Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Mastro's Ocean Club
18412 Pacific Coast HwyPretty Pricey but worth it for the views.
Great beach restaurant. Right on the water in Malibu. Prices are reasonable, almost has a diner like menu.
161 locals recommend
Duke's Malibu
21150 Pacific Coast HwyGreat beach restaurant. Right on the water in Malibu. Prices are reasonable, almost has a diner like menu.
Beach-inspired decor & a coastal-theme Mexican menu keep this sleek eatery relaxed and light. Menu focuses on Mexican seafood but you can also get tacos and burritos.
6 locals recommend
Pez Cantina
401 S Grand AveBeach-inspired decor & a coastal-theme Mexican menu keep this sleek eatery relaxed and light. Menu focuses on Mexican seafood but you can also get tacos and burritos.
Emporium hosting food vendors & florists, plus game nights, movies & other events, since 1917
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayEmporium hosting food vendors & florists, plus game nights, movies & other events, since 1917
Pizzas, pastas & small plates in a bright, bustling space, plus weekend brunch & macarons to-go.
584 locals recommend
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand AvePizzas, pastas & small plates in a bright, bustling space, plus weekend brunch & macarons to-go.
Trendy Italian restaurant from an acclaimed husband-&-wife team highlights creative seasonal fare.
322 locals recommend
Bestia
2121 E 7th PlTrendy Italian restaurant from an acclaimed husband-&-wife team highlights creative seasonal fare.
The best tacos in LA. Handmade tortillas and amazing filling. There is a six-taco sampler for a few dollars.
395 locals recommend
Guisados
1261 Sunset BlvdThe best tacos in LA. Handmade tortillas and amazing filling. There is a six-taco sampler for a few dollars.
Drinks & Nightlife
It is a rooftop bar that is great! It is very classy and can get crowded. Dress is more business casual. Great for happy hour and dinner, make sure you call ahead for reservations and to make sure they aren't rented out for a private party.
786 locals recommend
Perch
448 S Hill StIt is a rooftop bar that is great! It is very classy and can get crowded. Dress is more business casual. Great for happy hour and dinner, make sure you call ahead for reservations and to make sure they aren't rented out for a private party.
They have a large fish tank in the ceiling and the whole place has a unique feel. Open late.
27 locals recommend
Mrs. Fish
448 S Hill StThey have a large fish tank in the ceiling and the whole place has a unique feel. Open late.
Great gay nightclub, always a good time. I went with my gay best friend and we had a blast, they have hot pole dancers and the place gets packed on the weekends. Great music, drinks, and people
471 locals recommend
The Abbey
692 N Robertson BlvdGreat gay nightclub, always a good time. I went with my gay best friend and we had a blast, they have hot pole dancers and the place gets packed on the weekends. Great music, drinks, and people
This place is like a 70's house party. It looks like a house from the outside and the inside is setup with the 70's decor and the atmosphere is great. They have 2 bar areas, one in the backyard patio area and one in the house. Sometimes there is a long line but it is still a great unique place to try. Kinda like a speakeasy because you have to enter the house through a fridge!
266 locals recommend
Good Times at Davey Wayne's
1611 N El Centro AveThis place is like a 70's house party. It looks like a house from the outside and the inside is setup with the 70's decor and the atmosphere is great. They have 2 bar areas, one in the backyard patio area and one in the house. Sometimes there is a long line but it is still a great unique place to try. Kinda like a speakeasy because you have to enter the house through a fridge!
This place has a hipster warehouse feel. This is a great place to go day drinking, they have bar food, a ton of beer to choose from, allow dogs on the patio, and they have a few arcade games in the back!
104 locals recommend
Arts District Brewing Company
828 Traction AveThis place has a hipster warehouse feel. This is a great place to go day drinking, they have bar food, a ton of beer to choose from, allow dogs on the patio, and they have a few arcade games in the back!
Very unique bar, also a good place for day drinking. They are a full arcade and have every game you could ever wish for!
102 locals recommend
Eightytwo
707 E 4th PlVery unique bar, also a good place for day drinking. They are a full arcade and have every game you could ever wish for!
Love this place, you can sometimes see celebrities and it has a lax dress code. It is almost like a mansion house party. Has a few games like ping pong and pool. This place is normally filled with people ages 21-40. Right next to Ocean Ave so you can see a great sunset if you go at the right time!
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdLove this place, you can sometimes see celebrities and it has a lax dress code. It is almost like a mansion house party. Has a few games like ping pong and pool. This place is normally filled with people ages 21-40. Right next to Ocean Ave so you can see a great sunset if you go at the right time!
