Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Great brunch and lunch options. Nice outdoor terrace. Situated on Rose so good place to wander and look at shops.
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose AveGreat brunch and lunch options. Nice outdoor terrace. Situated on Rose so good place to wander and look at shops.
A great breakfast, brunch and lunch spot. Also has a great bakery where I often buy our fresh loaves. Good take out pastries and coffee if you fancy a walk down Marco Place to see the old Venice houses which leads you to Abbot Kinney for more good restaurants, bars and shops. Good place with kids (we often take our son for brunch here).
320 locals recommend
Superba Food + Bread
1900 Lincoln BlvdA great breakfast, brunch and lunch spot. Also has a great bakery where I often buy our fresh loaves. Good take out pastries and coffee if you fancy a walk down Marco Place to see the old Venice houses which leads you to Abbot Kinney for more good restaurants, bars and shops. Good place with kids (we often take our son for brunch here).
Good quality pizza restaurant. Great for dining with kids (the place is full of families with children from 4-7 so avoid if this is not your thing). Casual dining. Also do take out pizzas and will deliver to us through 'ChowNow' for a small delivery charge.
168 locals recommend
Pitfire Artisan Pizza
12924 W Washington BlvdGood quality pizza restaurant. Great for dining with kids (the place is full of families with children from 4-7 so avoid if this is not your thing). Casual dining. Also do take out pizzas and will deliver to us through 'ChowNow' for a small delivery charge.
Hatchet Hall
12517 W Washington BlvdGood spot for a dinner without kids. Good cocktails.
Good burgers. More of a cafe vibe than a restaurant vibe. Most of the seating is outside so take a sweater if the weather is cool.
39 locals recommend
Humble Potato
12608 Washington BlvdGood burgers. More of a cafe vibe than a restaurant vibe. Most of the seating is outside so take a sweater if the weather is cool.
Japanese food court with multiple vendors selling noodle bowls, tempura, miso, sushi and mochi. Casual. Great place for supplies for home cooking too.
130 locals recommend
Mitsuwa Marketplace - Santa Monica
3760 S Centinela AveJapanese food court with multiple vendors selling noodle bowls, tempura, miso, sushi and mochi. Casual. Great place for supplies for home cooking too.
Probably the best coffee in the local area. Cool cafe for a coffee and a pastry/light breakfast. Eat in or take away.
185 locals recommend
Deus Ex Machina - Emporium Of Post Modern Activities
1001 Venice Blvd.Probably the best coffee in the local area. Cool cafe for a coffee and a pastry/light breakfast. Eat in or take away.
Another good coffee place. Large outdoor seating area, great for kids.
70 locals recommend
Venice Grind Coffee Company
12224 Venice BoulevardAnother good coffee place. Large outdoor seating area, great for kids.
Amazing food on the trendy Abbot Kinney Blvd. Worth a trip! Booking needed, especially at busy times. No booking for brunch so get there in good time as there is always a wait.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdAmazing food on the trendy Abbot Kinney Blvd. Worth a trip! Booking needed, especially at busy times. No booking for brunch so get there in good time as there is always a wait.
Salt & Straw
1357 Abbot Kinney BlvdVery (!!!) good ice cream with a variety of inventive flavours!
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
540 Rose AveAnother amazing ice cream place!
Good ice cream. Service was a bit off when I visited but they had just opened. They do however, do very good vegan ice cream!
42 locals recommend
Ginger's Divine Ice Creams
12550 W Washington BlvdGood ice cream. Service was a bit off when I visited but they had just opened. They do however, do very good vegan ice cream!
Drinks & Nightlife
The Corner Door
12477 Washington BlvdGreat artisan cocktails! Serves food too. Adults only ;)
Rooftop bar at Venice beach. Brilliant spot to watch the sunset with a cocktail or a beer. The cocktails can be a bit hit and miss but the view is perfect. Kids allowed in the bar until sunset. I recommend booking a table through the website if you'd like to go during your stay.
248 locals recommend
Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific AveRooftop bar at Venice beach. Brilliant spot to watch the sunset with a cocktail or a beer. The cocktails can be a bit hit and miss but the view is perfect. Kids allowed in the bar until sunset. I recommend booking a table through the website if you'd like to go during your stay.
Sightseeing
An observatory built for the people of Los Angeles. Opens to the public from 12pm most days (closed Mondays). Beautiful building with great views of the city all the way to the coast. Views of the iconic Hollywood sign. Hiking trails nearby (some short and some much longer). Interesting to look around (for adults and older children) and learn about space, astrology etc. Free entry.
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdAn observatory built for the people of Los Angeles. Opens to the public from 12pm most days (closed Mondays). Beautiful building with great views of the city all the way to the coast. Views of the iconic Hollywood sign. Hiking trails nearby (some short and some much longer). Interesting to look around (for adults and older children) and learn about space, astrology etc. Free entry.
A must see on a visit to LA, especially when you're staying this side of town. If driving you can park at Venice pier and walk down for slightly easier parking but there are plenty of parking options right at the boardwalk.
815 locals recommend
Venice Beach Boardwalk
517 Ocean Front WalkA must see on a visit to LA, especially when you're staying this side of town. If driving you can park at Venice pier and walk down for slightly easier parking but there are plenty of parking options right at the boardwalk.
The namesake of Venice. Beautiful area of cute houses lining the Venice canals. A good spot to wander with an ice cream during your Venice sights day of sightseeing.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
The namesake of Venice. Beautiful area of cute houses lining the Venice canals. A good spot to wander with an ice cream during your Venice sights day of sightseeing.
