Trendy Spots

[nycfoodie5]

I'm going to LA with some friends in April and I'm looking for trendy restaurants where we can eat or grab a drink or both....Not sure if there's a thread for this, but I thought I'd get personal opinions before making any final decisions. Preferably a place that's young/hip, price doesn't really matter much...a place where we could potentially see celebs could be fun, but that doesn't really matter so much...Thanks!!

[A5 KOBE]

Car? Area? Price range?

[Servorg]

He/she did say price wasn't an issue and I figure if they are "young and hip" they won't be riding the bus (g). I still think Koi in WeHo qualifies. I am still trying to get out to Red Medicine but I wonder if that should be on the list? Or Red O?

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Koi
730 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Red O
8155 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Red Medicine
8400 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

[Butter Fight]

I think Animal on fairfax fits all of your criteria.
It is small plates, with an eclectic mix of dishes and fusion-y pairings (burrata with tomatillo sauce, hamachi tostada, tandori octopus). Its definitely very meat oriented and not all dishes are for the faint of heart diner (they have veal brains, tongue and pig ear/tail). If you search it here you should find lots of talk about the various dishes.
The crowd is young, the restaurant is really popular and both times I've been there I've seen mildly famous people.
If you are going to go I recommend you make a reservation at least a week in advance if you are thinking about going at peak dinner times.
Good luck!

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Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[ipsedixit]

STK

Eva

Sotto

Casa Vega

[maudies5]

Among the trendy restaurants my kids love are:
Son of a Gun
The Lazy Ox
Osteria Mozza

[A5 KOBE]

Fig and Olive or Katsuya Hollywood are very trendy, food is just so so.

I think Bazaar has everything that you are looking for.

[BSW6490]

I had a great meal at Fig and Olive. Have had a lot of fun at Bazaar, although I have heard that the crowd has deteriorated. Katsuya is marginal sushi in my opinion.

[Servorg]

"Katsuya is marginal sushi in my opinion."

Food quality doesn't appear to enter into the OP's stated requirements.

[bruinike]

Mercato di Vetro
Gjelina
Cleo
Fig & Olive
Ray's & Stark Bar
The Eveleigh

[ellaystingray]

BOA Hollywood

[BSW6490]

BOA Hollywood is a nice room and bar, but the food and service has declined significantly since the small BOA further east.

[fbchase]

Cleo
Bazaar
Wood & Vine
The Public at the Hollywood Roosevelt
For celebrities, I've seen lots at Craft in Century City (it's the in same building as the best talent agency in L.A.)
Ray & Starks is awesome, but it doesn't skew very young, since it is in the Museum of Art -- it actually skews kind of Dowager