The Los Angeles-based hospitality and lifestyle marketing company The h.wood Group was founded in 2008 by longtime friends and entrepreneurs Brian Toll and John Terzian. In the near two decades since, the pair have redefined high-end entertainment with a suite of restaurants and nightlife venues, filled with sophisticated design, exceptional service, and an unparalleled atmosphere. Eleven destinations in L.A.—including Delilah, Harriet’s, The Nice Guy, Keys, Poppy, DiDi, and SLAB—join others across the globe in cities like Las Vegas, Nashville, Toronto, and Dubai.
The h.wood Group has cultivated an elite following and established itself as a global leader in the industry, extending beyond its signature venues to shape cultural moments through world-class event production, branding, and lifestyle marketing. Whether curating exclusive experiences at Coachella, Formula 1, Art Basel, or expanding their footprint with new venues, the company continues to push the boundaries of luxury hospitality with immersive experiences and unparalleled service.
brand is synonymous with exclusive, immersive experiences that blend design, service, and atmosphere to create unforgettable moments. Beyond its eleven Los Angeles venues and expanding global presence, The h.wood Group has become a major force in event production and branding, working with some of the world’s biggest cultural events and luxury brands. As the company continues to grow, it remains dedicated to shaping the future of nightlife and hospitality on both local and international levels.
Whitewall spoke with Terzian and Toll about growing a hospitality company in L.A. and where they’re opening new concepts next.
The h.wood Group’s DNA
The Nice Guy, photo by Vanessa Tierney, courtesy of The h.wood Group.
WHITEWALL: The h.wood Group is a hospitality and lifestyle marketing company. How does owning its portfolio of establishments, as well as marketing them in-house, impact each location’s overall DNA? The h.wood Group overall DNA?
BRIAN TOLL: We’ve always believed that our separating factor was creating memorable moments for every customer with a combination of great food, great service, great design and great marketing. Establishments can have incredible food but if the place doesn’t have the right vibe it can easily fail. For any restaurant having a unique concept, menu innovation and top service is a clear indication if a place will last. Now with the presence of social media, top marketing is also a big factor in showcasing the individual identities of each of our venues. We’ve always believed in the importance of fantastic marketing and making sure that at every venue we lean all the way into the experience we are promoting through those marketing efforts.
WW: The company is a longtime vision that stemmed from your friendship with John. What did you have in common then that you wanted to join together and capitalize on? What about now?
BT: It’s been great to build an amazing company with a friend. We started off throwing parties but our vision has always been to build venues on the luxury side of hospitality and to create incredible hubs for our close network of contacts. As we elevated and grew so did our circle of clientele. Every project we’ve done has come naturally, and a big part of that is the relationships we’ve cultivated over the years. We have always had a good sense of what our network wanted in nightlife and in the culinary scene, and built our brands in a way that could service those needs. The h.wood Group is a testament to the organic connections we’ve made and something we continue to capitalize on as we grow.
“The h.wood Group is a testament to the organic connections we’ve made,”
— Brian Toll
WW: You have 11 venues in L.A. and other locations in Las Vegas, Nashville, Toronto, Dubai, and more. What do these cities say about where you think the gastronomy landscape is right now? Where it’s going?
BT: I think people want a great experience when choosing to dine out and more than ever. Customers also want a brand that they can trust and know from other places in the world when they travel. Over the past 10 years you’re seeing brands go from being popular in one city to opening globally because the draw has really extended past their local customer. Technology has made it easier to oversee a restaurant across the world and has led to this expansion as well. We’ve developed great teams for each venue across the world and provide that familiar h.wood Group experience to our guests no matter where they are.
Creating an Unforgettable Atmosphere
Delilah, photo by Elizabeth Daniels, courtesy of The h.wood Group.
WW: How does each space embody a sophisticated yet nostalgic atmosphere? What interior designers—or what design objects, elements, lighting, art, etc.—did you work with to make this happen?
BT: Built Inc has designed all of our locations alongside John Terzian, and we believe that the lighting and design is crucial to what we do. Our restaurants are darker than most on purpose, and we don’t put any overhead pin lights on tables. We believe that the lighting translates to people feeling like they can hang out longer, subtly giving a lounge feel where you can drink more and feel comfortable in the space.
WW: You’re expanding into other markets, too, as h.wood Group also produces events, centered around storytelling for brands, consumers, and talent. Past events have included cultural activations at Coachella, F1, Cannes, Art Basel, and more. How is this guided by your core values—distinct design, exceptional service and palpable atmosphere?
BT: We are being very strategic about our growth and actually turn down a lot of great offers because the market isn’t right for us. We carefully evaluate potential markets and only pursue opportunities that resonate with our vision and maintain each venue’s identity. We’re excited to share where we will land next as we have several projects in the works.
WW: How does this reflect the idea of pop-ups and pop culture shaping both local and global culture?
BT: Our customers are global and attend major cultural events. They may live in L.A. but they attend these events worldwide so it’s always been one of our tenets to have some sort of presence at large cultural moments. At first, we were hired by brands to help throw an event and then we pivoted and decided that it was more beneficial to throw our own pop-ups because we wanted to be able to dictate the venue, the entertainment, the crowd, etc.
An “Insider” Approach to Los Angeles
Delilah, photo by Elizabeth Daniels, courtesy of courtesy of The h.wood Group.
WW: Where do you recommend visitors to Los Angeles go to dine? What should they order?
BT: I may be partial, but I would recommend one of our venues. From Delilah, our roaring 20s venue, Harriet’s Rooftop at 1 Hotel with amazing panoramic views of Los Angeles, to our new Vietnamese concept Di Di in West Hollywood and our BBQ spot SLAB, we have something for everyone.
WW: Where do you personally like to eat, drink, shop, relax when you’re not at one of your locations?
BT: I don’t think anything beats Nobu Malibu for both view and food and relaxing.
WW: John, you also play an active role in philanthropy and are on the board of Imagine L.A., the non-profit mentorship program for the homeless, as well as for the Children’s Hospital Sports & Entertainment Board. Can you tell us more about this and how it impacts your view of the future of L.A.?
JOHN TERZIAN: I have grown up always feeling the need to give back as much as possible. As my personal time to give got tighter as I got older, I decided to focus on just a few meaningful causes. Being born and raised in Los Angeles, it’s been important to do more with causes here involving the homeless and children as well. Imagine LA specifically helps homeless families get on their feet with a mentorship program. I have been actively on the board for a decade and co-created the annual Imagine Ball, which is a concert that helps raise awareness and money for the cause.
“I believe in giving back as much as possible and I always encourage everyone around me to do the same,”
— John Terzian
I also have been active for almost a decade with The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which is a very special hospital that helps severely ill children. The h.wood Group is participating in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles annual campaign Make March Matter. Di Di, Delilah, The Nice Guy, and SLAB will donate a portion of proceeds from select menu items for the month of March. I have been on the entertainment counsel specifically and help raise money as well as bring awareness to the hospital. Overall, I believe in giving back as much as possible and I always encourage everyone around me to do the same.
Delilah, photo by Elizabeth Daniels, courtesy of The h.wood Group.
The Nice Guy, photo by Vanessa Tierney, courtesy of The h.wood Group.
