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What to Do In Downtown L.A. After You Visit the Broad

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The Broad

The Broad Museum, which opened last fall in downtown Los Angeles, isn’t just newsworthy for its notable architecture, contemporary art collection, and billionaire founders, philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. Its location is also exciting, in that it finally completes the Bunker Hill neighborhood as a rich cultural district. Nearby you’ll find Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Los Angeles Music Center (home of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and resident companies: L.A. Opera, Center Theatre Group, L.A. Master Chorale, and the L.A. Philharmonic).

Not far away, there’s also the Ace Hotel, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Union Station, Pershing Square, the wholesale Fashion District, and the Staples Center. If you’re visiting the Broad from out of town or across town, it’s a wonderful opportunity to indulge your passion for the arts and explore the area’s many offerings. (If you can, get a reservation for the museum early in the day. Entry into this museum is still a hot ticket, and advance online tickets are no longer available for many days; book far ahead for advance reservations.)

Here are four sample itineraries for what to do after you visit the Broad:

For Classical Music Lovers

Walt DisneyConcert Hall

What to Do: Hear world-class opera at the L.A. Opera or opt for classical music at its finest at the L.A. Phil.

Where to Eat and Drink: There are several upscale options nearby, including Patina, located inside Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse, which hosts a daily happy hour and offers complimentary shuttle service to the Music Center.

For the Trendy Set

Bottega Louie

What to Do: See an avant-garde performance at REDCAT, located just across the street from the Broad.

Where to Eat and Drink: Have brunch or dinner at Bottega Louie, housed in a gorgeous space with high ceilings (it was formerly a Brooks Brothers store), and pick up a macaron gift box while you’re there. If you want a nighttime cocktail, head to Upstairs Bar at the Ace Hotel, or see if anything’s happening at The Theatre at Ace Hotel, a recently restored 1,600-seat movie palace from the 1920s that hosts interesting concerts.

For History Buffs

Grand Central Market

What to Do: Go on one of Los Angeles Conservancy’s historic walking tours. The Historic Downtown L.A. tour meets on Saturday mornings at Pershing Square.

Where to Eat and Drink: Head to Grand Central Market, the city’s largest market, where handmade tamales, warm olive bread, dried figs, Mexican sodas, and much more can be enjoyed. Alternatively, grab a tray and fill it up with American classics at Clifton’s Cafeteria, an 80-year-old eatery that was recently reborn as an artisanal food hall following a five-year overhaul. Wind down with a late-night cocktail at the Edison, where the Roaring Twenties are alive and well.

For Art Fanatics

MOCA

What to Do: The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) both locations. After your visit to the Broad, head across the street to MOCA’s location and then to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.  The Japanese American National Museum is right next to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

Where to Eat: Sushi in Little Tokyo afterward. There are a plethora of options, including Hama Sushi.

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Visit to Los Angeles

25 Ultimate Things to Do in Los Angeles

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PHOTO: Appalachianviews | Dreamstime.com

Los Angeles is as much a fantasy as it is a physical city. A mecca for face-lifts, film noir, shopping starlets, beach bodies, and mind-numbing traffic, it sprawls across 467 square miles; add in the surrounding five-county metropolitan area, and you’ve got an area of more than 34,000 square miles. So how can you see and do it all in one trip? The simple answer is you can’t. But that’s not a problem because we’ve hand-picked the 25 things you absolutely can’t skip when you’re in L.A. Whether you fit these essential experiences into one trip or five, you’re guaranteed to love every single one.

