As a proud Angeleno — born and raised, certified organic — here’s a list of some of my favorite places in Los Angeles. This will likely be appended to in future articles.
1. The Grove
Location: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Words cannot describe how much I love The Grove. Located in the Mid-Wilshire/Fairfax district, this fabulous outdoor shopping oasis is a wonderful spot to gather with friends. Whether you’re spending a lazy summer afternoon or experiencing the enchantment of the Christmas holiday decorations and their soap flurries, The Grove is my favorite spot in LA. I never come back home without paying a visit. Fun-fact: In high school, I skipped sixth period tennis to attend the Topshop grand opening. Demi Lovato performed. It was glorious. Be sure to ride the trolly!
2. Farmers Market
Location: West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA
Adjacent to The Grove, the Farmers Market dates back to 1934. This permanent market features hundreds of vendors, produce, restaurants and grocers. Their ethnic cuisine is fresh, delicious and diverse. Get the horchata from the Loteria Grill and check out the witty hot sauce labels at Light My Fire.
3. Huntington Gardens
Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
Huntington Gardens is absolutely spectacular. Be sure to stop and smell the roses of their Rose Garden and make reservations to have high tea at their Rose Garden Tea Room. Don’t leave without walking through their Japanese Garden to view their koi ponds and bonsai collection.
4. The Getty Museum
Location: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
The Getty has a panoramic view from the Santa Monica Bay to Downtown Los Angeles. This famous museum is known for their expansive art collections, novel architecture and beautiful gardens. The Getty Museum itself is a work of art.
5. The Getty Villa
Location: 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90272
The Getty Villa, while smaller than the Getty Museum, has a more intimate vibe and houses the antiquities portion of the original art collection. The Getty Villa has great collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan pieces and the gardens make for a fantastic picnic spot.
6. Griffith Observatory
Location: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
This free admission observatory has breathtaking views of Los Angeles. Check out the Zeiss Telescope to observe the daily planet. If you’re in LA for a while, attend their monthly star parties!
7. El Rey Theatre
Location: 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
This live music venue has a nice vibe with its art deco decor. The El Rey Theatre hosts a wide range of rock and indie artists. I saw Civil Twilight perform there a few years ago. Be sure to show up a bit early to get right in front of the stage!
8. Troubadour
Location: 9081 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
This historic West Hollywood nightclub hosts a huge range of rock, singer-songwriter and alternative artists. This standing room venue has an intimate and lively ambiance. I saw Half Moon Run play there a few months back. It was dope.
9. Third Street Promenade
Location: 1351 3rd Street Promenade #201, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Home to my favorite Dr. Martens store in LA, 3rd Street Promenade has a plethora of shopping options and street performers. Be sure to eat at the nearby Ye Olde King’s Head for an authentic British pub experience.
10. Bourgeois Pig
Location: 5931 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
This late night coffee shop is one of my favorites in LA. I love chilling in their enchanted forest room. Come for the coffee, stay for the vibes.
11. Follow Your Heart
Location: 21825 Sherman Way, Los Angeles, CA 91303
This market and cafe has a diverse selection of vegan food. With their signature vegan cheeses, vegan salad dressings and Vegenaise, it’s easy to spend hours shopping and dining.
12. Figtree’s Cafe
Location: 429 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
This colorful cafe, located on the Venice boardwalk, provides a relaxing break from the vibrancy of Venice Beach. This is a great place to eat before biking up the coast to Santa Monica.
13. Neptune's Net
Locations: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
This seafood restaurant is the perfect spot to relax and watch the surfers, after a long day of hiking Sandstone Peak. Their ceviche and fish and chips are delicious!
14. It’Sugar
Locations: Universal CityWalk, 1000 Universal City Plaza #120, Universal City, CA 91608
Centered right in Universal’s vibrant City Walk, this candy store will make your childhood dreams come true. Be sure to check out their giant gummy bears and their bacon flavored everything!
15. LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
Location: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
You'll probably recognize this contemporary art museum by Chris Burden's "Urban Lights" sculpture. A few years back they had the coolest Tim Burton exhibit! Be sure to check out their collections and latest exhibitions, as well as Jazz at LACMA on Friday nights!
16. The Broad
Location: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
This recently opened contemporary art museum is worth the visit! Be sure to get there early to get free tickets to Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room. It's breathtaking!
