Culture, nature, good food, plenty of sunshine – LA has it all. The only thing is, its sprawling neighbourhoods are all full of local gems, so you’ll probably want a car to get you from A to B. And if you’re going to brave the Los Angeles traffic, it better be somewhere that justifies the trip.
Enter this dedicated Google Map: 11 tried-and-tested cultural spots, classic bars and restaurants, spanning Hollywood to Silverlake, Larchmont to DTLA, that never disappoint. Worth every second spent in a car to get there.
Skylight Books
Skylight Books in Los Feliz is my favourite kind of indie bookshop. Genuinely curated, the staff have read everything and the window displays are always exceptional. I never leave without at least three books that found me, versus the other way around.
Remedy Place West Hollywood
Remedy Place is my recovery spot in LA. Infrared sauna, cold plunge, the whole package. It’s the kind of wellness that makes me feel like my cells are regenerating. I always sleep so much better afterwards.
Runyon Canyon Park
Hike from the trails in Runyon Canyon Park to Griffith Observatory, enjoy the art and architecture up there, and remember why LA is loved for its lifestyle.
Sunset Tower Hotel
Sunset Tower is old Hollywood in the most beautiful way. Have a drink at the bar in the late afternoon and watch the light change over the city.
New Beverly Cinema
The New Beverly is Quentin Tarantino’s cinema and it only screens 35mm film. The programming is cinephile-level and you'll see something you wouldn’t find elsewhere. It feels like a secret, even though everyone in LA knows about it.
The Broad
The Broad is free to visit and it has one of the best permanent contemporary art collections in the city. Jeff Koons, Kara Walker, Cindy Sherman. I always leave moved, so much so it’s worth building a whole afternoon around.
Cookbook Market & Cafe
Cookbook is this incredible market-cafe on Larchmont that I keep coming back to every time I’m in LA. The kind of place where you pick up great cheese and wine and end up creating an evening around ingredients you didn’t know you needed.
Found Oyster
Found Oyster is exactly what it sounds like and I mean that in the best possible way. Fresh oysters, good wine. Sometimes that’s all you need and Found Oyster totally understands that.
Anajak Thai Cuisine
Anajak Thai is a family-run spot in Sherman Oaks that has become something really special. They do natural wine pairings with traditional Thai cooking, which sounds unusual but makes complete sense once you're sitting there.
Go’s Mart
Go’s Mart is quietly famous for its omakase that is both hit after hit of the classics, plus unexpected and modern delights that I don’t think any other sushi restaurant can match.
Damian
Damian is doing some of the most exciting Mexican cooking outside of Mexico. It’s in a beautiful space Downtown and the approach to seafood and coastal flavours is exceptional. Don’t skip the aguachile.
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