A rooftop restaurant recast for a different audience
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has introduced Gemma, a new open-air restaurant and bar replacing the previous rooftop hospitality concept. The hotel announced the opening in May 2026, presenting a California-influenced interpretation of Pan-Asian food in a setting overlooking Beverly Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. This is a venue that has opened, not a future resort proposal.
The hotel's rooftop has long attracted visitors seeking a view as well as a meal. Gemma aims to give the space an identity that extends beyond the panorama, with design and menus intended to remain interesting from daytime brunch through dinner. The right experience will depend on seating, weather and how closely the menu matches a guest's tastes.
Peleg Miron directs the kitchen
Chef Peleg Miron leads the culinary programme, drawing on Southeast Asian and Pacific influences while taking advantage of California produce and seafood. The menu combines refined small plates, sushi, seafood and premium meat dishes, allowing groups to build a shared meal or select a more traditional sequence of courses. Its style is exploratory rather than attached to a single national cuisine.
For diners who prefer lighter food or have allergies, the ability to discuss ingredients and preparation is essential. Pan-Asian is a broad description, so a menu should be evaluated dish by dish rather than assumed to follow one tradition. The kitchen's actual execution, pacing and attention to detail determine whether the concept works beyond its branding.
Cocktails and an evolving atmosphere
Beverage director Jim Kearns oversees cocktails influenced by Asian ingredients and tropical drinking traditions. The rooftop's indoor-outdoor setting is designed to become more intimate after dark through layered lighting and textures. A daytime table may offer stronger views, while evening visitors may prefer the changing atmosphere and the wider city lights.
The venue's published information includes weekend brunch and regular lunch or dinner availability, with specific hours set by the restaurant. Visitors should confirm the current schedule and any change to brunch times before making travel plans. Seating on an outdoor terrace may also be affected by weather or private events.
An address for a considered Los Angeles itinerary
A special meal here can form part of a day spent in galleries, shopping areas and the neighbourhoods beyond Beverly Hills, although traffic can make apparently short journeys unexpectedly slow. Visitors staying elsewhere should plan their return as carefully as the meal itself, particularly if enjoying an evening event.
Gemma adds another distinctive food destination to the city's high-end dining scene. Its appeal rests on the meeting of global flavours, a specific chef's vision and a dramatic outlook, while its lasting standing will depend on consistent hospitality rather than the novelty of a rooftop opening.
