Capo Los Angeles

Capo sits on Ocean Avenue, just steps from the sand at Santa Monica State Beach. This Italian and Mediterranean restaurant holds the 2024 Wine Spectator Grand Award, a distinction that defines its cellar and the seriousness of the room.

The room runs smart and elegant, but the real draw here is the quiet discipline of the kitchen. Most restaurants along this stretch of the coast rely on the ocean for distraction, serving breezy, casual plates to the tourist crowds. Capo ignores that temptation entirely, favoring a formal approach to seafood and pasta that feels miles away from the nearby Santa Monica Pier. It is the better choice for a focused meal, particularly if you prefer the substance of a serious cellar over the typical spectacle of a beachfront dining room.