Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Always busy and a great scene. Great food. Not cheap, but not terribly expensive. Sweet garden outback for some nice outdoor seating.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdAlways busy and a great scene. Great food. Not cheap, but not terribly expensive. Sweet garden outback for some nice outdoor seating.
This place is incredible and serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Wonderful breads, pastries, sandwiches, breakfast. Best baguette in LA. Take-out or outdoor seating only. REALLY crowded on weekends. Take a number and wait your turn. Average price of a meal is probably around $15 (without a beverage). This is one of our favorite places in all of Los Angeles. I’d give you our favorites on the menu, but there are just too many. There’s no real sign out front… just a white brick building across from Gold’s Gym. You’ll see a cobblestone parking lot and generally people hanging around outside.
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset AveThis place is incredible and serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Wonderful breads, pastries, sandwiches, breakfast. Best baguette in LA. Take-out or outdoor seating only. REALLY crowded on weekends. Take a number and wait your turn. Average price of a meal is probably around $15 (without a beverage). This is one of our favorite places in all of Los Angeles. I’d give you our favorites on the menu, but there are just too many. There’s no real sign out front… just a white brick building across from Gold’s Gym. You’ll see a cobblestone parking lot and generally people hanging around outside.
Great barbecue – lunch or dinner. During the lunch hours that have a great lunch special for $10 (sandwich, side, and a drink) but only Monday through Friday. Really good ribs, pulled-pork and brisket.
154 locals recommend
Baby Blues BBQ - Venice
444 Lincoln BlvdGreat barbecue – lunch or dinner. During the lunch hours that have a great lunch special for $10 (sandwich, side, and a drink) but only Monday through Friday. Really good ribs, pulled-pork and brisket.
Mostly communal tables to eat sausages and drink beer. Really good and inexpensive. Vegetarian sausages, too, which are, I’m told, excellent. GREAT fries, nice beer selection. Fun (young) bar crowd.
243 locals recommend
Wurstküche Restaurant Venice Beach
625 Lincoln BlvdMostly communal tables to eat sausages and drink beer. Really good and inexpensive. Vegetarian sausages, too, which are, I’m told, excellent. GREAT fries, nice beer selection. Fun (young) bar crowd.
Right across the street from Baby Blues, this place is more about the wood and the dry rubs. Good for lunch, or dinner and a fantastic brunch on the weekends. Or just a beer and some chips. AMAZING ribs and wings. Not cheap, but not too $$$ either.
76 locals recommend
Clutch
427 Lincoln BlvdRight across the street from Baby Blues, this place is more about the wood and the dry rubs. Good for lunch, or dinner and a fantastic brunch on the weekends. Or just a beer and some chips. AMAZING ribs and wings. Not cheap, but not too $$$ either.
Fantastic breakfast joint. Open from 7AM ‘til 2PM every day. Good coffee, great scrambles and pancakes. Try the Garbage Omelet with a side of roast potatoes. Perfect hangover food. Gets crowded on the weekends.
52 locals recommend
Maxwell's Cafe
13329 Washington BlvdFantastic breakfast joint. Open from 7AM ‘til 2PM every day. Good coffee, great scrambles and pancakes. Try the Garbage Omelet with a side of roast potatoes. Perfect hangover food. Gets crowded on the weekends.
Beauty vibe. Reasonable breakfast in comparison to the other restaurants around. Very Casual with some fun shops nearby.
174 locals recommend
Flake
513 Rose AveBeauty vibe. Reasonable breakfast in comparison to the other restaurants around. Very Casual with some fun shops nearby.
Fresh juices and nice healthy options on Abbot Kinney. Has a mediterranean slant to the food.
113 locals recommend
Kreation Organic Kafe & Juicery
1202 Abbot Kinney BlvdFresh juices and nice healthy options on Abbot Kinney. Has a mediterranean slant to the food.
This is just a few minutes walk form the house... less than 5. Good breakfast, lunch, dinner, pastries, coffee and a good scene to be a part of. Very casual.
320 locals recommend
Superba Food + Bread
1900 Lincoln BlvdThis is just a few minutes walk form the house... less than 5. Good breakfast, lunch, dinner, pastries, coffee and a good scene to be a part of. Very casual.
Right by the Venice boardwalk. Hip coffee shop with baristas who take the coffee very seriously but the coffee is some of the best. Some great nutella twist pastries too.