Related: 12 Things Not to Do in Los Angeles

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Disneyland

“The Happiest Place on Earth” continues to delight children and all but the most cynical adults. A visit here can be enchanting, exciting, romantic, or nostalgic, depending on your age. Disneyland, the original vision of Walt Disney, is now paired with Disney’s California Adventure, showcasing more recent Disney characters and Hollywood-oriented attractions. Outside these popular theme parks, Downtown Disney supports a wide range of restaurants, bars, and clubs that appeal to the whole family.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Gerry Boughan / Shutterstock

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Designed by Frank Gehry, the voluptuous curves of this stainless steel–clad masterpiece located downtown is a signature of the modern metropolis. One of several venues of the Music Center, the 2,265-seat Disney Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It features unrivaled acoustics and a stunning pipe organ, which is as much a work of art as a musical instrument. For a truly opulent evening, pair a concert with dinner at Patina, located inside the building. Afterward there are plenty of nightlife options within easy reach.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Andrew Zarivny / Shutterstock

TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame

An iconic metaphor for Hollywood, the elaborate Grauman’s Chinese Theatre opened in 1927 with the premier of Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings. That’s when the tradition of stars imprinting their hands or feet into the cement began with an “accidental” footprint by Norma Talmadge. More than 160 stars have contributed, and among the more unique prints are the nose of Jimmy Durante and hooves of Trigger. The theater is adjacent to the Hollywood and Highland Center. Then, of course there’s the Walk of Fame that runs a mile along Hollywood Boulevard, with the handprints of more than 1,600 stars.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Getty Museum, Los Angeles by Fabio Achilli [CC BY 2.0]

Getty Center

On a hillside above Brentwood, the $1-billion-plus Getty Center is not only a museum but a statement that L.A. has taken its place in the art world. The Richard Meier–designed complex has a skin of travertine marble, and natural light floods galleries filled with impressionist canvases, Greek antiquities, and jaw-dropping exhibits of furniture and decorative arts from French monarchy. Pedestrian plazas and gardens abound, and a sunset dinner at the restaurant, with its panoramic views, is the stuff of memories.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Andrew Zarivny / Shutterstock

Rodeo Drive

Dominated by the exclusive names of Gucci, Versace, and Cartier, Rodeo Drive is a shoppers’ paradise. Along the cobblestoned Via Rodeo, you can drop a thousand dollars on python pumps or nosh on a $500 sushi dinner. Fortunately, Rodeo Drive doesn’t cater exclusively to the rich and famous, and more moderate shops and restaurants are interspersed with the iconic boutiques.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Santa Monica Pier

Spend a sunny day beside the Pacific Ocean riding the Ferris wheel and playing dozens of games for prizes at this popular family destination. Cotton candy and other hard-to-resist treats are within easy reach. Drop by in the late afternoon to experience the dazzling sunsets.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Venice Beach Boardwalk by Marc Cooper [CC0 1.0]

Venice Beach Boardwalk

The bohemian lifestyle of this famous boardwalk is constantly threatened by the rapid gentrification of Venice. Still, the magicians, fortune-tellers, and Muscle Beach weight lifters survive. Struggling artists sell their paintings, infiltrated by tackier purveyors of cheap watches and sunglasses. Rent a bicycle or in-line skates, grab a hot dog, and enjoy the sights and the sunset.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Two Bikes by collectmoments [CC BY-ND 2.0]

The Strand

Despite urban myths that claim otherwise, Angelenos do abandon their cars every now and then—especially if it’s to rent an old-school beach cruiser and bike down the 22-mile-long Strand, which stretches from Will Rogers State Beach in Santa Monica to Torrance County Beach in Redondo. The Strand runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean through Santa Monica and Venice. If biking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of rollerbladers and walkers as well.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: In-N-Out Burger by Divya Thakur [CC BY-SA 2.0]

In-N-Out Burger

It’s no secret that the people of Los Angeles love their cars. But what the casual observer may not know is that Angelenos have another passion—for the local burger chain In-N-Out—that, thankfully, is perfectly car-friendly. Of course, Angelenos don’t get out of their cars to make this magical moment happen. Easy directions: Drive up to an In-N-Out window, order from the secret menu (available online), and enjoy your “Animal Style” in the car.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Farmers Market by alyssa [CC BY-ND 2.0]

