Review: The Beverly Hilton
Check in to one of our favourite hotels in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo: Blue Plate Oysterette
This Santa Monica seafood gem has a distinctly east coast feel. Munch on a lobster roll (straight from Maine) paired with a glass of bubbly... Read more
Restaurants
This music emporium features rows and rows of aisle upon aisle of vinyls, DVDs, videos and CDs – a whopping 500,000 of the latter. It’s... Read more
Arts & Culture
While still a Hyatt property, this comfortable, upscale hotel has undergone the boutiquey Andaz treatment to remove any evidence of its previous... Read more
The vibe at the Avalon is mid-century modern meets SoCal, complete with monthly villa rentals.... Read more
This glamorous watering hole in Hollywood Hills fixture the Chateau Marmont attracts the celebrity set every night of the week.
This eight-acre complex in Santa Monica houses contemporary art galleries, the Santa Monica Museum of Art, architecture and design firms,... Read more
Arts & Culture
Photo: Robert Miller
This renovated historic property has locals flocking to the outdoor cabanas and two restaurants, making it the perfect spot to people-watch.... Read more
Beside the Pantages Theatre, Bob’s Frolic Room is like a Hollywood movie-set version of an old Hollywood bar. Look for the portrait... Read more
Bars
L.A.’s premier jazz venue attracts both the heavy hitters and the up-and-comers.
Restaurants | Bars
This Hollywood institution, built in 1927 and modelled loosely after a Loire Valley chateau, is as historic as L.A. gets. It’s survived... Read more
On warm summer nights, this famous cemetery is transformed into an outdoor theatre. Bring a picnic dinner and watch a classic Hollywood film... Read more
Arts & Culture
Founded in 1972 by comedians Sammy Shore and Rudy DeLuca, this historic club boasts a star-studded alum roster including the likes of Jerry... Read more
Arts & Culture
The menu has all the hallmarks of an authentic brasserie, with beautifully prepared, classic French fare like bouillabaisse, duck confit and... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Hayley Murphy
Dusty’s Bistro, opened by a Montreal family – the DiSalvios – is upscale, but nonetheless has poutine on the menu. The bacon-braised... Read more
Restaurants
When carbo loading is a delicious necessity, you will be forever grateful for the ridiculously cheap Hollenbeck burrito at El Tepeyac: a saucy,... Read more
The new architectural focal point of downtown, this exceptional performance venue was designed by starchitect Frank Gehry.
Arts & Culture
Frysmith offers top-notch traditional chili cheese fries but also takes its cue from food trucks like Kogi or Nom Nom (Vietnamese tacos) by... Read more
Restaurants
This mid-sized theatrical venue offers a mix of new works and local premieres.
Arts & Culture
Los Angeles International Airport is located 24 kilometres southwest of downtown L.A., 38 kilometres southwest of Hollywood and 21 kilometres south of Santa Monica. Taxis and shuttles can be found outside baggage claim. Public transportation is also available, but it’s more difficult to navigate and not recommended for the uninitiated.
This museum complex is perched on a hill with remarkable panoramic views of L.A. and the Santa Monica coastline. There are four two-level... Read more
Arts & Culture
This intimate open-air theatre is at the base of Griffith Park in the Los Feliz neighbourhood of L.A. State-of-the-art acoustics and well-conceived... Read more
Arts & Culture
This is one of the largest city parks in the U.S., with panoramic views of the city. On a rainy day, the observatory – with its astronomy... Read more
From Voluspa candles to Butter nail polishes to jewelry, baby bibs, books and hilarious gift cards, this 5,000-square-foot store is packed... Read more
Arts & Culture
It’s hard not to confuse this futuristic BP service centre with the Walt Disney Concert Hall. And while the bathroom’s farmed-bamboo... Read more
Movie buffs, this is your place. Come for movie stills, movie posters, film scripts and… lucha libre masks. What’s an entertainment... Read more
Arts & Culture
A classic. This amphitheatre nestled into the Hollywood Hills has been hosting concerts every summer since 1922.
Arts & Culture
A favourite of fashion icons Mena Suvari, Kristin Cavalari and Kanye West, Intermix carries an exclusive selection of high-class threads (Hervé... Read more
Arts & Culture
Jeonju is a city in Cholla province of Korea, but this place is an inexpensive restaurant in L.A.’s Koreatown that’s popular for... Read more
Here you’ll find rice, beans and rice cakes, a starchy Korean staple. The owner, James Kim, might stop you to tell stories of his grandfather,... Read more
Photo: Eric Shin
The Kogi BBQ truck is the standard bearer of the new age of L.A. food trucks. Its signature fare of tacos and burritos, filled with Korean... Read more
Restaurants
This outdoor venue opened in 2008 and includes a theatre, cinemas, restaurants and hotels all contained within one walkable district of d... Read more
Arts & Culture
Monday nights at this club are when everyone tries out new material. For $5 yoou could see the next Sarah Silverman, Brian Posehn and Louis... Read more
Arts & Culture
Owner Leanne Lurie uses Dr. Alkaitis products, which are so natural, you could actually eat them. Her philosophy is, if a product’s... Read more
Owner Leanne Lurie uses Dr. Alkaitis products, which are so natural, you could actually eat them. Her philosophy is, if a product’s... Read more
Arts & Culture
This fresh estate of Bel-Air attracts A-list movie stars and discreet travellers wanting an airy retreat with a laid-back, West Coast vibe.... Read more
Tucked into a bright, plain corner, Ma Dang Gook Soo is one of the most popular places in Koreatown for noodles, hot or cold. Order the bibimbap,... Read more
Housed in an architectural landmark built in 1922 by the Austrian architect Rudolph Schindler, the MAK Center hosts a variety of avant-garde... Read more
Arts & Culture
Held on the third Saturday of the month with a slightly different focus each time, this is your chance to see some of the most exciting art... Read more
Arts & Culture
The specialty of this Korean restaurant in the same mall as Ma Dang Gook Soo is pork belly, likely one of the most delicious foods known... Read more
Restaurants
At this sawdust-floored sandwich shop and putative birthplace of the French dipped sandwich, when you want your sandwich completely immersed... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Sunday Williams
The city’s most legendary hot dog stand. To eat at Pink’s is to taste L.A. at its most democratic. Founded in 1939 by Paul Pink... Read more
Restaurants
L.A.’s metro trains are clean and easy to navigate, but the lines are limited. Red Rapid buses have extensive routes and make fewer stops than local buses. Day passes for trains and buses are $5, and a single fare will run you $1.25. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines located in all train stations.
