Los Angeles can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to look. For as big and vast as this city is, it also contains some of the most amazing food, beer, and culture in California. I’ll walk you through the best of LA and show you my favorite breweries, cocktail bars, restaurants, art walks, and other fun activities.
Food
Father’s Office
If you enjoy burgers and are okay with a little twist on the traditional style, then Father’s Office is the place for you! Father’s Office has two locations, Santa Monica and Culver City. I am confident in saying that everything on the menu is delicious, but I would definitely recommend the burger if it’s your first time. The burger is made of dry aged beef, carmelized onions, bacon, gruyere, maytag blue and argula.
Republique
If you are going to go to breakfast in Los Angeles, go to Republique! The downside is that you will have to stand in line, but the line goes by very fast. I say this as a person who does NOT like standing in lines, and standing 30 minutes in line for Republique is absolutely worth it. This French inspired restaurant offers a la carte pasteries and a full menu.
Drinks
Lono Hollywood
I knew that the city that was the home of the original Don the Beachcomber, would not disappoint in tiki bar offerings. LA has a lot of tiki bars, and after doing some research I decided to check out one of it’s newest tiki additions – Lono Hollywood. Lono looks like an upscale version of a tiki bar. It’s space is artfully decorated with wicker chairs and palms. It’s a perfect bar to go with a small group, but I recommend getting there relatively early as it can get busy. Lono offers classic cocktails like the Painkiller, Fog Cutter, and Navy Grog but also provides plenty of originals as well. They also make virgin versions of their cocktails for pregnant women and non-drinkers. Additionally, Lono has a food menu to help you soak up all that rum!
Public School 310
This Culver City watering hole is a fun spot to grab a drink with some friends. I can’t speak for the food, because we didn’t have any while we were there but the drinks were good and the atmosphere was fun. The bar is school themed, with composition notebook menu’s and line paper napkins. It’s not the fanciest place for a cocktail, but it’s a great place to hangout and tie one off for the night. Just don’t get detention!
Beer
Los Angeles is expansive, so it’s not surprise that there are A LOT of breweries to choose from. Sifting through your choices can be difficult, but I am here to help you through it!
3 Weavers
I came upon 3 Weavers somewhat accidentally. My husband and I were in Inglewood for a wedding and we had time to kill between the ceremony and reception. Since traffic was bad, we decided to check out the local brewery. I am so happy we did! This place was my jam, everything about the brewery felt down to earth and unpretentious. The beers were great, and most importantly the vibe was really chill. It’s the kind of place where you can easily make friends which is not so common in LA.
Golden Road
I wanted to hate this place because it was sold to Anheuser-Busch Inbev (the enemy in my opinion). Golden Road is one of the most well known local breweries in LA and sits on a very large property in an industrial area. The brewery is enormous, with a restaurant bar area that is always packed on the weekends. As much as I hate that they sold out, the brewery itself offered good beer and friendly service. The reason for their popularity is that Golden Road makes beer for everybody. The beer list is long but it gives everyone a chance to find something that they love. The honest truth is that I had a good time, enjoyed the beer and left happy.
Arts District Brewing Company
This brewery is a place to go to have fun and hangout with friends, and less of a beer snob location. Arts District Brewing has a fun atmosphere and a hip crowd. I think that the beers are good, but there is a huge selection so you can get a little lost in the process. They have 30+ beers on tap, which is a big list! The good news is that you’ll likely find something you love, the bad news is that you’ll be there all day if you want to try them all.
What to Do
Griffith Observatory
On a clear day, the view from the top of Griffith Observatory is beautiful. However, even on a cloudy day the observatory is still a fun place to visit. Sitting atop of Griffith Park, the observatory offers fun activities for kids and adults alike. The planetarium offers shows throughout the day. There are also tours and educational activities for children.
Hike to the Hollywood Sign
Finding a way to the Hollywood sign is not as easy as it seems. The neighborhood around the sign has made it nearly impossible to park within reasonable walking distance of the trail entrance. The best approach would be to take an Uber to the trailhead and then getting an Uber on the way back. The hike itself is long enough to break a sweat but short enough that it won’t take all day. I recommend going in the morning when the crowds are thinner.
Get Inspired at the Getty
The Getty is an awesome place to go if you like art, architecture and city views. Getting there is also fun as you need to take a computer operated tram up the hill. As you walk around the Getty, you get to enjoy the gardens which are beautiful along with unique architecture of the Center itself. On a clear day, you can see the LA city landscape. If you are looking for art and culture in Los Angeles, this is the best place to get it!
Get Weird at Venice Beach
Venice Beach is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in Los Angeles. With canals that intertwine through the neighborhoods, it is a neighborhood that offers picturesque views and downright weird art. The people watching on Venice Boulevard is gold so don’t miss it!
Go to a Comedy Show
Los Angeles is the city where stars are born, and if you are lucky you can have the chance to see a soon-to-be star. LA has a plethora of comedy clubs, from the Comedy Store to the Laugh Factory. My recommendation is to go online and grab tickets to a random show, they don’t have to be a big name. You will invariably enjoy the show and may even get surprised with a famous drop in!
Go Wine Tasting
The great thing about LA is that you don’t have to go far to get anything you need. So if you want to go wine tasting, you don’t need to drive all the way to Solvang to do it. Just head a little north to Malibu and visit Malibu Wines! The best way to make the most out of it is to pack a picnic and dedicate your day to lounging around, sipping wine and people watching (it’s really the best here).
Where to Stay
Hollywood Roosevelt
Hollywood Roosevelt is an amazing place to stay if you are looking for a fun location. When you step out of the hotel, you walk right out onto Hollywood Boulevard and on to the walk of fame. The hotel is located right in the center of Hollywood across from the iconic Chinese Theater. The hotel opened in 1927 and is the oldest continually operating hotel in LA. The hotel has charm, class, and has a fun pool scene. What more can you want?!
PDX Food Girl 