City Guide to Los Angeles
Baby, I’m Back!
For the first time in 8 months, I hopped on a plane.
It felt a little weird, but exciting at the same time. On top of the obvious pandemic, I don’t enjoy flying - which is strange for someone who loves to travel so much. But I had a photo shoot for work in Los Angeles, a five day project, and was happy for the opportunity.
I’ve been to Los Angeles about six different times now, so while I’m sure there are many people who know more about LA I’d say I definitely have my bearings. Half of those trips were for work, half were fun! When I’m working, I don’t get that much time to explore since we have very long days. Usually it’s just some good dinners, maybe a free afternoon to do more. But some of our closest friends moved out there in early 2019, which make visiting for either occasion now so much more enjoyable!
I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of visiting LA, with its constant warm sunshine. In some ways I feel very comfortable and at home there. Nope - I’m not moving out of NY - but I can see why LA is place so many people want to live! AND it’s a really FUN place to visit.
It’s still not the easiest or safest time to travel anywhere. But if you’re planning a trip, California is a great option, especially since it’s domestic. Trust me, you still feel lightyears away from the cold of the North East!
So if you’re debating a flight to some warmer weather, I highly recommend Los Angeles. I’ll key into the areas I’ve spent the most time a bit more - West Hollywood and Santa Monica.
Read through this detailed guide, for all that you need to know when visiting in LA!
Where to Stay
I’ve experienced a few different accommodations in my various trips to LA: I’ve stayed at several hotels, an airbnb, and with friends.
Some hotels are worth mentioning. But I think even more important is WHERE you stay, what neighborhood. This will definitely depend on your plans too, but here are some recommendations!
West Hollywood
WeHo is cool, trendy, and fun - meaning this is a great place to go out for dinner or for the night! It’s also historic, with some old Hollywood vibes!
This is a great place to stay because it’s very centrally located between east and west LA. It’s also a pretty walkable area which is rare, so if you’re visiting and don’t have access to a car you can still get around. There are tons of shops, bars, and restaurants on the famous Sunset Strip. Trust me, You won’t get bored. You have the fabled Chateau Marmont and the historic Sunset Tower Hotel, to name just a few of the well known spots.
Off Sunset, there are several other noteworthy streets where you should explore - Santa Monica Blvd, Melrose Ave, Robertson, Fairfax, and La Cienega Boulevard.
You won’t want to stay in the tourist trap of Hollywood. You definitely get a feel for Hollywood on the Strip and in the neighboring Beverly Hills. But if it’s your first time to La La Land then by all means, go explore! You can easily make your way there in a short ride from WeHo.
Right now because of Covid-19, there are still some strict rules in place. There is still no indoor dining, only outdoor. The good thing is LA has many restaurants that are built for this, so enjoy the gorgeous outdoor courtyards and open rooftops.
Things to do (in not Covid Times):
Dine amongst the stars (aka celebs) at the infamous Chateau Marmont
Take a Hike at Runyon Canyon or Griffith Observatory from Los Feliz
Swim in one of the epic rooftop pools overlooking LA, like The Edition or 1 Hotel
Take a Rumble or SoulCycle class on the Strip
Grab a drink and people watch at the Sunset Hotel Tower Bar
Giggle at The Comedy Store comedy show
Hear live music at a classic venue! There are great acts at The Troubadour, The Roxy, or Whiskey A Go Go
Hiking Runyon Canyon (a short drive from WeHo)
Dining:
Jon & Vinny’s (Fairfax)
Bars:
Harriet’s Rooftop (1 Hotel)
Tom Tom (for the Vanderpump Rules fans)
Here’s Where I’ve Stayed in WeHo
All of these options I would recommend, but my favorite would be the 1 Hotel.
1 Hotel West Hollywood
This is one of my favorite hotel I’ve stayed at, and this is during a pandemic. With no gym or housekeeping, no room service nor lobby bar. The west tower is still totally closed. But the central location, beautiful views, and calming interior design - doubled by the friendly and helpful staff - made my 6 night experience there feel a bit more like home.
I can’t imagine what it’s like in it’s true glory! When you can dine at 1 Kitchen, work up a sweat at the indoor/outdoor gym or at Higher Dose, even get a massage at Face Gym. Enjoy all the lovely services they offer!
But don’t worry, currently you can still take a swim in the pool, lounge in a sunny spot on the deck, have dinner at Harriet’s on the rooftop, and sip some to-go cocktails in the lobby! Also note their bath products are THE BEST, so I took like 2 showers every day. Highly recommend this spot!
The Gorgeous Studio Suite
Sunset Tower
This is pretty much known as a historic institution in Hollywood! Stars like Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor all lived here before it became a hotel! It’s also been featured in multiple films.
There is a lot of detail and character in the Art Deco design, and it remains a popular spot amongst celebrities today. The week we were there my coworkers saw Vince Vaughn, Ryan Gosling, and Lisa Vanderpump. I would’ve probably dropped dead upon seeing any of them, I’m not chill enough for this place!
I stayed here in March, and it was beautiful and classy. Though some of the hotel has been updated and restored, I did find the rooms to be sort of small and outdated. But given it was a business trip, I was feeling super fortunate to be somewhere so special.
