LA is about the body, the view, the sun, and celebrities. Try and stick to coastal areas (the interior is really crap, except for a few exceptions).
THINGS TO DO:
- The Getty Center – the best view of LA to the water, and quite good art as well. Would suggest the Getty Center over the Getty Villa/Museum in Malibu, as it’s more modern and a better experience... http://www.getty.edu/visit/index.html
- 3rd Street Promenade (Santa Monica) – a great outdoor mall with shops, leading to the Santa Monica Pier. Afterwards, walk south along Santa Monica beach to Venice Beach and back.
- Drive along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Santa Monica to Malibu, stopping at beaches to watch surfers. If you want to surf yourself, call ahead to Malibu Surf Shack and you can get a lesson (wetsuit, board, lesson included - http://www.malibusurfshack.com/ ). Circle back along PCH, then turn left onto Sunset Blvd. and all the way up and through BelAir, Beverly Hills (stopping for a drink at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and pulling into one of the streets if you’re into celebrity stalking!). Then head right to Sunset Blvd.
- The Griffith Observatory. Another amazing view, and the scene from several movies (most famously, Rebel without a Cause). You can get an amazingly close view of the HOLLYWOOD Sign. Don’t bother going inside unless you are an astronomy’phile. Just being up there is beautiful. The drive up through Griffith Park is also nice. If you go for lunch at Mexico City on Hillhurst Ave. In Los Feliz, you can then drive right up Hillhurst, into Griffith Park (w. turns into N. Vermont Ave., right past the Greek Theatre, and up to the Observatory!
- See a TV Show for FREE! All shows are free – they do not charge, but the lines can be prohibitive. I can’t recommend this enough, however. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. For tickets, you should actually call (about 30-40 days before going) and arrange for the tickets. That way, you can time it for maximum efficiency (i.e. not waiting in line). I would also recommend going for a show that you might like, but that isn’t the most popular - to increase chance of getting a guaranteed ticket. There’s a website http://www.tvtix.com/, and you can contact them ahead of time to book. You can also just go to the studios. Another site is called http://www.1iota.com/ticketing.aspx.
BARS
Check out a place called The Room... it's a VERY stealth bar in Santa Monica, and was one of the places in the movie Swingers (it's TOTALLY hidden, the entrance is at the back, behind a dumpster – but trust me, it’s very fun). This was my favourite place in LA. http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-room-santa-monica-santa-monica
- Shutters-on-the-Beach, on Santa Monica Beach (just south of the Pier) is an amazing hotel (though quite expensive). If you’re looking for a good drink, try the bar, or COAST, the beach bar inside Shutters - http://www.yelp.com/biz/coast-beach-cafe-and-bar-santa-monica
- Maria Sol - for an amazing view, try walking all the way to the end of the Santa Monica Pier, there’s a Tex-Mex restaurant and (if you like Margaritas – or beer!) the bar has an upstairs patio which looks over both the ocean and back onto the coast. Somewhat simple, downmarket, but that’s what LA really is, despite the glitz.
- The W Hotel in Westwood (West Hollywood) also has a perfectly ‘LA Chic’ look. The bar area is a great scene (if your wife likes Apple Martinis then go for it, but not for ‘dudes’). If you walk from the lobby to the right, and up some stairs, you’ll end up at the pool area, this is also an amazing view and bar. 930 Hilgard Avenue Los Angeles.
- The Sky Bar is by far the most famous bar in LA, in the Mondrian hotel on the Sunset Strip, it has an amazing terrace overlooking Hollywood. 8440 W Sunset Blvd 8440 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. I would contact them ahead of time and tell them you’re either staying at the Mondrian (risky) or you’re staying at the Grafton on Sunset, and they’ll probably let you in. If you ACTUALLY stay at the Grafton (see hotels below), call your concierge to see if he can call for you.
- The Dresden Room is close to Mexico City, and Griffith Park, in Los Feliz. It’s a classic 1950’s bar, and features a married duo of really bad singers who are world famous (Marty & Elaine – as featured in the movie Swingers). The bartenders are amazingly professional, and you will enjoy the ‘kitch’. I used to take EVERYONE who visited me in LA here. 1760 N Vermont Avenue Los Feliz. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dresden-room-restaurant-los-angeles
FOOD/RESTAURANTS
Breakfast/brunch
For a truly Sunset Blvd./A-list viewing opportunity, check out Clafoutis (8630 W. Sunset Blvd.). It’s a great (yet reasonably priced) french place, right on Sunset... great people/celebrity watching! Best for brunch – say from 10am to 1pm any day (everyday’s the wknd in LA!). This place is featured on many TV shows (like Entourage, etc.)