131 locals recommend
Menotti's Coffee Stop
56 Windward AveRight by the Venice boardwalk. Hip coffee shop with baristas who take the coffee very seriously but the coffee is some of the best. Some great nutella twist pastries too.
A few minutes walk from the house. Good coffee and sort of gift shop too. Pastries are limited and mediocre at best.
26 locals recommend
Flowerboy Project
816 Lincoln BlvdA few minutes walk from the house. Good coffee and sort of gift shop too. Pastries are limited and mediocre at best.
Donuts. The Apple Fritter is the best. But ask if anything is warm and get that. They will tell you everything is fresh --which it is... but the warm ones are always the best. Donuts run you $4.
51 locals recommend
Blue Star Donuts
1142 Abbot Kinney BlvdDonuts. The Apple Fritter is the best. But ask if anything is warm and get that. They will tell you everything is fresh --which it is... but the warm ones are always the best. Donuts run you $4.
Blue Bottle Coffee
1103 Abbot Kinney BlvdMore great coffee on Abbot Kinney.
This coffee shop on Abbot Kinney is a good one to hang out in. Lots of good people watching, great coffee, and pastries are generally great too.
394 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Venice Coffeebar
1331 Abbot Kinney BlvdThis coffee shop on Abbot Kinney is a good one to hang out in. Lots of good people watching, great coffee, and pastries are generally great too.
Great restaurant on Abbot Kinney with a hard to read menu. Good little bar with great cocktails too.
395 locals recommend
The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney BlvdGreat restaurant on Abbot Kinney with a hard to read menu. Good little bar with great cocktails too.
Ice Cream - Always a line. Sea Salt and Carmel is the top flavor. Just try it.
189 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
1357 Abbot Kinney BlvdIce Cream - Always a line. Sea Salt and Carmel is the top flavor. Just try it.
Healthy restaurant on Abbot Kinney with good vegetarian and some vegan options too. Nice scene too.
175 locals recommend
The Butcher's Daughter
1205 Abbot Kinney BoulevardHealthy restaurant on Abbot Kinney with good vegetarian and some vegan options too. Nice scene too.
More Ice Cream. This one is always a treat for your tastebuds. All the flavors. It's hard to choose.
34 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
540 Rose AveMore Ice Cream. This one is always a treat for your tastebuds. All the flavors. It's hard to choose.
Good salads on Abbot Kinney. Casual and mostly affordable.
14 locals recommend
Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails
1239 Abbot Kinney BoulevardGood salads on Abbot Kinney. Casual and mostly affordable.
Hama Restaurant
213 Windward AveGreat sushi in Venice.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great vibe. Great for beers and some mexican food. It's a fun place at all hours for all ages.
181 locals recommend
Cerveteca
523 Rose AveGreat vibe. Great for beers and some mexican food. It's a fun place at all hours for all ages.
Wine Bar on Abbot Kinney with outdoor seating. A nice vibe for a glass of wine anytime of day. The food is fine but won't rock your world.
251 locals recommend
Zinqué
1440 Lincoln BlvdWine Bar on Abbot Kinney with outdoor seating. A nice vibe for a glass of wine anytime of day. The food is fine but won't rock your world.
It's very much a hollywood institution. Great bar and also a great place for a brunch outdoors.
353 locals recommend
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset BlvdIt's very much a hollywood institution. Great bar and also a great place for a brunch outdoors.
A restaurant and bar in the Marina with a younger, lively crowd. Food is good too.
260 locals recommend
Scopa Italian Roots
2905 Washington BlvdA restaurant and bar in the Marina with a younger, lively crowd. Food is good too.
Rooftop bar of a hotel in Venice. Fun outdoor seating with a beachy, young, vibe. Right off the boardwalk.
248 locals recommend
Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific AveRooftop bar of a hotel in Venice. Fun outdoor seating with a beachy, young, vibe. Right off the boardwalk.
Beachfront and somewhat divey. Always crowded. Very casual. Good selection of beers. Lots of craft beers.
321 locals recommend
The Commons Ale House
129 BroadwayBeachfront and somewhat divey. Always crowded. Very casual. Good selection of beers. Lots of craft beers.
The Brig
1515 Abbot Kinney BlvdOld Bar on Abbot Kinney that's been around for awhile. Younger crowd.
Essentials
Grocery store - Health foods with lots of prepared take away options.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdGrocery store - Health foods with lots of prepared take away options.
Standard grocery store just a 5 minute walk away with all your basic needs.
