Guidebook for Los Angeles
Drinks & Nightlife
Stylish, never stuffy bar and restaurant. No reservations required, great for a date or also when family is visiting. Adjacent to the Landmark cinema arthouse. Free 3 hour parking below.
23 locals recommend
Westside Tavern
10850 W Pico BlvdStylish, never stuffy bar and restaurant. No reservations required, great for a date or also when family is visiting. Adjacent to the Landmark cinema arthouse. Free 3 hour parking below.
Food Scene
Yummiest mom and pop breakfast in town! Quaint decor, addictive biscuits. Family friendly. Call ahead to get your name on the list for a table, a great time saver on weekends. Park rear.
310-204-0692
29 locals recommend
John O'Groats
10516 W Pico BlvdYummiest mom and pop breakfast in town! Quaint decor, addictive biscuits. Family friendly. Call ahead to get your name on the list for a table, a great time saver on weekends. Park rear.
310-204-0692
Cuban family style! Plaintains, black beans, cuban style rice. Nothing gourmet, but everything is good. Long lines there often move quickly. A place for friends or family, not stylish, but lively.
62 locals recommend
Versailles Cuban Restaurant
10319 Venice Blvd.Cuban family style! Plaintains, black beans, cuban style rice. Nothing gourmet, but everything is good. Long lines there often move quickly. A place for friends or family, not stylish, but lively.
Varied menu, wine and beer. Busy for brunch and does not compare to John O'Groats. But for weekday dinner it is easy, not crowded, the chicken is amazing. Limited parking in rear, parking is a challenge.
46 locals recommend
Overland Cafe
3601 Overland AveVaried menu, wine and beer. Busy for brunch and does not compare to John O'Groats. But for weekday dinner it is easy, not crowded, the chicken is amazing. Limited parking in rear, parking is a challenge.
Easy for individuals, pairs or families. Order at the counter, then sit-- but with nice looking ambiance. Wine or beer avail. Choose healthy or comfort food.
66 locals recommend
Fresh Corn Grill
8714 Santa Monica BlvdEasy for individuals, pairs or families. Order at the counter, then sit-- but with nice looking ambiance. Wine or beer avail. Choose healthy or comfort food.
NEW! hot spot in West LA. Creative/elevated comfort food, full bar. Works for dates. Can handle kids but maybe not designed for it. Reservations and valet parking.
56 locals recommend
The Upper West
3321 Pico BlvdNEW! hot spot in West LA. Creative/elevated comfort food, full bar. Works for dates. Can handle kids but maybe not designed for it. Reservations and valet parking.
Adjacent to the Landmark Cinema, so its handy when grabbing a bite or cocktail before or after a film. Sports on the telly but not a sports bar vibe.
6 locals recommend
Déjà Brew Taproom & Kitchen (formerly Gulp)
10928 W Pico BlvdAdjacent to the Landmark Cinema, so its handy when grabbing a bite or cocktail before or after a film. Sports on the telly but not a sports bar vibe.
Take away or delivery only, no real dining room. I've ordered their pizzas for parties and people always want their info. Also the Greek salad is pretty big and a small is plenty as a side for all.
Lenzini's Pizza
3500 Overland AveTake away or delivery only, no real dining room. I've ordered their pizzas for parties and people always want their info. Also the Greek salad is pretty big and a small is plenty as a side for all.
Casual French style cafe for breakfast and lunch. Out door patio in the rear garden. Very low key.
34 locals recommend
Cafe Laurent
12034 Overland AveCasual French style cafe for breakfast and lunch. Out door patio in the rear garden. Very low key.
Really good, reputable fried chicken and biscuits. Great for taking a box to a party or picnic or to the Hollywood Bowl and outdoor concerts. Not much ambience.
29 locals recommend
Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken
9537 Culver BlvdReally good, reputable fried chicken and biscuits. Great for taking a box to a party or picnic or to the Hollywood Bowl and outdoor concerts. Not much ambience.
Rustic French cafe with simple but quality menu. Best part is the patio in back, and parking in the back, too. Great place to meet a friend for breakfast or lunch.
23 locals recommend
Atmosphere Mar Vista
12034 Venice Blvd.Rustic French cafe with simple but quality menu. Best part is the patio in back, and parking in the back, too. Great place to meet a friend for breakfast or lunch.
This is a hip spot, with bakery fresh breads to take home or stay, artisinal coffee...