Gastropub offering American small bites & plenty of craft beers on tap, plus a popular happy hour.
13 locals recommend
Public School 213
612 Flower StGastropub offering American small bites & plenty of craft beers on tap, plus a popular happy hour.
Chain brewpub offering American bar food with a gourmet twist alongside house-brewed craft ales.
6 locals recommend
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
600 Wilshire BlvdChain brewpub offering American bar food with a gourmet twist alongside house-brewed craft ales.
Chill wine bar on the Rosenthal Vineyard with sea views & live music plus food trucks some weekends.
70 locals recommend
Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio
18741 Pacific Coast HwyChill wine bar on the Rosenthal Vineyard with sea views & live music plus food trucks some weekends.
Variety of regional wines are featured at this location with picnic tables & an adjoining store.
85 locals recommend
Malibu Wines
31740 Mulholland HighwayVariety of regional wines are featured at this location with picnic tables & an adjoining store.
The rooftop lounge at the downtown LA Standard hotel draws a high-energy crowd with a heated pool, waterbed pods, DJs, and panoramic city views. Quite the spot for watching 'the beautiful people' in their (un)natural environment! Jazz on Thursdays from 5-8PM. Open from noon to 10PM.
330 locals recommend
Standard Downtown
550 Flower StThe rooftop lounge at the downtown LA Standard hotel draws a high-energy crowd with a heated pool, waterbed pods, DJs, and panoramic city views. Quite the spot for watching 'the beautiful people' in their (un)natural environment! Jazz on Thursdays from 5-8PM. Open from noon to 10PM.
Another great rooftop bar (the other two are The Standard Rooftop and Perch). This one is brand-new, and the Ace hotel is located inside the old United Artists theater, which is a historical landmark.
239 locals recommend
Ace Hotel
929 S BroadwayAnother great rooftop bar (the other two are The Standard Rooftop and Perch). This one is brand-new, and the Ace hotel is located inside the old United Artists theater, which is a historical landmark.
Seven Bar Lounge
515 W 7th StCool Whiskey Bar.
The Edison
1920's Style bar with live aerial performances and absinthe bars!
Speakeasy. Historic atmosphere with solid classic cocktails. Cole's is a bar and restaurant, and the best place to enjoy an Old Fashioned and a French Dip sandwich.
153 locals recommend
Cole's French Dip
118 E 6th StSpeakeasy. Historic atmosphere with solid classic cocktails. Cole's is a bar and restaurant, and the best place to enjoy an Old Fashioned and a French Dip sandwich.
Parks & Nature
Great place to go if you are in LA for a short time. At night they have a planetarium and during the day you can go on one of the hundreds of hiking trails they have, including one that leads to the Hollywood sign.
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdGreat place to go if you are in LA for a short time. At night they have a planetarium and during the day you can go on one of the hundreds of hiking trails they have, including one that leads to the Hollywood sign.
My favorite place in Los Angeles! Beautiful town with great beach view!
513 locals recommend
Santa Monica
My favorite place in Los Angeles! Beautiful town with great beach view!
It is a great hike, short with great views of the ocean in Malibu.
15 locals recommend
Corral Canyon Park
It is a great hike, short with great views of the ocean in Malibu.
The whole park is recently renovated. Pedal boats available to rent. The lake is filled with lotus flowers. Beautiful grassy areas for picnics. Small cafe. Walking/running path around lake
563 locals recommend
Echo Park Lake
The whole park is recently renovated. Pedal boats available to rent. The lake is filled with lotus flowers. Beautiful grassy areas for picnics. Small cafe. Walking/running path around lake
Venice Beach / Boardwalk is about a mile away. It’s an eclectic beach full of hipsters and homeless people. We like the beaches in Malibu (about a 30 min drive) for a nicer, more relaxing day, but Venice has its own charm. Santa Monica starts where Venice ends. You can ride a bike up the beach path and get there in 10 minutes, or drive and it can take 5-30 minutes depending on traffic. The pier can be fun for kids, though the food is awful! There are good restaurants nearby in all price ranges. The beach is wide and beautiful. Free Thursday night Summer concerts!
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front WalkVenice Beach / Boardwalk is about a mile away. It’s an eclectic beach full of hipsters and homeless people. We like the beaches in Malibu (about a 30 min drive) for a nicer, more relaxing day, but Venice has its own charm. Santa Monica starts where Venice ends. You can ride a bike up the beach path and get there in 10 minutes, or drive and it can take 5-30 minutes depending on traffic. The pier can be fun for kids, though the food is awful! There are good restaurants nearby in all price ranges. The beach is wide and beautiful. Free Thursday night Summer concerts!
