Musso & Frank Grill

Musso & Frank Grill opened on Hollywood Boulevard in 1919 and is widely described as the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. It has served generations of screenwriters, actors and studio executives, and stepping into its wood-panelled rooms, with red leather booths, a long counter and waiters in red jackets, still feels like stepping into the city's film history.

The menu is old-school American and Continental: steaks and chops from the grill, seafood, salads and classic side dishes, with some dishes that have barely changed in decades. The restaurant is said to have been the first in the United States to serve fettuccine Alfredo, in 1927, and the chicken pot pie, offered only on Thursdays, has a loyal following. Welsh rarebit and lobster thermidor are other throwbacks.

Many people come primarily for a drink. The martini, stirred and served with a sidecar on ice, is a house signature and was once named the best in America by GQ. Sitting at the bar is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the place if you do not want a full dinner.

Musso & Frank is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 11pm, and on Sunday from 4pm to 10pm; check the website for Monday service and any changes. Booking is advisable for weekend evenings and for groups. Dress is smart casual, and the atmosphere is convivial rather than stuffy.

It suits couples, film buffs and anyone who enjoys historic restaurants, and it is a good choice for a celebration with an old-Hollywood feel. Prices are upscale, in keeping with a steakhouse, though a drink at the bar is an affordable way to soak up the atmosphere. Part of the charm is watching the long-serving bartenders and waiters at work, some of whom have spent decades in the dining room. The restaurant has appeared in many films and books about Hollywood, and film fans like to ask staff which booths were favoured by famous regulars. Arrive with time to spare before a theatre performance, as service follows the unhurried rhythm of a classic grill rather than the pace of a modern bistro.

The restaurant is on the Walk of Fame, between Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine stations on the Metro B Line, so it combines easily with sightseeing on the boulevard or a show at one of the nearby theatres. The Hollywood Roosevelt hotel and the TCL Chinese Theatre are a short walk west.