In the last few years (since the latter 2010s at least), there’s been a surge in a certain type of LA eatery. The kind of place that is simultaneously an all day eatery with a cute market filled with artisanal provisions, but also transitions gracefully into a casual dinner hang out spot with a healthy list of natural wines to pair with your vegetable-forward meal that probably has vague Mediterranean influences. This could describe many places around LA, particularly east LA, but Botanica has it to a tee.
Located on that sudden commercial strip of Silver Lake Blvd, Botanica was a welcome addition to the neighborhood that quickly became a local favorite. A sunny and bright yet cozy space that had a market + cafe front and seasonal all day restaurant (not to mention a lil patio) in the back, that brings seasonal California produce forward in an effortlessly refreshing way. It’s the kind of place that’s aspirational, you want to be the kind of person who lunches here casually on a Wednesday. It’s very LA, but in a less obnoxious way. It’s tasteful LA.
Since the pandemic, they’ve opened up ample outdoor seating to the side in addition to the backyard, making for the perfect casual hang.
the details
| Address | 1620 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles |
| Website | http://botanicarestaurant.com/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/botanica-restaurant-and-market-los-angeles |
| @botanicafood | |
| Hours | COVID Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12pm -8pm |
| Price | $$ – everything is about $10-20 |
| Aesthetic | west elm farmers market vibes |
good to know
Go here for: a morning pick me up, a casual lunch, a summery dinner, to grab a lil something for a picnic or to bring to your east side friend’s backyard dinner party
Order this: their menu changes with the seasons, but you can’t go wrong with a dip to start and then anything that features prominent produce
Amount of time to spend: 15 minutes for a stop by, an hour for a casual meal
When to come: on the early side if you’re coming on the weekend and don’t want too long a wait, or anytime on weekdays (weeknights are pretty quiet)
Parking: can be a bit of a nightmare here, you’ll probably have to find street parking further out on Silver Lake Blvd and walk over, or circle back into the side streets, but watch out for restrictions.
Other things to note:
- You can grab coffee and pastries from the counter – coffee bar is open in the morning.
- They have a indoor and outdoor dining (patio in the back)
- The owners started off as writers, so they have a related magazine site filled with articles and recipes that welcome you into the world of Botanica.
Last visited: February 2022
Last updated: July 2022
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