Anyone who has spent time in California knows that when it comes to dining, the Golden State is filled with great food.
And not just any kind of food — some of the best, most eclectic, and exciting cuisine in the country.
From Los Angeles’ famed taco trucks to San Francisco’s legendary dim sum houses, there’s something for every palate.
California also happens to have some of the most expensive restaurants in the world — from high-end sushi joints to amazing wine lists.
California is known for its many celebrities and they do enjoy being seen out and about at these fine restaurants.
If you are going to be spending time in this state, then you may want to check out one of these fine establishments.
Related: The 12 Most Expensive Restaurants in Houston
10 Most Expensive Restaurants in California
California has some of the most expensive restaurants that will make your wallet shed a few tears.
From a high-end steakhouse to a high-end seafood restaurant, California has something for everyone.
This is not just a place where people like to have fun, but where they also like to get together and enjoy fine dining.
Here are ten of the most expensive restaurants in California:
1 Atelier Crenn — $464 Per Person
Atelier Crenn is a three-star restaurant in San Francisco. It has been recognized as one of the best and most expensive restaurants in California.
It is safe to say that Atelier Crenn is one of the most inventive and creative restaurants in San Francisco today.
Chef Dominique Crenn the owner of the restaurant, is not just a talented cook — she’s also a poet.
That’s why her new restaurant, Atelier Crenn, is billed as “poetic culinaria.” Appropriately, the menu is written in verse.
The menu of Atelier Crenn is a journey through the seasons that are inspired by both the land and sea.
On one occasion, a dish called “A Walk in the Forest” was served on a bed of moss.
Address: 3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States.
Related: The 10 Most Expensive Restaurants in NYC
2. The French Laundry — $325 Per Person
The French Laundry is a restaurant located in Yountville, California.
It is the only restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area to receive three stars from Michelin.
The French Laundry is one of the finest restaurants in the United States and perhaps the world.
There are only two seatings per night with a nine-course tasting menu.
The tasting menu-only restaurant serves a nine-course and a twelve-course menu each day.
The restaurant does not use traditional à la carte menus; only tasting menus are available.
Chef Keller says that this offers diners a chance to experience the entire range of their cooking repertoire in one meal.
The restaurant’s tasting menu changes daily and can cost upwards of $300 per person.
Address: 6640 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599, United States.
3. Benu — $310 Per Person
Benu is a three Michelin star restaurant in San Francisco that is known for fun dishes like foie gras soup dumplings.
The restaurant is named after a mythical bird that was considered sacred and was also the phoenix’s father.
Chef Corey Lee began his career as a chef at the French Laundry and later opened Benu in 2010.
Benu offers two tasting menus: the Garden Menu during dinner service ($310per person) and the Chef’s Tasting Menu during lunch service ($198 per person).
Benu serves various seasonal creations with some of them featuring modernist cuisine techniques.
It offers a variety of dishes such as the Thousand-Year Egg and Pickled Fiddlehead Ferns.
Address: 22 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States.
Related: The 10 Most Expensive Restaurants in Las Vegas
4. Coi — $250 Per Person
COI is another upscale restaurant located in the heart of San Francisco.
Its name means “friendship” in Vietnamese, and you will feel the friendliness from the moment you walk into the restaurant.
The menu features many different dishes that are inspired by Asian cuisine but prepared with a French twist.
This approach has earned the eatery many accolades, including three Michelin stars.
Coi Restaurant, located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, is chef Daniel Patterson’s two Michelin star flagship restaurant.
The Coi menu changes seasonally and is inspired by the local ingredients of Northern California as well as his travels and studies of the natural world.
The menu at Coi Restaurant is based on a philosophy centered around flavor, harmony, balance, and seasonality, with an approach that is innovative yet deeply respectful of tradition.
Patterson works closely with local producers to source the highest quality ingredients available, which are featured on the menu in their purest form.
Address: 373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States.
Related: The 10 Most Expensive Restaurants in Boston
5. Manresa — $235 Per Person
Manresa is one of the most expensive restaurants in California, and it’s also one of the best.
Michelin-starred chef David Kinch runs this establishment, which has been open since 2002 in the upscale town of Los Gatos.
The restaurant’s menu changes based on what’s available from its garden and local farms, but expect to encounter stellar creations like eggplant with miso, almonds, and ginger.