End of Route 66. Aquarium, restaurants, amusement arcades and funfair.
There are free, weekly music events on the pier in summer months.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierEnd of Route 66. Aquarium, restaurants, amusement arcades and funfair.
There are free, weekly music events on the pier in summer months.
Entertainment & Activities
Not a 'museum' per se. An interactive, sensory kids' play space on Wilshire Blvd. Parking at venue is limited but parking on surrounding streets and in parking lots nearby is readily available. Street sweeping on a Monday and Tuesday limit street parking on those days. Good for a rainy day (or a very hot day) and provides 2-4 hours of good amusement for children from 9 months to 9 years I'd say.
20 locals recommend
Zimmer Children's Museum
395 Wilshire BlvdNot a 'museum' per se. An interactive, sensory kids' play space on Wilshire Blvd. Parking at venue is limited but parking on surrounding streets and in parking lots nearby is readily available. Street sweeping on a Monday and Tuesday limit street parking on those days. Good for a rainy day (or a very hot day) and provides 2-4 hours of good amusement for children from 9 months to 9 years I'd say.
SM Airport has a viewing platform accessible through the SM airport building (2nd floor). Great place to watch flights land and take off and there is seating where you could take a picnic lunch if you have people/children in your party who will enjoy spending some time there. We often take our son there.
There is also an interesting Flying Museum which is worth a visit (local and aviation history history).
13 locals recommend
Santa Monica Airport
3233 Donald Douglas Loop SSM Airport has a viewing platform accessible through the SM airport building (2nd floor). Great place to watch flights land and take off and there is seating where you could take a picnic lunch if you have people/children in your party who will enjoy spending some time there. We often take our son there.
There is also an interesting Flying Museum which is worth a visit (local and aviation history history).
Great outdoor pool. Lane swimming and recreational swimming (the latter in the summer months only).
20 locals recommend
The Culver City Municipal Plunge
4175 Overland AveGreat outdoor pool. Lane swimming and recreational swimming (the latter in the summer months only).
Such a nice swimming pool! Lane and recreational swimming available. Very clean facilities.
73 locals recommend
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico BlvdSuch a nice swimming pool! Lane and recreational swimming available. Very clean facilities.
Outdoor pool open during the summer months only. Nearest outdoor, public pool to the house.
Mar Vista Pool
11655 Palms BlvdOutdoor pool open during the summer months only. Nearest outdoor, public pool to the house.
Arts & Culture
Stunning architecture, art galleries and gardens. Wonderful views looking towards the coast and Catalina Island. Need 2-3 hours minimum to take full advantage. Family/kid friendly.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrStunning architecture, art galleries and gardens. Wonderful views looking towards the coast and Catalina Island. Need 2-3 hours minimum to take full advantage. Family/kid friendly.
Interesting permanent exhibition on Judaism throughout the ages and throughout the world. Visiting exhibitions (see website for details). Also home to 'Noah's Ark' exhibition for children which is an exhibition/play space made from recycled materials. Fantastic for children walking upwards. Thursdays free (get there early to secure tickets).
78 locals recommend
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N Sepulveda BlvdInteresting permanent exhibition on Judaism throughout the ages and throughout the world. Visiting exhibitions (see website for details). Also home to 'Noah's Ark' exhibition for children which is an exhibition/play space made from recycled materials. Fantastic for children walking upwards. Thursdays free (get there early to secure tickets).
Shopping
Gentrified street in Venice with individually owned boutiques and chain clothes, interiors and gift stores. Some great finds to be found!
225 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney BLVD Shopping
Navarre CourtGentrified street in Venice with individually owned boutiques and chain clothes, interiors and gift stores. Some great finds to be found!
Large area of clothes stores including most of the main stores and a medium-sized Nordstrom. Lots of restaurants and cafes. Easy access to SM Pier (end of Route 66).
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeLarge area of clothes stores including most of the main stores and a medium-sized Nordstrom. Lots of restaurants and cafes. Easy access to SM Pier (end of Route 66).
The Grove
189 The Grove DrAmazing shopping mall! Outdoors.
Parks & Nature
We walk our dog up here off leash at least once a week. Only a 20 minute drive up the I-405 and with stunning views of The Valley from the trail. Loads of other hiking trails worth walking in LA but this is one we can recommend personally.
Upper Canyonback Trailhead
17024 Mulholland DrWe walk our dog up here off leash at least once a week. Only a 20 minute drive up the I-405 and with stunning views of The Valley from the trail. Loads of other hiking trails worth walking in LA but this is one we can recommend personally.
Glen Alla Park
4601 Alla RdSafe, fenced-in kids' play park.
Fenced-in kids' park within walking distance. You can also visit the Santa Monica Airport viewing platform and watch flights take off an land all day. One for plane spotters and for children. Picnic spot seating on the viewing platform.
12 locals recommend
City of Santa Monica - Airport Park
3201 Airport AveFenced-in kids' park within walking distance. You can also visit the Santa Monica Airport viewing platform and watch flights take off an land all day. One for plane spotters and for children. Picnic spot seating on the viewing platform.
The main aquarium in LA. Look into whale and dolphin watching trips from Long Beach tied to the ticket price for the winter months (main whale migrations).
806 locals recommend
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium WayThe main aquarium in LA. Look into whale and dolphin watching trips from Long Beach tied to the ticket price for the winter months (main whale migrations).