All the Legendary L.A. Landmarks, Celebrity Hotspots, and Cherished Restaurants Lost in the Devastating Fires
The Pacific Palisades fire is destroying not just mansions but also beloved landmarks and restaurants. The Reel Inn in Malibu, a celebrity favorite, was consumed by flames on Tuesday.
Other local spots like Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio, Cafe Vida, Vittorio, and Casa Nostra were also lost. Historic sites, including a ranch with a Will Rogers museum and the Topanga Ranch Motel, were destroyed.
Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, frequented by stars like Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, is at risk. Duke’s Malibu, a long-time spot for Pamela Anderson, also faces danger.
The Mt. Wilson Observatory in Angeles National Forest is threatened by the Eaton fire, with firefighters working to protect it.
As multiple fires continue to devastate the city, celebrities such as Anna Faris, Heidi Montag, and Miles Teller have lost their homes. Growing frustration over the response to the disaster has led to calls for local officials to resign.
Malibu’s iconic Gladstones, a historic beachside restaurant, was destroyed in the fires. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway, it was a popular spot for both locals and tourists, offering seafood, steaks, bar bites, and classic cocktails in a lively setting.
Originally opened by Robert J. Morris in 1972 in Santa Monica Canyon, the restaurant moved to Malibu in 1981. Morris sold it in 1984 but reacquired it in 1990.
Former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan owned Gladstones from the mid-1990s until 2009, when SBE took over operations until 2014.
Malibu’s 36-year-old Reel Inn, a popular seafood restaurant frequented by celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Paris Hilton, has been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.
Owners Teddy and Andy Leonard, who ran the restaurant for nearly four decades, expressed heartbreak on Instagram, unsure of what remains.
The restaurant, once a local favorite, is now reduced to rubble, along with nearby spots like the Topanga Ranch Motel and Rosenthal Wine Bar. Vice President Kamala Harris even mentioned the Reel Inn as the place where she met her stepchildren.
The Leonards have evacuated to an AirBNB in Mar Vista.
The Will Rogers Ranch in Pacific Palisades, which housed a museum dedicated to the actor, was destroyed in the wildfire. Rogers’ great-granddaughter, Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, expressed the family’s devastation and extended condolences to the affected community.
California State Parks Director Armando Quintero also mourned the loss of this cultural landmark. Will Rogers, a famed actor, columnist, and philanthropist, developed the ranch in the 1920s, owning 359 acres with a 31-room house, stable, golf course, and riding trails.
After his death in 1935, his widow donated the ranch to State Parks in 1944, turning it into a historic park.
Café Vida, located at Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village, has been destroyed in the wildfire.
Known for its unique blend of low-fat California and Latin dishes, the restaurant was a local favorite, especially for its salads and stuffed sandwiches.
Opened in 2002, it was frequented by patrons like Anthony Hopkins.
Casa Nostra, an Italian restaurant at Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village, has been destroyed in the wildfire.
Known for its pumpkin tortellini and salmon with lemon capers, it was a favorite of Tobey Maguire’s ex Jennifer Meyer and model-actress Molls Sims.
The Westlake Village location remains unaffected. Nearby, Caffe Luxxe Pacific Palisades was also destroyed.
