Up at the Villa
Alfresco Veal and Scotch in Brentwood

Since it’s April 1, we could waste your time with breaking nonsense about George Clooney’s (fictional) new haberdashery truck or Mila Kunis’s (nonexistent) new ballerina-themed bar, Barre.

Trust us, we thought about it.

But instead, we’re here to tell you about a majestic courtyard hideaway filled with pasta, scotch and steak. And—get this—it’s real.

Welcome to Villetta, a piece of old Italy stowed away in Brentwood, set to open in just a few short days.

Just look for a nondescript wrought-iron gate across from Brentwood Country Mart. Enter said wrought-iron gate. And you’ll pass into a garden sprawl that’s something like a grown-up (and Italian) version of Narnia—an indoor-outdoor thicket of hidden rooms and courtyard crannies, only with stucco, potted herbs and grapefruit trees instead of proselytizing lions (score one for fans of non-proselytizing lions).

You’ll want to show up around sundown, hang a right at the first bar you see and start with a Drinker—it’s scotch-based, and like most of the cocktails, it’s named after one of the paintings in the room. Then, you’ll move outside for plates of Favas with Baby Red Dandelions, Vitello Tonnato (it’s veal) and Rabbit Three Ways.

And despite the fact that it’s in Brentwood, you’ll be happy to know that the place will continue pouring until 2am—making it one of the only spots in the area to do so.

Go ahead, invite Mila.