This place was such a disappointment. I had read other bad reviews but there were also good ones, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and decided to have my birthday here anyway. I did everything how they recommend, especially because it was for a party of 10 on a Saturday night. I made a reservation an entire week in advance AND paid a $250 deposit. My entire group was all there present 10min before my 8:30pm reservation. I checked us in and was told to check back in at 8:40. I figured no problem, the previous party is probably going to head out soon since they have 90min limit. This was all telling me they are probably strict to keep everything flowing smoothly, but I was wrong. I checked back in around 8:40ish and the manager was at the front asking the hostess what’s going on with this group of 10, where are they? And i looked at them and politely said “We’ve been here”. We had been waiting outside like they said we could, waiting to be seated. I went back outside and the manager then comes out and apologizes for the wait, that its been busy and said the first round of drinks will be on them which i appreciated and that it’ll be 5 more min.
Im waiting and waiting and then at this point im embarrassed. She did not come back out to seat us after 5min. I had friends that drove over an hour and paid for parking to come enjoy jazz music and eat for my birthday. I even wrote it down on the notes section that they have when making the reservation which they clearly dont read. The manager knew we were there for a celebration and nothing was getting handled correctly. They then apparently set up a table and then sat THE WRONG group down. How does that even happen when youve been seeing my face all night long knowing my group hasnt been seated and it’s been 45min since my reservation?
If I was the manager too, i would have brought out complimentary drinks while we were waiting for the table. The bar was packed and i didnt want to drink separately from my group, i wanted to drink and eat all in a table together, that was the whole point of making the reservation with a $250 deposit, otherwise i wouldve just walked in. It almost seems like i would’ve had better luck doing that.
The chef then came out, and I could tell she was the only one visibly upset that the staff was not organized at all. She came up to me and apologized and offered us drinks and a gift card to make things right but after waiting an HOUR we told her half the group is already waiting outside to go somewhere and i would just like my deposit back. The manager told us to not go because our table was finally ready, but my friends did not want to be there anymore, rightfully so.
The chef was kind and did offer to have us come back the next day and that she would take care of us free of charge but we did not go back. It didnt feel right going back after being looked at like WE did something wrong by the other staff members. I got my deposit back, but have yet to receive that gift card I was told about so im still going to have to reach out for that.
Im a service provider myself and i know what its like to be pushed behind on schedule or things dont go as planned because of xy and z reasons but there are ways you make it right for the people who have already paid in advance and this was not it. That manager had no idea how to handle the situation and it showed. Being a restaurant in DOWNTOWN LA with a staff that lacks customer service is going to get you more reviews like mine. And for those who have read this far, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else because they are not working here together at all. The concept of the restaurant with live jazz music is great but i couldn’t tell you if the food or entertainment was even good because i got none of it
Cherell Terri
Absolutely amazing! The atmosphere, the venue, the incredible staff, the beautiful events by Jasmine Sweets and her team, the people who attend, the band.. chef’s kiss! If you live in LA or come to visit, you have to be here to experience what a good time truly feels like. Shoutout to everyone at Zaya 💜 -Cherell T
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brandon M
I came the other night and had a wonderful experience. Good drinks and a life band. I wasn't so crazy about the food but overall it was a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Natalie Vee
Me and my pals love to visit happy hour Tuesday's. The food is amazing! But let's face it, DTLA has lots of great food. It was the SERVICE that made this fun! We love sitting at the bar with Oscar who makes outstanding drinks with great menu recommendations. WE LOVE HIM. Special thanks to the door man Dougie who convinced us to give Zaya a try. Thanks Dougie and Oscar !
Nico Albuja
Was served by the one and only Oscar tequila, very attentive and good vibes. The drinks, cant get any better than that I'd say highly recommend excellent service 👌.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Walter C
Oscar is amazing. He’ll hook it up all night long!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ana Rosales
I went to Zaya for brunch yesterday and had such a great time! The food and atmosphere were already amazing, but the real highlight was the bartender, Oscar. He made the BEST mixed drinks, seriously, every cocktail was perfect, from the Lemon Love to the Cinnamon skin(check pic below)! Chefs Kiss! And his energy made the whole brunch even better. Not only is he talented behind the bar, but his dance moves were killer and added to the whole vibe of the place. Zaya is definitely a spot! I’ll be coming back to to see Oscar again! Total vibe from start to finish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nancy Chavez
I had an amazing experience at Zaya in downtown LA! Oscar, our bartender, made sure we were taken care of the entire brunch. The drinks were absolutely delicious, and the food was just as impressive. The ambiance is cozy and stylish—perfect for a date night or a fun girls’ night out. Highly recommend stopping by and asking for Oscar!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sheonte Stevens
Oscar was an outstanding bartender Incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations were spot-on, and he made the whole experience feel personalized. The atmosphere was amazing, the food was excellent, and the service truly made the visit memorable. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!