Andáz
Located diagonally from Sunset Tower, and just down the street from the One, this Sunset Strip hotel was a great choice for one of my first trips to LA. It has really spacious and modern rooms, all with a gorgeous city view. Check out the rooftop bar and pool area, it’s been used for many photo shoots over the years!
Santa Monica
The vibe in Santa Monica is laid back, chill, and fun.
This is a great place to stay if you’re looking to spend more time at the beach and away from the city! There is a beautiful beach and boardwalk area, so you can spend more time outdoors. There are plenty of things to do around the very walkable 3rd street promenade, Nielsen Way, and Main Street.
Here are some really solid spots to check out in Santa Monica!
Dining:
In-N-Out (you just have to try it)
Shutters on The Beach
Shutters on the Beach is sort of a landmark hotel by this point! It’s a great place to stay in Santa Monica.
The pool is stunning, and the pristine beach is just feet away. Dine in the courtyard at 1 Pico, or a drink at Coast, or borrow some beach cruisers and bike down the boardwalk! Every room of this hotel is beautiful.
The beautiful resort sits beachfront, on the Santa Monica boardwalk.
Fairmont Miramar
The Fairmont Miramar is another gorgeous and conveniently located resort. It’s nestled between the bustling shops of the 3rd Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Beach.
It’s very close to the Santa Monica Pier, has a great onsite restaurant called Fig, as well as a trendy spot to go out to, The Bungalow.
Need a Long Weekend Itinerary?
Here is a great 3 day guide for a long weekend in LA. Rent a car and stay in Santa Monica for easy access to all these spots. Best would be to land the day before or take an early flight to max out these days!
Day 1: Fancy Day in Old Hollywood
Visit LACMA and the famously photographed light post installation
Walk around Beverly Hills
Explore and browse (or shop if your a baller) at Rodeo Drive
Get a classic 90210 lunch + a milkshake @ Fountain Bar at Beverly Hills Hotel
Stroll and shop Melrose Place
See the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, & find your favorite stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Rooftop drinks in West Hollywood @ Harriet’s *make reservations
Scene-y Dinner @ The Nice Guy *make reservations
Day 2: Beach Day in Malibu
Drive up the Pacific Coast Highway
Explore Point Dume and relax at Paradise Cove beach
Lunch at Malibu Farm at the Malibu Pier
Watch the sunset at El Matador Beach
If you’re looking for fancy dining: Make dinner reservations at Nobu or Geoffrey’s
If you’re looking for something comforting and casual: Broad Street Oyster Co, Cafe Habana or Ollo
Staying For A Week?
There is so much to do beyond this short itinerary I proposed above. If you’re staying longer, consider some of these other
Here are some things to do if you have more time!
Malibu Wine Safari
The Malibu Wine Safari is an unexpected yet fun activity in LA. I truly had the best day of 2019 here - until the worst hangover of my life ensued the following day :/
It’s only 30 minutes from LA, but to be safe we took a party bus out to the ranch, touring property with the girls in a stopping at super picturesque.
Explore Larchmont Village
This was a super cute and charming little area. If you take an Uber to Larchmont Boulevard, all the shops, cafés and restaurants are all centrally located there so it’s easy to navigate.
I shopped around for a couple hours at cute stores like Hardware, stopped for a chai latte at Erin McKenna’s bakery and had an ice cream from Jeni’s! If I had an appetite left I would have loved to get a taco from Tu Madre.
Larchmont isn’t far off Melrose Avenue so if you still have energy, walk North to a whole new strip of shops and a great spot to grab lunch called Cafe Gratitude.
Spend a day in Silver Lake
Everyone I’ve spoken to says this is one fo the up and coming areas of LA, and where many local angelenos seem to be buying real estate. It has an adorable town center, a few cool bustling side streets, and an awesome residential area surrounding the reservoir.
If you have extra time, go check out Atwater Village! It’s a super trendy neighborhood, very walkable but nestled between the mountains and the LA river. There are many bars and restaurants in town, and based on residential location we used for the day, it really looks like another amazing place to live.
Marina del Ray
This is a great area to visit if you have some extra time, and easy to access from the same boardwalk as Venice Beach! Walk around and see the
Grab drinks at Caravan Swim Club, at the Hotel June! It’s a renovated hotel with plenty of outdoor dining, overlooking the pool area. My friend made the reservation after seeing photos of it, looking like a postcard from Mexico!
More Neighborhoods to Explore
LA is huge, and unlike NYC where you can take a subway pretty much anywhere the city of Los Angeles is spread out and not as accessible without a car. Everyone in the city drives! It’s hard to hit all the best Neighborhoods in one trip, but here are some to bookmark and check out if you can!
Encino
Silver Lake
Marina del Ray
Larchmont
Los Feliz
Atwater Village
Brentwood
Studio City
Sherman Oaks
Enjoy the California Sunset
El Matador Beach
West Hollywood Hills
Malibu beach off Broad
Leo Carillo Beach
That’s All Folks
Like I said, LA is a great place to plan a trip. If not now (based on travel restrictions) I’d put it on your list for when things clear up!
This time was extra special because Ryan met me on the West Coast, and got to visit LA for the first time with me! He’s already a big fan and planning to go back. I’d love to have another Pacific adventure in my near future.
SO if ya know it sing it with me: Californiaaaaa, Californiaaaaa, HERE WE COME!!!!
Xx
Gab
