Beverly Center Area Has Wide Range of Places to Hang Out

The Beverly Center area, bordering Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, is practically a city in itself. During daylight hours, the more than 200 stores and restaurants, three theaters and two entertainment centers offer a little bit of everything to tempt the prospective shopper.

For late-night dining, dancing and/or socializing, there are several restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood (though most of the in-house dining establishments on the eighth level of the center close at 9 p.m. or earlier). The parking structure is open 24 hours a day.

So if you’re in the Beverly Center neighborhood late at night and feel like a nibble or a sip, in surroundings fancy or casual, give one of these a try.

Pinafini, 8612 Beverly Blvd. (ground level of Beverly Center), (213) 854-3039. Open until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; till midnight weekdays. Valet parking. Reservations recommended.

This 3-year-old, ultra-mod restaurant with high-tech decor has catered the Oscar ceremonies. We’re talking class here--but casual class. The menu is Northern Italian, rich and exotic. Specialty of the house is a black-and-white fettuccine dish with shrimp and scallops; also try their famous homemade Pinafini bread. Late night dancing, full cocktail bar.

Citizen Cafe, 361 N. La Cienega Blvd., (213) 659-5707. Open until midnight, Sundays until 10 p.m. Parking in rear of building. Reservations not necessary for parties of fewer than five.

A small, intimate cafe, the Citizen serves a variety of national and international dishes. Specialty of the house: grilled lamb chops with rosemary and potato ravioli. Beer and wine.

Hard Rock Cafe, 8600 Beverly Blvd. (ground level of Beverly Center, next to Pinafini), (213) 276-7605. Open until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; midnight weekdays. Valet parking. No reservations accepted. Hard Rock is famous for its lines, so expect to wait in one.

This hangout is almost always noisy and a good people-watching spot. The specialties of the house are barbecue ribs and lime barbecue chicken. Full cocktail bar.

The Greek Connection Restaurant-Taverna, 401 N. La Cienega Blvd., (213) 659-2271. Open until midnight nightly, and often until 2 a.m., depending on business. Valet parking; reservations recommended.

A Greek restaurant that is mighty proud of its food, the Greek Connection offers a large selection of Greek beers and wines, and four kinds of homemade baklava. House specialty: the Greek Feast, a meal for two ($24.95 per person), including an appetizer of calamari with 3 dips, Greek salad and an entree combination of moussaka , roast chicken and spring lamb.