Manuel Portillo

Proper Hospitality today announces the appointment of Chef Manuel Portillo as Executive Chef at Hotel June's flagship property in West LA. Hotel June is an award-winning boutique lifestyle hotel launched in 2020 by Proper Hospitality (Proper Hotels, Hotel June, The Collective), sharing all the hallmarks of the Proper brand - high-design, innovative food & beverage offerings and a best-in-class guest experience - in an approachable, casual setting. Hotel June's renowned food & beverage program brings a Cal-Mex flair to locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. With this appointment, Portillo will be bringing his own California-meets-Modern-Southwest twist to culinary offerings across the property.

Portillo spent a decade working in innovative fine dining restaurants in Las Vegas, including Spago, Trevi, Joel Roubuchon, RM Seafood and Cafe Hollywood, before spending 4 years as Executive Sous Chef of The Henry brand for Fox Restaurant Concepts. Most recently, he joins Hotel June from Venice, CA's Nueva where he served as Executive Chef. He intends to draw influence from the culture, art and food of the West and Southwest for the menus at Hotel June West LA.

Portillo will oversee the Hotel's signature poolside restaurant Caravan Swim Club, a two-level outdoor restaurant and bar that celebrates California and Baja California's regional influences. The restaurant champions local ingredients revealed in vibrant dishes including locally-caught seafood, seasonal salads, sharing plates, freshly shucked oysters and other all-day fare appropriate for the poolside setting. The food program is complemented by a robust bar program of natural and biodynamic wines, craft beers and an extensive spirits portfolio that includes more than 100 agave offerings. In addition to Caravan Swim Club, Portillo will oversee the reopening of the property's ground floor restaurant Scenic Route, later next year.