50 locals recommend
Lodge Bread Company
11918 Washington BoulevardThis is a hip spot, with bakery fresh breads to take home or stay, artisinal coffee...
Entertainment & Activities
Healthier and faster fare. Call ahead and pick up chicken, salads and wraps. Finicky kids usually like it as much as adults. No alcohol and closed Sundays. Parking in rear.
90 locals recommend
California Chicken Cafe
424 Lincoln BlvdHealthier and faster fare. Call ahead and pick up chicken, salads and wraps. Finicky kids usually like it as much as adults. No alcohol and closed Sundays. Parking in rear.
Fun at night for dates, and or bring the kids--small rides, ferris wheel, fun but kid friendly roller coaster, games, arcade, etc.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierFun at night for dates, and or bring the kids--small rides, ferris wheel, fun but kid friendly roller coaster, games, arcade, etc.
Palms-Rancho Park Branch Library
2920 Overland AveLocal branch library with kid section and a park adjacent.
This park is very clean and nice, and also has a great kid friendly splash pad for hot days. It's quite fun and nice.
26 locals recommend
Virginia Avenue Park
2200 Virginia AveThis park is very clean and nice, and also has a great kid friendly splash pad for hot days. It's quite fun and nice.
Unbelievable kid's library. You will not believe it if you have kids. Plus they have a small kids playroom which is great on rainy or cold days and free (pay to park about $1/hr). Even open on SUNDAYS
21 locals recommend
Beverly Hills Public Library
444 N Rexford DrUnbelievable kid's library. You will not believe it if you have kids. Plus they have a small kids playroom which is great on rainy or cold days and free (pay to park about $1/hr). Even open on SUNDAYS
Essentials
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveAbout a block away, can't live without it!
Short drive away. Remember they have hot food bar and pizza slices, fast, slightly healthier fare that even kids will eat, with a seating lounge area in front.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdShort drive away. Remember they have hot food bar and pizza slices, fast, slightly healthier fare that even kids will eat, with a seating lounge area in front.
Arts & Culture
The museum offers FREE live jazz on Friday nights April-October, and Free Latin Jazz on Saturday afternoons also. Family friendly for picnics, and a free kid's painting room. Parking $10.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdThe museum offers FREE live jazz on Friday nights April-October, and Free Latin Jazz on Saturday afternoons also. Family friendly for picnics, and a free kid's painting room. Parking $10.
Newest cinema house in town, features reserved seating online, full bar and lite bites in the swanky lobby. Feels like a grown up evening out. Free 2 hr public parking in Culver City lots nearby.
113 locals recommend
ArcLight
9500 Culver BlvdNewest cinema house in town, features reserved seating online, full bar and lite bites in the swanky lobby. Feels like a grown up evening out. Free 2 hr public parking in Culver City lots nearby.
Everything Else
Highest rated on Yelp.com. Good to know in the off chance you need it!
59 locals recommend
Culver City Farmers Market
Main StreetHighest rated on Yelp.com. Good to know in the off chance you need it!
I've been asked to recommend a clean, safe and comfortable massage place. I love this place. Not too expensive, well appointed "elegant Thai" decor. Great massages.
Sawadee Thai Spa
2042 Westwood BlvdI've been asked to recommend a clean, safe and comfortable massage place. I love this place. Not too expensive, well appointed "elegant Thai" decor. Great massages.
Great dry cleaning, only $2 for any garment, pick up next day at 5PM. Friendly, limited parking, cash only.
The Cleaning Club
10905 Venice Blvd.Great dry cleaning, only $2 for any garment, pick up next day at 5PM. Friendly, limited parking, cash only.
Rent a Post Office Box to receive all your mail long term or to have an address for opening accounts. You are welcome to use my address for one off deliveries only (Amazon, shipments, etc.).
Mail and More in California
2355 Westwood BlvdRent a Post Office Box to receive all your mail long term or to have an address for opening accounts. You are welcome to use my address for one off deliveries only (Amazon, shipments, etc.).
Parks & Nature
Has it ALL! A nice playground area for kids plus a friendly skate park, a dog running yard called the bone yard, AND light hiking trails.
67 locals recommend
Culver City Park
9910 Jefferson BlvdHas it ALL! A nice playground area for kids plus a friendly skate park, a dog running yard called the bone yard, AND light hiking trails.