Fifty Seven — Los Angeles, USA

The emerging arts district in downtown LA has welcomed a new restaurant and lounge by Beau Laughlin of the hospitality group Cardiff Giant, owners of nightclubs DBA and The Churchill in West Hollywood. Designed by Milo Garcia of Studio MAI (Hinoki and the Bird, Gjelina), it is all blond-pine tables and chairs, with cutlery served in pale bento boxes - creating stark contrast with the weathered-brick façade of the former Heinz ’57 loading dock. The clean, minimal lines and white pottery evoke a modern Scandinavian feel with woven-leather banquettes, concrete floors and copper sconces leading down to a basement music venue. The American-style menu will feature rotating seasonal chefs in the open kitchen. David Nayfeld of Eleven Madison Park is doing the honours first, with dishes like Amish chicken and house-made chive blossom butter.