Iconic Los Angeles Restaurants Marilyn Monroe Enjoyed

Neon signs, red leather booths, and late-night coffee once framed Hollywood’s most photographed era.

Los Angeles dining in the 1950s had its own kind of glamour, mixing studio power lunches with after-hours comfort food and see-and-be-seen rooms where every table felt like a scene.

Marilyn Monroe moved through that world during a time when restaurants doubled as social hubs, business offices, and quiet hideaways.

Reported favorites and frequently mentioned spots still spark curiosity today because they offer a small, human angle on a larger-than-life icon.

Menu choices, regular hangouts, and where she was seen dining help place her in a real city with real routines, not just on a movie screen.

Disclaimer: Details are based on publicly available reporting, biographies, and historical accounts, and some restaurant associations may vary by source or remain anecdotal.

1. Musso & Frank Grill

Opened in 1919, Musso & Frank Grill holds the title of Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, a place where old-school glamour still lingers in the air.

Monroe was known to frequent the legendary steakhouse, slipping into one of the red leather booths to enjoy a martini between filming sessions.

Burgundy awnings still frame the entrance along Hollywood Boulevard, giving the façade the look of a preserved studio backlot.

Inside, waiters in signature red jackets glide across the dining room, serving a menu rooted in classic steaks, chops, and timeless cocktails that have remained largely unchanged for more than a century.

6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

2. Formosa Cafe

Just steps from the original Warner Bros. studio lot, Formosa Cafe became one of Marilyn Monroe’s favorite post-filming retreats.

After long days under bright lights, she could slip into the restaurant’s iconic red trolley car dining room, where the cozy quarters offered a sense of privacy without sacrificing Old Hollywood buzz.

Pagoda-style architecture crowns the exterior, while glowing red neon signage casts a warm halo over Santa Monica Boulevard each night.

Decades of industry shakeups have come and gone, yet the restaurant’s cinematic charm and nostalgic atmosphere continue to anchor it firmly in Hollywood history.

7156 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046

3. Canter’s Deli

During her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller in the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was known to stop in for pastrami sandwiches at Canter’s Deli, savoring simple comfort food in a setting that felt refreshingly normal.

The 24-hour Fairfax staple offered a rare pocket of ease, where the couple could share a booth and a late-night meal away from relentless studio attention.

Outside, the bright yellow sign still anchors the corner like a glowing landmark for night owls and longtime regulars alike.

Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the lively counter within, where servers move briskly beneath vintage décor that hasn’t lost its classic Los Angeles spirit.

419 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

4. The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air

In her final years, Monroe spent time at the legendary Hotel Bel-Air, often dining at its refined on-site restaurant while seeking a measure of calm away from the spotlight.

Tucked inside a secluded canyon, the property offered the kind of privacy that was increasingly rare in her life.

Pink stucco buildings emerge softly through lush greenery, framed by towering palms and flowering gardens.

Stone pathways and arched bridges stretch over tranquil ponds where white swans continue to glide, preserving the serene atmosphere that once made the retreat feel worlds away from Hollywood’s glare.

701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90077

5. Barney’s Beanery

When polished dining rooms felt too formal, Marilyn Monroe could slip into the lively atmosphere of Barney’s Beanery for something far less buttoned-up.

The legendary roadhouse drew writers, musicians, and night owls, creating a bohemian crowd where a game of pool and a casual drink felt worlds away from studio expectations.

Outside, the building’s façade remains famously plastered with license plates and offbeat signs, giving it the look of a roadside landmark frozen in time.

8447 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069

6. Chasen’s

For decades, few dining rooms carried more star power than Chasen’s, the Beverly Hills institution where Marilyn Monroe marked special occasions alongside Hollywood royalty.

Its famed chili achieved near-mythic status – so beloved that Elizabeth Taylor reportedly had it flown to Rome while filming abroad. Even after closing its doors in 1995, the restaurant’s legacy endured.

Crisp white walls and signature green awnings once framed the exterior, signaling refined glamour on Beverly Boulevard.

Originally located at 9039 Beverly Boulevard, Beverly Hills (now closed)