Skip delivering breakfast in bed this Mother’s Day and take mom out on the town instead. These inventive Los Angeles restaurants are more than ready to roll out the red carpet for your leading lady—and the sheer range of experiences they offer, from a glamorous see-and-be-seen brunch to a more clandestine tea service, ensure they are as unique and inimitable as the mom in your life.
For the mom who loves the classics: Baltaire
With its swish steakhouse interiors and mid-century modern vibes, this Brentwood beauty is all about mothers who dig tradition. Baltaire’s Mother’s Day Brunch trots out hearty standbys such as leg of lamb, prime rib roast, and a raw seafood bar. Feast on it all in the covered terrace or sun-soaked dining room, courtesy of dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Bonus: Baltaire is named after the Celtic word for “warrior”—could there be a more appropriate synonym for mom?
For the mom who is all about the food: Yangban Society
There’s no better occasion to indulge family style, and this genre-defying Korean American deli in the Arts District, a must for mamas who are been-there-done-that epicures, promises just that. Dive into its special, nightly rotating Yangban-style menu—mom will appreciate the opportunity to relax and let the kitchen guide her experience. While waiting for your dishes, the whole fam can stroll through the minimart in the back. In case you need a last-minute present, the aisles here are stocked with everything from shrimp crackers and Korean fruit milks to face masks and incense. Note that all diners in the party must participate.
For the mom who paints the town: Beaches Weho
Got a mom whose social life is more happening than yours? Head straight to the drag brunch at Beaches Weho, a buzzy bi-level LGBTQ+ focused club known for its rotating DJs and neon lights. For Mother’s Day, the lively West Hollywood spot will present Shark Bait Sundays, an energetic and interactive hour-long performance, featuring the club’s own mascot, Sharkisha, along with some of the city’s best drag entertainers. Sit back with mom and enjoy the antics while digging into delicious Cuban fare and $17 bottomless mimosas (served until 4 pm). To snag a spot at the show, make a reservation between 11:30 am and 12 pm.
For the mom who wants to be outside: Fia
If mom prefers dining alfresco, bowl her over with brunch at one of Los Angeles’s prettiest green escapes. For $59 per person, the appropriately named “Prix Fixe Garden Brunch” at Fia, a Californian Italian restaurant in Santa Monica, promises a basket of pastries, entree, and bottomless mimosas, beers, or margaritas for Mother’s Day. With a laidback, bungalow-like vibe, Fia’s lush setting was practically made for the ultimate family photo—a bonus gift mom will be sure to love.
For the mom who likes to feel fancy: Lilly Rose
Let mom channel her favorite Alice in Wonderland character at this whimsical subterranean spot, chock full of vintage art, plush armchairs, and chandeliers. As an ode to spring, the downtown hotel bar, housed in the Wayfarer, will put a floral spin on its “High Tea & Highballs” service for the months of April and May. Mom can pair light bites and pastries with a tea-flavored cocktail—such as the Lewis Carroll-inspired, tequila-spiked Drink Me—an eclectic alcohol-free brew, or a customized highball that she can ask the bartender to create from a long list of spirits, including fine Japanese whiskys.
