Guidebook for Los Angeles
Drinks & Nightlife
A dark, lively bar right across the street from my place. On weeknights, it is cozy and relatively quiet, but on weekends, this place gets packed. They have a DJ playing music and people are dancing. It is a bit of a divey feel, so it's not super posh, and the drinks are cheap.
55 locals recommend
Mom's
12238 Santa Monica BlvdA dark, lively bar right across the street from my place. On weeknights, it is cozy and relatively quiet, but on weekends, this place gets packed. They have a DJ playing music and people are dancing. It is a bit of a divey feel, so it's not super posh, and the drinks are cheap.
This is a sports bar just across the street from my house. It's usually pretty loud and happening, especially if there is a good game on.
Thunderbird Bar
12217 Wilshire BoulevardThis is a sports bar just across the street from my house. It's usually pretty loud and happening, especially if there is a good game on.
My favorite bar / lounge in LA. This one is further away from my place, but definitely worth the trek. It is latin themed, has a speakeasy feel, and they will often have live latin jazz and sometimes people are dancing, but it is fun regardless of whether you are a dancer or not. It is a small place, not exactly a nightclub. Upscale attire and you will have to make reservations if you want to go on a Fri or Sat, but every other night you can just walk in. Afterward, go next door to the taco / quesadilla shack, they have the BEST al pastor quesadillas, I promise.
98 locals recommend
La Descarga
1159 N Western AveMy favorite bar / lounge in LA. This one is further away from my place, but definitely worth the trek. It is latin themed, has a speakeasy feel, and they will often have live latin jazz and sometimes people are dancing, but it is fun regardless of whether you are a dancer or not. It is a small place, not exactly a nightclub. Upscale attire and you will have to make reservations if you want to go on a Fri or Sat, but every other night you can just walk in. Afterward, go next door to the taco / quesadilla shack, they have the BEST al pastor quesadillas, I promise.
Very fun place. A small bar / club in Venice. They play good music and everyone is dancing. Perfect if you want to go out on Thurs, Fri, or Sat. Wednesdays are also fun, they have a free comedy show followed by free burlesque that starts at midnight.
44 locals recommend
The Del Monte Speakeasy
52 Windward AveVery fun place. A small bar / club in Venice. They play good music and everyone is dancing. Perfect if you want to go out on Thurs, Fri, or Sat. Wednesdays are also fun, they have a free comedy show followed by free burlesque that starts at midnight.
My favorite bar in Santa Monica. Classy place with nice ambiance and decor. It's relatively quiet, so it's great for a date or a night of drinks and conversation. Awesome, velvety comfy seating.
25 locals recommend
Bar Chloe
1449 2nd StMy favorite bar in Santa Monica. Classy place with nice ambiance and decor. It's relatively quiet, so it's great for a date or a night of drinks and conversation. Awesome, velvety comfy seating.
Getting Around
If you're trying to go Downtown or to Culver City, get on the metro here and it'll take you where you want to go.
27 locals recommend
Expo/Bundy station
2154-2134 S Bundy DrIf you're trying to go Downtown or to Culver City, get on the metro here and it'll take you where you want to go.
Download the Bird, Lime, Lyft, or Uber apps. You can hail cars or grab an electric scooter or bike. It's all very cheap and convenient, and is the best way to get around Santa Monica because you won't have to worry about paying high prices for parking.
513 locals recommend
Santa Monica
Download the Bird, Lime, Lyft, or Uber apps. You can hail cars or grab an electric scooter or bike. It's all very cheap and convenient, and is the best way to get around Santa Monica because you won't have to worry about paying high prices for parking.
Food Scene
This is a great daytime place to take your laptop or whatever and work. They let you use laptops from 8am-5pm every day and then the place turns into a bar at night. I tend to work remotely from here a few days a week. They serve beer, wine, coffee, tea, and food as well. It's a hip, cozy, nicely lit place to be during the day.
81 locals recommend
Bodega Wine Bar Pasadena
300 E Colorado BlvdThis is a great daytime place to take your laptop or whatever and work. They let you use laptops from 8am-5pm every day and then the place turns into a bar at night. I tend to work remotely from here a few days a week. They serve beer, wine, coffee, tea, and food as well. It's a hip, cozy, nicely lit place to be during the day.
Really great restaurant, everything is good. On the expensive side, even though the ambiance is more casual.
