One of the most distinct places in LA, and also one of the best to stroll for a few hours. The houses' architecture is fascinating. Beware of marauding flocks of geese. They will snarl at you.
A hilariously terrible karaoke bar that distinguishes itself by offering NO private rooms. You get up on that stage and serenade every single person in the bar.
This a good burrito, maybe the best of the burritos. Eat this burrito. Also, for those looking for a bit of that fabled "local flavor," you'll get it here.
Come for the art. Come for the architecture. Come for the gardens. Come for the food. Just come here.
Get the mee goreng with an egg. It's phenomenal. Michael, the owner, is a cool dude.
Miles of well-traffic trails with great views of the city and the Hollywood sign. And, if you're one of those people who recognizes b-list celebrities, you'll enjoy it here.
Much cooler than I would have expected. Neat interactive elements and good diversity of topics.
The whole place is spectacular, but I'm particularly partial to the cactus garden, which looks like it's a set from a low-budget sci-fi movie.
Visit at sunset, grab a table, get a beer, and grab some food. Life will be good.Pro-tip: park in the lot on the left as you're driving in. Just don't forget to get your parking validated.
Did you know that driving 60 MPH in a shifter kart feels like driving 200 MPH in a regular car? Well, this is the place to prove it. It's awesome.
Pick a warm evening and go see a show. It doesn't really matter if you're into the music; the setting itself is more than enough to make it a great night.
This is more of a curiosity than a phenomenal destination, but it's worth stopping by to witness the tragic scene of a baby wooly mammoth watch its mother sink into a pit of tar.
Frank Geary at his best. Try to take a boring photograph of this thing. Just try.
Take a stroll inside -- it's a remarkable structure and, if you're lucky, you'll hear that amazing pipe organ growling away.
Whole wheat pancake with brown sugar. Get it. No human can eat the stack of 3; 1 is typically sufficient. The french press coffee will make your head-a-splode.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a chain. Deal with it. The baja burrito is totally tasty and they use a nice, firm tortilla that actually holds all the stuffings together.
This is one of the better overlooks in the city. You get downtown, the ocean, and the Hollywood Sign.
Great screens with reserved seats. They validate parking for the lot next door, too. In other words, this is a totally hassle-free movie going experience.
Yeah, they have that weird Elvis thing going. But they also make a killer penang curry and great pad kee mao. If you want real spice, ask for "Thai Person Spicy."
On a clear day, the San Gabriel mountains provide a fine backdrop to this newly renovated shopping area.
Splurge on the fast catamaran, rent a bike on the island, and spend the day poking around this island. Bonus points if you find the herd of buffalo, which were brought here in the 1920's for a movie.
I'm partial to The Gas Lite. However, Dimples does offer costumes to singers, so if you've ever wanted to dress up as a football singer while singing Britney, go here.
If riding a horse on Los Angeles trails is your cup of tea, this is your place.
This is Los Angeles's answer to New York's B&H. It's a huge and impressive store with wildly knowledgeable employees.
The other side of the Rodeo Dr. coin: a freaky, funky, and young string of shops. The only challenge is finding a parking spot where you won't get ticketed (lots of permit-only streets).
If you want to have an "I sat next to [celebrity]" moment, go into the hotel and go to the bar. This is different than the main bar, which is frequented by, well, not celebrities.
These guys provide the bread to every reputable place in LA. Go to the source for some serious tastiness.
Music, art, tents, dust, sun, booze, sculptures, sweat, and lots of bathrooms. Gochella!
Don't think of it as a mall. Think of it as a lovely street crafted to evoke Parisian promenades... with an awesome Apple Store in the middle.
A completely worthwhile museum made all the more worthwhile by the insanely photogenic lamp posts installation in front of the main entrance.
You know how people call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck?" That title would be better assigned here.
People go here to walk around a bunch of water. It's more entertaining than it sounds.
Arguably the best nostalgia shop in Los Angeles. You can buy "CDs" here! Additionally, live acts cruise through and play short, free sets.
If you like interior design, this is kinda the greatest place on earth. Be warned: you can't just walk into all the showrooms and buy stuff; that privilege is reserved for interior designers.
Often crazily crowded, but sitting outside on a nice day with a latte is never a bad choice.
It's not very good and probably contains 3000% the legal tolerance of mercury, but it'll also cost you less than $10.
Take that rental car and drive along this highway. If you're lucky enough to not hit traffic, don't get too excited. Cops thoroughly enjoy giving tickets here.
This is where to go to get all things English, including tea and scones in the back room.
Totally normal mall with a twist that will delight anyone from parts of the world that don't have LA's lovely weather: it's entirely open-air. Like, no roof. Yeah, that's how confident LA is.
While everyone works themselves into a tizzy over In-N-Out, go here to get a seriously delicious burger. Great beer selection, too.
Use this instead of LAX whenever possible. It's smaller and much more manageable.
Korean BBQ, baby! Totally affordable and equally delicious. Get the all you can eat option and eat all you can.
If you're looking for a little swank, head up to this roof bar and lay inside one of those huge Hershey's Kisses.
Is it the second Tuesday of the month? If so, git yerself downtown between 12:00pm and 9:00pm cuz there's some arting going down. Go earlier if you want lighter crowds. And you don't have a job.
It's easy to walk past this place, but the interior is an extraordinary example of 1920's Moroccan design. Stop in for a coffee or a drink, or just look around. Make sure you visit the courtyard.
Rideau is one of many wineries that are within day-tripping distance of LA. Just remember to make sure the driver spits.
My wife and I went on our first date here. Sorta. We didn't know it was a date at the time. Point being, you'll marry anyone with whom you dine.
Come here for bonafide cocktails. Then, if you're feeling feisty, wander to the Tropicana Bar. Thom Yorke showed up there once, you know.
Sandwiches, soups, and breads are fantastic. Be warned: they're also huge.
Oh, sure, it's a lovely garden, but the stars of the show are the peacocks that roam about the grounds.
Get the Japanese Mustard Dressing and slather it on everything in sight. It's one of the most wildly delicious dressings I've ever had.
Remember being 16? You had a car, but the only wholesome activities available were minigolf, an arcade, or batting cages? This place has all 3, so you can revisit being 16 very efficiently.
It's crowded, touristy, and often filled with screaming children, but it's a lovely structure with fantastic views. I suggest parking on the street below and taking the slightly strenuous walk up.
Use Rodeo as the launching point for a stroll around Beverly Hills. It's an easy way to prove that, true to its reputation, Beverly Hills is filled with rich people driving fancy cars.
It doesn't have curb appeal, but pour that green salsa on carnitas tacos and you'll be good to go. Oh, and they sell the oft-forgotten 1980's soda Cactus Cooler.
I'm not on board (see what I did there?) with the food. However, sitting outside with a burger and beer on a nice day during happy hour is good stuff. Bonussauce: free parking in the back.
Lucy's is perfect if you want totally good (but not absolutely excellent) Mexican food in an Old Guard of Los Angeles setting. Get the enchiladas or burrito and try to sit on the patio.
This tip applies to all Coffee Beans: chai drinks are made with -- get this -- REAL tea. I know, crazy. No syrup at all. Also: this Coffee Bean validates parking for the Farmer's Market lots.
