Giorgio Baldi
| Giorgio Baldi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1990 |
| Owner | Baldi Family |
| Previous owner | Giorgio Baldi |
| Food type | Italian |
| Location | 114 W Channel Rd., Pacific Palisades, California, 90402 |
| Coordinates | 34°01′42″N 118°31′07″W / 34.02844°N 118.51874°W |
| Website | giorgio-baldi |
Giorgio Baldi is a Tuscan Italian restaurant in Pacific Palisades, California. The restaurant is famous for its celebrity clientele.[1]
Description
[edit]The establishment serves Italian cuisine, including pasta, seafood,[2] veal, lamb and steak.[3] It is noted for its expensiveness and celebrity clientele.[4] The restaurant has simple decor, with a small green neon sign bearing the initials "gb" on its exterior.[5] Its location has been described as somewhat hidden, which contributed to its popularity with celebrities.[1][5]
History
[edit]Giorgio Baldi was born in Forte dei Marmi, a seaside town in Tuscany, Italy.[6] He immigrated to Los Angeles in 1985 and began working as a chef at various Italian restaurants in the city, including serving as the first chef at Il Giardino, a Tuscan spot in Beverly Hills.[7] In 1990, Baldi opened Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi on Channel Rd. in the Pacific Palisades.[5][8] The restaurant quickly became popular with former patrons of Baldi's previous restaurants, including Rupert Murdoch and Eli Broad.[5]
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, various celebrities were patrons of the restaurant, including Pierce Brosnan, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Jeff Bezos, Justin Bieber, Cardi B,[3] and Rihanna who reportedly bought a house in the Palisades to be closer to the restaurant.[9]
In April 2011, Giorgio Baldi died at age 81 while vacationing in Ensenada, Mexico.[10][11] After his death, his daughter Elena Baldi took over management of the restaurant.[7]
The restaurant closed for several months in January 2025 due to the Pacific Palisades Fire but was able to reopen in March 2025.[12] In the July 2025 issue of Vogue, the magazine featured a photo history of celebrities at the restaurant, featuring seventy photos going back to 2009, coinciding with the restaurant's 35th anniversary.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Jackson, Hannah (June 27, 2025). "A Visual History of Giorgio Baldi". Vogue. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Singh, Chris (June 22, 2024). "Dining Icons: Is celebrity-favourite L.A restaurant Giorgio Baldi worth the hype?". The AU Review. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- ^ a b Charles, Marissa (July 30, 2023). "Hot Spot! Rihanna's Favorite L.A. Restaurant Giorgio Baldi is the Ultimate Chic — Yet Cozy — Italian". People. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Brenner, Leslie (October 4, 2006). "Old style with lots of attitude". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Brown, Evan Nicole (May 28, 2021). "How a Cozy Neighborhood Restaurant Became a Celebrity Hide-Out (Published 2021)". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Barnes, Mike; Ginsberg, Merle (April 11, 2011). "Legendary L.A. Restaurateur Giorgio Baldi Dies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Gibbs, Mara (April 14, 2011). "Everybody Eats Where? In Los Angeles, Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi, a Final Toast to My Friend". HuffPost. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Virbila, S. Irene (August 4, 1995). "Giorgio Malibu Serves Up Familiar Fare". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- ^ Tomicki, Hadley (February 1, 2013). "Exploring Rihanna's Giorgio Baldi Habit; LeAnn Rimes Breaks Down at Hugo's". Grub Street. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "PASSINGS: Giorgio Baldi, Gene Shefrin, Ty Jurras". Los Angeles Times. April 16, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Odell, Kat (April 12, 2011). "Giorgio Baldi of Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi Passes Away". Eater LA. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Cafolla, Anna (March 9, 2025). "Rihanna Dresses Cozy and Classic to Solo Dine at Her Favorite Restaurant". Vogue. Retrieved September 18, 2025.