Los Angeles, California
Musso and Frank Grill: The Culinary Soul of Old Hollywood
Los Angeles, California, United States
By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published
Why it’s cool
This 1919 landmark served as the social headquarters for the Golden Age of cinema and introduced fettuccine Alfredo to the American palate.
Slipping into a curved red leather booth at this Hollywood Boulevard institution feels like stepping back into 1919. The restaurant has functioned as the unofficial clubhouse for the film industry for over a century.
Waiters still navigate the dining room in the same style of crimson dinner jackets they have worn since the beginning, serving a menu that resists modern trends in favor of timeless staples. Visitors seeking more temporal anomalies might enjoy The Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Why It Stands Out
While the restaurant is famous for its stiff martinis, its most significant culinary contribution is the American introduction of fettuccine Alfredo. Silent film icons Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks discovered the buttery pasta in Rome during their 1920 honeymoon.
They loved it so much they brought the recipe back to the chefs at Musso and Frank. Beyond the pasta, the grill functioned as a second home for the greatest writers of the 20th century.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, Raymond Chandler, and William Faulkner were frequent sights in the back room, which was once so packed with the literati that every patron was someone of note.
The atmosphere remains frozen in time. The Heritage Square Museum also preserves the city's historical atmosphere.
The long wooden bar has hosted everyone from Greta Garbo and Humphrey Bogart to Marilyn Monroe. Another cinematic icon of the area is the Chemosphere.
Even the food remains a tribute to the past, featuring vintage favorites like Lobster Thermidor and Charlie Chaplin's preferred dish of grilled lamb kidneys with bacon.
Before You Go
The grill operates Tuesday through Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and closing at 11 p.m. On Sundays, the doors open later at 4 p.m. and close at 9 p.m.
While you might not spot a modern celebrity, the sense of history is palpable in the decor and the classic service.
Questions worth answering
What is the story behind the pasta on the menu?
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks brought the fettuccine Alfredo recipe here after their 1920 honeymoon. It was the first time the dish appeared in America.
Which famous writers used to spend time here?
The back room served as a second home for the literati. You would often find F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, or William Faulkner at a table.
What should I order if I want a classic dish?
The kitchen sticks to vintage staples like Lobster Thermidor. You can also try the grilled lamb kidneys with bacon, which was Charlie Chaplin's favorite.
When can I get a table during the week?
The doors open at 11 a.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. They stay open until 11 p.m. those nights.
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