Republique

Republique occupies a 1929 Spanish-colonial building at 624 S La Brea Avenue in Mid-City Los Angeles, California, a structure associated with Charlie Chaplin that previously housed the well-known Campanile restaurant. Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke opened it in 2013, and it has since operated as three experiences under one roof: a pastry and bread counter, a daytime cafe, and a French-California dinner restaurant. The cuisine pairs French technique with Californian produce and a broad range of outside influences, and the menu changes with the seasons. Margarita Manzke's pastry programme is the best-known element, with croissants, morning buns, tarts and laminated pastries sold at the front counter and eaten in the cafe. Savory signature dishes named on the menu include bone marrow, dry-aged steak and a popular weekend brunch, and the dinner list moves between composed plates and larger shared cuts. The dining room is a soaring, skylit hall with exposed brick and timber trusses; it is lively and noticeably loud at peak hours, and the dress code is relaxed, with smart casual the norm. A cocktail bar and a wine list weighted toward French and Californian bottles accompany the food. Dinner is served Tuesday to Sunday, and the cafe and bakery operate by day, though hours should be confirmed on the website. Dinner costs about $60 to $110 per person, while a pastry and coffee at the counter costs a small fraction of that. Reservations are advised for dinner through the website, and weekend evenings and brunch tend to fill several days to two weeks ahead; walk-in seating is usually easier at the bar and for weekday cafe visits. The restaurant sits near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Miracle Mile, making it a practical stop before or after a museum visit, and ride-hailing is a common way to arrive because street parking in the area is limited.