Hotel Casa Del Mar
For ocean views and beach strolls
Los Angeles
LAX
These days, Los Angeles is known as much for its beaches, sunny climes and expansive hiking trails as it is for being one of the best food cities in the U.S. But this sprawling oceanside town is forever built on paradox, with ritzy fine dining nestled right alongside street taco vendors. The smartest visitors make a point to enjoy all the disparate parts of L.A., whether it’s checking into a luxury hotel downtown, taking in city views at Kenneth Hahn Park, or ordering a round of boozy spritzes while poolside in Silverlake.
Where to Stay
Dream Hollywood
For the kitted-out fitness facilities
Silverlake Pool & Inn
For the best pool bar on the Eastside
Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
For the cinematic history
Conrad Los Angeles
For an architectural marvel
The Line L.A.
For the minimalist design
Andaz West Hollywood
For the rooftop pool
The Beverly Hills Hotel
For the Hollywood guest list
Hotel Covell
For a stylish stay
Eat & Drink
Best Bet
As the longstanding chef at Venice’s ultra-busy, uber-popular The Rose, Jason Neroni knows how to feed the masses. But his latest project, Best Bet, is a return to something more intimate, and more personal. With kitschy decor from his wife, and a menu that includes three different kinds of pizza, Best Bet’s New York-meets-Neapolitan pie sensibilities have made it an instant smash. There’s also pasta, salads and grilled meats, making this a must-try spot.
E.P. and L.P.
This West Hollywood establishment – whose name stands for “extended play, long play” – features a Mexican restaurant and a rooftop bar. At L.P., sip concoctions such as the As It Was cocktail, made with vodka, Aperol, St. Germain and pink guava. For a late-night bite, choose from chicharrones or the seabass fillet tacos with coconut lime sauce and fennel apple salad.
Dinosaur Coffee
Los Angeles has no shortage of clinically precise caffeine labs, but if you’re looking to stay awhile, this sun-filled coffee counter in Silver Lake is a cut above the rest. Dinosaur’s casual atmosphere and ample seating make it an ideal spot to feel like a local.
Bestia
Conceived by husband-and-wife duo Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, this rustic Italian go-to in the Arts District specializes in handmade pasta, pizza and charcuterie. Inside a repurposed warehouse, exposed brick walls, industrial bar stools and tan leather booths serve as the backdrop for inventive dishes like roasted bone marrow with crispy bread crumbs.
Langer’s Delicatessen and Restaurant
An Angeleno institution for over 75 years, this family-owned deli in MacArthur Park has built an international reputation as one of the world’s leading purveyors of pastrami. Sink into a well-worn vinyl booth and order the legendary #19: a mountain of hot pastrami topped with coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing served on double-baked rye.
Upstairs at Ace Hotel
Resembling an urban resort with sweeping city views, this popular spot located on the rooftop of Ace Hotel in Downtown L.A. features one bar, a concrete pool, Moroccan tile and canopy lounge chairs. Mingle with the Hollywood crowd while sipping on a Diskotek cocktail, a mixture of gin, aquavit, Chartreuse and cocoa.
Clifton’s Republic
This 47,000-square-foot dining complex originally opened in 1935. The iconic establishment reopened its doors in 2015 after a five-year, multimillion-dollar renovation and houses an art deco-style cafeteria, six bars, a ballroom and a coffee shop. Inside, you’ll find updated versions of Clifton’s original curiosities, from man-made waterfalls and wildlife murals to a faux, three-storey redwood tree.
Tacos Tumbras a Tomas
Tomas Martinez, taquero and co-owner of Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, has been serving tacos in downtown L.A.’s Grand Central Market since 1995 and is responsible for some of the best carnitas in the city. Order one of his $4 tacos and get a generous piling of tender meat on two corn tortillas (plus two extra on the side).
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What to Do
Griffith Park
This 4,210-acre reserve is home to infinite hiking trails, a swimming pool, hidden gardens, tennis courts, a candy-striped carousel and even the original Batcave. Head to the Griffith Observatory to gaze through telescopes, explore cosmic exhibits and enjoy some of the best views of the city.
The Broad
The honeycombed hive of contemporary art is the brainchild of philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad – billionaire art buyers whose private collection alone includes over 2,000 major postwar and contemporary works from artists such as Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker. Admission is free, and advance tickets to the museum’s permanent collection are available online or via the same-day standby line.
Tortoise General Store
Located in Venice Beach, the retail utopia of the Westside, this Japanese housewares store is a much-loved destination among L.A.’s design obsessives and regular locals alike. Shop the curated collection of high-end, minimalist essentials, from enamel table- and cookware to bookends and paperweights.
Santa Monica Pier
For a taste of SoCal’s coastal culture, head west on Interstate 10 toward Santa Monica State Beach. The world-famous Santa Monica Pier bisects a 5.6-kilometre stretch of sand and features a full-service amusement park, arcade games, a hands-on aquarium and a hand-carved carousel.
Amoeba Music
This Los Angeles musical landmark occupies a huge space on Hollywood and Argyle. Its collection of new and used CDs, LPs and DVDs is a collector’s paradise.
Hollywood Bowl
Why not plan your trip to L.A. around a night at the Hollywood Bowl? There’s really no better place to see and hear live music than this historic, outdoor amphitheatre smack dab in the middle of Hollywood. Depending on the event, you might be able to bring your own picnic in for the concert. So, scour your favourite artist’s tour dates, reserve a couple of seats, and book the plane ticket and hotel rooms around the show.
Upright Citizens Brigade
The undisputed epicentre of L.A.’s thriving comedy scene, UCB’s first West Coast outpost plays host to a nightly mélange of stand-up, improv and sketch comedy in an intimate 92-seat theatre. Sit stage-side as sitcom A-listers and tomorrow’s top talent spin their latest yarns, all for $20 or less. Many shows sell out weeks in advance, but there are usually a few standby tickets at the door.
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