Tesla Diner Opens with Drive-In Movies and EV Charging

Elon Musk’s Long-Awaited Vision Becomes Reality in West Hollywood’s High-Tech Hangout Spot

The Tesla Diner lights up West Hollywood with retro-futuristic flair—serving burgers, drive-in movies, and EV charging 24/7 | ©Image Credit: Tesla/X
The Tesla Diner lights up West Hollywood with retro-futuristic flair—serving burgers, drive-in movies, and EV charging 24/7 | ©Image Credit: Tesla/X

Forget everything you thought you knew about pit stops—Tesla just flipped the switch on something wildly different. In the heart of West Hollywood, Elon Musk’s long-teased vision has finally come to life: a retro-futuristic diner where you can charge your EV, watch a movie from your car, and bite into a burger—all under neon lights and with old-school roller-skating servers. Read on for everything we know about the first-ever Tesla Diner.

Inside the Retro-Futuristic Tesla Diner

Tesla has officially launched its first-ever diner and Supercharging station in West Hollywood. Opened on July 21 at 7001 Santa Monica Boulevard, the Tesla Diner—personally championed by Elon Musk—blends a vibrant 1950s aesthetic with cutting-edge technology, creating a unique 24/7 haven for both EV owners and the curious public.

At its core, the Tesla Diner is a massive Supercharging hub, featuring an impressive 80 V4 stalls. This makes it the largest urban Supercharger in the world, capable of powering any NACS-compatible EV. While your vehicle recharges at a base rate of $0.42/kWh (for all electric vehicles), you’re invited to explore a multi-sensory experience.

The ground floor doubles as a drive-in movie theater, complete with two expansive LED screens, as shown in a video shared by Musk on X. Tesla owners enjoy an added perk: seamless audio synced directly to their vehicle’s speakers. For ultimate convenience, drivers can place food orders through their in-car touchscreen, choosing either curbside delivery to the driver’s window or in-person pickup inside the diner. On opening day, social media clips also captured Tesla’s Optimus robot serving popcorn, adding a sci-fi flair to the retro scene.

Upstairs, a full-service restaurant—dubbed the Skypad—offers cozy indoor booths and rooftop seating with sweeping views of Hollywood. On opening day, guests were welcomed by servers gliding through the diner on roller skates, handing out ice cream samples in a playful tribute to the 1950s vibe. The scene brought to life a vision Elon Musk first teased in a 2018 tweet: “Gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA.”

While the entire venue is open to the public, certain integrated features are designed exclusively for Tesla vehicles, making it a truly bespoke experience for brand loyalists.

Tesla Diner’s Menu

Curious about what’s cooking at Tesla Diner? The menu, expertly crafted by celebrity chef Eric Greenspan, delivers all your favorite classic diner fare with a playful twist. Guests can dig into comfort food staples like crispy fried chicken and waffles, gooey grilled cheese, and nostalgic tuna melts. The standout? A tongue-in-cheek “Tesla Burger” crowned with the diner’s signature “Electric Sauce.” Prices are approachable, with sides starting at around $4 and main dishes topping out at $15.

For those looking to commemorate their visit, a Cybertruck-themed food container and a range of exclusive Tesla-branded merchandise are also available.

The Origin and Future of the Tesla Diner

The concept for a Tesla Diner has been on Musk’s mind since 2018, when he first floated the idea of a Supercharger station combined with an old-school restaurant and drive-in movie theater. The vision began to take shape in 2022, when Tesla officially filed plans with the City of Los Angeles for a 24-hour, retro-futuristic diner on the former site of a Shakey’s Pizza in West Hollywood.

Now that the flagship location is open, Musk has made it clear this is only the beginning. “If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well—which I think it will—Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long-distance routes,” he wrote on X.

In fact, Musk has revealed plans for a future Tesla diner at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas.

Source: NBC Los Angeles, International Business Times UK