Los Angeles is host to a variety of World Cup viewing parties that blend the excitement of the games with distinctive culinary experiences. Several venues across the city have enhanced their spaces with large-screen televisions, drawing fans eager to enjoy the matches alongside innovative and culturally rich food offerings.
One notable setup is the collaboration between chef Diego Argoti and Skyduster Beer in the Fashion District. Argoti, formerly of the now-closed Poltergeist restaurant, operates his pop-up Estrano Verano at Skyduster’s expansive brewery, serving game-day crowds of up to 400 guests. The menu creatively reinterprets classic pub fare, including short rib burgers with hoisin and malt-vinegar aioli, various hot dogs topped with furikake and chili crisp, a lime leaf-dressed Caesar salad, and masa-dredged Thai-style fried chicken sandwiches. Weekend offerings feature more composed dishes such as grilled short ribs, bone-in pork chops, and Moroccan-style chicken. Skyduster’s beer selections include a pickle-infused beer, super-dry lagers, and Italian pilsners. The partnership reflects a cross-cultural collaboration, with Argoti, originally from Ecuador, and Skyduster co-owner Johnny Marler, a Canadian, highlighting Los Angeles’s diverse culinary scene.
Meanwhile, the historic Clifton’s cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles has reopened under new ownership by the Robhana Group, which also manages other celebrated local establishments. Originally founded in 1935 and known for its enduring Art Deco charm and community roots during the Great Depression, Clifton’s had closed earlier this year amid operational challenges and vandalism. The revitalized venue has installed large screens and projectors for match viewing while serving soccer-inspired pizzas crafted by chef George Silyan, a former member of Mother Wolf and Bestia. The menu features 69-hour-fermented sourdough dough baked in the original pizza oven and includes creations such as the Peléroni with ricotta and pepperoni, the Red Card topped with guanciale and Calabrian chiles, and team-themed options like Morocco’s Modern Life with merguez sausage, mint, and labneh. Additional menu items include pastas, smash burgers, and collaborations with local chefs. A World Cup-themed cocktail lineup complements the food offerings. The reopening aims to restore Clifton’s as a vibrant community hub during the tournament and beyond.
In South Los Angeles, Fuegos LA, an Argentine restaurant and wine bar owned by expatriates Federico Laboureau and Maximilian Pizzi, serves as a focal point for fans of Argentina’s national team. The venue has transformed its parking lot into an extended patio space equipped with televisions, where guests enjoy empanadas, thick fugazza pizzas baked in an outdoor oven, and choripán sandwiches with chorizo topped by shoestring potatoes and traditional condiments such as chimichurri and criolla sauce. The atmosphere intensifies during Argentina’s matches, with many patrons arriving hours early to secure seating near the screens. Imported Quilmes beer and Malbec wine are popular choices among diners, who often display the Argentine flag and jerseys. For those less familiar with local chants, the restaurant provides printed cheer lyrics, enhancing the communal viewing experience.
These offerings underscore how Los Angeles’s diverse dining and hospitality sectors are capitalizing on the World Cup to engage fans with distinctive food and beverage experiences while celebrating the city’s multicultural character.