Guidebook for Los Angeles

Randy
Guidebook for Los Angeles

Food Scene

Great happy hour from 4 to 7 PM each day. Good brunch.
79 locals recommend
The Fat Dog
801 N Fairfax Ave
79 locals recommend
Great happy hour from 4 to 7 PM each day. Good brunch.
Best Thai food in the area.
13 locals recommend
Summer Buffalo (Melrose)
7275 Melrose Ave
13 locals recommend
Best Thai food in the area.
A bit of a scene, but excellent food and people-watching.
407 locals recommend
Laurel Hardware
7984 Santa Monica Blvd
407 locals recommend
A bit of a scene, but excellent food and people-watching.
Best seafood in the area. Weekday happy hour with food specials until 7 PM.
123 locals recommend
Connie and Ted's
8171 Santa Monica Blvd
123 locals recommend
Best seafood in the area. Weekday happy hour with food specials until 7 PM.
Only recommended for their Wednesday evening "drag queen bingo," which can be really fun.
84 locals recommend
Hamburger Mary's
8288 Santa Monica Blvd
84 locals recommend
Only recommended for their Wednesday evening "drag queen bingo," which can be really fun.
Best Middle Eastern food in the area.
147 locals recommend
Open Sesame
5215 2nd St
147 locals recommend
Best Middle Eastern food in the area.
Excellent ramen place. Kind of trendy.
130 locals recommend
Tatsu Ramen
7111 Melrose Ave
130 locals recommend
Excellent ramen place. Kind of trendy.
Level of food and service can be very mixed, but fun place to people watch. They also have a weekday evening and late night happy hour. A place to maybe visit, if you are in the area.
75 locals recommend
kitchen 24
8575 Santa Monica Blvd
75 locals recommend
Level of food and service can be very mixed, but fun place to people watch. They also have a weekday evening and late night happy hour. A place to maybe visit, if you are in the area.
Excellent Texas-style BBQ.
76 locals recommend
Bludso's Bar & Que
609 N La Brea Ave
76 locals recommend
Excellent Texas-style BBQ.
Excellent, authentic taco joint. A better place for late-night food than the pizza places (although it is a little spicy).
395 locals recommend
Guisados
1261 Sunset Blvd
395 locals recommend
Excellent, authentic taco joint. A better place for late-night food than the pizza places (although it is a little spicy).
A total scene for lunch/brunch. A very long wait on weekends, but the food is good, the portions are huge and the people-watching is fun. Might be easier to get in on a weekday morning.
212 locals recommend
The Griddle Cafe
7916 Sunset Blvd
212 locals recommend
A total scene for lunch/brunch. A very long wait on weekends, but the food is good, the portions are huge and the people-watching is fun. Might be easier to get in on a weekday morning.
Classic, "family style" Mexican restaurant, with flaming margaritas and live Mariachi band.
268 locals recommend
El Compadre
7408 Sunset Blvd
268 locals recommend
Classic, "family style" Mexican restaurant, with flaming margaritas and live Mariachi band.
Great brunch. Easier to get into than a lot of brunch places. Walking distance.
14 locals recommend
The Hart and the Hunter
14 locals recommend
Great brunch. Easier to get into than a lot of brunch places. Walking distance.
Huge farmer's market on Sunday mornings/afternoons.
242 locals recommend
Hollywood Farmers’ Market
1600 Ivar Ave
242 locals recommend
Huge farmer's market on Sunday mornings/afternoons.
Nice quiet coffee shop.
17 locals recommend
CAFE IF
7962 Fountain Avenue
17 locals recommend
Nice quiet coffee shop.