Head to Randy’s Donuts for a quick coffee and cruller, just to stand in the shadow of Randy’s 32 1⁄2-foot-high doughnut... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
With its laid-back atmosphere and hearty menu, this cozy, casual space in Silver Lake hipsterville quickly became a neighbourhood favourite.... Read more
Restaurants
With its Old Hollywood vibe – Canadian actress Mary Pickford was an original investor and Marilyn Monroe lived here for two years –... Read more
A Hollywood staple for over 30 years, the Roxy still brings in a respectable lineup of music acts.
An amazing vintage shop, Shareen’s has floor-to-ceiling racks of clothes – hats, gloves, gowns and uniforms – from different... Read more
Arts & Culture
It is true that you will leave Soot Bull Jeep smelling like you’ve been to a bonfire celebrating smokers’ rights, but you will... Read more
Restaurants
This world-class surfing destination by the Malibu Pier is also an excellent place for novice surfers to build their skills.
It’s nearly impossible to hail a taxi in the city. You’ll want to call the Los Angeles Taxi Service in advance from your hotel or restaurant to arrange for a pickup. Limousines: The cost of hiring a limo and driver ranges from $50 to $60 an hour and most require a three- to four-hour minimum plus a tip.
This unusual venue is home to a theatre company co-founded by Tim Robbins in the 1980s. Performances tend to be hard-edged and often politically... Read more
Arts & Culture
Photo: Jeroen Elfferich
With its screen doors and red leatherette seats, the Apple Pan has the feeling of a country wayside kitchen. They serve sodas in old-fashioned... Read more
Restaurants
The Buttermilk Truck is known for its pancakes, but this cheery vehicle also deals in breakfast biscuit sandwiches served alongside savoury... Read more
Restaurants
The mecca for classic cocktail and lounge music. Our tip: Order a whiskey sour and stay to hear legendary duo Elayne and Marty do an unforgettable... Read more
Bars
We love this Santa Monica-situated, modern take on the beach hotel – from the stingray-skin-covered front desk to the penthouse-level... Read more
As its name suggests, this hotel mixes London’s quirky cool with the laid-back feel of L.A. Just look at its mascot, Garbanzo the English... Read more
Ensconced at the corner of Rose and Lincoln in Santa Monica, the Oaxaquena does not have a high-concept logo; nor does it (yet) have a Twitter... Read more
Restaurants
The hotel is on Wilshire Boulevard, just two blocks from the retail addicts’ heaven of Rodeo Drive. Schmooze with Hollywood A-listers... Read more
While some may claim they are not authentically Mexican, Tito’s Tacos specializes in the kind of taco that is indigenous to California,... Read more
Restaurants
With roots in sketch, the UCB’s L.A. and NYC theatres are also home to quite a few stand-up acts. With affordable covers and none of... Read more
Arts & Culture
A meal at this Japanese restaurant will result in a pretty steep tab, even for Rodeo Drive, but what it buys you is some of the best sushi... Read more
Restaurants
This restaurant specializes in organic coffee, but with dishes like bread pudding for breakfast and a nori plum rice wrap for lunch, it has... Read more
Restaurants
The newest addition to the Celestino Drago culinary empire – this one helmed by brothers Tanino and Giacomino – is one of the... Read more
Restaurants
This is the place of rock lore. The Doors were once the house act, but these days you’re more likely to catch a tribute band.
Treat yourself to a Korean pastry: an impossibly soft, silky combination of pastry chef expertise and Hostess ridiculousness – which... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
Once the home of cowboy philosopher, writer and trick roper Will Rogers, this 186-acre park offers a number of pleasant hikes with ocean views... Read more
Zankou’s rotisserie chicken is the most delectable bird imaginable and what everyone in the chicken game should aspire to: moist but... Read more
Restaurants
Check in to one of our favourite hotels in Beverly Hills, California.
In California's Napa Valley, Kathryn Borel meets a crop of young insiders who are pushing the wine business forward alongside family and friends – without any sour grapes.
Check in to one of our favourite hotels in Calistoga, California.