583 locals recommend
Ralphs
910 Lincoln BlvdStandard grocery store just a 5 minute walk away with all your basic needs.
Shopping
Clothing, Housewares, Gifts, etc. Really cute store with lots of fun items that aren't cheap, but it's nicely curated and a 5 minute walk away.
59 locals recommend
General Store
1801 Lincoln BlvdClothing, Housewares, Gifts, etc. Really cute store with lots of fun items that aren't cheap, but it's nicely curated and a 5 minute walk away.
Mostly Japanese items but very well curated. Everything is beautiful and perfect.
39 locals recommend
Tortoise General Store
12701 Venice Blvd.Mostly Japanese items but very well curated. Everything is beautiful and perfect.
Very expensive but very California sweatshirts, hoodies, and other clothing items. They have a ping pong table at the back of the store if you want to play a round.
12 locals recommend
Aviator Nation
1224 Abbot Kinney BlvdVery expensive but very California sweatshirts, hoodies, and other clothing items. They have a ping pong table at the back of the store if you want to play a round.
Burro Flagship
1409 Abbot Kinney BlvdGifts, Cards, Books, etc. Very well curated.
STAG Provisions for Men
1338 Abbot Kinney BlvdMen's clothing. Beautiful things.
Parks & Nature
If you want to drive up the coast, Malibu is wonderful. Great beaches, great surfing, great restaurants. Surfing is good-but-crowded at Surf rider, just past the pier.
El Matador Beach might be the most beautiful beach in Los Angeles. Beautiful cliffs and coves, perfect for photo ops, especially at sunset. A bit of a drive, it’s out a couple of miles past Pepperdine, and the sign is small, so look out for it. And pay the parking!
On the way to El Matador you’ll pass Cross Creek/Malibu Lumber Yard, which is a mecca of shops, restaurants, and a playground for kids. Malibu Kitchen and Country Mart has great sandwiches and other items to take to the beach. Warning: the service is terrible
580 locals recommend
Malibu
If you want to drive up the coast, Malibu is wonderful. Great beaches, great surfing, great restaurants. Surfing is good-but-crowded at Surf rider, just past the pier.
El Matador Beach might be the most beautiful beach in Los Angeles. Beautiful cliffs and coves, perfect for photo ops, especially at sunset. A bit of a drive, it’s out a couple of miles past Pepperdine, and the sign is small, so look out for it. And pay the parking!
On the way to El Matador you’ll pass Cross Creek/Malibu Lumber Yard, which is a mecca of shops, restaurants, and a playground for kids. Malibu Kitchen and Country Mart has great sandwiches and other items to take to the beach. Warning: the service is terrible
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 is a GREAT new community beach house in Santa monica with paid parking. There's a great little cafe too which might be the only place in Los Angeles where you can sit in the sand right on the waterfront and have a meal. If you have kids, it's even better because they can play in the sand while you eat and there's a playground right next to the cafe. There's also a public pool there too --- sometimes it gets crowded in the summer so you improve your chances of getting a spot (as they only allow so many people in the pool).
152 locals recommend
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast HwyThis is a GREAT new community beach house in Santa monica with paid parking. There's a great little cafe too which might be the only place in Los Angeles where you can sit in the sand right on the waterfront and have a meal. If you have kids, it's even better because they can play in the sand while you eat and there's a playground right next to the cafe. There's also a public pool there too --- sometimes it gets crowded in the summer so you improve your chances of getting a spot (as they only allow so many people in the pool).
Arts & Culture
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdAlways great exhibits.
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrBeautiful location for a museum.
The Broad
221 S Grand AveDowntown - Newer museum very modern. Always a wait. Good collection.
The Museum of Contemporary Art
250 S Grand AveAnother great museum with modern art.
http://santamonicapier.org/twilightconcerts/
Concert series in the summer! Again, crowded but fun. Really good artists.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pierhttp://santamonicapier.org/twilightconcerts/
Concert series in the summer! Again, crowded but fun. Really good artists.
Entertainment & Activities
http://dola.com/p/summer-pool-guide
Summer Pool Guide - I'm not sure what the requirements are for these pools or if you need to be guests at the hotel, etc.
195 locals recommend
W Hollywood
6250 Hollywood Blvdhttp://dola.com/p/summer-pool-guide
Summer Pool Guide - I'm not sure what the requirements are for these pools or if you need to be guests at the hotel, etc.