Guidebook for Los Angeles

Natalie
Guidebook for Los Angeles

Food Scene

So it's not really a "Farmer's Market" anymore. It is a place with different food stands where you can try a variety of things. It's right next to the Grove, so I recommend eating here if you go there.
819 locals recommend
The Original Farmers Market
6333 W 3rd St
819 locals recommend
So it's not really a "Farmer's Market" anymore. It is a place with different food stands where you can try a variety of things. It's right next to the Grove, so I recommend eating here if you go there.
This is our favorite place for breakfast/brunch in LA! Amazing food, definitely worth trying. The Italian Breakfast Risotto and Argentinian Brunch Steak are incredible. The most popular is the Crunchy French Toast, if you have a sweet tooth. (I promise, not everything on the menu is associated with another country...) If you go, try the iced tea (it's spectacular) and the drip coffee is very high quality. It gets really busy after 10:00 a.m., so expect a wait if you get there after. PRO TIP: If you go and it's really busy, people tend to "line up" in front. It's not actually a line, I don't understand why they do that. Just walk around to the host stand and put your name in.
268 locals recommend
Blu Jam Cafe
7371 Melrose Ave
268 locals recommend
This is our favorite place for breakfast/brunch in LA! Amazing food, definitely worth trying. The Italian Breakfast Risotto and Argentinian Brunch Steak are incredible. The most popular is the Crunchy French Toast, if you have a sweet tooth. (I promise, not everything on the menu is associated with another country...) If you go, try the iced tea (it's spectacular) and the drip coffee is very high quality. It gets really busy after 10:00 a.m., so expect a wait if you get there after. PRO TIP: If you go and it's really busy, people tend to "line up" in front. It's not actually a line, I don't understand why they do that. Just walk around to the host stand and put your name in.
The BEST burgers in California, hands down. Ask for yours "animal style" to add grilled onions and "spread" (thousand island dressing). Pro tip: the fries are, well, not the best. You can ask for your fries "animal style" as well, they'll come covered in cheese, spread, and grilled onions. Worth a try!
384 locals recommend
In-N-Out Burger
7009 Sunset Blvd
384 locals recommend
The BEST burgers in California, hands down. Ask for yours "animal style" to add grilled onions and "spread" (thousand island dressing). Pro tip: the fries are, well, not the best. You can ask for your fries "animal style" as well, they'll come covered in cheese, spread, and grilled onions. Worth a try!
Great spot for breakfast, brunch, or coffee. There are some baked goods here too. Not a big place, but good for small groups. Good for a light breakfast before hitting the town.
73 locals recommend
FOOD LAB
732 Highland Avenue
73 locals recommend
Great spot for breakfast, brunch, or coffee. There are some baked goods here too. Not a big place, but good for small groups. Good for a light breakfast before hitting the town.

Drinks & Nightlife

Beautiful hotel with happening bar right in the heart of Hollywood. It has that old-timey classic Hollywood feel. Very popular with the trendy set.
284 locals recommend
The Hollywood Roosevelt
7000 Hollywood Blvd
284 locals recommend
Beautiful hotel with happening bar right in the heart of Hollywood. It has that old-timey classic Hollywood feel. Very popular with the trendy set.

Sightseeing

It's the Walk of Fame. It's a bunch of stars on the ground. Honestly, your time is probably better spent elsewhere. I would not make a special trip but just walk down Hollywood on your way to somewhere more interesting.
1913 locals recommend
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset Blvd
1913 locals recommend
It's the Walk of Fame. It's a bunch of stars on the ground. Honestly, your time is probably better spent elsewhere. I would not make a special trip but just walk down Hollywood on your way to somewhere more interesting.
It's the observatory, great location to view the whole city. It gets really really busy and honestly there is not much to see inside the observatory. I'd recommend skipping the observatory building itself and taking a hike up the Mount Hollywood Trail that starts just north of the observatory. Much more interesting views from up on top, if you can handle the walk. Also, it's where I proposed to my wife...
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd
4367 locals recommend
It's the observatory, great location to view the whole city. It gets really really busy and honestly there is not much to see inside the observatory. I'd recommend skipping the observatory building itself and taking a hike up the Mount Hollywood Trail that starts just north of the observatory. Much more interesting views from up on top, if you can handle the walk. Also, it's where I proposed to my wife...