Farmers Market

At 3rd and Fairfax, the Farmers Market is pretty much Los Angeles’s version of a community center. Everyone comes here to eat, drink, and, most importantly, people-watch. Founded by a collective of farmers in 1934, the Farmers Market now houses more than 85 shops and restaurants—you can find everything from a Brazilian grill to a French crêperie to a Lebanese kebab stand—in an open-air bazaar ringed by stalls and stands. The Farmers Market and the adjacent shopping area, The Grove, are also low-key places to spot celebrities going about their everyday business.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Tacos by tannaz [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Taco Trucks

It seems that everyone in Los Angeles has a taco truck that they swear by. Typically, these taco stands on wheels have a regular corner and semi-regular hours. The only reliable way to find a good one is to ask a local—or do some research on a foodie website. Not all taco trucks are created equal and it pays to know the specialty of the house—or truck, that is. A few things that most taco trucks share in common: tasty tacos, cheap prices, and a locals-only peek into L.A.’s hometown cuisine.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Kitleong | Dreamstime.com

Hollywood Bowl

No doubt you’ve seen the iconic dome in movies, but nothing compares to spending a summer evening in a bleacher seat (or, better yet, one of the coveted boxes) at the Hollywood Bowl. To really get your local on, pack a picnic complete with bottle of wine and wicker basket and don’t be afraid to share goodies with your neighbors. Performances run the gamut from reggae night to rock concerts to Los Angeles Philharmonic performances. But as most Angelenos would agree, the experience is as much about sitting outside under the night sky as it is about the music.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Jose Gil / Shutterstock

Griffith Park

The park, extremely accessible from the city, offers a 53-mile network of trails, roads, and bridle paths. One of the most popular routes is up Mount Hollywood, which boasts panoramic views of the Los Angeles basin, the Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign along the way. Don’t feel like working up a sweat? Although riders must stay on specially marked trails, much of the park can be seen on horseback. Private stables are located in the park’s northwest and southwest boundaries.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Pacific Coast Highway

There may be nothing that epitomizes Los Angeles more than a drive down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, as locals call it. After taking in the sweeping views and turquoise waters, stop at a seafood shack, such as Malibu Seafood or the Reel Inn, for some ahi burgers or fish and chips. Afterward, check out one of Malibu’s most beautiful beaches: Topanga State Beach, Zuma Beach, or the small and secluded La Piedra, El Pescador, and El Matador beaches.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Photo Works / Shutterstock

Dodger Stadium

One way to blend in with the locals is to surround yourself with them—literally. Get out to Dodger Stadium for a baseball game, and don’t forget to dress in all blue and eat a Dodger Dog while you’re there. Unless it’s a big game, Dodger tickets are easy to come by—especially if you’re willing to sit in the cheap bleacher seats. You can also spend a bit more to sit in one of the special sections such as the All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion. It’s much harder to procure Lakers tickets when they play at Staples Center, but if you plan ahead, a Lakers game is a surefire way to see big celebrities and even bigger feats of aerodynamics.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Cinerama Dome by Steven Damron [CC BY 2.0]

ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood

It would be an understatement to say that Angelenos take their movies seriously. Considering that the entertainment industry is many locals’ bread and butter, it’s no surprise that moviegoing ups the ante here, too. Look no further than the ArcLight in Hollywood for a signature L.A. moviegoing experience. Each movie is introduced by a live announcer schooled in movie trivia. If you’re super lucky, you might catch the directors as they frequently make appearances to discuss their work. If you want to really do it like a local, catch a flick in the middle of the day—remember, Angelenos have sunny days to burn.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Dylan & Jeni

