The Old-School Deli Marilyn Monroe Loved Is Still Open Today

There are few public figures who have captured society's imagination the way Marilyn Monroe did. In 2026, she would be 100 years old, but Hollywood never got to see her age. She is forever the young, blond bombshell standing over a subway grate, her white dress blowing up during the filming of "The Seven Year Itch." But despite all the fame, she was surprisingly normal. Monroe's go-to sweet treat after acting class was a hot fudge sundae. Her favorite wine was Piper-Heidsieck, and if she was stopping by a deli, it was Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, which is still open for business.

Canter's Deli has been around since 1931. This old-school Jewish deli has been a hot spot for celebrities since the likes of Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor walked through its doors. Since then, this foodie favorite has seen the likes of Taylor Swift, Barack Obama, and Adam Sandler nosh on its menu items. But for the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" star, this was a place where her third hubby, playwright Arthur Miller, would take her.

What did Marilyn Monroe order up when she and Miller went to this hangout, which has since served as a backdrop for filming "Mad Men" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"? The Marilyn sandwich, of course. This grilled cheese sandwich is one of Canter Deli's signature menu items, but it is anything but typical. It's a combination of melted Swiss cheese and grilled tomato on rye bread. 

However, if you crave a more classic deli-style meal, Canter's pastrami sandwich on rye is also a good pick, as is a tuna melt or a corned beef reuben. But whatever you do, make certain to save some room for a slice of cheesecake, some apple strudel, a black-and-white cookie, or Canter's "world-famous" chocolate chip rugelach.

When Monroe wasn't dining out, she cooked for herself. According to a 1952 interview with Into the Gloss, she would eat steak, lamb chops, or some liver, along with raw carrots for dinner. And in the morning, it was a couple of raw eggs whipped into a glass of milk, just like Rocky.