This hike is halfway between Santa Monica and Malibu. When we have friends come to town, we take them here on the first or second day; from the top, you get amazing views of downtown and a good sense of perspective of the city. There’s something about the rhythm of hiking that starts to slow the mind down a bit and allows you to have more clarity.
Insider tip This is the kind of place that really only locals know. You can walk for 20, 30 minutes and not see another person. Aim for sunrise or sunset to appreciate the view and avoid the heat.
28 locals recommend
Los Liones Canyon Trail
Los Liones Canyon TrailThis hike is halfway between Santa Monica and Malibu. When we have friends come to town, we take them here on the first or second day; from the top, you get amazing views of downtown and a good sense of perspective of the city. There’s something about the rhythm of hiking that starts to slow the mind down a bit and allows you to have more clarity.
Insider tip This is the kind of place that really only locals know. You can walk for 20, 30 minutes and not see another person. Aim for sunrise or sunset to appreciate the view and avoid the heat.
Sprint the Culver City Stairs at Kenneth Hahn Park followed by crunches at the crest of the hill for one of SoCal's best outdoor cross fit challenges.
337 locals recommend
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
6300 Hetzler RdSprint the Culver City Stairs at Kenneth Hahn Park followed by crunches at the crest of the hill for one of SoCal's best outdoor cross fit challenges.
A popular hiking trail that crosses creeks leads to this waterfall with upper & lower sections.
61 locals recommend
Escondido Falls
Escondido Canyon TrailA popular hiking trail that crosses creeks leads to this waterfall with upper & lower sections.
Beautiful new Grand Park built just a couple of blocks away from the apartment. Take a stroll, walk to the top and capture a view of downtown with City Hall being at the forefront. With its majestic views extending from the Music Center to City Hall, it provides Angelenos of all walks of life a place to relax & take in nature.
283 locals recommend
Grand Park
200 N Grand AveBeautiful new Grand Park built just a couple of blocks away from the apartment. Take a stroll, walk to the top and capture a view of downtown with City Hall being at the forefront. With its majestic views extending from the Music Center to City Hall, it provides Angelenos of all walks of life a place to relax & take in nature.
Great park adjacent to Dodger Stadium. Great spot to hike, picnic or take the kids and/or dogs.
273 locals recommend
Elysian Park
835 Academy RdGreat park adjacent to Dodger Stadium. Great spot to hike, picnic or take the kids and/or dogs.
Arts & Culture
Cool modern arts museum, they have free admission on Thursday afternoons!
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand AveCool modern arts museum, they have free admission on Thursday afternoons!
Frank Gehry-designed music hall with striking steel architecture & pristine acoustics.
1063 locals recommend
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveFrank Gehry-designed music hall with striking steel architecture & pristine acoustics.
Former tycoon's residence modeled after 1st-century Italian villa, with Greek & Roman artifacts.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyFormer tycoon's residence modeled after 1st-century Italian villa, with Greek & Roman artifacts.
Essentials
Short walk from the apartment (~.4 miles away so you can walk or drive, they have a parking lot.
514 locals recommend
CVS
1747 N Cahuenga BlvdShort walk from the apartment (~.4 miles away so you can walk or drive, they have a parking lot.
Smaller grocery store but has all the basics and good sales on alcohol and beer!
274 locals recommend
Vons
561 N Glendale AveSmaller grocery store but has all the basics and good sales on alcohol and beer!
Shopping
Trendy farmers market and high-end shopping mall features trendy retailers, restaurants & a theater amid a bustling promenade.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrTrendy farmers market and high-end shopping mall features trendy retailers, restaurants & a theater amid a bustling promenade.
Hollywood Farmers’ Market
1600 Ivar AveTrendy farmers market
As great bookstores become harder to find, this store stands strong. Home to more than 250,000 books, find your way to the book corridor—an archway of books—that’s bibliophile heaven. Bring along any old books you have to resell or donate.
324 locals recommend
The Last Bookstore
453 South Spring StreetAs great bookstores become harder to find, this store stands strong. Home to more than 250,000 books, find your way to the book corridor—an archway of books—that’s bibliophile heaven. Bring along any old books you have to resell or donate.
Sightseeing
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo DriveNice atmosphere, high street brand and fancy food. Famous street.