In a city constantly reaching for the sky, a lush green escape has just bloomed above the rooftops. Verdura, a rooftop garden café perched atop the historic Wilcox Building in Downtown Los Angeles, officially opened its doors this week — or more accurately, its garden gates.
The space is a verdant oasis in the heart of the city, combining a seasonal plant-based menu with panoramic skyline views and immersive greenery. Guests walk through a restored art deco lobby before taking an elevator to the rooftop, where a sprawling garden awaits, filled with edible herbs, vertical flower beds, and shaded pergolas strung with fairy lights.
Chef-owner Lila Fernandez, formerly of Gjelina and Botanica, envisioned Verdura as “a place where nature and nourishment intersect.” The menu highlights California-grown produce in dishes like rosemary citrus tartines, heirloom tomato carpaccio, and lavender matcha lattes. Many of the herbs and garnishes are plucked straight from the rooftop garden moments before being served.
The ambiance is soft and breezy, complete with ambient acoustic playlists and communal tables designed for slow brunches and sunset dinners. The café also offers botanical workshops, rooftop yoga on weekends, and twilight garden parties hosted monthly with live jazz and candlelight.
Verdura is already gaining traction with the downtown crowd — and plenty of Instagram attention — as a rare combination of urban edge and natural calm.