Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Corporation Food Hall
724 S Spring StSuper close, great variety of food options!
LA’s original food hall/market. My favorites are: Egg Slut for LA’s best breakfast sandwiches (go early or late or prepare for a line!), Wexler’s (some of the best bagels and sandwiches in LA), Horse Thief (Texas BBQ), McConnell’s (amazing ice cream from Santa Barbara), and Belcampo (great food and butcher shop).
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayLA’s original food hall/market. My favorites are: Egg Slut for LA’s best breakfast sandwiches (go early or late or prepare for a line!), Wexler’s (some of the best bagels and sandwiches in LA), Horse Thief (Texas BBQ), McConnell’s (amazing ice cream from Santa Barbara), and Belcampo (great food and butcher shop).
One of two places in Los Angeles that claims to have invented the French Dip sandwich (and my favorite of the two). Iconic space, was LA’s longest running public house until they closed for a remodel a while back. Lots of filming takes place here, has a very old LA vibe, food is great and the bar too. Don’t forget to visit Varnish in the back, one of the world’s best bars.
153 locals recommend
Cole's French Dip
118 E 6th StOne of two places in Los Angeles that claims to have invented the French Dip sandwich (and my favorite of the two). Iconic space, was LA’s longest running public house until they closed for a remodel a while back. Lots of filming takes place here, has a very old LA vibe, food is great and the bar too. Don’t forget to visit Varnish in the back, one of the world’s best bars.
Incredible Nashville style hot chicken. If you’ve never had it, you have to try it. VERY popular, especially on weekends but their lines have gotten a bit shorter recently. Follow them on instagram for line updates via their story.
69 locals recommend
Howlin' Ray's
727 N BroadwayIncredible Nashville style hot chicken. If you’ve never had it, you have to try it. VERY popular, especially on weekends but their lines have gotten a bit shorter recently. Follow them on instagram for line updates via their story.
One of my favorite restaurants in LA. Not that tacos aren’t everywhere, but the quality here is unmatched. Great cocktails and ambiance to go along with it. You’ll have fun here and leave very full.
43 locals recommend
Petty Cash Taqueria & Bar
7360 Beverly BlvdOne of my favorite restaurants in LA. Not that tacos aren’t everywhere, but the quality here is unmatched. Great cocktails and ambiance to go along with it. You’ll have fun here and leave very full.
One of LA’s most sought after reservations (seriously, check open table and book now if you can), the food and cocktails here are some of the very best in LA, dare I say it the country. If you can’t get a res, try coming in early and sitting at the bar.
322 locals recommend
Bestia
2121 E 7th PlOne of LA’s most sought after reservations (seriously, check open table and book now if you can), the food and cocktails here are some of the very best in LA, dare I say it the country. If you can’t get a res, try coming in early and sitting at the bar.
While not on the level of Bestia, this is a solid option for Italian and pizza. The space is absolutely beautiful and you’ll enjoy the cocktails and wine list here too.
165 locals recommend
Terroni
7605 Beverly BlvdWhile not on the level of Bestia, this is a solid option for Italian and pizza. The space is absolutely beautiful and you’ll enjoy the cocktails and wine list here too.
Located inside the Ace Hotel, one of my favorite breakfasts/brunches in the city. The cocktails are also great and it’s the Ace so you’ll enjoy the people watching.
Best Girl
927 S BroadwayLocated inside the Ace Hotel, one of my favorite breakfasts/brunches in the city. The cocktails are also great and it’s the Ace so you’ll enjoy the people watching.
Eating in a greenhouse, it’s as great as it sounds. Great food and drinks and a beautiful environment to enjoy them in. One of my favorites.
72 locals recommend
Openaire at The LINE LA
3515 Wilshire BlvdEating in a greenhouse, it’s as great as it sounds. Great food and drinks and a beautiful environment to enjoy them in. One of my favorites.
One of LA’s very best restaurants, small and intimate with a world-class bar program.
11 locals recommend
Here's Looking At You
3901 W 6th StOne of LA’s very best restaurants, small and intimate with a world-class bar program.
Mendocino Farms
175 S Fairfax AveAmazing sandwiches and salads, great spot for lunch.
24 hours a day, and they deliver if you’re feeling really lazy and don’t want to go across the street.
