FUNKE

A man playing a large yellow string instrument inside a modern, glass-enclosed restaurant or tasting room with warm lighting and dark marble counter.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA

Chef Evan Funke has long been known as one of L.A.’s most lauded masters of all things Italian, most specifically pasta. He’s been meticulously hand rolling it at larger and larger spaces for more than a decade, overseeing the kitchen at favorites including Mother Wolf and Felix Trattoria with his broad frame and broader beard, having no room for anything less than perfection. His latest opening, Funke (pronounced “fun-kee”), continues this trend in his most opulent location: a gorgeous, massive dining room designed by Dan Brunn Architecture, with a separate outdoor rooftop bar featuring caviar service.

Indoor dining options include beautiful pizza, such as the Tropea (buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, tropea onions bruciata, scamorza, origano selvatico); large-format mains, like whole Mediterranean sea bass; and of course pastas, like a tonnarelli cacio e pepe. A collaboration with real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport, Funke boasts a see-and-be-seen vibe, a 20-foot-tall pasta lab and 273 Murano glass modular lighting pendants. If you’ve got visitors coming in, it’s a must-hit destination. — Jeff Miller

Two men smiling and posing together in a retail store, one wearing a chef's coat and apron, the other in a suit and tie, with a sign behind them that reads 'Netflix Chefs Taco' and shelves with jars and food items.

Interior of a stylish bar or restaurant with a curved counter, vintage-style chairs, and warm ambient lighting, decorated with plants and flowers.

A self-proclaimed “design jewel” in the heart of Beverly Hills, Funke is a go-to destination for those who enjoy an art and design-centric ambiance just as much as a gourmet meal. Conceptualized by architect Dan Brunn and Clint Nichols Design, the 1930s Art Deco-style building has been transformed into a contemporary eatery brimming with an impressive collection, including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Jean “Johnny” Pigozzi (sourced from co-owner Kurt Rappaport’s own collection), as well as dazzling Damien Hirst-inspired light installations. Meals at Funke are just as considered—visitors can select from a wide range of fresh pastas, all made in the restaurant’s very own pasta lab.

Outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant with a bar area, tables with white tablecloths, and seating, in a modern setting.

“You can only put your name on a restaurant one time,” said Mother Wolfand Felix chef Evan Funke of his newest ode to Italy, opening at 9388 S. Santa Monica in Beverly Hills next Friday, May 5. Years in the making, his eponymous Funke is a collaboration with real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport, who bought the 1930s Art Deco building and even contributed his own artwork—from Warhol, Basquiat and more. “It’s probably one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Funke, who thanked Rappaport for enabling him to “dream this.”

The three-story space designed by Dan Brunn with classic nods to Italy includes a main dining room (with 273 hand-blown Murano glass Fizi Ball glass lights simulating Champagne bubbles), a second-floor mezzanine with a livestream of the pasta-making, and a stunning rooftop with a verdant walkway and Cristallo Rosa quartz bar. The entire rooftop level, dubbed Bar Funke, will be open for walk-ins only and serve a separate menu featuring crudos, caviar service and desserts.

Nighttime image of a modern building with illuminated signage, palm trees with string lights, and blurred moving cars on the street.

COFFEE FOR SASQUATCH

LOS ANGELES,CA

DBA transformed an existing bare space into the first Coffee For Sasquatch location by implementing a playful, modern design. The Melrose Avenue coffee shop creates a mystical environment evoking the forest where Sasquatch lives. The front of the store features an outline of the hairy folkloric creature with surrounding real living greenery to add depth and texture to the space.

DBA worked closely with business owner, Claire Ackad, to create a concept that would cater to the functionality of a coffeeshop but also ensure that customers would find an oasis to relax in alongside Sasquatch.

INTERIOR DESIGN MAGAZINE'S BEST OF YEAR 2017 HONOREE

“It’s really fun collaborating with everybody and the excitement just continues on every day!”

— Claire Ackad

YOJISAN SUSHI

BEVERLY HILLS, CA

Yojisan is a restaurant that's elegantly minimal but still celebrates exuberant playfulness. The spatial arrangement echoes the delicate harmony between the strong and silent elements of Japanese cuisine. Within a very limited space, Yojisan brings a surreal revolution to a city of tradition.