Denae's Diner Brings Late-Night Cravings Back to Downtown L.A.

Los Angeles has witnessed a series of closures in the past six months, whether it be newer faces like the Michelin-starred Manzke and its sister restaurant Bicyclette, or old beloveds such as Caffe Roma. But amid the despair of the current shutter-crisis is one Downtown L.A. success story. Denae’s Diner first opened in August 2023 inside The Delphi, which replaced the iconic Standard Hotel just four months earlier. But unlike most hotel restaurants, this one is seeking to revive an old, sacred practice that L.A. had all but waved goodbye to during the pandemic: the late-night.The ‘50s-style eatery opens up at an astonishingly early 6:30 a.m. before closing for a temporary, well-deserved break at 3 p.m. Just two hours later, their doors open again for a bustling night shift which runs until midnight. And, they're already considering staying open later.

“L.A. is one of the cities that never sleeps,” Volkan Koc, the hotel’s Director of Food and Beverage tells Los Angeles magazine. “If we were to open this place until 2 a.m. or later… we would be the after-party place for any life that’s happening in downtown Los Angeles.”Another key highlight is their menu’s affordability. A classic American breakfast for $14, the “Grand Central Stack” for $12, and $5 French fries. Sure, it’s not groundbreaking price margins, but it’s a refreshing change from shelling out $50 for a mimosa and “eggs and bakey” around town.

The Grand Central Stack. (Photo courtesy The Delphi Hotel)

“Having reasonable prices for food and beverage items… that's the biggest drive for us,” Koc says. “It’s one of the main aspects of having a diner in downtown.”On top of this, their diverse menu has a bite for everyone; omnivores, carnivores, and all in between. You can start your breakfast off with the La Brea, a classic with brisket hash, two eggs any style and toast. Then move onto the Black Dahlia, a cinnamon-swirled croissant, french toast, almond brittle and blueberry sauce. Sure, it sounds like a heart attack on a plate, but its tree nut-free and vegetarian.

The Black Dahlia.

The Black Dahlia. (Photo courtesy The Delphi Hotel)

Maybe you'll even stop by for a bite and catch their Saturday hip-hop brunch. It’s been in the mix before the restaurant even opened, but it was finally rolled out late last year. No, it’s not a new concept, but they’ve certainly chiseled out some of the common defects, leading to a packed house every Saturday.“It’s definitely one of the most successful activations we’ve had at the Delphi, and there are some other ones like jazz night in the lobby,” Koc adds.It’s a fresh breath of life in the urban hellscape that is Downtown, where you can blink your eyes once and see your favorite family-owned donut shop replaced by a CVS. The city had a huge hole in its heart, after all, when the Original Pantry Café stopped its 24/7 routine in 2020. We’re not saying it’ll take its iconic place, but it can at least act as a band-aid for those yearning for an 11 p.m. waffle.