Somni Restaurant in West Hollywood Secures Three Michelin Stars

Michelin Star Recognition for Somni Somni, located in West Hollywood, has been awarded three Michelin stars, a prestigious but selective honor in the culinary industry.

The restaurant has been operating in its current iteration since late 2024. It is helmed by Chef Aitor Zabala, a native of Barcelona. Somni serves modern Spanish cuisine. The name Somni means dream in Catalan.

It features a signature truffle pizza Margarita on its menu.

Reservation Process and Guest Experience Guests at Somni must pay a $600 deposit upfront to secure a reservation.

Yarely Corona spent four months trying to get a booking at Somni. Mayra Elisa Magana emailed Somni directly and received an availability after name-dropping other three-star restaurants. Somni has 14 seats and one nightly seating.

m. The dining experience lasts nearly four hours. The evening begins on a private patio where guests are greeted individually by the culinary team through a window. All chefs and sous chefs greet every reservation individually through a window, according to Yarely Corona.

Culinary Presentation and Operations Somni offers 25 courses, all prepared directly in front of the guests.

The chefs serve plates simultaneously to specific guests. Chefs use tweezers to place ingredients and often keep one hand behind their back. The chef serves dishes and engages in post-meal conversations.

According to Mayra Elisa Magana, Aitor Zabala shows visible frustration when a dish falls short of his standards, reflecting the high-pressure environment of the kitchen. Somni has a 20-person staff. Aitor Zabala attributes Somni's high prices to factors including soaring rents, staff salaries, rising food costs, and tariffs, though such pricing remains a point of debate in the fine-dining sector.

Background of Chef Aitor Zabala Aitor Zabala initially opened a restaurant in LA in 2018.

The restaurant ceased operations at the start of the pandemic. Somni represents its current iteration since late 2024.

“All chefs and sous chefs greet every reservation individually through a window." — Yarely Corona > "The chefs at Somni serve plates simultaneously to specific guests." — Yarely Corona > "The steep prices at Somni result from soaring rents, staff salaries, rising food costs, and tariffs.”