Guidebook for Los Angeles
Drinks & Nightlife
Great British-Style Gastro Pub with busy atmosphere and superb, hearty menu.
125 locals recommend
The Village Idiot
7383 Melrose AveGreat British-Style Gastro Pub with busy atmosphere and superb, hearty menu.
Hidden but really well done vintage inspired bar/speakeasy with really unusual cocktails. Very cute inside usually quiet but gets really busy on Fri+Sat. They open at 5pm and go until late....
56 locals recommend
Harlowe Bar
7321 Santa Monica BlvdHidden but really well done vintage inspired bar/speakeasy with really unusual cocktails. Very cute inside usually quiet but gets really busy on Fri+Sat. They open at 5pm and go until late....
Rustic vintage style cocktail den that is open all day until late. Gets busy at night so grab a stool, table or booth early. Food is OK, nothing great but the cocktail are very good and reasonably priced (for LA).
88 locals recommend
Melrose Umbrella Co.
7465 Melrose AveRustic vintage style cocktail den that is open all day until late. Gets busy at night so grab a stool, table or booth early. Food is OK, nothing great but the cocktail are very good and reasonably priced (for LA).
Food Scene
Cute French neighborhood cafe and patisserie serving breakfast lunch and dinner. Real french pastries and the deserts are incredible.
12 locals recommend
Maison Richard
707 North Stanley AvenueCute French neighborhood cafe and patisserie serving breakfast lunch and dinner. Real french pastries and the deserts are incredible.
Beautiful new eatery and bar from the founders of Laurel Hardware. Pricey but beautiful atmosphere and decor.
137 locals recommend
Ysabel
945 N Fairfax AveBeautiful new eatery and bar from the founders of Laurel Hardware. Pricey but beautiful atmosphere and decor.
Some of the best coffe in LA, perfect for aficionados but yet still a laidback and unpretentious atmosphere.
176 locals recommend
Coffee Commissary
801 N Fairfax AveSome of the best coffe in LA, perfect for aficionados but yet still a laidback and unpretentious atmosphere.
Starbucks
7624 Melrose AveNothing new here but less than two minutes walk ;)
Real West hollywood hotspot, that used to be a Hardware store, now converted to in to one of LA's best Bars and restaurants. Young crowd and excellent food. Also now do brunch.
407 locals recommend
Laurel Hardware
7984 Santa Monica BlvdReal West hollywood hotspot, that used to be a Hardware store, now converted to in to one of LA's best Bars and restaurants. Young crowd and excellent food. Also now do brunch.
Brand new, high end vegetarian restaurant in a chic setting. Food is expensive but good. Less than 90 seconds walk from the house! Their sister restaurant Wolf - (for the Meatasaurus) is right next door.
Tacos Lobos
7661 Melrose AveBrand new, high end vegetarian restaurant in a chic setting. Food is expensive but good. Less than 90 seconds walk from the house! Their sister restaurant Wolf - (for the Meatasaurus) is right next door.
Brand new High end cafe/restaurant that mainly focusses on meat dishes. Apparently very good food but not cheap. 90 seconds walk from the house and is next door to their new sister Vegetarian restaurant, Beefsteak.
16 locals recommend
Wolf
7661 Melrose AveBrand new High end cafe/restaurant that mainly focusses on meat dishes. Apparently very good food but not cheap. 90 seconds walk from the house and is next door to their new sister Vegetarian restaurant, Beefsteak.
An LA classic. mid priced, but very good food and drinks in a loud and buzzy, classy diner-meets divebar meets rock and roll restaurant. Serve food until late and also deliver.
181 locals recommend
Jones Hollywood
7205 Santa Monica BlvdAn LA classic. mid priced, but very good food and drinks in a loud and buzzy, classy diner-meets divebar meets rock and roll restaurant. Serve food until late and also deliver.
Artisan and fun pizza restaurant that only uses wood to cook all the stone oven pizzas. Really interesting menu that changes daily and this is walking distance. Also do take out in 15 mins.
28 locals recommend
Pitfire Artisan Pizza
Artisan and fun pizza restaurant that only uses wood to cook all the stone oven pizzas. Really interesting menu that changes daily and this is walking distance. Also do take out in 15 mins.
Upscale yet cozy restaurant with an incredible wine list and live jazz most evenings. Has a little balcony overlooking Melrose ave or a cute private patio out back.
22 locals recommend
Vinoteque
7469 Melrose AvenueUpscale yet cozy restaurant with an incredible wine list and live jazz most evenings. Has a little balcony overlooking Melrose ave or a cute private patio out back.
Cute outdoor seating restaurant serving tapas style dishes. Have to walk through a grilled cheese cafe to get to it but otherwise charming.