Easy Diner Food anytime (24/7):
- Mel’s Diner – the classic 50’s diner right on the Sunset Strip. http://www.melsdrive-in.com/hoursandlocations/westhollywood.html
- Cantor’s Deli - 419 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles. This is right up the street from the CBS studios. A classic Jewish deli, and a spot for celebrities on break from taping their shows. If you see a show at CBS studios (which I recommend, as the other studios are in Studio City or Glendale, which is a real drive), this is very convenient – otherwise, it’s a bit out of the way.
Lunch on the Beach
- Maria Sol (see in Bars) is OK Tex Mex, and offers great views of the ocean and the coast. At the end of the Santa Monica Pier.
- Back-on-the-Beach – this is SUPER CASUAL – no socks required! It’s right on Santa Monica Beach itself (you can walk there – about 15 minute walk along the cement boardwalk, north, from the Pier). Great burgers, sandwiches, ZERO pretention, and great sun (for those Canadians who need a tan!). Highly recommended for a true LA chill-out!
YIANNI EXCLUSIVE a secret trail is to walk north from the Pier, up along Palisades Park (this is the green park area w. the palm trees which runs along the top of the cliff of Santa Monica, north of the Pier – the street to your right will be Ocean Ave.). Walk north along the ridge of the cliff until you come to Montana Ave. There’s a rickety-looking wood staircase that winds all the way down to the beach (with a walking bridge over Pacific Coast Highway – PCH). Turn right (so you’re going north along the asphalt boardwalk – note the lovely rollerbladers) until you get to Back-on-the-Beach. http://www.yelp.com/biz/back-on-the-beach-santa-monica (ignore the mapping on this - it looks like it’s in the green area, when in fact it’s down at the beach). If you turn left, at the beach, you’ll walk right back to the Pier.
Sushi:
- Sushi Roku – right at the end of Santa Monica Blvd., near the Pier. A great, popular place. Hirofumi, the sushi chef will give you extra pieces and special extras if you buy his crew a beer when you arrive. http://www.sushiroku.com/sushiroku/index.htm
- Katana Sushi – a real hot-spot for Hollywood crowd - 8439 W Sunset Blvd. http://katanarobata.com/katana/index.htm
- O Omasa, in Japantown (100 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles), is probably the best sushi I’ve ever had outside Japan. It’s a bit of a drive right into dodgy Downtown LA, but I’m telling you, it’s worth it. Go for an early dinner, then get the heck out of there!
Mexican
- Casa Vega. This is THE classic kitchy Mexican place in L.A. It’s over the Hollywood Hills along 405 down into “The Valley” (the San Fernando Valley), and was featured in the film “Valley Girls”, which starred a young Nicholas Cage and introduced the concept of “the Valley”. The food is authentic, great, and you are almost guaranteed to see celebrities here. North on 405 to Ventura Blvd, turn right (going east). It’s in a town called Sherman Oaks, and there’s also a large mall there (the Sherman Oaks Galleria) which may be of interest. 13301 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA - http://www.casavega.com/
- Mexico City – is in Los Feliz. 2121 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles It’s only if you want to go to the Griffith Observatory (kind of a drive to just go there). http://www.mexicocityla.com/menu.html. However, this is hipster Mexican. Get used to seeing pretty much everyone wearing long key chains, tattoos, or rockabilly hair, etc.
HOTELS
- The Grafton on Sunset. The last time I stayed here, I had drinks at the pool with the now late Joe Strummer from the Clash and his wife – he died a few months later – true story! This is a great bargain for its location (right on the Sunset Strip) – and if you go there, you’ll have to steal a robe for me – the one I stole got too old! The rooms are smallish, but it has an Art-Deco, old Hollywood feel. It’s ridiculously convenient. http://www.graftononsunset.com/
- Le Montrose Suite Hotel. Just off of Sunset, this is similar to Grafton, but it has a smallish roof terrace with a pool overlooking LA – very L.A., but on a smaller budget! The rooms are huge, which is great as well, if a little more traditional/Marriot-like. 900 Hammond Street, West Hollywood, CA 90069, http://www.lemontrose.com/
Alternatively, in Santa Monica, there’s a few places that I’ve never stayed in, but should be amazing.
- http://www.fairmont.com/santamonica - The Miramar is awesome, and right near the Pier. It’s VERY high-end, but cool.
- http://www.hisantamonicahotel.com/ - You CAN go wrong w. Holiday Inn, but this is literally right next to the pier as well, so suck it up. Probably a great value.
- http://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/ - Shutters on the Beach is the only top-end hotel right on Santa Monica beach. Ultimate beach-front hotel.
There’s a lot of chain hotels, but I would suggest something central in Hollywood or Santa Monica/Venice.
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