137 locals recommend
LA Cafe
639 S Spring St24 hours a day, and they deliver if you’re feeling really lazy and don’t want to go across the street.
Poppy + Rose
765 Wall StIncredible Breakfast/Brunch. In the Flower district as well.
Wake & Late
105 E 6th StBreakfast Burritos. Need I say more?
One of the first nice restaurants that settled during Downtown LA’s revival. The space itself is fantastic, loud, fun, with great food and drinks. They also have an amazing bakery/dessert bar.
584 locals recommend
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand AveOne of the first nice restaurants that settled during Downtown LA’s revival. The space itself is fantastic, loud, fun, with great food and drinks. They also have an amazing bakery/dessert bar.
Nickel Diner
524 Main StreetClassic diner for Breakfast/Brunch.
Amazing views from this rooftop restaurant. One of DTLA’s best options for French food.
786 locals recommend
Perch
448 S Hill StAmazing views from this rooftop restaurant. One of DTLA’s best options for French food.
The Factory Kitchen
1300 Factory PlExcellent Italian food tucked away in a cool space.
Water Grill
544 S Grand AveThe quintissential spot for the seafood lover.
The Pie Hole
714 Traction AveSome of the best pie you’ll ever have in your life.
German-style sausage and beer garden. GREAT vegetarian sausages too. And of course a really interesting Belgian heavy beer list.
194 locals recommend
Wurstküche
800 East 3rd StreetGerman-style sausage and beer garden. GREAT vegetarian sausages too. And of course a really interesting Belgian heavy beer list.
Salt & Straw
1357 Abbot Kinney BlvdICE CREAM. SUCH GOOD ICE CREAM
Guisados
1261 Sunset BlvdGreat tacos.
Amazing wings, good sushi, sake, beer, cocktails and Japanese Whiskey. Located in a little brick courtyard between two buildings in little Tokyo.
36 locals recommend
Far Bar
347 1st StreetAmazing wings, good sushi, sake, beer, cocktails and Japanese Whiskey. Located in a little brick courtyard between two buildings in little Tokyo.
Localita Plant Based Badasserie
A great vegan/vegetarian spot
Shake Shack
8520 Santa Monica Blvd
BADMAASH Downtown LA
108 W 2nd St
Pizzanista!
2019 E 7th StSome of the best NY style pizza you’ll find outside of NY.
Juice Crafters
702 S Spring StGreat Açaí bowls
Amazebowls
300 S Santa Fe AveBest Açaí & Pitaya bowls in LA.
Verve Coffee Roasters
833 S Spring StBlue Bottle Coffee
300 S BroadwayG & B Coffee
317 S BroadwayDrinks & Nightlife
Voted one of the best bars in the world, and certainly one of the best in LA. Very small, intimate and dark. The cocktails here are perfectly made and going inside feels like being transported to the 1920s. Recommend going on Sunday-Wednesday nights, or going a bit early (like 8pm or so) if you don’t want to deal with any wait for a table. Located through an unmarked door in the back of Cole’s French Dip.
109 locals recommend
The Varnish
118 E 6th StVoted one of the best bars in the world, and certainly one of the best in LA. Very small, intimate and dark. The cocktails here are perfectly made and going inside feels like being transported to the 1920s. Recommend going on Sunday-Wednesday nights, or going a bit early (like 8pm or so) if you don’t want to deal with any wait for a table. Located through an unmarked door in the back of Cole’s French Dip.
Newly opened, lots of great spaces to eat and drink. The Giannini bar is my favorite, located to the left if you enter the hotel off 7th St. The rooftop also opened recently and the lobby bar/mezzanine is also a great place for a drink or dinner.
27 locals recommend
The NoMad Hotel
649 S Olive StNewly opened, lots of great spaces to eat and drink. The Giannini bar is my favorite, located to the left if you enter the hotel off 7th St. The rooftop also opened recently and the lobby bar/mezzanine is also a great place for a drink or dinner.
Great Happy Hour! Solid cocktails at reasonable prices and really good food as well. Can’t go wrong here.
21 locals recommend
Mezcalero
525 E BroadwayGreat Happy Hour! Solid cocktails at reasonable prices and really good food as well. Can’t go wrong here.
If you love whiskey, go here, they have an incredible selection. Can get busy on the weekends so go on the early side if you don’t want to wait.
