This New California Restaurant Opened Inside A 1931 Church, And The Dining Room Is Stunning

Dinner now happens under original stained glass windows and a soaring vaulted ceiling. The old chapel even kept its stage, which can now host a private dinner party.

The building went up in 1931 as a Romanesque Revival church. Later, it was home to an Asian American theater company and then an antique market. Now it serves seafood and bouillabaisse for two.

I like how this place didn’t erase its past to feel new. The arches, the beams, and the bell tower all stayed.

California has plenty of pretty dining rooms, but very few once held Sunday services.

I can’t imagine a more dramatic setting for a weeknight dinner.

A Neighborhood Church Became The Most Dramatic Dinner Spot Around

Sous Sous opened on September 14, 2026, inside a building that started life as Bethany Presbyterian Church. Construction wrapped up in 1931, and the Romanesque Revival design still shows.

The building lived a few lives after that. From 1965 to 1972, it was an early home for East West Players, an Asian American theater company.

Later, it turned into an antique market. That’s quite a resume for one corner of Los Angeles.

Conversion efforts began back in 2011. Then Casetta Hotels took over and spent six years on a renovation.

The result is Hotel Lucile, a 25-room boutique hotel. Sous Sous is its on-site restaurant, and it fills the most impressive room in the building.

I love that the bell tower is still visible from the street. It quietly announces that this isn’t a strip-mall dinner.

The property includes both the former church and its rectory. Each piece got a fresh purpose without losing its old shape.

Few restaurants in California come with a backstory this layered. Here, the history isn’t printed on a plaque.

It’s built right into the walls you’ll be sitting beside.

Look Up, Because The Ceiling Steals The Show

Stained glass windows from the original church still line the dining room. They frame a space that once served as the chapel and sanctuary.

Above you, the ceilings soar. Vaulted beams stretch overhead, and dramatic plaster arches add even more height.

Neck strain is a real risk here. Consider it part of the experience.

The design team kept those historic bones front and center. Then they layered in art deco touches and contemporary style.

Rich velvets soften the room. Cinematic lighting gives everything a moody, refined glow after dark.

Custom banquettes sit inside alcoves along the old nave. It’s a clever use of a space built for rows of pews.

Chandeliers and vintage furnishings help the room feel collected rather than staged. Antiques mix with modern pieces in a way that feels intentional.

I believe the best old buildings reward people who slow down. This dining room is a great example.

Every corner holds a detail worth noticing. Arrive a little early and take a slow lap with your eyes before the menus land.

The Bar Has Arches Worthy Of A Cathedral

Wooden arches rise above the grand central bar. They mirror the ceiling beams overhead, so the whole room feels tied together.

It’s a smart design trick. The new bar looks like it could have been there since 1931.

Here’s a fun detail. Tall curtains, about 25 feet high, can close off the bar area when needed. That kind of flexibility is rare. The room can shift its mood depending on the night.

Plenty of zero-proof options exist for anyone skipping the hard stuff. The bar team, led by operations and beverage director Lee Zaremba, keeps things creative.

The bar sits near the front of the room. That gives it a slightly separate feel from the main dining area deeper in the nave.

Walk-ins should know some seats are kept open for them. That’s good news if planning ahead isn’t your strong suit.

Still, the bar area can get lively. A quick glance around the room will tell you why people want to linger.

Those arches make even ordering a soda feel ceremonial. Honestly, that’s a fair trade for good posture.

Two Souths Meet On One Menu

Marseille, Nice, Charleston, and New Orleans walk into a church. That’s basically the menu concept at Sous Sous.

The kitchen calls its food New French American. It pulls from the southern coasts of France and the American South.

Those port cities share a lot. Long growing seasons, plenty of seafood, and bold spices connect them across an ocean.

Even the name plays along. Sous means under in French, and the doubled word nods to the two Souths.

Chef Patrick Costa leads the kitchen. He comes from the team behind De La Nonna, the pizza spot in the Arts District.

The cooking emphasizes seafood, herbs, citrus, and seasonal ingredients while combining Southern French and American Southern techniques.

That lighter style fits Southern California well. It also leaves room for dessert, which feels like solid planning.

