An expansive and beautiful botanical garden. Best suited for those staying on the east side. Recommend buying tickets in advance.
This is a space observatory and museum with great views of the city and where Ryan Gosling danced with Emma Stone in Lala Land. We'll be hiking in Griffith Park on the 31st. If you are interested in making a visit, after the hike could be the perfect time.
This is a relatively new museum that is all about movies. It neighbors the La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA). They play old movies you may not be able to see anywhere else and the theater inside the museum is top-notch.
If you are staying on the west side, the 3rd Street Promenade is the main drag in Santa Monica where you can see the beach, the pier and hit some shops.
For the artsy folk. You'll get great views of the city from here.
Some of the best tacos in the city, located in a nondescript strip mall. As you'll see, the urban architecture in LA is nothing to write home about but don't sleep on what's on the inside - some of the best food in the city is tucked away in strip malls.
Mexican seafood. They serve out of a few trucks across the city. This will surprise you with its taste and quality
For the food adventurers among us, head into the various neighborhoods of East LA to find some of the best taco stands and Mexican food in the city.
Lunch spot in Chinatown serving up fresh and delicious Korean banchan-type dishes.
This is an indoor foodhall in downtown LA where vendors and different restaurants have stalls. It's a great way to get a taste of the city's diverse food scene and spend an hour or two.
Bavel is home of one of the best dinners we've had since moving to LA. They serve Israeli/Mediterranean food. If you go, be prepared to spend a pretty penny. Located in the Arts District.
Great spot serving Taiwanese food for a casual lunch or dinner.
Stop here for breakfast, brunch or lunch. If you are trying to eat healthy, this may not be the spot for you but that can be tomorrow's problem. You're on vacation! If you happen to be suffering from a hangover, allow All Day Baby to be your remedy.
Piija Palace serves unique Indian/Italian fusion bar food. The hipsters and millennials in Silver Lake are boasting about it.
If you are in the mood for pizza, this is one of LA's latest hot spots. The vibes are immaculate, the menu is short and the food is thoughtful. Make a reservation or show up on the earlier side as a walk-in to keep the wait-time low.
Some say the Phoenix location has the best pizza in the country. Another go-to spot for our NY friends who want to test out the west coast pizza scene.
All Time is one of our most frequented spots since it is within walking distance from our home. It's a great spot for any meal. Breakfast and lunch are for walk-ins but dinner requires a reservation. The husband and wife tag-team go above and beyond to cook with fresh ingredients (see homemade almond milk) and it shows in the food. Beautiful outdoor patio.
If you want to spend $5 or more on coffee, this is one of the few places where it's worth it. No need to go out of your way to find it, but worth a stop if you are in Los Feliz.
Great cafe for breakfast, brunch or lunch. American-forward with a bunch of twists. Perfect for a group since it has a range of options spanning the healthy spectrum. Close by to Courage Bagels, which has probably caught the attention of the foodies out there. We were going to add that to the list but then thought against it for fear of New Yorker judgment.
Alternative night out for some late night tea sipping, live music and community building.
Their pastrami rivals any bite in the country. This is what you come for.
Brunch vibes.
Tucked away in an unassuming area of East Hollywood, Saffy's serves great Mediterranean breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a sister restaurant of Bavel (see above). There isn't much in the area so you are coming for the meal.
An LA institution and Thai restaurant popularized by the writings of famed LA food critic, Jonathan Gold.
LA is a low-key diner city and Clark Street is tops among them.
Great bakery with a ton to choose from.
One of many great Korean restaurants in Koreatown. The Korean food scene in LA is pretty unrivaled in the US so if this is your jam, we recommend here or doing a Google search on where else to go. It's hard to miss a good meal in this part of town.
Nancy Silverton is a popular local chef who has footprints all over LA. This is one of her spots serving up fresh Italian. On the pricier side.
Great breakfast, brunch or lunch spot. They have a few locations around town but we like the Larchmont location, which is in a pleasant walking and shopping area.
A new restaurant from Joshua Skenes, a well known West Coast chef. Wood-fired themed. Great place to have a few drinks with dinner and make a fun night out.
Casual Mediterranean spot perfect for lunch.
Anajak is one of the more popular and buzzy restaurants right now. You'll need to make a reservation far in advance. They serve Thai food with influences from all over. They have a fun menu and dining area along with an impressive wine selection. On the pricier side.
Pop in to grab lunch and stare at cheese that you won't buy.
Grab lunch or dinner in a sprawling outdoor area off a quiet street in Santa Monica. They cook with very fresh California ingredients and as the name suggests, lean into outdoor cooking techniques.
Go for the Godmother.
A Venice staple for breakfast, brunch and lunch serving a panoply of cafe classics. They get busy so be prepared to wait a bit if you go during a popular hour. Plenty of outdoor patio seating.
A regional chain that is great for quick and easy breakfast tacos with multiple locations throughout the city
East coast style sandwich shop with a few locations throughout the city
Sandwich shop in a discrete little section of the east side
Italian sandwich shop and other goodies in West Hollywood