Hinoki & the Bird

A brilliant combination of East and West is unveiled at Hinoki & the Bird, the latest restaurant by Michelin-studded chef David Meyers. In a condo tower on Avenue of the Stars, Hinoki could easily be dismissed as another celebrity hot spot with all the flash and none of the substance, but the small-plates menu tells a different story. Pick and choose between fun appetizers and inspirational entrées, including the delicate red snapper accented with grapefruit and lime, the crispy marinated chicken with lemon aioli, and the lobster roll with green curry and Thai basil. The signature black cod arrives at your table with paper-thin layers of hinoki (cypress) still smouldering—it’s a feast for all of your senses.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Petit Trois, Los Angeles by T.Tseng [CC BY 2.0]

Petit Trois

Tucked away in an unremarkable-looking strip mall in what used to be a humdrum Thia restaurant, Petit Trois is chef Ludovic Lefebvre’s irresistible take on a Parisian bistro. All the classics are here from escargots to steak tartare to sole meunière. Reservations aren’t accepted but the wait times aren’t too bad, and it’s worth it to experience a bit of Paris in the unlikeliest of locations.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Photo by Iwan Baan; Courtesy of The Broad and Diller Scofidio + Renfro

The Broad

The talk of the Los Angeles art world when it opened in fall 2015, this museum in an intriguing, honeycomb-looking building was created by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad (rhymes with “road”) to showcase their stunning private collection of contemporary art amassed over five decades and still growing. With upward of 2,000 pieces by more than 200 artists, the collection has in-depth representations of the work of such prominent names as Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly, Kara Walker, and Christopher Wool.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Without a doubt, this is the focal point of the museum district that runs along Wilshire Boulevard. Chris Burden’s Urban Light sculpture, composed of more than 220 restored cast-iron antique street lamps, elegantly marks the location. Inside you’ll find one of the country’s most comprehensive art collections with more than 120,000 objects dating from ancient times to the present. The museum, which opened in 1965, now includes numerous buildings that cover more than 20 acres.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Sunset Boulevard

One of the most fabled avenues in the world, Sunset Boulevard began humbly enough in the 18th century as a route from El Pueblo de Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean. Today, as it passes through West Hollywood, it becomes the sexy and seductive Sunset Strip, where rock and roll had its heyday and cocktail bars charge a premium for the views. It slips quietly into the tony environs of Beverly Hills and Bel Air, twisting and winding past gated estates and undulating vistas.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal is more a theme park with lots of roller coasters and thrill rides than a backstage pass, though its tour provides a good firsthand look at familiar TV and movie sets. Despite the amusement park clichés, many first-timers consider this studio a must-see. The favorite attraction is the tram tour, during which you can experience the parting of the Red Sea; duck from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park; visit Dr. Seuss’s Whoville; see the airplane wreckage of War of the Worlds and the still-creepy house from Psycho; and be attacked by the killer shark of Jaws fame.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

PHOTO: Runyon Canyon by Ben Godfrey [CC BY 2.0]

Runyon Canyon

Revel in terrific views of the city and Hollywood sign from Runyon Canyon. Located just off Hollywood Boulevard, the trails here are popular and easily accessible, which means it can get crowded at times. That being said, you should be fine if you visit in the early morning.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Asanebo

Los Angeles is known for its sushi, and not just the celebrity-frequented hot spots. Don’t let its nondescript minimal location deter you: Asanebo is one of L.A.’s finest Japanese restaurants—and still relatively undiscovered. Once strictly a sashimi bar, this inviting establishment introduced top-quality sushi to satisfy increasing local demand and also offers a wealth of innovative dishes.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Paramount Pictures

This is the only major studio from film’s golden age left in Hollywood—all the others are in Burbank, Universal City, or Culver City. For decades director Cecil B. DeMille’s base of operations, Paramount offers probably the most authentic studio tour, giving you a real sense of the film industry’s history. You can take a two-hour studio tour or a four-and-a-half-hour VIP tour, led by guides who walk and trolley you around the back lots. As well as gleaning some gossipy history, you’ll spot the sets of TV and film shoots in progress.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Los Angeles Guide

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Art Lover’s Guide to Downtown L.A.