Fish from local waters and seasonal market vegetables guide the menu. So dishes can change as the seasons roll on.

I find the pairing of Provence and the Gulf Coast genuinely clever. Both places know how to treat a fresh catch with respect.

Start With The Raw Bar, Then Grab The Hush Puppies

Oysters sit right at the top of the menu thanks to a dedicated raw bar. Seafood gets serious attention at this place.

Hamachi crudo is another bright, chilled way to begin. Expect the citrus and herbs that run through the whole menu.

Then comes a Southern detour. Hush puppies arrive with honey butter, and that combo is hard to argue with.

Fried cornmeal next to raw fish might sound odd. Here, it’s exactly the point of mixing two coastal traditions.

Zucchini carpaccio offers a lighter, garden-fresh option. It shows off those seasonal market vegetables nicely.

The starters make it easy to share. Ordering a few for the table turns the first course into a tasting tour.

I’d suggest pacing yourself, though. The mains are still coming, and they deserve some stomach space.

Menus can shift with what’s fresh and in season. Ask your server what’s best that night.

Starting with oysters under stained glass feels a little fancy. Following them with hush puppies keeps the whole thing friendly.

That balance might be the most Southern California move of all.

Save Your Appetite For Trout, Chicken, And A Pot For Two

Polenta-crusted rainbow trout is a signature at Sous Sous. It’s prepared with mustard, blackening seasoning, and beurre blanc.

That dish might be the whole concept on one plate. Southern blackening spice meets a classic French butter sauce.

Bouillabaisse for two is another standout. The famous fish stew of Marseille makes total sense for a port-city menu.

Sharing a big pot also suits the setting. A church dining room seems built for gathering around food.

Not in a seafood mood? Brick chicken and roasted chicken with lemon jus give landlubbers solid choices.

The lemon jus keeps things bright instead of heavy. That fits the kitchen’s love of citrus and lighter cooking.

I believe a strong menu should have something for every person at the table. This lineup handles that well.

Market vegetables round out the plates. Local fish keeps the seafood dishes tied to the California coast.

Here’s a tip for groups. Order the bouillabaisse plus a chicken, then trade bites.

Everybody wins, and nobody suffers from menu regret on the drive home.

Your Dinner Reservation Unlocks A Secret Rooftop

Hotel Lucile keeps its rooftop deck mostly for overnight guests. A Sous Sous dinner reservation changes that, and you get in too.

That’s a rare perk for a restaurant. It turns dinner into a full evening out.

The hotel plans to host small DJ sets on the rooftop. Tasting events are also on the calendar.

Hotel Lucile has an underground grotto pool too. Yes, a grotto pool beneath an old church.

California really does it differently.

The hotel has bigger plans for the community as well. It hosts cultural programs, Sunday brunches, and artist residencies.

That makes the property feel like a neighborhood gathering place. It isn’t just a spot for tourists with rolling suitcases.

Overnight guests get a few extra treats, like a door-to-door cart service around 5 PM. Dinner guests still score the rooftop, which is a sweet deal.

I love the idea of starting high above Silver Lake and ending under stained glass. Or flip the order and finish with the view.

Either way, the evening feels bigger than one meal. Book the table and claim the rooftop bonus.

Book Early And Catch The Stained Glass In Daylight

Sunset Junction sits just a short stroll away. Sous Sous is located at 1629 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, at the corner of Lucile Avenue.

That puts it right in the middle of Silver Lake. The neighborhood is packed with shops, cafes, and people-watching.

Dinner is the only meal served. Doors open at 5 PM every day. Closing time is 9 PM Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the kitchen stays open until 10 PM.

Reservations are recommended. Some seats stay open for walk-ins, but planning ahead is the safer bet.

Here’s my favorite tip. An early reservation can let natural daylight pour through those stained glass windows.

The room shifts as the sun goes down. You get two moods in one meal, bright and colorful, then dark and cinematic.

The original stage at one end can work as a private dining space. It features art by Thai Mainhard and Harlan Hue.

That’s a fun option for a birthday or big celebration. Few parties in California can say they dined on a 1931 church stage.