Set inside one of the most striking architectural landmarks in the Historic Core of Downtown LA, Redbird feels iconic and familiar, where exceptional food and great drinks arrive without pretense. It’s the kind of place that balances destination dining with neighborhood ease and works for a casual stop-in or a night you’ve been looking forward to.
Led by Chef Neal Fraser’s distinctive Angeleno point of view, our chef-driven restaurant and award-winning cocktail lounge were designed for real life in LA: shared plates, great drinks, and conversations that don’t need rushing.
Our menu moves naturally from small bites to generous dishes built for the table, perfectly paired with our extensive wine list, exciting craft cocktails and elevated nonalcoholic drinks made with the same level of attention.
Just stopping by? Walk in, grab a seat in our Lounge and order something delicious. Planning to celebrate with your closest friends? Settle into the Main Dining Room and stay awhile.
Brunch, after-work drinks, date night, birthdays, whatever the occasion we’ll meet you where you want to be.
A neighborhood spot at heart. A destination when you want it to be.
The Main Dining Room offers open-air dining beneath a retractable roof, with views of the bell tower. On cooler evenings, heaters and a wood-burning fireplace create a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, making the space ideal for both intimate dinners and lively group dining. We invite you to make a reservation today.
The Lounge is a relaxed and refined cocktail and dining space, featuring an exclusive menu of small plates alongside craft cocktails and elevated nonalcoholic drinks. Banquette tables and bar seating are available, making the Lounge a destination for those seeking a sophisticated cocktail lounge experience. The Lounge is walk-in only.
Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.
As one of the most respected restaurants in Los Angeles, Redbird reflects Chef Neal’s commitment to ingredient-driven cooking, thoughtful technique, and a distinctly Angeleno point of view. The kitchen’s approach balances creativity with approachability, offering dishes that are elevated without feeling precious or pretentious.
Recognized by the Michelin Guide (California) and 50 Best Discovery, Redbird | Vibiana continues to be celebrated for its culinary excellence, hospitality, and contribution to Downtown LA’s dining culture. Chef Neal and his team’s ultimate goal is to create a space that is warm and welcoming, perfect casual nights, special occasions, and everything in between.
Redbird is also known as a premier cocktail lounge in Downtown LA, with a beverage program led by Tobin Shea that has earned accolades including Time Out’s Best Restaurant Bar Program. The cocktail menu features well-balanced, bespoke interpretations of classics alongside seasonal creations built with the same intention and craft as the kitchen.
Alongside its celebrated craft cocktails, Redbird offers a sophisticated nonalcoholic beverage program designed with equal care and creativity. The zero-proof menu features elevated mocktails and spirit-free cocktails made with botanical ingredients, house-made components, and pairing-driven flavors — never as an afterthought, but as a deliberate extension of the bar’s philosophy.
Whether enjoying a classic cocktail, a curated zero-proof creation, or a nonalcoholic pairing, guests experience the same level of refinement and attention to detail.
Redbird | Vibiana makes its home in Downtown Los Angeles’ most storied architectural spaces. The design honors the building’s premier character while introducing clean, modern forms that enhance rather than overshadow the original structure. The result is a warm, atmospheric setting that feels both timeless and contemporary.
An environment equally suited for dining, cocktail gatherings, and celebratory evenings. Redbird | Vibiana is the recipient of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Preservation Award (Chair’s Award), recognizing its thoughtful restoration and cultural significance.
Chef Neal Fraser’s flagship restaurant Redbird features Modern American cuisine that is refined yet approachable and highlights the multi-cultural influences of Fraser’s native city – Los Angeles. As a follow up to Grace and BLD, Fraser’s menu features seasonal plates ranging from snacks or “kickshaws” to entrees meant to be enjoyed by the whole table. An extensive cocktail menu by Tobin Shea features well-balanced, bespoke renditions of the classics.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, Redbird is carved into one of the city’s most historic architectural gems, inside the former rectory building of Vibiana – the cathedral-turned-event-venue also owned and operated by Fraser. Designer Robert Weimer created a dynamic space that pays homage to the cathedral next door and the existing timeless architecture by inserting simple modern forms to complement rather than overtake the feel of the rooms. The result is a warm and comfortable considered space.