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Downtown Los Angeles (abbreviated DTLA) is in the midst of a renaissance, one that kicked off in 2003—that’s when the curvy, Frank Gehry–designed Walt Disney Concert Hall opened its doors to the public—and has gained increasing momentum ever since. In the intervening years, the motto “If you build it, they will come” seems apt, with stylish hotels like the Ace and restaurants like Otium, helmed by former French Laundry chef de cuisine Timothy Hollingsworth, having opened up in the neighborhood. That restaurant is attached to what is undoubtedly the area’s biggest draw: the spectacular Broad Museum. It joins an area already rich in visual art, from public sculptures (including a Calder) to museums dedicated to fashion and Asian art. Grab your favorite pair of walking shoes and get ready to explore vibrant DTLA.

The Broad

The Broad

Next to Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Broad (rhymes with “road”) opened in 2015 and immediately set the art world abuzz with its honeycomb-like exterior and free admission. A gift from philanthropists and art collectors Eli and Edythe Broad, the Diller Scofidio + Renfro–designed space showcases their massive private collection of contemporary art, with more than 2,000 works including pieces by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman, and an entire room devoted to Takashi Murakami.

Infinity Mirrored Room

Upon entry, be sure to sign up for your timed ticket to Yayoi Kusama’s spectacular Infinity Mirrored Room, a mirror-lined cavity housing a glittering LED light display, currently on view through September 2016. As it only allows only one or two viewers at a time, admission is extremely limited.

Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA

Just down the street from the Broad, the tree-like mass of airplane parts (a sculpture by Nancy Rubins), marks MOCA, where Eli Broad was the founding chairman in 1979. For just $12 ($7 for students and seniors) you can see thousands of post-1940 works by Jackson Pollock, Catherine Opie, Jasper Johns, and Mark Rothko. The Grand Avenue location is one of three in Los Angeles, including the nearby Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, and the MOCA Pacific Design Center. Swing by on Thursdays from 5 to 9 pm, when admission is free.

Other Museums

Star Wars

Style mavens will want to stop by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Museum and Galleries, a hidden gem with free exhibitions covering 200 years of fashion history. Highlights include the archives of Rudi Gernreich and Gianni Versace Menswear as well as an annual exhibition featuring costumes from notable Hollywood films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Big Eyes. Down by the Staples Center is the Grammy Museum, with exhibitions and interactive exhibits devoted to the history of the awards, and performances by established and up-and-coming artists. Other cultural offerings include the Chinese American Museum, with historic exhibits as well as fine art by Chinese-American artists in the Garnier building, the locus of the original Los Angeles Chinatown, and the Japanese American National Museum in nearby Little Tokyo, representing over 130 years of Japanese-American history.

Street Art

Dear DTLA

As Downtown L.A. has become invigorated, so has the street art scene, so much so that known artists like the British D*Face, with his homages to Roy Lichtenstein, and Portuguese artist Vhils, with his portraits chipped into walls, have visited to leave their mark on the city. Even cultural leaders like the Ace Hotel have gotten in on the action, with their art billboard project  giving space to different artists each month to design their own installation. But as street art is impermanent (and, unless sanctioned, technically illegal in Los Angeles), it’s difficult to point to any pieces with the certainty that they’ll still be around tomorrow. Instead, try a graffiti tour like GraffTours, which pairs you with knowledgeable staff members (they employ historians, artists, and, we hear, a police officer) for an on-foot experience of pieces that you might miss if you were just driving by.

Public Sculpture

Four Arches Los Angeles

The Triforium sculpture by Joseph Young in Fletcher-Bowron Square was originally built in 1975 as a futuristic tripod of 1,500 illuminated Italian glass bulbs and interactive sound. For many reasons the design fell into disrepair and only recently has been given a restoration plan, scheduled to begin this year. In the historic neighborhood of Bunker Hill you’ll find Alexander Calder’s 63-foot-tall homage to the work he did with his architect father, the “Four Arches,” located on Bank of America Plaza. On the corner of the Grand Central Market’s parking structure, what looks like the relief of a clocktower that was removed is the “Inverted Clocktower,” by Tim Hawkinson, and alongside the LAPD headquarters you’ll find the ambiguous figures of the “sixbeaststwomonkeys”sculpture by Peter Shelton.

