Arbor At City Club Los Angeles

My City Club. I've been a member for over twenty years. It's like home to me in Los Angeles.

The meal featured three courses that were merely acceptable. I attended with my fiancé for his birthday; he chose the meat menu while I opted for the seafood selection (which we had to pre-select the week before). Ultimately, the menu choices hardly mattered since the first course (raw fish) and the third course (a syrupy crushed ice dessert) were identical for both menus. While blindfolded, we tried to describe our dishes to each other, only to realize we had the same items for two out of the three courses, despite our different selections. The appetizer was decent, the main course was just okay, and the dessert consisted of icy artificial strawberry syrup on a tiny plate. It seemed the chef aimed to accommodate everyone—vegans, dairy-free, etc.—but it was unclear why that dessert was served to all. The flavored ice chunks were underwhelming, and we certainly didn’t expect that to be the meal’s finale. Another issue was the lack of communication from the staff; nobody informed us when our food was placed in front of us. How are we supposed to know when quiet servers don’t announce the arrival of our plates? The whole experience felt disorganized and unprepared for diners in a blindfolded setting. Our waiter wasn’t particularly pleasant either. When we asked for a pre-dinner drink, my fiancé and I mentioned we would like to share a beer. In a confusing manner, he remarked, “It’s illegal to share cocktails,” which left us puzzled. I had to clarify that we just wanted one beer to sip on while we waited for the wine pairing. However, the beer didn’t arrive until an hour later when we were still blindfolded, and we had to decline it since we had already ordered wine with our meal. Considering the base price of $100 per person, a $50 wine pairing, and an automatic 20% gratuity (which they later indicated doesn’t go to the staff's tip and then asked if we wanted to add extra gratuity), the value felt outrageous. If you plan to have dinner around 8:30 PM, be prepared for it actually to start closer to 9:30 PM. While delays can happen, the MC did a great job keeping everyone updated, which was the highlight of the evening. But looking back, the late start added to our overall frustration. For almost $400 for two people with the wine pairing, I suggest finding a nearby restaurant that aligns better with that price point.

The restaurant is located on the 51 floor of the building. The place was fabulous with great views. Service was good and the quality of the food was great too. Personally the food didn’t meet my taste.

If you are considering membership, it’s advisable to arrange a meeting with one of the event coordinators, as there is an initiation fee as well as a monthly fee involved. This venue is particularly suited for professionals in executive roles, although there are times when non-members are welcome to dine and explore the grounds. Overall, it’s an experience worth having at least once to truly appreciate the ambiance.

If it is networking you want and a place your can feel a part of the pulse of Los Angeles than this is the place for You, I love the fine dining and camaraderie I am able to partake in the fun and informative events. I can't give specifics, but for me the people that I have met and interacted with have all been very helpful. I have even found a mentor for my book publishing and public speaking that is priceless and for that I am grateful. Go City Club LA, we love you! P.S. I am even inspired to learn how to play golf, So I guess I can say City Club LA is good for my health. My guest always enjoy the spectacular view and great food. It nice to have a great place to meet and greet people you care about.