83 locals recommend
Tar & Roses
602 Santa Monica BoulevardReally great restaurant, everything is good. On the expensive side, even though the ambiance is more casual.
Go here for happy hour! It is next to Bungalow inside the Fairmont hotel. Happy hour is everyday from 5-6pm and during that time everything is half off (including alcohol).
37 locals recommend
FIG
101 Wilshire BlvdGo here for happy hour! It is next to Bungalow inside the Fairmont hotel. Happy hour is everyday from 5-6pm and during that time everything is half off (including alcohol).
Further from my place, but this is my favorite restaurant that I've been to in LA. It is Turkish fusion. The food is really amazing and everything I've tried is good. Make sure to make a reservation, as they get pretty busy.
45 locals recommend
Kismet
4648 Hollywood BlvdFurther from my place, but this is my favorite restaurant that I've been to in LA. It is Turkish fusion. The food is really amazing and everything I've tried is good. Make sure to make a reservation, as they get pretty busy.
One of my favorite restaurants. Really good mediterranean food. It's a chain and there's a lot of them all over LA. Large portions, casual vibes. Go for lunch or dinner.
Panini Kabob Grill - Santa Monica
One of my favorite restaurants. Really good mediterranean food. It's a chain and there's a lot of them all over LA. Large portions, casual vibes. Go for lunch or dinner.
The most quintessential LA place you can go in my opinion. This is chain, lots of them all over LA. Nice cozy decor and plenty of heaters in the patio for the evening. They have really great tea, coffee, unique drinks, and a lot of food as well. Super cute (and photogenic) place.
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StThe most quintessential LA place you can go in my opinion. This is chain, lots of them all over LA. Nice cozy decor and plenty of heaters in the patio for the evening. They have really great tea, coffee, unique drinks, and a lot of food as well. Super cute (and photogenic) place.
My favorite ramen place. Get the Tonkatsu Black. And then go to Urth Caffe across the street after for coffee and dessert.
85 locals recommend
JINYA Ramen Bar
11239 Ventura BlvdMy favorite ramen place. Get the Tonkatsu Black. And then go to Urth Caffe across the street after for coffee and dessert.
Beautiful, romantic restaurant on Abbot Kinney with super nice ambiance. It's always packed here, so call or use Resy and make a reservation. The food is unique and really good. It is on the pricey side, but it doesn't disappoint. Also make sure to try some of their desserts, they are all delicious.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdBeautiful, romantic restaurant on Abbot Kinney with super nice ambiance. It's always packed here, so call or use Resy and make a reservation. The food is unique and really good. It is on the pricey side, but it doesn't disappoint. Also make sure to try some of their desserts, they are all delicious.
Really tiny, iconic Santa Monica place with good coffee and churros. Latin themed, and they always have salsa or flamenco playing. Owners are great people!
22 locals recommend
Churros Calientes
11521 Santa Monica BlvdReally tiny, iconic Santa Monica place with good coffee and churros. Latin themed, and they always have salsa or flamenco playing. Owners are great people!
Kitchen Story
2129 Sawtelle BlvdKorean food! Cheap and delicious.
My favorite sushi in LA. There's 3 locations (Downtown, Marina Del Rey, and Pasadena).
29 locals recommend
Sushi Enya
343 E 1st StMy favorite sushi in LA. There's 3 locations (Downtown, Marina Del Rey, and Pasadena).
Hillstone
202 Wilshire BlvdIf you want a really great steak. Cozy, classy place.
Arts & Culture
Beautiful place. The art is great, but it's also just nice because the architecture is really beautiful and they have a nice garden and green lawn areas. You can bring blankets and food and have a picnic. And it's free.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrBeautiful place. The art is great, but it's also just nice because the architecture is really beautiful and they have a nice garden and green lawn areas. You can bring blankets and food and have a picnic. And it's free.
The other part of the Getty museum is also a must see. Make a reservation.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyThe other part of the Getty museum is also a must see. Make a reservation.
Sightseeing
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdGo at night. The view of Los Angeles is stunning.
Shopping
Century City Mall is my go to. It's been newly remodeled and they did a really nice job. Go eat at Eataly and walk around a shop. The place is huge and they have a lot of great stores.
232 locals recommend
Century City Mall station
Century City Mall is my go to. It's been newly remodeled and they did a really nice job. Go eat at Eataly and walk around a shop. The place is huge and they have a lot of great stores.