Essentials

Excellent studio for "hot yoga."
Earths Power Yoga
7901 Melrose Ave
Excellent studio for "hot yoga."
LA's most FUN "boot camp" style workout. Lower intensity than some, only 45 minutes. Fun, enthusiastic trainers.
7 locals recommend
Trainingmate
7825 Santa Monica Blvd
7 locals recommend
LA's most FUN "boot camp" style workout. Lower intensity than some, only 45 minutes. Fun, enthusiastic trainers.
Closest Trader Joe's. Inexpensive, unique grocery store. Great wine selection.
1811 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
11976 Ventura Blvd
1811 locals recommend
Closest Trader Joe's. Inexpensive, unique grocery store. Great wine selection.
Expensive, but closest grocery store. Their food bar has a discount on Wednesdays.
1202 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica Blvd
1202 locals recommend
Expensive, but closest grocery store. Their food bar has a discount on Wednesdays.
Best cycle studio in the area.
18 locals recommend
Cycle House
8511 Melrose Ave
18 locals recommend
Best cycle studio in the area.
Very nice modern gym. Great selection of fitness classes.
63 locals recommend
Crunch Fitness - Sunset
8000 Sunset Blvd
63 locals recommend
Very nice modern gym. Great selection of fitness classes.
No frills corporate gym. Not the greatest, but if you have a membership, this is the closest location.
223 locals recommend
24 Hour Fitness
8612 Santa Monica Blvd
223 locals recommend
No frills corporate gym. Not the greatest, but if you have a membership, this is the closest location.
One of the first "boot camp" style workouts in LA, and one of the best. Try Astrid, or Chris Tye-Walker's classes.
14 locals recommend
Barry's Bootcamp
8383 N La Cienega Blvd
14 locals recommend
One of the first "boot camp" style workouts in LA, and one of the best. Try Astrid, or Chris Tye-Walker's classes.
Seriously well-run Crossfit gym (if that is your thing). Walking distance.
18 locals recommend
Brick Fitness Los Angeles
7811 Santa Monica Blvd
18 locals recommend
Seriously well-run Crossfit gym (if that is your thing). Walking distance.
Nicest "corporate" grocery store in the area. This is a fancy "Safeway."
356 locals recommend
Pavilions
727 Vine St
356 locals recommend
Nicest "corporate" grocery store in the area. This is a fancy "Safeway."
I've never been here, and I understand it is a bit pricey, but I've also heard and read that this is one of the best day spas in the area. http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gendarmerie-boutique-and-spa-
Gendarme Atelier + Spa
9069 Nemo Street
I've never been here, and I understand it is a bit pricey, but I've also heard and read that this is one of the best day spas in the area. http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gendarmerie-boutique-and-spa-
Fantastic selection of beer, wine and spirits (and everything to go with them).
44 locals recommend
BevMo!
7100 Santa Monica Blvd
44 locals recommend
Fantastic selection of beer, wine and spirits (and everything to go with them).
Monday mornings. Small Farmer's market.
9 locals recommend
Helen Albert Certified Farmers' Market
1200 N Vista St
9 locals recommend
Monday mornings. Small Farmer's market.
Closest drugstore.
114 locals recommend
CVS
8985 Venice Blvd.
114 locals recommend
Closest drugstore.

Drinks & Nightlife

"The world's most famous bar." Touristy, and often crowded, but a fun place to visit.
471 locals recommend
The Abbey
692 N Robertson Blvd
471 locals recommend
"The world's most famous bar." Touristy, and often crowded, but a fun place to visit.
No frills, gay sports bar. Cheap "2 for 1" happy hour until 9 PM on weekdays.
7 locals recommend
Gym Sportsbar
7 locals recommend
No frills, gay sports bar. Cheap "2 for 1" happy hour until 9 PM on weekdays.
Saturday night "80's" night is fun. Gay bar.
24 locals recommend
Revolver Video Bar
8851 Santa Monica Blvd
24 locals recommend
Saturday night "80's" night is fun. Gay bar.
Fun gay dive bar.
10 locals recommend
Mother Lode
8944 Santa Monica Blvd
10 locals recommend
Fun gay dive bar.
Dark gay bar with go-go dancers. "Mike and Teddy comedy hour" on Fridays at 8 PM can be very fun (free).
19 locals recommend
Fubar
7994 Santa Monica Blvd
19 locals recommend
Dark gay bar with go-go dancers. "Mike and Teddy comedy hour" on Fridays at 8 PM can be very fun (free).
Wine bar in West Hollywood with fantastic atmosphere. A bit pricey, but try their "$8 open bottle" night on Mondays, where you can try more expensive wines at $8 a glass.
12 locals recommend
V Wine Room
903 Westbourne Dr
12 locals recommend
Wine bar in West Hollywood with fantastic atmosphere. A bit pricey, but try their "$8 open bottle" night on Mondays, where you can try more expensive wines at $8 a glass.
Famous comedians.
110 locals recommend
Hollywood Improv
8162 Melrose Ave
110 locals recommend
Famous comedians.
Cool bar, great atmosphere, many beers on tap. Great pub food menu, at reasonable prices.
26 locals recommend
Snake Pit Alehouse Whiskey Bar & Kitchen
7529 Melrose Ave
26 locals recommend
Cool bar, great atmosphere, many beers on tap. Great pub food menu, at reasonable prices.