206 locals recommend
Seven Bar Lounge
515 W 7th StIf you love whiskey, go here, they have an incredible selection. Can get busy on the weekends so go on the early side if you don’t want to wait.
Located essentially downstairs from my apartment, you’ll enjoy the beer list here and the cocktails are good too. Best place to sit is the patio in front in the early evening to do some people watching and have a drink before you head to dinner. Can also be a fun end of night spot as well.
South Spring Street
South Spring StreetLocated essentially downstairs from my apartment, you’ll enjoy the beer list here and the cocktails are good too. Best place to sit is the patio in front in the early evening to do some people watching and have a drink before you head to dinner. Can also be a fun end of night spot as well.
Great cocktails and a large space good for groups (takes reservations on Resy) as well as individuals. It’s a bit hidden, located in a basement space in the corner of a parking lot (it sounds weird but keeps the place from getting too crazy and I assure you once you’re inside you’ll never notice you’re under a parking lot!
10 locals recommend
Birds and Bees
207 S BroadwayGreat cocktails and a large space good for groups (takes reservations on Resy) as well as individuals. It’s a bit hidden, located in a basement space in the corner of a parking lot (it sounds weird but keeps the place from getting too crazy and I assure you once you’re inside you’ll never notice you’re under a parking lot!
Great spot for Happy Hour (even on Saturdays) and lots of TVs. Food and drinks are great.
Brack Shop Tavern
525 W 7th StGreat spot for Happy Hour (even on Saturdays) and lots of TVs. Food and drinks are great.
Rooftop/Poolside bar with a tropical feel. Awesome views, a great scene. On the roof of the Freehand hotel.
43 locals recommend
Broken Shaker at Freehand LA
416 W 8th StRooftop/Poolside bar with a tropical feel. Awesome views, a great scene. On the roof of the Freehand hotel.
Located at the top of Clifton’s Cafeteria, this is an absolutely beautiful tiki bar.
79 locals recommend
The Pacific Seas at Clifton's Cafeteria
648 S BroadwayLocated at the top of Clifton’s Cafeteria, this is an absolutely beautiful tiki bar.
Massive beer selection, skee-ball, cornhole and great bar food too.
104 locals recommend
Arts District Brewing Company
828 Traction AveMassive beer selection, skee-ball, cornhole and great bar food too.
Crane's Bar Downtown
810 South Spring StreetReally fun basement dive bar. Best for late night.
Beelman's
600 S Spring StPub with great cocktails and now all vegetarian/vegan food.
Eightytwo
707 E 4th PlReally fun Barcade.
The Normandie Club
3612 W 6th StGreat cocktail bar.
Some of the most inventive cocktails in LA. They have an omakase style cocktail experience at the bar here too (by reservation only).
8 locals recommend
The Walker Inn
3612 W 6th StSome of the most inventive cocktails in LA. They have an omakase style cocktail experience at the bar here too (by reservation only).
Microsoft Theater
777 Chick Hearn CtEssentials
Whole Foods Market
788 S Grand AveRalphs
645 W 9th StCVS
4414 York BlvdTarget
735 S Figueroa StSightseeing
A glass slide on top of one of the tallest buildings in LA? If that sounds like your thing, this is the place.
130 locals recommend
OUE Skyspace LA
633 W 5th StA glass slide on top of one of the tallest buildings in LA? If that sounds like your thing, this is the place.
This is a bar but I’m putting it here because you’re coming for the view. The tallest building in the western United States, you can look out and down on all of LA here.
45 locals recommend
Spire 73
900 Wilshire BlvdThis is a bar but I’m putting it here because you’re coming for the view. The tallest building in the western United States, you can look out and down on all of LA here.
bradbury building
304 South BroadwayArts & Culture
The Broad
221 S Grand AveWalt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveGRAMMY Museum
800 W Olympic BlvdShopping
Really, really cool bookstore, definitely check this out, even if it’s just to walk through it.
324 locals recommend
The Last Bookstore
453 South Spring StreetReally, really cool bookstore, definitely check this out, even if it’s just to walk through it.
Los Angeles Flower Market
754 Wall StROW DTLA
777 S Alameda StEntertainment & Activities
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St