If you have the time, and money, you may want to check out these restaurants that have been listed as the top 1,000 in the world.  The list is “based on the compilation of thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks, and millions of online reviews, LA LISTE offers the world’s best restaurant and hotel selection at your fingertips wherever you go. For more information check out their website.  Here is an overview of some of the top restaurants in California from La Liste 2025:

Atelier Crenn (San Francisco)

• Chef Dominique Crenn’s restaurant specializes in “poetic cuisine,” where dishes are inspired by her original poetry. The menu, a multi-course tasting experience, features imaginative French-inspired dishes. Expect an intimate setting and artistic presentations. Price range: $$$$ MICHELIN Guide.  Fine Dining Lovers

The French Laundry (Yountville)

• Thomas Keller’s legendary restaurant offers a French-inspired tasting menu, featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Known for its impeccable service and refined atmosphere, it remains a cornerstone of fine dining. Price range: $$$$​ MICHELIN Guide  World’s Best Restaurants

Saison (San Francisco)

• Saison offers a luxurious multi-course menu that emphasizes fire-based cooking and high-quality, seasonal ingredients. The dining experience is both intimate and highly personalized. Price range: $$$$​  World’s Best Restaurants.

Addison (San Diego)

• This two-Michelin-starred gem features contemporary French cuisine with global influences, led by Chef William Bradley. Known for its artistic plating and sophisticated flavors, it offers an exquisite tasting menu. Price range: $$$$​  MICHELIN Guide.  Fine Dining Lovers

Benu (San Francisco)

• Chef Corey Lee’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant combines French and Asian flavors in a sophisticated tasting menu. Benu’s dishes are lauded for their innovation and balance. Price range: $$$$​  World’s Best Restaurants

Eight Tables by George Chen (San Francisco)

• This restaurant provides an exclusive dining experience inspired by private Chinese banquets, with a menu blending traditional Chinese cuisine and modern techniques. Price range: $$$$​  MICHELIN Guide

Melisse (Santa Monica)

• Chef Josiah Citrin’s two-star restaurant offers refined modern American cuisine with a French twist, featuring seasonal tasting menus. Price range: $$$$ MICHELIN Guide

Quince (San Francisco) 

• A three-Michelin-starred restaurant offering Italian and French-inspired tasting menus focused on seasonal ingredients, Quince is known for its elegant atmosphere and exceptional service. Price range: $$$$​  World’s Best Restaurants

Aubergine (Carmel-by-the-Sea)

• Located in the cozy L’Auberge Carmel Hotel, Aubergine is helmed by Chef Justin Cogley, offering modern interpretations of haute cuisine. Seasonal tasting menus emphasize local Californian ingredients, blending coastal and forest influences. Expect dishes like abalone porridge and cherry wood-smoked maitake mushrooms. Price: $$$$ ($225+ for the tasting menu)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

n/naka (Los Angeles)

• Chef Niki Nakayama presents modern kaiseki, a multi-course Japanese dining experience. The menu emphasizes balance and seasonality, showcasing dishes like uni pasta and A5 wagyu beef. Price: $$$$ (starting at $310 for the tasting menu)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

The Kitchen (Sacramento)

• Known for its interactive and engaging dining experience, The Kitchen serves a five-course tasting menu with ingredients sourced from Northern California farms. Guests can enjoy culinary demonstrations during their meal. Price: $$$$ (around $235 per person)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Providence (Los Angeles)

• This fine dining restaurant offers sustainable seafood in an elegant setting. Chef Michael Cimarusti crafts dishes such as lobster with dashi and black cod with miso. Price: $$$$ (tasting menus start at $185)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Cyrus (Geyserville)

• This reimagined culinary gem blends global techniques with local ingredients in a serene setting. The menu evolves daily, featuring inventive small plates and creative pairings. Price: $$$$ (tasting menus exceed $250)​ MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Lazy Bear (San Francisco)

• Originally a pop-up, Lazy Bear now offers an interactive communal dining experience. Chef David Barzelay’s seasonal tasting menu redefines comfort food with sophisticated touches. Price: $$$$ (around $275)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Gary Danko (San Francisco)

• A staple in the city’s fine dining scene, Gary Danko features an à la carte menu blending French, Mediterranean, and American influences. Expect dishes like glazed oysters with caviar. Price: $$$$ (three-course meals start at $97)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Californios (San Francisco)

• A two-Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant offering inventive, upscale interpretations of traditional Mexican cuisine. Chef Val Cantu’s tasting menu changes frequently. Price: $$$$ (starting at $267)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Acquerello (San Francisco)

• This Italian fine dining institution offers a sophisticated tasting menu featuring handmade pastas and premium proteins. Its extensive wine list is another highlight. Price: $$$$ (around $250 for tasting menus)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Sons & Daughters (San Francisco)

• A cozy spot focusing on hyper-local and seasonal ingredients, Sons & Daughters crafts inventive tasting menus with dishes like lamb tartare and quail. Price: $$$$ (around $235)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant (Oakhurst)

• Located in a charming European-style inn near Yosemite, this restaurant offers refined French-inspired cuisine using local ingredients. Price: $$$ (dinner starts at $125)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Vespertine (Culver City)

• Chef Jordan Kahn’s artistic approach transforms food into an avant-garde sensory experience. The architecture and the tasting menu are designed to work in harmony. Price: $$$$ (around $295)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Spago Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills)

• Chef Wolfgang Puck’s flagship offers contemporary American cuisine with global influences, such as house-made pastas and sushi-grade seafood. Price: $$$$ (tasting menu starts at $145)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Birdsong (San Francisco)

• Specializing in heritage cooking techniques, Birdsong focuses on Pacific Northwest cuisine with a modern twist, using open-fire cooking and local ingredients. Price: $$$$ (starting at $198)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

The Belvedere (Beverly Hills)

• A refined yet approachable dining experience at The Peninsula Hotel, serving modern American cuisine with European flair. Price: $$$$ (entrees range from $50–$95)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Caruso’s (Montecito)

• Located at the Rosewood Miramar Beach, Caruso’s offers fine Italian-inspired cuisine in an elegant coastal setting. Price: $$$$ (around $175 for tasting menus)​  MICHELIN Guide.  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

The Restaurant at Justin (Paso Robles)

• Located on Justin Vineyards, this restaurant combines wine country cuisine with scenic views. Price: $$$ (entrees $40–$75)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Hayato (Los Angeles)

• A two-Michelin-starred kappo-style restaurant offering intimate dining with intricate Japanese dishes. Price: $$$$ ($295+)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Boulevard (San Francisco)

• Classic American cuisine with an upscale twist, this iconic restaurant is set in a historic building overlooking the Bay Bridge. Price: $$$$ (entrees $45–$75)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Q Sushi (Los Angeles)

• An intimate omakase experience highlighting premium sushi with an emphasis on Edo-style preparation. Price: $$$$ (starting at $185)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

Sushi Ginza Onodera (West Hollywood)

• A temple of high-end sushi, serving traditional Edomae sushi with fish flown in from Japan. Price: $$$$ ($300+)​  MICHELIN Guide  50B – Restaurants – GLOBAL

These restaurants represent some of the most unique dining experiences California has to offer, each showcasing world-class cuisine and ambiance. Let me know if you’d like more details on any of these spots!