In high-tech offerings, “Generations of the Cylinder” by Michael Hayden uses holograms and sensors to react to visitors in front of the International Jewelry Center,  while the outdoor lobby of Caltrans District 7 features the largest public art installation in Los Angeles, “Motordom” by Keith Sonnier, four stories of neon and argon tubes emitting red and blue flashing lights. Lastly, for some comic relief, stop by the Ernst & Young building on South Figueroa Street for Terry Allen (artist) and Philip Levine (poet)’s “Corporate Head,” a sculpture of a slightly oversize businessman burying his head into the building, accompanied with the poem, “They said I had a head for business. They said to get ahead I had to lose my head. They said be concrete I became concrete. They said, go, my son, multiply, divide, conquer. I did my best.”

Galleries

Ooga Booga Los Angeles

To experience the revitalization of the arts scene through downtown’s galleries, swing by Gallery Row. On the second Thursday of every month, get an overview at the Downtown Art Walk, a free, self-guided tour that includes some of the top galleries like Cb1, Diego Cardosa Gallery and the Think Tank gallery, plus food trucks and live music. For a unique experience, check out the 2nd street Cigar Lounge, a cigar shop and gallery showing local art, or venture just over the river for the sprawling 12,000-square-foot warehouse space that was formerly a printing press and now houses the new darling 356 S. Mission, a collaboration between New York gallerist Gavin Brown, painter Laura Owens, and art bookstore owner Wendy Yao, who also runs an outpost of her store Ooga Booga in the front of the building.

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5 Can’t-Miss Food Experiences in L.A.

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From Echo Park to Koreatown, West Hollywood to Century City, Marina del Rey to Beverly Hills, greater Los Angeles is one of the most exciting food cities in the country right now. A list of all the best eating and drinking experiences in the City of Angels could fill a dictionary; here are five favorites—some new, some institutions, all absolutely essential.

The Trois Trio

Trois Mec Big Mec

Ludo Lefebvre first gained notoriety in L.A. for his LudoBites pop-up dinner parties. These days, after teaming up with chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun), he runs three restaurants in the city: Trois Mec, Petit Trois and Trois Families. Each is different; each is worth a visit, although the original is by far the most difficult reservation to secure. Trois Mec resides in a Hollywood strip mall beneath a blinking neon sign for its former tenant, Raffallo’s Pizza. Seats for the 6 and 8 pm seatings each night are sold through Tock and go for $85, which gets you five unusual courses (recently, carrot tartare and king crab buried in tangy sushi rice) set to circa-1990s hip-hop. Next door, Petit Trois (average main $27) is the dark, loud, high-energy bistro of your dreams. There’s a handful of tables and a bar fronting an open kitchen where Lefebvre’s crew crushes classics like steak frites, buttery omelets, vampire-repelling escargot, and a bordelaise-drenched burger. It’s walk-in only, so go at off hours. Trois Familia (average main $12) is the newest member of the group, a sunny breakfast-and-lunch-only spot in trendy Silver Lake with communal picnic tables, melon-hued walls, and drop ceilings. The menu here riffs between French (electric lemon crêpes) and Mexican (a fantastic Milanesa de pollo), and the chances for a celeb sighting are high. Hey, Pete from The League!

