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The back patio at Cliff’s Edge

Cliff’s Edge, the Silver Lake gem of a restaurant and bar tucked away at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Edgecliff Drive, is holding an Instagram photo contest. Through July 31, the image with the most likes will receive a $40 gift certificate. Just make sure to tag your photos with #cliffssummernights and #cliffsedgela. With beautiful and tasty creations from Chef Vartan Abgaryan, formerly of Public Kitchen & Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and Wednesday night guest bartender Matt Biancaniello, formerly of Library Bar also at the Roosevelt, getting a good shot shouldn’t be too tough.

Abgaryan’s agnolotti with English peas, mascarpone, morels, ramps and parmesan cream is a good choice, as is the skate served with fennel, lemon, capers, brown butter and marcona almonds.

Agnolotti

Skate

When it comes to drinks, Biancaniello’s Hanky Panky, made with Bols Genever gin, lovage, page mandarins, Aperol and ghost pepper salt, is a show-stopper. But watch out — it’s pretty spicy!

Hanky Panky

Note: Photos are from a hosted meal.

O Hotel lobby. Photo from Orbitz.

O Hotel, a downtown L.A. boutique with 67 modernly styled rooms, recently celebrated its 5th anniversary. And with the addition of lauded barman Matt Biancaniello to its restaurant Bar | Kitchen, and a 6-month old day spa, O Hotel has lots to be happy about.

While I haven’t seen the hotel’s rooms, I have visited Bar | Kitchen and Oasis City Spa, both of which offer some pretty impressive amenities for such a small hotel. The spa has some St. Patrick’s Day weekend specials for those of you who partied too much (or for those getting ready to party): a signature organic facial with green herbal mask for $100, green tea mint scrub for $55, and a mani/pedi for $40. If you can’t make it this weekend, Oasis also offers a $25 mini facial and esthetician consultation, the cost of which can be applied toward a future facial or spa products. Prices are reasonable, and the facility is simple yet elegant.

Bar | Kitchen is no slouch, either. Chef Vahan Tokmadjian has created a well-executed, seasonally appointed menu with gems such as shrimp and grits with Spanish chorizo sauce (this is one of the better S&G dishes around town), mushroom bread pudding and pork cheek hash.

Shrimp and grits

Pork cheek hash with quail egg

And Biancaniello, whose moves have been closely watched since he left Library Bar last year, has brought some of his best-known cocktail recipes, including those for Last Tango in Modena (gin, muddled strawberries, balsamic vinegar and St. Germain foam) and Kentucky Bubble Bath (bourbon, Cynar, lavender simple syrup and lemon), which I could drink all day!

Kentucky Bubble Bath

Given the hotel’s combo of good food, drink, decor and spa amenities, I would recommend a stay here for those looking for a downtown hotel with some style.