Margot

Perched atop a building in Culver City, Margot feels like stepping into a design magazine come to life. This rooftop Mediterranean spot has mastered the art of atmosphere—from the stone-tiled tables to the meticulously composed cocktails that arrive looking like floral arrangements. The patio overlooks the trains at Culver Junction, and somehow even that industrial view feels curated when you’re sipping drinks from what could easily be a CB2 showroom.

The small plates are where Margot truly shines. The pan con tomate is a study in simplicity done right—grated tomatoes with whipped ricotta atop freshly baked focaccia, each component perfectly balanced. The crudos feature impeccably fresh fish with citrus and pickled mustard seeds, while the jamón iberico arrives beautifully marbled and wonderfully salty. Those stuffed piquillo peppers, filled with smoky idiazabal cheese, deliver flavor that far exceeds their petite size.

This is a place designed for lingering over cocktails and grazing on appetizers rather than tackling ambitious entrees. The larger plates tend to underwhelm compared to the starters, so focus your attention (and budget) on the small plates and the excellent drink menu. The bartenders here clearly take their craft seriously, and it shows in every gorgeously garnished glass that arrives at your table.

Margot is ideal for first dates, birthday celebrations, or any occasion where looking good matters as much as the meal itself. Come for the scene, stay for the small plates and cocktails, and definitely check out the bathrooms—they’re as photogenic as everything else here.