Arts & Culture

Gorgeous library. A great place to hang out, or work.
47 locals recommend
West Hollywood Library
625 N San Vicente Blvd
47 locals recommend
Gorgeous library. A great place to hang out, or work.
World famous theater on Hollywood Blvd. Celebrity handprints, one of the best auditoriums in the city.
1423 locals recommend
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood Blvd
1423 locals recommend
World famous theater on Hollywood Blvd. Celebrity handprints, one of the best auditoriums in the city.
Closest multi-plex movie theater, with assigned seating. A bit pricey (but most movie theaters in the city are).
134 locals recommend
Pacific Theatres at The Grove
189 The Grove Dr
134 locals recommend
Closest multi-plex movie theater, with assigned seating. A bit pricey (but most movie theaters in the city are).
Famous comedians.
318 locals recommend
Laugh Factory
151 S Pine Ave
318 locals recommend
Famous comedians.
World class art museum.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd
3162 locals recommend
World class art museum.

Parks & Nature

A unique public park, which includes a mansion, garden, and enormous park space. Lots of movies filmed here. Check their web site for hours and other info: http://www.beverlyhills.org/exploring/gre
96 locals recommend
Greystone Mansion and Park
905 Loma Vista Dr
96 locals recommend
A unique public park, which includes a mansion, garden, and enormous park space. Lots of movies filmed here. Check their web site for hours and other info: http://www.beverlyhills.org/exploring/gre
Great hiking, with fantastic views of the city.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller Ave
2445 locals recommend
Great hiking, with fantastic views of the city.
Great view of DTLA and the Hollywood Sign.
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd
4367 locals recommend
Great view of DTLA and the Hollywood Sign.

Shopping

Closest mall, outdoors, with a movie theater, Apple Store, clothing stores, etc.. Can be crowded at times, but the setting and decor are very fun. Try the food stalls in the "farmer's market" section.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr
2581 locals recommend
Closest mall, outdoors, with a movie theater, Apple Store, clothing stores, etc.. Can be crowded at times, but the setting and decor are very fun. Try the food stalls in the "farmer's market" section.
Closest Target.
726 locals recommend
Target
735 S Figueroa St
726 locals recommend
Closest Target.
Largest mall in the area. Indoor, three stories. Macy's, clothing stores, etc..
1266 locals recommend
Beverly Center
8500 Beverly Blvd
1266 locals recommend
Largest mall in the area. Indoor, three stories. Macy's, clothing stores, etc..
Large, trendy, outdoor mall with AMC movie theater, shops, restaurants and food court.
372 locals recommend
Westfield Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
372 locals recommend
Large, trendy, outdoor mall with AMC movie theater, shops, restaurants and food court.

Sightseeing

Famous Hollywood Blvd, with celebrity stars. Something one has to see at least once, if visiting Hollywood. Very touristy.
1913 locals recommend
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset Blvd
1913 locals recommend
Famous Hollywood Blvd, with celebrity stars. Something one has to see at least once, if visiting Hollywood. Very touristy.
Touristy, but fun to walk the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (location on map is WRONG, try south of Santa Monica Blvd).
200 locals recommend
North Rodeo Drive
North Rodeo Drive
200 locals recommend
Touristy, but fun to walk the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (location on map is WRONG, try south of Santa Monica Blvd).