❤️ From Philly to LA 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roberto Michel
I always passed by during my work and would see how lively this spot is. I decided to check this place out today 11/14/25 and it was better than I expected.
The atmosphere is great and service was amazing. The food also was on point. The shrimp alfredo was so delicious and so was their pizza. Big props the the Chefs/kitchen staff. The live music was a big plus and did not disappoint. The staff was also very friendly and courteous. Server Madison did a really amazing job and was very attentive. 5 star service.
Definitely recommend and will definitely be coming back.
The ambience was cute and they had a jazz band with a singer which gave the place a nice vibe. But the service was terrible. We barely saw our server the entire night. I ordered the steak pasta and it came with a measly four pieces of overcooked steak. My food came out first and my friend’s salmon didn’t arrive until 30 minutes later.
I complained and they did comp my pasta which I appreciated, but they still added a 20% gratuity based on the original bill. The total was $39 with a $19 gratuity. That’s crazy. The atmosphere was nice but the service and food quality didn’t match the price. I’d maybe come for drinks but not stay for food. Also their tap water was disgusting so I had to pay for bottled. Not worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Liliana Covarrubias
The Latino bartender can REALLY dance!! Get the Lemon Love, it’s delicious. Service was great and the food was DELICIOUS. Try and get the dancing bartender, he makes the best drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniela Jacobson
Madison is the best bartender!! So sweet, funny, welcoming, and made the perfect drinks for Halloween 💗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine Gaan
Popped into Zaya unplanned late following a concert. Although we didn’t necessarily meet their dress code standards, they were incredibly gracious, offered incredible and friendly service, and delivered delicious food — everything was terrific from appetizers and cocktails, to their pizza and dessert. Bonus: Live music and a beautiful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keisha Harris
The band was amazing! The drinks were beautiful and tasty. The food was good but watch out for the shrimp appetizer it is spicy.
This place was such a disappointment. I had read other bad reviews but there were also good ones, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and decided to have my birthday here anyway. I did everything how they recommend, especially because it was for a party of 10 on a Saturday night. I made a reservation an entire week in advance AND paid a $250 deposit. My entire group was all there present 10min before my 8:30pm reservation. I checked us in and was told to check back in at 8:40. I figured no problem, the previous party is probably going to head out soon since they have 90min limit. This was all telling me they are probably strict to keep everything flowing smoothly, but I was wrong. I checked back in around 8:40ish and the manager was at the front asking the hostess what’s going on with this group of 10, where are they? And i looked at them and politely said “We’ve been here”. We had been waiting outside like they said we could, waiting to be seated. I went back outside and the manager then comes out and apologizes for the wait, that its been busy and said the first round of drinks will be on them which i appreciated and that it’ll be 5 more min.
Im waiting and waiting and then at this point im embarrassed. She did not come back out to seat us after 5min. I had friends that drove over an hour and paid for parking to come enjoy jazz music and eat for my birthday. I even wrote it down on the notes section that they have when making the reservation which they clearly dont read. The manager knew we were there for a celebration and nothing was getting handled correctly. They then apparently set up a table and then sat THE WRONG group down. How does that even happen when youve been seeing my face all night long knowing my group hasnt been seated and it’s been 45min since my reservation?
If I was the manager too, i would have brought out complimentary drinks while we were waiting for the table. The bar was packed and i didnt want to drink separately from my group, i wanted to drink and eat all in a table together, that was the whole point of making the reservation with a $250 deposit, otherwise i wouldve just walked in. It almost seems like i would’ve had better luck doing that.
The chef then came out, and I could tell she was the only one visibly upset that the staff was not organized at all. She came up to me and apologized and offered us drinks and a gift card to make things right but after waiting an HOUR we told her half the group is already waiting outside to go somewhere and i would just like my deposit back. The manager told us to not go because our table was finally ready, but my friends did not want to be there anymore, rightfully so.
