This past Saturday, August 1st, marked the long-awaited return of Dîner en Blanc to Los Angeles, and let me tell you — it was every bit as magical as I hoped. Held on the grounds of the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills, this year’s event was the first time Dîner en Blanc has touched down in LA in seven years, and the anticipation in the air was absolutely palpable.
What Is Dîner en Blanc?
For anyone unfamiliar, Dîner en Blanc is a global phenomenon that started in Paris more than 25 years ago and has since spread to over 120 cities across six continents. The concept is simple yet elegant: thousands of guests dress head-to-toe in white and gather for an all-white party at a stunning public location that’s kept completely secret until just before the event begins. Guests bring their own tables, chairs, white linens, fine china, and gourmet spreads, transforming an ordinary public space into an open-air celebration of elegance, creativity, and community.
The Secret Location & The Rules
Part of the magic of Dîner en Blanc lies in the mystery. Guests meet at designated meeting points around the city with their folding tables, chairs, and picnic baskets in tow, with no idea where they’re actually headed. Only a handful of volunteer “hosts” know the real location, and guests are led there in a coordinated wave, arriving to find their secret destination revealed at last. This year, that location was the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills.
The rules are simple but sacred: dress entirely in white, bring your own elegant table setting, and once everyone is seated, the whole crowd waves their white cloth napkins in the air in unison to signal that dinner has officially begun. For guests who’d rather skip the hassle of hauling their own table and chairs, there’s also the option to book a third-party rental service that handles the full table setup ahead of time, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy the evening. It’s a beautiful, almost theatrical tradition that makes the night feel like something out of a movie.
This Year’s Theme & Activations
This year’s theme, Une Soirée Parisienne, La Belle Époque, brought us back to Paris at its most alive: romantic, refined, and unapologetically French. Think flowing fabrics and delicate lace, pearls and feathers, and an overall air of old-world glamour. And for us Los Angeles guests, there was one more detail — this year, everyone was asked to wear a masquerade mask for a little added mystery, which brought a whole new layer of intrigue and elegance to the evening.
Throughout the night, guests could also enjoy a variety of fun activations scattered around the grounds, including a 360-degree camera experience, professional portrait stations, and plenty of photo ops for capturing the night’s elegance. Chambord, an official partner of the event added to the libations with a Chambord fountain, and a DJ kept the entire crowd dancing well into the night.
The Best Part? Creativity and Community
Honestly, the best part of the entire evening was seeing just how creative everyone got with their all-white party outfits. From flowing gowns and tailored suits to feathered headpieces and the different variations of a masquerade mask, guests truly went all out to make their look one-of-a-kind while staying within the all-white dress code. It was proof that “all white” doesn’t mean boring — it means endless room for personal style and imagination.
Beyond the outfits, though, what really struck me was the sense of community in the air. Strangers complimented each other’s looks, tables nearby struck up conversation, and there was this shared understanding that everyone was there for the same reason: to celebrate elegance, creativity, and a love for Los Angeles’ return to this beloved tradition. It’s rare to feel that kind of collective joy at an event this size, and it made the night feel less like a party and more like a citywide reunion.
The Food: Chef Todd English x Patina Catering
And just like the table setup, guests who’d rather skip the effort of packing their own picnic spread had the option to pre-order a curated menu ahead of time, making it that much easier to simply arrive and enjoy the evening. This year’s menu carried a name many of us LA foodies already know: Chef Todd English. The James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur, known for acclaimed restaurants across the country, curated this year’s Dîner en Blanc LA menu, bringing his signature culinary vision to the evening. To bring that vision to life, Patina Catering and Patina Group were honored to execute the full culinary experience and wine service for the night, translating thoughtful menus into shared moments at scale.
As media, we got to dine on this incredible spread, and it did not disappoint. The menu included handmade pastas, empanadas, lobster rolls, fresh salads, and a variety of vegetarian dishes, plus decadent desserts to finish off the night. Of course, no Dîner en Blanc would be complete without a steady flow of wine and bubbly to toast the evening. From the first bite to the final glass, every detail was considered, capturing the atmosphere, craftsmanship, and energy that define this iconic event.
Final Thoughts
Between the secret location reveal, the stunning Beverly Hills backdrop, the incredible activations, and watching everyone’s all-white party outfits come to life under the string lights, this was truly one of the most magical nights LA has seen in years. We had an absolute blast, and we’re already counting down the days until Dîner en Blanc returns to Los Angeles next year. If you missed it this time, do yourself a favor and get on the waitlist — you won’t want to miss this one again.