Parks & Nature

Great place for a quick hike with stunning views of the whole city (smog permitting!). It gets really busy, especially on the weekends. I would recommend coming out here early, before 10 a.m. Every once in a while you might catch a minor celebrity... Pretty soon after entering the park there will be a wide paved path going up toward the right that turns into a dirt road. To the left is a dirt path that gets steep very quickly. For a more relaxed hike, stay to the right.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller Ave
2445 locals recommend
Great place for a quick hike with stunning views of the whole city (smog permitting!). It gets really busy, especially on the weekends. I would recommend coming out here early, before 10 a.m. Every once in a while you might catch a minor celebrity... Pretty soon after entering the park there will be a wide paved path going up toward the right that turns into a dirt road. To the left is a dirt path that gets steep very quickly. For a more relaxed hike, stay to the right.

Arts & Culture

Classic Hollywood venue to see a musical. They often sell out for popular shows, so best to make arrangements before you arrive to make sure you can get tickets.
539 locals recommend
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd
539 locals recommend
Classic Hollywood venue to see a musical. They often sell out for popular shows, so best to make arrangements before you arrive to make sure you can get tickets.
The place to see live music in Los Angeles in an outdoor atmosphere. Check the website to see who is in town. A great experience!
1407 locals recommend
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl Rd
1407 locals recommend
The place to see live music in Los Angeles in an outdoor atmosphere. Check the website to see who is in town. A great experience!

Shopping

Melrose Avenue is an eclectic mix of clothing stores, restaurants, tattoo parlors, barber shops, shoe stores, pop-up shops, art galleries, tax shelters, marijuana dispensaries, and an improv comedy venue. If you're into fancy sneakers and overpriced hoodies, its definitely worth a stroll. The map pins it at a part waaaay East where nothing happens. Go more west between La Brea and Fairfax.
427 locals recommend
Melrose Avenue
7763 Melrose Ave
427 locals recommend
Melrose Avenue is an eclectic mix of clothing stores, restaurants, tattoo parlors, barber shops, shoe stores, pop-up shops, art galleries, tax shelters, marijuana dispensaries, and an improv comedy venue. If you're into fancy sneakers and overpriced hoodies, its definitely worth a stroll. The map pins it at a part waaaay East where nothing happens. Go more west between La Brea and Fairfax.
Spectacular indoor/outdoor shopping center. Malls are not my thing, but people seem to enjoy this one. I usually want to run out screaming from shopping areas, but I can stand to be in this place for more than 10 minutes at a time. If you're into fashion, makeup, jewelry - or just want to see a movie or grab a bite to eat this is a good choice. They also have events for kids too from time to time.
2582 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr
2582 locals recommend
Spectacular indoor/outdoor shopping center. Malls are not my thing, but people seem to enjoy this one. I usually want to run out screaming from shopping areas, but I can stand to be in this place for more than 10 minutes at a time. If you're into fashion, makeup, jewelry - or just want to see a movie or grab a bite to eat this is a good choice. They also have events for kids too from time to time.

Essentials

Standard grocery store with everything you could want for cooking and snaking. You can also buy wine, beer, and hard alcohol here. It's the closest place for groceries.
336 locals recommend
Ralphs
10901 Ventura Blvd
336 locals recommend
Standard grocery store with everything you could want for cooking and snaking. You can also buy wine, beer, and hard alcohol here. It's the closest place for groceries.
Excellent specialty grocery store. More healthy options and tons of frozen foods and good snacks.
1811 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
11976 Ventura Blvd
1811 locals recommend
Excellent specialty grocery store. More healthy options and tons of frozen foods and good snacks.
Target has just about everything at reasonable prices. You can get groceries, household items, clothes, electronics, you name it! If you forgot it, odds are Target sells it.
726 locals recommend
Target
735 S Figueroa St
726 locals recommend
Target has just about everything at reasonable prices. You can get groceries, household items, clothes, electronics, you name it! If you forgot it, odds are Target sells it.