You'll Be Swept Away To 1970s Baja At This Hidden Southern California Cantina
By Natasha Kayes|Published October 09, 2023
×
Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
I believe that great food is great food (profound, I know, but stay with me) – whether it comes from your home kitchen, a tiny unassuming hole-in-the-wall, or a fancy dress-code-enforced Michelin-star restaurant. But great food in a space that sweeps you away to another time or place is more than a satisfying meal – it’s an experience, and one that can be enjoyed any time. When you step inside this hidden restaurant in Los Angeles, you will feel your shoulders relax and will find it hard to believe you are in the busiest city in Southern California.
If you find yourself strolling down the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, a red and white neon sign on the roof of the Rodeo Collection - a shopping center full of top designers - is the only glimpse you will see of the old-school Baja-inspired dining oasis within.
As appropriately suggested by the name, The Hideaway is, well, HIDDEN away on the basement level of the Rodeo Collection, beneath a semi-open roof with pretty striped shades.
The restaurant wraps you in the chic, laid-back ambiance of 1970s Baja, with its bold salmon-colored walls, cozy curtained alcoves, colorful pillows, and warm natural light. There are plants draping the walls in terra cotta pots, glass tables, and candles everywhere.
The “Uno. Dos. Tres” three-course prix fixe lunch menu is extremely popular and full of vibrant flavors. This taste of what The Hideaway has to offer will most certainly make you want to return for dinner and dessert.
From the fresh chips, salsa, and hand-made guacamole - served with lemon, lime, and coarse salt - to desserts like decadent churros and Pink Champagne or Margarita sorbet, you can taste the attention to detail in every bite.
The Hideaway hosts “La Cantina Hour” daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a delightful menu featuring drinks such as Poblano Escobar, Tommy Margarita, and the tequila-based Kiwifruit. Pair your choice with bites like Corn Empanadas or Wagyu Flautas.
In the evenings, the place takes on a glamorous, romantic vibe with the four-way fireplace in the center and starlight coming through the pulled-back roof shades. Open daily 11 a.m. to late night, so you can enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, late night snacks, or anything else in between.
Are you ready for a great meal that will whisk you off to another place and time? If you have been to this hidden restaurant in Los Angeles, please share your experience with us in the comments! You can find more information, including menu, hours, etc. on The Hideaway Beverly Hills website.
