Marilyn Monroe was more than a silver screen legend – she was a woman who loved good food, lively company, and the buzz of Hollywood’s best dining spots. From cozy deli booths to glamorous hotel restaurants, her favorite haunts tell a fascinating story about life in golden-age Los Angeles.
Many of these iconic spots still stand today, carrying the memory of her visits within their walls. Pull up a chair and discover where the world’s most famous blonde loved to eat.
1. Musso & Frank Grill
Hollywood’s oldest restaurant has been serving stars since 1919, and Marilyn Monroe was one of its most beloved regulars. She had a particular fondness for Booth Three, where she sometimes shared a meal with Joe DiMaggio.
The dark wood paneling and red leather seats made it feel like a private world away from the cameras.
Today, Musso and Frank still stands on Hollywood Boulevard, largely unchanged. Ordering a martini here feels like stepping straight into old Hollywood.
2. Canter’s Deli
Arthur Miller, Marilyn’s third husband, introduced her to this beloved Fairfax Avenue institution, and she quickly made it her own favorite. Canter’s has been family-run since 1931, dishing out old-world Jewish deli classics like matzo ball soup and towering pastrami sandwiches.
The place has a wonderfully lived-in feel that no trendy restaurant can replicate.
Open 24 hours a day, Canter’s became a late-night comfort for Monroe. It remains a Los Angeles treasure to this day.
3. Barney’s Beanery
A framed check for $2 still hangs on the wall at Barney’s Beanery – proof that Marilyn Monroe once stopped in for a bowl of chili. She frequented this West Hollywood roadhouse especially during the filming of “Some Like It Hot,” craving their legendary chili after long days on set.
The atmosphere is wonderfully scruffy and unpretentious, a far cry from the glamour usually associated with Monroe. That contrast is exactly what made it irresistible to her.
4. Formosa Cafe
Opened in 1939 next door to major film studios, the Formosa Cafe was practically a second canteen for Hollywood’s biggest names. Marilyn Monroe had a favorite booth there and reportedly ordered Formosa Chow Fun with extra garlic and onions – a bold choice for a woman always in the public eye.
The walls are lined with celebrity photographs, giving the place an almost museum-like quality. Remarkably, the Formosa Cafe has been lovingly restored and is still open today.
5. The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel
Few dining rooms in the world carry as much star power as the Polo Lounge, tucked inside the legendary pink palace on Sunset Boulevard. Marilyn Monroe was among the many Hollywood royalty who made it a regular meeting spot, drawn by its mix of luxury, privacy, and an unmistakable sense of occasion.
The pink-and-green color scheme alone feels like a glamorous time capsule. Power lunches and celebrity sightings have been a daily ritual here for decades.
6. The Original Pantry Cafe
Since 1924, The Original Pantry Cafe has never once closed its doors – not even for a single hour. Marilyn Monroe was known to enjoy this no-frills downtown diner, and a photo of her once graced the walls alongside a playful compliment about the food.
There is something deeply charming about a superstar who appreciated a simple, honest diner meal.
Generous portions and straightforward American cooking made it a reliable favorite. The Pantry is still serving hungry Angelenos today.
7. Villa Nova (now Rainbow Bar & Grill)
In March 1952, a corner booth at Villa Nova on Sunset Boulevard became the setting for one of Hollywood’s most famous first dates – Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s blind date. The chemistry was instant, and the rest is history.
That same booth is now known as “the Marilyn booth” at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, which replaced Villa Nova.
Fans still request that specific table today. It is a surprisingly moving little piece of romantic history hiding in a rock club.
8. The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air
Draped in bougainvillea and surrounded by swan-filled ponds, the Hotel Bel-Air felt like a fairy tale hidden in the canyon. Marilyn Monroe lived here in the late 1940s and returned regularly throughout her career, seeking the privacy and serenity that few other places could offer.
The restaurant became her quiet refuge from the relentless glare of fame.
She dined here even during her final years. The hotel’s garden setting gave her a sense of peace that was genuinely rare in her hectic life.
9. Chasen’s
Chasen’s was the kind of place where presidents and movie stars felt equally at home – and Marilyn Monroe was a devoted regular. She and Joe DiMaggio would dine together here, and Monroe reportedly preferred a corner booth because she often wore slacks, which raised eyebrows in the more formal dining rooms of the era.
The famous chili at Chasen’s was so beloved that Elizabeth Taylor had it flown to film sets abroad. The restaurant closed in 1995, leaving a giant hole in Hollywood dining history.
10. Ciro’s Nightclub
Ciro’s was the place to be seen on the Sunset Strip throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and Marilyn Monroe made sure she was seen there. She was spotted arriving in 1954 and attended a birthday party at the club in 1953, rubbing elbows with the biggest names in entertainment.
The club had an electric energy that photographs from the era still manage to convey.
Ciro’s closed in 1957 and the building became The Comedy Store. The ghost of all that glamour is still somehow present on that stretch of Sunset.
11. The Brown Derby
Shaped like a giant derby hat on the outside and plastered with celebrity caricatures on the inside, The Brown Derby was one of the most recognizable restaurants in American history. Marilyn Monroe occasionally stopped in to dine and sign autographs for fans, adding her own sparkle to the already star-studded room.
The restaurant is also credited with inventing the Cobb salad, one of the most copied dishes in American dining. The original Wilshire location is long gone, but its legacy endures in every Cobb salad served today.
12. Yamashiro Hollywood
Perched high in the Hollywood Hills with a jaw-dropping view of the city below, Yamashiro feels less like a restaurant and more like a private estate. Built in 1914 as a replica of a Japanese mountain palace, it became an exclusive gathering spot for Hollywood’s entertainment elite.
Marilyn Monroe was among the luminaries who mingled in its lantern-lit gardens.
The views alone would make anyone feel like a star. Yamashiro remains open today and is still one of the most atmospheric dining experiences in all of Los Angeles.
13. Tropicana at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Before she became the most photographed woman on the planet, Marilyn Monroe lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for two years as her modeling career was just beginning to take off. She regularly dined at the Tropicana, the hotel’s legendary pool bar, soaking up California sunshine between bookings and auditions.
The Roosevelt itself opened in 1927 and hosted the very first Academy Awards ceremony. Sitting poolside there today, it is easy to imagine a young Marilyn dreaming of the stardom that was just around the corner.
14. Dominick’s
Tucked quietly into West Hollywood, Dominick’s built its reputation on two things: excellent Italian-American cooking and an ironclad discretion with celebrity guests. Marilyn Monroe appreciated both qualities enormously.
The cozy, candlelit atmosphere made it possible to enjoy a real meal without becoming a public spectacle, something increasingly rare as her fame grew.
Dominick’s sadly closed at the end of 2015 after decades of loyal service. Those who dined there still speak about it with genuine affection, the way people talk about a beloved old friend.
15. Wil Wright’s Ice Cream Parlor
After drama classes in the early 1950s, a young Marilyn Monroe had a sweet ritual: heading straight to Wil Wright’s in Beverly Hills for a hot fudge sundae. It is the most delightfully human detail imaginable – Hollywood’s future bombshell rewarding herself with ice cream after a hard day’s work on her craft.
Wil Wright’s became famous across Los Angeles for its rich, indulgent sundaes before eventually closing. Knowing Monroe was a regular makes every hot fudge sundae feel just a little more glamorous.