Miramar Restaurant

The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.

Preparing FIG's Lemon Tart Desserts

We don't normally eat in hotels, but the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica restaurant, FIG, came highly recommended. FIG had only recently opened when we strolled there one evening in March, almost to the end of Wilshire Boulevard, so we'd no idea what to expect.

We did check out their sample dinner menu, which made it sound affordable and unpretentious, and we were looking forward to a good meal.

Our Pick of the LA Guides

We got more than a good meal at the Miramar Santa Monica's new restaurant. We got an outstanding meal, with excellent service in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

It was a cross between a smart restaurant and a more casual bistro, with bright décor and a buzz about the room, with a bar area, some private booths for a romantic dinner, an outdoor terrace, and a communal table for anyone dining alone but who wanted some company.

Miramar Santa Monica's Restaurant, FIG: Sourcing Ingredients

First off we were offered an amuse-bouche of a single sugar-snap pea with olive oil and cracked pepper. "It's best if you eat it all in one go," said the waiter. He was right, and confirmed what the chef Ray Garcia said about his intentions – to serve the best seasonal produce, in an unfussy way that brings out all the flavors. He visits the wonderful Santa Monica Farmers Market every week, and we knew from spending an hour or so there the previous day that the quality of produce here is fantastic.

The zingy flavors went all the way through the meal, from my starter of foie gras with a fig sauce (figs naturally feature at FIG when in season), through to my wife's amazing dessert: strawberry shortcake with strawberry ice-cream and micro-greens. Micro-greens? "Yes," said the waiter, "they have a lovely, minty taste that complements the strawberry flavors beautifully." He was right again.

FIG Restaurant Wine List

The FIG wine list was fairly short but everything was available by the glass, and even sparkling wines started at a very cheap price. Great value, and a good range of mainly California and European wines.

FIG's Los Angeles Times Review

The Miramar Santa Monica's FIG restaurant gave us a terrific meal, and a terrific evening, and we walked back to the Embassy comparing notes about the flavors and dishes. We weren't surprised that the Los Angeles Times ran an enthusiastic review of FIG a few weeks after our visit.

More Information

FIG Restaurant
Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tel: (310) 319-3111

Also see the Miramar in our list of
Santa Monica's Best Hotels with Spas.

Other food and drink pages

San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants
San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.
Paso Robles Accommodation
If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.
Where to Eat and Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway
Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica in California is famous for its pier, and beaches, and is one of the best west coast vacation spots, with hotels, restaurants, surfing, museums.
Hotel Shangri-La
The Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica overlooks the Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Beach and is a short walk from Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
Where to Eat on the Pacific Coast Highway
Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.
Best Hotels in Santa Monica with Spas
The best hotels in Santa Monica combine spa luxury with easy access to the beach, among them Shutters on the Beach, Fairmont Miramar, Casa del Mar and Merigot
Best Things to Do in Santa Monica
Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best things to do in Santa Monica including visiting the pier, the beach, parks, museums, mountains, and shopping.
Pictures of Santa Monica
Pictures of Santa Monica from Pacific Coast Highway Travel to help anyone thinking of staying in Santa Monica on their PCH drive.
Ravens' Restaurant Mendocino
Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.
Wineries and Vineyards on the Pacific Coast Highway
The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.
Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant
The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the top wine destinations says Wine Enthusiast, alongside Napa Valley, rating California vineyards alongside Champagne.
Santa Monica Luxury Hotels
There are many Santa Monica luxury hotels and while Le Meridien Delfina is not right by the beach it has a great bar, pool, restaurant.
Road Food Guide
West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.
Viceroy Santa Monica
The Viceroy Santa Monica hotel is one of Los Angeles' best, a favorite of celebrities like Dustin Hoffman, Sting, Demi Moore, and Leonardo DiCaprio,
Events in Santa Monica: Glow
Of all the events in Santa Monica, Glow must be the most amazing, an all-night celebration of art and culture and one of the USA's largest public art events.
Sonoma County Distilleries
Sonoma County is so associated with wine that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's also home to distilleries and here's a list of the main distillers.
Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals
There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.