma, which Jordan co-founded with his father.
Night owls take note: the kitchen will remain open until 2 am – a welcome late-night addition to this area.
Lychee Margarita
Lucia is located at 351 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States.
-
How Ichio Matsuzawa designed the almost-invisible bar defining Art Week Tokyo 2025During the art fair’s latest instalment, Wallpaper* met the Japanese architect to explore architecture as sensation, not structure
-
The story behind rebellious New York fashion label-cum-art collective, Women’s History MuseumMattie Barringer and Amanda McGowan’s multidisciplinary label has been challenging fashion’s status quo for the past decade. As they open a new exhibition at Amant, Brooklyn, the pair sit down with Wallpaper* to discuss their provocative approach
-
Mark+Fold Turns 10 with first Shoreditch pop-upBritish stationery brand Mark+Fold celebrates ten years in business with a Brick Lane pop-up featuring new products, small-batch editions and conversations with creatives
-
Dior’s new Beverly Hills dining salon raises the bar for couture cuisineFrom Peter Marino’s onyx bar and faceted mirrored walls to Nicole Wittenberg’s vast, immersive botanical canvas, Dior’s first restaurant outside Paris is here
-
This new Los Angeles restaurant is a mischievous blend of dive bar and 'psychedelic honky tonk'At Marvito, small-batch tequila and a classic rock soundtrack create a delightfully nostalgic night out
-
Fantasy – and incredible seafood – await at Carbone Riviera, now open at the Bellagio in Las VegasInterior design powerhouse Martin Brudnizki drew on the Côte d'Azur and Picasso’s ceramics for Major Food Group’s latest Sin City outpost
-
Welcome to Polymath Park, where you can spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieceA pair of determined Wright devotees have turned four endangered modernist houses into an overnight design retreat
-
Faena New York just landed in the Big Apple – and it's an excuse for a good timeArgentine hotelier Alan Faena’s first New York address serves up high-octane hospitality with a dash of leopard print
-
These vintage American motels will have you longing for the open road‘Vintage Motels’ documents how the humble roadside stopover has evolved into a design-led destination for a new generation of travellers
-
At Duryea’s Sunset Cottages in The Hamptons, it’s all about stillness and open horizonsA beloved Hampton restaurant becomes a tucked-away retreat set on a windswept bluff above Fort Pond Bay in Montauk
-
The return of Genghis Cohen: LA’s cult Chinese diner lives onThe 1980s Chinese-American landmark returns with red booths, neon nostalgia, and a fresh dose of Hollywood eccentricity
