Guidebook for Los Angeles

Melanie & Ben
Melanie & Ben
Guidebook for Los Angeles

Essentials

Excellent market with juice bar, prepared foods, and coffee bar, along with a wide selection of groceries and health foods
55 locals recommend
Fresco Community Market
5914 Monterey Rd
55 locals recommend
Excellent market with juice bar, prepared foods, and coffee bar, along with a wide selection of groceries and health foods
Excellent array of groceries at affordable prices
202 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
345 S Lake Ave
202 locals recommend
Excellent array of groceries at affordable prices
specialty grocer with fresh sandwiches and daily specials
661 Imperial St
661 Imperial Street
specialty grocer with fresh sandwiches and daily specials

Food Scene

Delicious food and lovely setting
101 locals recommend
Maximiliano
5930 York Blvd
101 locals recommend
Delicious food and lovely setting
Amazing tacos and so affordable
52 locals recommend
El Huarache Azteca
5225 York Blvd
52 locals recommend
Amazing tacos and so affordable
Try the horchata latte
167 locals recommend
Cafe de Leche
5000 York Blvd
167 locals recommend
Try the horchata latte
Old-school Highland Park spot with delicious pizza
34 locals recommend
Folliero's Italian Food and Pizza
5566 N Figueroa St
34 locals recommend
Old-school Highland Park spot with delicious pizza
Original burger recipes; also have turkey and veggie options
37 locals recommend
Fusion Burgers
5933 York Blvd
37 locals recommend
Original burger recipes; also have turkey and veggie options
Casual taco spot
25 locals recommend
My Taco
6300 York Blvd
25 locals recommend
Casual taco spot
Best traditional pho in town on the edge of Chinatown--check out the shops nearby, too
27 locals recommend
Pho 87
1019 N Broadway
27 locals recommend
Best traditional pho in town on the edge of Chinatown--check out the shops nearby, too
Old-school French spot in Echo Park with a great lounge for food and cocktails; cheap valet parking; close to the Echo and Echoplex
125 locals recommend
Taix French Restaurant
1911 Sunset Blvd
125 locals recommend
Old-school French spot in Echo Park with a great lounge for food and cocktails; cheap valet parking; close to the Echo and Echoplex
Great Mexican restaurant--go for drinks at the Short Stop and Little Joy afterwards
268 locals recommend
El Compadre
7408 Sunset Blvd
268 locals recommend
Great Mexican restaurant--go for drinks at the Short Stop and Little Joy afterwards
Best sushi in Little Tokyo
9 locals recommend
Sushi Komasa
351 E 2nd St
9 locals recommend
Best sushi in Little Tokyo
Delicious food and baked goods, right off the Gold Line
27 locals recommend
Heirloom Bakery & