Travel Guide: Los Angeles
Travelling is so exciting for the creative soul. New places. New people. New sources of inspiration.
I was recently in the US for a 3 month stint and although it was business that brought me there I couldn't help but see every opportunity as an adventure and let my designer side continually get over excited with all the new things to take in.
Basing ourselves in the wonderfully whacky LA we chose to drive - instead of fly - to San Francisco for meetings. Knowing we had a long haul ahead I jumped on the opportunity to make a project out of it and capture the journey.
When we were back in LA, out of all places we were based in Beverly Hills. One of my favourite things is seeing peoples reactions when you tell them this when in actual fact it sounds a lot nicer than what it really was. There are two parts of Beverly Hills, the slums - which is still well and truly above average - and the out of control, disgustingly rich side. We were in the 'slums'.
As we didn't have a car at hand, walking - and when need be - uber/lyft were our main ways of getting around. Both were great. Walking meant you got to see the little nooks that would otherwise go unnoticed (while simultaneously getting a good toosh), and share riding meant striking up a conversation with locals and asking for their advice on things to do/see/eat/draank.
I've compiled a list of my favourite things I got the chance to experience - and have another secret list I'll be getting through when I return in 2018.
Enjoy and let me know if you've either done any of these or have suggestions that I may have missed!
01
Eat
01 Butchers Daughter // Vegetarian - Venice Beach
02 Gracias Madre // Vegan Mexican - WeHo
03 Umami Burger // Drool Worthy Burgers - Multiple Locations
04 Soon Tofu // Korean BBQ - Koreatown
05 Sun Nong Dan // Korean - Koreatown
06 Soom Soom // Mediterranean - Beverly Hills
07 First Fridays // Food Truck Market - Venice Beach
08 In N Out // Grossly Delicious Fast Food - Multiple Locations
09 Salt and Straw // Ice Cream - Multiple Locations
10 Gjelina // Fckn Epic Goodness - Venice Beach
11 Cava // Mediterranean - Santa Monica
12 Little Ethiopia
13 Obica // An Italian (fcking) Mozzarella Bar - Santa Monica
14 Malibu Farm // American Brunch - Malibu Pier
15 Egg Slut // Brunch Heaven - Multiple Locations
16 Abbot Kinney Pizzas // Late Night Feasting - Venice Beach
17 Donut Star // I Donut Wanna Talk Bout It - Venice Beach
18 The Ivy // Fancy Food - Beverly Hills
(Pretty much anywhere along Abbot Kinney Blvd)
02
Coffee
Coffee probably needs a post for itself. My partner in crime and I couldn't do anything without it so we found all the good ones for you:
01 Blue Bottle - Multiple Locations
02 Alfreds - Beverly Hills (Multiple Locations)
03 Verve - WeHo
04 The Assembly - WeHo
05 Great White - Venice Beach
06 Primo Passo Coffee Co - Santa Monica
03
Bars/Breweries
01 Mama Shelter - WeHo (Rooftop Bar)
02 The Line - DTLA (Rooftop Bar)
03 Angel City Brewing Co - DTLA (Arts District)
04 Arts District Brewing Co - DTLA (Arts District)
05 Huntley Hotel Bar - Santa Monica (Rooftop Bar)
06 EPLP - WeHo (Rooftop Bar)
07 Catch -WeHo (Rooftop Bar)
(I like a drink with a good view okay)
04
Explore
01 Hike Runyon Canyon Trail - Panoramic views of LA mountain range, Hollywood sign and all major parts of the city (I walked up around sunset when the full moon was rising, it was lit)
02 Bike From Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach - Make a day of it. Ride, swim, eat, drink, make friends with locals, play pool until midnight (warning: plz wear sunscreen I got absolutely crispy)
03 Walk Rodeo Drive to Beverly Hills Hotel - Start off along Rodeo window shopping, walk past ridiculous mansions and then sink a drink or enjoy high tea at the Hotel.
04 Walk Santa Monica Pier to Venice Sign - During the morning with a coffee in hand or at night stumbling after a few drinks. Whichever works.
05 Melrose Ave - The closer you get to Beverly Hills the stronger the scent of 100 dollar bills. The closer to Hollywood the stronger the whiff of old clothes (the epic vintage kind)
06 Abbot Kinney Blvd - Food. Fashion. People watching. Expensive organic juices. What more can I say.
05
See/Do
01 The Observatory - amazing views looking over LA, glimpses of Hollywood sign and groovy information on what's above us.
02 LACMA - Los Angeles County Museum of Art (they have a lot of free events - like Jazz Fridays)
03 Platform - A sick community or creative businesses - food, drinks, fashion, art installations (very insta friendly)
04 The Broad - Contemporary art museum (free)
05 Melrose & Fairfax Flea Market - Save your pennies for this. Sooooo much vintage clothing and other interesting nick-nacks. On every Sunday
06 Rose Bowl Markets - Again, stacks and stacks of vintage stuff. But only on monthly (pretty much the above on steroids).
07 Venice Canals - Weave your way through pretty canals and over bridges all while snooping on how the rich live.
08 The Getty - Nice Art / Nice views