Koreatalian

Baroo

Korean-born Kwang Uh and Matthew Kim, the chefs and partners at Baroo (average main $12), would probably shudder at the word, but it’s hard to find a better one to adequately express the thrilling pastas at this stripped-down, idiosyncratic hole-in the-wall slotted like a paperback between a 7-11 and hair salon in a forlorn Hollywood strip mall. Uh and Kim’s wavy, tagliatelle-like noodles would pass muster at the best Italian restaurants in the country, but dishes skew East with components like gochujang-enriched oxtail ragu with puffed beef tendon. Jars of assorted pickles and kimchi decorate the stark white room and show up all over the menu in grain bowls and on salads: pineapple kimchi, onions scented with rose petals, passion fruit kraut, shiso beets, and more. Uh, who worked for Daniel Boulud and Nobu Matsuhisa and did the obligatory Noma stage before striking out on his own, calls Baroo a “freestyle experimental kitchen.” The joyful sense of creativity that powers the place earned it a spot on the James Beard Foundation’s semifinalist list for Best New Restaurant. If you dine at only one restaurant in L.A., make it this one.

Abbot Kinney

Gjelina

Lined with bungalow boutiques, pop-up craft markets, and fashion labels high-end and ragamuffin, the diagonal boulevard slicing through Venice Beach is so hip, it’s almost a caricature of itself, as if any day someone will announce the publication of an ironic shelter magazine dedicated to the lifestyle of its inhabitants. That said, go there. The mile-and-change stretch is the best drag in L.A. for eating and drinking. Abbot Kinney’s core edible and drinkable attractions fall between Broadway Street and Venice Boulevard, from the perpetually thronged Intelligentsia and Blue Bottle outposts to breezy, seafood-focused Salt Air (average main $29) and ZenBunni, a biodynamic chocolate shop hidden down an alley. Portland, Oregon’s Blue Star Donuts and Salt & Straw Ice Cream have set up shop on Abbot Kinney. But you really can’t talk about this street without mentioning Travis Lett and his restaurant, Gjelina (average main $23). Open all day and always busy, the eatery deals in stuff like bottarga-dusted burrata, heirloom lettuce salads, and duck confit with mandarinquats. The thin-crusted pizzas are remarkable and—if you can’t bear the wait—available to go at GTA (Gjelina Take Away).

Hollywood Farmers’ Market

Hollywood Farmers Market

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Hollywood Farmers’ Market (L.A.’s best) sets up Sundays on Ivar Avenue between Hollywood and Sunset. It’s a scene that draws vibrant mix (including celebrities), so get there early, when there are still some unoccupied plastic tables by Delmy’s Pupusas, the stall you should definitely visit for breakfast. After polishing off a pair, grab a watermelon juice from the jugo vendor next door and start shopping for souvenirs: candy-like dates from Bautista’s, radiant citrus, spiced pistachios, more varieties of avocado than you knew existed… It’s an orgy of fresh local food that will make every winter-hardened Northeasterner die a little inside. Note: If you’re leery about packing your carry-on full of tangelos, there’s a strong contingent of artisans here, as well, selling woven moccasins, tintype portraits, on-demand typewriter poems, and other nonperishable take-homes.

More Than Toast at Sqirl

Sqirl

Jessica Koslow’s Sqirl (average main $9), the microchip-size café/cultural juggernaut in Silver Lake, is famous for toast. In fact, the proper name for the thick-cut brioche slathered with ricotta and house-made jam is “Famed Ricotta Toast.” And it’s great (as is Sqirl’s equally well-known avocado toast), but if you buy the hype and bypass the rest of the curious, nourishing, tantalizing things on the menu, you’ll be missing out. So come here hungry, early, and with a group and be ready to fawn over poached eggs with gingery tomato-braised chickpeas, carrot sopes piled with duck mole, and kabocha squash socca pancakes. Wondering why the rice in the savory rice bowl and sweet porridge is so flavorful? Hint: It’s not just the sorrel pesto and lacto-fermented hot sauce. Sqirl uses Koda Farms’ Kukuho Rose, a proprietary heirloom developed in the 1950s, just one example of the excellent products Koslow uses to elevate L.A.’s morning and afternoon meals.

 

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