Margot

"Margot is a narrow natural wine bar that’s hard to describe without using the word “cozy.” And while there isn’t a ton of room in here for big groups, this place is really lovely once you do snag a seat at the bar, or one of the little tables. As the name implies, natural wine is what you’ll probably be drinking. They also have some wine-based apertivo cocktails as well as a menu of small plates. This place does feel like it was designed specifically for first, second, or third dates by a team of NASA scientists, although we’d happily come here just to drink wine and eat cheese—while possibly eavesdropping on a first date." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"Margot is the kind of all-purpose outdoor restaurant we wish there were more of in LA. It’s on the roof of Platform in Culver City, and has a huge outdoor patio where you can fit tables for parties of 10-plus pretty much any night of the week. They’ve got crowd-friendly food that everyone will be happy with - like crudos, pastas, and salads - and fantastic gin and tonics that everyone will be even happier with. The portions aren’t very big, so prepare to order multiples of everything." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, brett keating

"Given that most of LA’s rooftop bars are soul-crushing tracts of concrete filled with selfie-taking binge-drinkers, Margot’s fantastic space in Culver City feels invaluable. Or at the very least, a bit more refined. Located on top of the Platform complex in Culver City, Margot is just as much of a restaurant as it is a bar. And while the food is solid, we love it most as a place to lounge, sip some incredibly strong gin and tonics, and watch the sunset. And after you’ve got a good buzz going, it’ll be easier to justify spending $40 on some Aesop soap downstairs." - brant cox

"There isn’t a ton of room at this narrow Downtown spot, so try to make a reservation. They’ve got a wine menu that’ll satisfy the person in your life who just discovered orange wine. But they also have cocktails as well as a menu of rotating small plates. This place does feel like it was designed specifically for first, second, or third dates by a team of NASA scientists, although we’d happily come here just to drink wine and eat cheese (while possibly eavesdropping on one of those first dates)." - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo

"Your third-tier friend from Chicago will probably talk about the weather in LA for a half-hour straight, so you might as well take them to a nice rooftop like Margot. This Mediterranean restaurant serves a bit of everything, including pastas, Spanish tapas, and big platters of meat for sharing. But this Culver City spot really excels in the cocktail and ambiance department, making it a good option for catching a sunset with a spritz as you listen to out-of-towner hot takes about your city. " - sylvio martins, garrett snyder, nikko duren