Redbird is recognized by the Michelin Guide (California) and 50 Best Discovery. In addition, Redbird | Vibiana received the Los Angeles Conservancy’s 2019 Preservation Award Chair’s Award. The Chair’s Award is the LA Conservancy’s highest recognition celebrating the persistence, creativity and ultimate success of the revitalization for adaptive reuse of the cathedral, rectory building and surrounding property. Recipients are selected by a jury of experts in architecture, historic preservation and community development.
Chef Neal Fraser is a celebrated Los Angeles chef and restaurateur known for his refined yet approachable modern American cuisine. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Fraser honed his craft at legendary kitchens including Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka and Spago, Checkers Hotel under Thomas Keller, Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox, then his own restaurants – the highly revered Boxer, beloved BLD and critically-acclaimed Grace.
Today, he is the chef and owner of Redbird | Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. Vibiana, a former cathedral turned cultural landmark, now serves as a premier special events and performing arts venue, with Redbird housed within its historic rectory. Fraser’s menu highlights seasonal, shareable dishes, from small bites to larger plates designed for the table. Recently, Redbird introduced a reimagined lounge experience featuring a dedicated menu of small plates and cocktails curated exclusively for the Redbird Lounge and Bar.
Redbird is recognized by the Michelin Guide California and 50 Best Discovery. In addition, Redbird | Vibiana received the Los Angeles Conservancy’s 2019 Preservation Award Chair’s Award. The Chair’s Award is the LA Conservancy’s highest recognition celebrating the persistence, creativity and ultimate success of the revitalization for adaptive reuse of the cathedral, rectory building and surrounding property. Recipients are selected by a jury of experts in architecture, historic preservation and community development.
Tobin Shea’s foray into the restaurant industry began humbly at a local bar near his college campus in Pennsylvania. After graduating and attempting a brief stint in the corporate world, Shea realized his true passion lived behind the bar. Two decades later, he is now known for his elegantly crafted and well-balanced cocktails. The knowledge he cultivated over the years has helped him create a beverage program that not only stands on its own, but seamlessly pairs with Redbird’s globally-inspired menu.
Shea naturally gravitates towards the classic cocktails from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resurrecting forgotten recipes while adding a modern twist – a style that parallels the history and restoration of the buildings that house Redbird | Vibiana. An extensive cocktail menu by Shea features well-balanced, bespoke renditions of the classics and has garnered him awards such as Time Out’s Best Restaurant Bar Program in 2017 and as a finalist for Tales of the Cocktails Best American Restaurant Bar award several times, and now earning him a semifinalist spot for the James Beard Awards.
Completed in 1876, the former Cathedral of St. Vibiana is one of Los Angeles’ few remaining nineteenth-century landmarks. The city’s first cathedral was a stunning work of architecture in a town still emerging from its pueblo origins. Inspired by the Los Angeles bishop’s childhood church in Spain, W.J. Matthews and Ezra F. Kysor modeled the cathedral’s facade in the Italian Baroque style. In 1922, Architect John C. Austin enlarged the structure and added a new facade of Indiana limestone. St. Vibiana’s Cathedral was designated a Los Angeles Cultural Monument in 1963.
Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the Archdiocese concluded that the structure sustained irreparable damage and would need to be replaced. After much deliberation, St. Vibiana’s was decommissioned and a new cathedral, Our Lady of the Angels, was then built just a few blocks away.
In 1999, Tom Gilmore and Jerri Perrone, developers championing the revitalization of downtown L.A., purchased the former cathedral. Taking advantage of the new Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, they created a vision for the former cathedral as a centerpiece of downtown’s revival. Shortly thereafter, a team of architects and structural engineers began the seismic retrofit and renovation work. Great care was taken to seismically reinforce the structure while painstakingly restoring its century old historic details.
The Cathedral of St. Vibiana reopened as an event venue, now known simply as Vibiana, in 2006. The following year, the lantern was reattached by crane to its bell tower, restoring the building’s iconic look; it had been removed in 1996 when the Archdiocese began demolition. Today, the venue hosts a wide range of events, including fashion shows, fundraisers, live entertainment, wedding ceremonies and receptions. The historic rectory, originally constructed in 1934, remained unfinished until 2012 when Chef Neal Fraser took over the property and began construction for their flagship restaurant. Redbird opened in January of 2015.
In July of 2019, Redbird | Vibiana received the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Preservation Award’s Chair’s Award. The Chair’s Award is the LA Conservancy’s highest recognition celebrating the persistence, creativity and ultimate success of the revitalization for adaptive reuse of the cathedral, rectory building and surrounding areas.
