Los Angeles is like a second home and I have already written quite a lot about it on this blog, so I thought it was about time I compiled everything into a mini-guide to the city. You can print out this page and bring it with you on your next trip or if you are on Foursquare you can save my Los Angeles list for even more addresses. For the best ways to travel to L.A., please refer to the bottom of this post!
SHOP
Los Angeles is filled with amazing independent boutiques, most of them look pretty much like perfect pinterest boards. Most of them stock local Californian products and designers, all of them will leave you feeling inspired and happy. If you like vintage shopping, there are many hidden gems there too.
- you can click on each name for more information -
Hidden Treasures (vintage)
154 S Topanga Canyon Blvd - Topanga, CA 90290
Spitfire Girl (gifts and home decor)
1939-1/2 Hillhurst Ave Los Angeles,
CA 90027, United States
Reform School (vintage, gifts, home decor)
3902 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles,
CA 90029, United States
CA 90029, United States
5905 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles,
CA 90036, United States
6400 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles,
CA 90028, United States
The General Store (home decor, vintage, beauty)
1801 Lincoln Blvd Venice,
CA 90291, United States
Mohawk General Store (fashion)
4011 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles,
CA 90029, United States
- they also have a store in Pasadena -
Individual Medley (fashion, gifts, home decor)
3176 Glendale Blvd.
LA, CA
Dream Collective (jewellery)
1404 Micheltorena St, Los Angeles,
CA 90026, United States
Clare Vivier (bags)
3339 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026
MOCA Gift Shop (everything you could possibly want)
250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles,
CA 90012, United States
EAT
Have you ever dreamt of the perfect avocado? Or of the freshest tuna? If so, Los Angeles is the place for you. There are so many great places to eat at, most of them very affordable. Because of the weather, the ingredients are always fresh, tasty and the portions generally gargantuan.
Silverlake Cheese Store
3926 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Home
1760 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Alcove
1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
101 Coffee Shop
6145 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028
In & Out Burger
7009 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
Yamashiro
1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Figaro Bistrot
1802 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90027
Wurstküche
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Yogurtland
5541 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
BLD
7450 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Swingers
8020 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Blossom
4019 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
POT at Line
3515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Perch
448 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
COFFEE
If you like good coffee, you will be happy with the selection in L.A. - plus, it is the land of elaborate coffee orders, so knock yourselves out. I like mine iced, with soy milk, one shot and a drop of agave.
Intelligentsia
3922 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd.,Venice
Fix
2100 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026,
LA Mill Coffee Boutique
1636 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Cafecito Organico
534 N Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
COCKTAILS
I think the best dates or evenings with friends I've ever had have been in Los Angeles. First, you can do most things outside, and then there is a definite romance in the air everywhere you go. Could be the smell of jasmine, could be the irresistible Californian accent...
Bar Stella
3932 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Soho House
9200 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Tiki Ti
4427 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Cliff's Edge
3626 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Like any major cities, LA has its fair share of luxury hotels. It includes some of my personal favourites, from the romantic Beverly Hills Hotel to the ultra-hip Line and ACE, there is a little for everyone.
Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Los Feliz Lodge
1507 North Hoover Street, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Chateau Marmont
8221 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA
The Ace Hotel DTLA
929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Hotel Bel Air
701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077
The Line Hotel
3515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
DAY TRIPS
You can get there in 2hrs from SilverLake. Great day trip, but I can guarantee you will want to spend the night, so book ahead at the Ace Hotel.
Forget Venice and Santa Monica. If you want a real beach day, drive up the PCH to Malibu. Zuma Beach is great if you want to surf (or ogle hot surfer dudes).
Do not miss the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, and make sure you take the time to go on the 2hrs whale watch cruise.
When it comes to fun days out, Universal takes the cake. If you go around Halloween, don't miss the Universal Horror Nights there.
This is a work in progress, I will be adding more addresses each time I travel to L.A, so save this page in your bookmarks and feel free to email me with questions as well!
If you are planning on travelling to Los Angeles in the future, I suggest looking on ebookers, which is one of Europe’s largest online travel agents. I always check their site first as they offer a huge selection from over 250 airlines, 110 000 hotels worldwide and car hire from most of the major international brands - this generally makes booking decisions much easier, for me at least!
The site also offers advice to travellers which I like to check regularly. The site has been around for a while and the company goes back 20 years, so you can go right ahead and trust my advice here!
My favourite airlines on the London to Los Angeles route are: American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand - flights to L.A. start at around £470 return off peak
