Manuela absolutely lives up to the hype! From the moment we arrived the experience was delightful. The ambiance is super charming and the service was attentive and friendly. Every dish we tried had so much flavor and beautifully presented. My only minor disappointment was that the biscuits while delicious were on the smaller side. I would have loved just a bit more of them! Regardless it was an outstanding meal and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Manuela in the Arts District is an awesome spot that combines delicious food with a super inviting atmosphere. The restaurant itself is beautifully designed, making dining there a real pleasure. I absolutely love their cocktails - each one is expertly crafted and so tasty. The vibe is lively yet relaxed, which makes it perfect for a great night out. Just a heads up, parking can be a bit tricky, so I recommend taking advantage of their valet service. All in all, Manuela is a fantastic choice for a memorable dining experience!

Why is 6 or 7 not an option? Because Manuela was divine. My two friends and I came on a Monday night. It was not crowded. Nor was it empty. Just the right amount. Manuela is set in a warehouse that houses other businesses. Walking in is its own experience and appeal. The ambiance is pure zen and beauty. The outside but inside but in a tall building. There are so many plants and artistic features. Just lovely. The star of the show? The drinks. I had one called a Nightshade. It is like a margarita but instead of jalapeño, bell pepper. It isn't a margarita because it isn't sweet. For $17, I felt like this drink lived up to its price. I also tried the Pimm's Cup cocktail. I was blown away. Not only is it pretty, but the flavor profile is just out of control. We started with the biscuits and baked oysters. Heaven. The bread? Insane. It will change your carb loving life. The baked oysters were good as well. A solid choice for an app and substantial for an oyster. We also ordered a tomato salad...tomatoes taste so good here. What is the secret? For the main, sea bass, and cauliflower and snap peas. If all vegetables tasted like these, our nation would be a healthier place. All three blew my mind, though I was not expecting the snap peas to taste this good. Manuela, can you please host a cooking class? So yummy! Now, something even more unexpected than my divine Nightshade drink...a tres leches cake...an ELOTE tres leches. The cake had corn, the topping was like upscale corn nuts, and it might be one of the best bites I've had in my life. Normally I don't like dessert, but this was just sublime. Also, visit the bathroom. The ladies bathroom had a custom...not safe for work...wall paper,

Met for lunch at Manuela's. It's in the Art's District in Downtown LA. I've not been to this area since the onset of the pandemic and May I say I was pleasantly surprised at how built up it is! Anyway, there's ample parking as well as valet right in front of the entrance at the top of stairs that lead into a courtyard and the check-in. It was hopping! Lots of folks meeting and eating- even the wonderful actor and activist, Edward James Olmos! Anyway, I became too absorbed in conversation and forgot to take the rest of the pictures but the food was absolutely spot on delicious! The photo was a beautiful appetizer and we had the burrata and cucumber salad as well as the yellow tail. I will return! More pics next time!!

Located in the Arts District of DTLA, Manuela was such a vibe. From the ambiance to the excellent service to the delicious food, I really enjoyed it all. My sister felt the food was better in theory than actually execution but she's also a chef who works for a Michelin star chef, so her standards are a wee bit higher than ours, the layman. LOL I loved how thorough the menu was in listing all the ingredients of each dish! I really appreciate menus like that. Both indoor and outdoor seating were beautiful. Everything was solid. My husband loves cornbread, so I ordered one to-go for him. The server told us that they were made-to-order, so she would fire it up a little before we were ready to leave. My husband was so excited when I gave it to him after I got home. WHAT AN UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT! It was the *driest*, most flavorless cornbread we had ever had in our lives. It wasn't sweet at all but maybe that was because they included what tasted like a maple butter on the side. I told one of my besties and he said that he had had it before and that it was really good. So he felt it was possible that it was some kind of off-day they were having with the cornbread. That was the reason for one-star drop for me. Otherwise, everything else was excellent.

Great ambiance! This location is like an open air situation with a farm to table vibe. I loved the location in the heart of the arts district. I came in a larger group for brunch we got a little bit of everything off the menu. But the biscuits oh my ! We had more rounds of them than the drinks they were so delicious. The food was made with fresh quality ingredients but could use a little bit more flavor. The vibe of the restaurant makes up for it. A great option for brunch or drinks with some friends. We came in as a group of 7 and the server was nice and we had no issues with our separate checks. As a bonus They have a few art installations nearby and a little garden that has chickens and veggies they are growing for the restaurant. I love all the drink options and the mocktail were super fresh and yummy.

Super cute spot with a huge outdoor/indoor space. The food was all generally pretty good and it would be a good place to bring friends or a big party. The cornbread was really delicious and everything was really shareable. My only meh was the parking is kinda challenging and the restaurant is very loud making it kind of hard to hear unless you're really raising your voice.

Came here for the worst date of my life, but don't worry that's not reflected in the review. FLAVOR (3/5): 1. OCEAN TROUT TARTARE: The garlic toast was the star of the show here. Cooked beautifully - not too crunchy, and soft from the butter. The trout was okay, I think I would have wanted more of a bite, maybe some citrus? 2. DIVER SCALLOPS: The scallops were okay, very heavy. 3. HERITAGE GREEN CIRCLE HALF CHICKEN: The half chicken was good, but didn't blow me away. 4. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER: The cauliflower was also just okay, nothing super flavorful. If anything a little on the sour side. 5. BUTTERBALL POTATOES: The butterball potatoes were again just okay. Didn't love, didn't hate. SERVICE (4/5): Service was good. AMBIENCE (5/5): Such a beautiful spot, which is why I had to give Manuela 4 stars. The ambience is great for intimate nights and it's always bustling. PARKING (2/5): It's the arts district, so expect hard-to-find street parking or $15-20 valet. TAKEAWAYS: For the price point, Manuela falls short in its cuisine. It makes up for it with the beautiful ambience, however. Would I come back for dinner? Probably not. Would I come back for drinks? Absolutely.