Guidebook for Los Angeles
Essentials
Great organic and natural food, drink, and body products. They also have a huge buffet of food to go and a counter that makes fresh tacos!
254 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market 365
2520 Glendale BlvdGreat organic and natural food, drink, and body products. They also have a huge buffet of food to go and a counter that makes fresh tacos!
Trader Joe's
2738 Hyperion AveCheap groceries and prepared foods - great for snacks and wine!
CVS
4414 York BlvdPharmacy
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun neighborhood dive with a pool table, a patio, good music and dancing (sometimes)!
90 locals recommend
Footsies
2640 N Figueroa StFun neighborhood dive with a pool table, a patio, good music and dancing (sometimes)!
Gay bar friendly to all walks of life. Different events every night and dancing in the back on the weekends.
119 locals recommend
Akbar
4356 Sunset BlvdGay bar friendly to all walks of life. Different events every night and dancing in the back on the weekends.
Cafe Stella
3932 Sunset BlvdBeautiful indoor/outdoor cocktail bar and restaurant.
Frogtown Brewery
2931 Gilroy StGet a drink in the afternoon or evening at this fancy hotel, you will probably see a celebrity or someone who wants to be one.
43 locals recommend
Sunset Tower Hotel
8358 Sunset BlvdGet a drink in the afternoon or evening at this fancy hotel, you will probably see a celebrity or someone who wants to be one.
The quintessential L.A. hotel for hollywood types in a beautiful setting. Get a drink or an (expensive) hamburger.
353 locals recommend
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset BlvdThe quintessential L.A. hotel for hollywood types in a beautiful setting. Get a drink or an (expensive) hamburger.
Food Scene
El Siete Mares
3131 Sunset BlvdMexican seafood!
Cafe Tropical
2900 Sunset BlvdCuban coffee and guava pie!
Pine and Crane
1521 Griffith Park BlvdTaiwanese food with a cool vibe. Worth the wait!
Outdoor cafe on the bike path with good food and lots of room to hang out. You can play ping pong or rent bikes, too.
49 locals recommend
Spoke Bicycle Cafe
3050 N Coolidge AveOutdoor cafe on the bike path with good food and lots of room to hang out. You can play ping pong or rent bikes, too.
Expensive but tasty coffee right on the river.
21 locals recommend
La Colombe Frogtown Cafe and Roastery
2828 Newell StExpensive but tasty coffee right on the river.
Salazar
2490 Fletcher DrNew style Mexican food -- one of the trendiest spots around!
Ostrich Farm
1525 Sunset BlvdChic place for brunch or dinner
Silverlake Ramen
2927 Sunset BlvdGreat ramen tho often a bit of a line!
Blair's Restaurant
2901 Rowena AvenueRomantic and yummy!
Wurstküche
800 East 3rd StreetSausage and beer heaven.
Salt & Straw
829 E 3rd StCrazy ice cream!
Fun, lively food hall with lots of options if you're doing anything else downtown.
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayFun, lively food hall with lots of options if you're doing anything else downtown.
Taco truck that only serves fish tacos - check twitter for hours and location that day.
16 locals recommend
Ricky's Fish Tacos
Taco truck that only serves fish tacos - check twitter for hours and location that day.
Ave 26 Taco Stand
Excellent meat tacos on the street, open super late.
Langer's
704 S Alvarado StGet the number 19 at this old school Jewish deli.
Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire BlvdBreakfast and lunch in Santa Monica
Lodge Bread Company
11918 Washington BoulevardBreads, pizzas and a cafe at this unique bakery.
Old school steak house. Hang out in the bar and get a sandwich. See where Walt Disney used to hang out every day!
51 locals recommend
Tam O'Shanter
2980 Los Feliz BlvdOld school steak house. Hang out in the bar and get a sandwich. See where Walt Disney used to hang out every day!
Get very L.A. and eat or drink at this vegan restaurant that is actually tasty.
311 locals recommend
Sage Plant Based Bistro and Brewery Echo Park
1700 Sunset BlvdGet very L.A. and eat or drink at this vegan restaurant that is actually tasty.
Roadside dive for excellent crispy beef tacos with cheese- the tacos I grew up eating!
78 locals recommend
Tito’s Tacos
11222 Washington PlRoadside dive for excellent crispy beef tacos with cheese- the tacos I grew up eating!
Roadside seafood with an ocean view in Malibu.
161 locals recommend
Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe
25653 CA-1Roadside seafood with an ocean view in Malibu.
Joan’s on Third
8350 W 3rd StBreakfast and lunch with great people watching
Several locations of this casual place for Armenian chicken. I usually get take out once a week!
121 locals recommend
Zankou Chicken
5065 Sunset BlvdSeveral locations of this casual place for Armenian chicken. I usually get take out once a week!
Arts & Culture
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrHuge, beautiful museum and gardens.
Separate from the Getty Center - this recreated villa on the ocean has an amazing collection of Greek and Roman art.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwySeparate from the Getty Center - this recreated villa on the ocean has an amazing collection of Greek and Roman art.
Hauser & Wirth
901 E 3rd StArt Gallery that is like a museum (and free!)
Museum of Jurassic Technology
9341 Venice Blvd.This place is insane and you just have to go.
Branch of MOCA not far from the regular museum. I particularly like this big warehouse space's exhibitions.
401 locals recommend
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central AveBranch of MOCA not far from the regular museum. I particularly like this big warehouse space's exhibitions.
Hollyhock House
4800 Hollywood BlvdFrank Lloyd Wright architecture!
Rockwell Table & Stage
1714 N Vermont AveDinner theater with quirky and fun shows.
Private museum founded by the owners of Guess Jeans for their contemporary art collection and temporary exhibitions. Housed in a renovated Masonic Lodge. Must make reservations for free tickets in advance, but usually pretty easy to do so on the weekdays.
40 locals recommend
Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation
Private museum founded by the owners of Guess Jeans for their contemporary art collection and temporary exhibitions. Housed in a renovated Masonic Lodge. Must make reservations for free tickets in advance, but usually pretty easy to do so on the weekdays.
Griffith Observatory station
Check out one of the grandfathers of midecentury modern architecture's houses. Only open Saturdays!
29 locals recommend
Neutra VDL Studio and Residences
2300 Silver Lake BlvdCheck out one of the grandfathers of midecentury modern architecture's houses. Only open Saturdays!
Shopping
Most Saturdays but check the dates/times in advance. Best for vintage clothes and african fabrics.
278 locals recommend
Silverlake Ramen
2927 Sunset BlvdMost Saturdays but check the dates/times in advance. Best for vintage clothes and african fabrics.
Poketo
374 E 2nd StLove this shop for gifts and housewares.
Hollywood Farmers’ Market
1600 Ivar AveWatch people go crazy over local produce.
Entertainment & Activities
Pacific Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset Blvd Swanky movie theater with reserved seats.
The Vista
The VistaNew releases in a vintage, Egyptian themed theater.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain PkwyRides that will scare the shit out of you.
Parks & Nature
45 minute walk around a reservoir to see locals and architecture
396 locals recommend
Silver Lake Reservoir
45 minute walk around a reservoir to see locals and architecture
Fun way to do a little exercise and see how Angelenos would access public transportation (street cars) a long time ago.
21 locals recommend
Micheltorena Stairs
3400 Sunset BlvdFun way to do a little exercise and see how Angelenos would access public transportation (street cars) a long time ago.