Manresa offers two tasting menus: a five-course option for $195 or an eight-course dinner for $235.
Wine pairings are available for both menus for an additional fee.
Reservations are required to dine at Manresa.
Reservations can be made online three months before the date you wish to visit the restaurant and you must specify which seating you would prefer for your meal (between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., or between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.).
Address: 320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030, United States.
6. Capo — $240 Per Person
Capo is one the most expensive Italian restaurants that will cost you $240 per person for dinner.
The restaurant is located in Santa Monica, California, and was founded by Bruce Marder.
Capo has a Michelin star rating, along with a Zagat award.
If you’re looking for a place to impress a date or celebrate a special occasion, this is the perfect spot.
The restaurant offers the best of Italian fine dining with celebrated dishes like veal risotto and homemade pasta.
It also has an extensive wine list that includes some difficult-to-find vintages.
The menu changes seasonally to feature only the freshest ingredients, so you can be assured that what you’re eating is top of the line.
The restaurant’s interior design is pure romance, with candlelit tables and deep blue walls adorned with white molding.
Exposed wooden beams add visual interest and make the space feel intimate and inviting at once.
The first thing you’ll notice about Capo is how attentive the staff is — they check in on diners regularly to ensure that all their needs are met.
Address: 1810 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States.
7. Providence — $165 Per Person
Providence is the most expensive restaurant in California and one of the most expensive restaurants in the country.
This luxurious restaurant charges $165 per person without wine and an additional $150 for wine pairings.
Providence serves food from the ocean including scallops and lobster.
This high-end seafood comes with a hefty price tag so be prepared to spend some money if you want to eat at this famous restaurant.
This restaurant serves French-inspired seafood dishes with an Asian flair.
Chef Michael Cimarusti offers different menus each day, so no two meals will be the same.
It’s possible to book reservations online, but you can also make them by phone or through Opentable.
Address: 5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, United States.
8. The Restaurant At Meadowood — $275 Per Person
The Restaurant At Meadowood is one the most expensive restaurants that will cost you a whopping $275 per person.
The restaurant is located in St. Helena, California, and was opened by the famous chef Christopher Kostow.
Known for its high-class food and incredible ambiance, The Restaurant at Meadowood Oakville, CA is an excellent way to spend your money on great food.
The food, wine pairing, and service are so exceptional that some guests are moved to tears.
It certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny if you’re celebrating a special occasion or looking to treat yourself.
If you can’t afford the tasting menu but still want to experience this fine dining establishment, try going during lunch.
The price per person is much lower, and guests can enjoy a multi-course meal with wine pairings or order off the à la carte menu.
Address: 900 Meadowood Ln, St Helena, CA 94574, United States.
9. Urasawa — $400 Per Person
Urasawa in Beverly Hills, CA is one of the most expensive restaurants in California.
The restaurant serves a variety of seafood such as lobster, crab, hamachi, and razor clams from around the world.
One of the favorite dishes includes oyster topped with a dollop of caviar.
Urasawa was rated as the most expensive restaurant in Los Angeles by Zagat.
Urasawa, a sushi restaurant, offers two courses for $275 per person.
The two courses consist of a variety of seafood from around the world such as lobster, crab, hamachi, and razor clams.
Urasawa is known for its attention to detail serving only the finest and freshest ingredients.
It features eight to nine courses consisting of fish and shellfish.
There is no menu to choose from; Chef Hiroyuki Urasawa will serve whatever is fresh that day.
There are usually about 15 to 20 people per night, so it is a very intimate dining experience.
Address: 218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States.
10. Saison — $398 Per Person
One of the most expensive restaurants in the world, Saison is a three Michelin-starred experience of the highest order.
Based in San Francisco’s SoMa district, this French establishment is run by chef Joshua Skenes and sommelier Mark Bright.
Saison’s dinner tasting menu costs $398 per person, with a 20% service charge and tax.
For that, you will be treated to at least 18 courses of innovative French gastronomy.
Dishes include wild abalone with uni and nori and brown butter custard with caviar and black truffles.
It’s worth noting that Saison doesn’t take reservations for parties of less than five people, so you’ll have to wait for a table if you’re traveling with fewer companions.
Alternatively, you could visit Saison’s sister restaurant next door, Angler, which has the same level of quality but a more relaxed atmosphere.
Address: 178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States.