The chef was kind and did offer to have us come back the next day and that she would take care of us free of charge but we did not go back. It didnt feel right going back after being looked at like WE did something wrong by the other staff members. I got my deposit back, but have yet to receive that gift card I was told about so im still going to have to reach out for that.
Im a service provider myself and i know what its like to be pushed behind on schedule or things dont go as planned because of xy and z reasons but there are ways you make it right for the people who have already paid in advance and this was not it. That manager had no idea how to handle the situation and it showed. Being a restaurant in DOWNTOWN LA with a staff that lacks customer service is going to get you more reviews like mine. And for those who have read this far, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else because they are not working here together at all. The concept of the restaurant with live jazz music is great but i couldn’t tell you if the food or entertainment was even good because i got none of it
Absolutely amazing! The atmosphere, the venue, the incredible staff, the beautiful events by Jasmine Sweets and her team, the people who attend, the band.. chef’s kiss! If you live in LA or come to visit, you have to be here to experience what a good time truly feels like. Shoutout to everyone at Zaya 💜 -Cherell T
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I came the other night and had a wonderful experience. Good drinks and a life band. I wasn't so crazy about the food but overall it was a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Me and my pals love to visit happy hour Tuesday's. The food is amazing! But let's face it, DTLA has lots of great food. It was the SERVICE that made this fun! We love sitting at the bar with Oscar who makes outstanding drinks with great menu recommendations. WE LOVE HIM. Special thanks to the door man Dougie who convinced us to give Zaya a try. Thanks Dougie and Oscar !
Was served by the one and only Oscar tequila, very attentive and good vibes. The drinks, cant get any better than that I'd say highly recommend excellent service 👌.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oscar is amazing. He’ll hook it up all night long!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went to Zaya for brunch yesterday and had such a great time! The food and atmosphere were already amazing, but the real highlight was the bartender, Oscar. He made the BEST mixed drinks, seriously, every cocktail was perfect, from the Lemon Love to the Cinnamon skin(check pic below)! Chefs Kiss! And his energy made the whole brunch even better. Not only is he talented behind the bar, but his dance moves were killer and added to the whole vibe of the place. Zaya is definitely a spot! I’ll be coming back to to see Oscar again! Total vibe from start to finish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had an amazing experience at Zaya in downtown LA! Oscar, our bartender, made sure we were taken care of the entire brunch. The drinks were absolutely delicious, and the food was just as impressive. The ambiance is cozy and stylish—perfect for a date night or a fun girls’ night out. Highly recommend stopping by and asking for Oscar!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oscar was an outstanding bartender Incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations were spot-on, and he made the whole experience feel personalized. The atmosphere was amazing, the food was excellent, and the service truly made the visit memorable. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!
❤️ From Philly to LA 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I always passed by during my work and would see how lively this spot is. I decided to check this place out today 11/14/25 and it was better than I expected.
The atmosphere is great and service was amazing. The food also was on point. The shrimp alfredo was so delicious and so was their pizza. Big props the the Chefs/kitchen staff. The live music was a big plus and did not disappoint. The staff was also very friendly and courteous. Server Madison did a really amazing job and was very attentive. 5 star service.
Definitely recommend and will definitely be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The ambience was cute and they had a jazz band with a singer which gave the place a nice vibe. But the service was terrible. We barely saw our server the entire night. I ordered the steak pasta and it came with a measly four pieces of overcooked steak. My food came out first and my friend’s salmon didn’t arrive until 30 minutes later.
I complained and they did comp my pasta which I appreciated, but they still added a 20% gratuity based on the original bill. The total was $39 with a $19 gratuity. That’s crazy. The atmosphere was nice but the service and food quality didn’t match the price. I’d maybe come for drinks but not stay for food. Also their tap water was disgusting so I had to pay for bottled. Not worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
The Latino bartender can REALLY dance!! Get the Lemon Love, it’s delicious. Service was great and the food was DELICIOUS. Try and get the dancing bartender, he makes the best drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Madison is the best bartender!! So sweet, funny, welcoming, and made the perfect drinks for Halloween 💗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Popped into Zaya unplanned late following a concert. Although we didn’t necessarily meet their dress code standards, they were incredibly gracious, offered incredible and friendly service, and delivered delicious food — everything was terrific from appetizers and cocktails, to their pizza and dessert. Bonus: Live music and a beautiful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The band was amazing! The drinks were beautiful and tasty. The food was good but watch out for the shrimp appetizer it is spicy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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