15 locals recommend
Maré
7465 Melrose AvenueCute outdoor seating restaurant serving tapas style dishes. Have to walk through a grilled cheese cafe to get to it but otherwise charming.
Casual and well priced (especially happy hour) local eatery and bar. Nothing super special, just good bites and indoor/outdoor seating.
79 locals recommend
The Fat Dog
801 N Fairfax AveCasual and well priced (especially happy hour) local eatery and bar. Nothing super special, just good bites and indoor/outdoor seating.
Really great dinner spot with both indoor and outdoor seating, right on melrose. The food is great as is the wine and cocktail list. Serve brunch but it seems the food suits dinner better and the ambiance is much more special at night.
15 locals recommend
Spartina
7505 Melrose AveReally great dinner spot with both indoor and outdoor seating, right on melrose. The food is great as is the wine and cocktail list. Serve brunch but it seems the food suits dinner better and the ambiance is much more special at night.
Ludo Lefebvre (he of top chef fame) acclaimed and highly rated restaurant with exquisite but fairly expensive food that is always inventive.
29 locals recommend
Trois Mec
716 N Highland AveLudo Lefebvre (he of top chef fame) acclaimed and highly rated restaurant with exquisite but fairly expensive food that is always inventive.
Everything Else
Fantastic independent Wine shop curating wines fro all over the world at all price points. tastings held here weekly!
8 locals recommend
Domaine LA
6801 Melrose AveFantastic independent Wine shop curating wines fro all over the world at all price points. tastings held here weekly!
Shopping
One of the largest shopping complexes in LA, with everything from multiscreen imax theater, to Nordstroms and Barnes and Noble, to the famous farmers market (open daily) and over 80 places to eat.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrOne of the largest shopping complexes in LA, with everything from multiscreen imax theater, to Nordstroms and Barnes and Noble, to the famous farmers market (open daily) and over 80 places to eat.
The hotspot in LA for the cool designers; Isabel Marant, Bottega Veneta, Monique Lhuillier, The Row, The Line, Oscar De La Renta, Anya Hyndmarch (coming in Nov 2016), Diesel, Moon Juice, Alfred Coffee, Waterworks etc.
168 locals recommend
Melrose Place
Melrose PlaceThe hotspot in LA for the cool designers; Isabel Marant, Bottega Veneta, Monique Lhuillier, The Row, The Line, Oscar De La Renta, Anya Hyndmarch (coming in Nov 2016), Diesel, Moon Juice, Alfred Coffee, Waterworks etc.
Essentials
Large Organic, natural and gourmet grocery store, food market and deli. Expensive but good quality.
1202 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica BlvdLarge Organic, natural and gourmet grocery store, food market and deli. Expensive but good quality.
7-Eleven
3975 Wilshire BlvdBasic, but open 24 hours and has a little of everything.
Sightseeing
The hollywood sign! You can't actually get right to the letters, but you can go just above and below them and the views are fantastic. Please note, you now cannot drive up there on the Sat or Sun as the area is now controlled for resident parking.
557 locals recommend
Hollywood Sign
The hollywood sign! You can't actually get right to the letters, but you can go just above and below them and the views are fantastic. Please note, you now cannot drive up there on the Sat or Sun as the area is now controlled for resident parking.
A real architectural gem with spectacular views. This is where they filmed Jimmy Dean in the knife fight in Rebel Without a Cause. The observatory itself has a great planetarium show (tickets only available on the day, first come first serve and only up to two hours in advance for each sitting). Tip: You can either park down in Griffith park parking (along the street such as Fern Dell) or you can park at the Hollywood sign parking and walk as if you're going to the Hollywood sign but then take the large fork to the right for a long walk all the way to Griffith. Don't attempt this close to sundown!!!! It gets dark, real quick!
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdA real architectural gem with spectacular views. This is where they filmed Jimmy Dean in the knife fight in Rebel Without a Cause. The observatory itself has a great planetarium show (tickets only available on the day, first come first serve and only up to two hours in advance for each sitting). Tip: You can either park down in Griffith park parking (along the street such as Fern Dell) or you can park at the Hollywood sign parking and walk as if you're going to the Hollywood sign but then take the large fork to the right for a long walk all the way to Griffith. Don't attempt this close to sundown!!!! It gets dark, real quick!
Parks & Nature
Tons of trails, both flat and steep and picnic areas with tables. Not the most stunning park in terms of nature, but definitely worth it and the views are incredible if you walk up to the observatory. TIP: There's a great cafe called The Trails If you want a snack, and their pie slices are amazing.
898 locals recommend
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs DriveTons of trails, both flat and steep and picnic areas with tables. Not the most stunning park in terms of nature, but definitely worth it and the views are incredible if you walk up to the observatory. TIP: There's a great cafe called The Trails If you want a snack, and their pie slices are amazing.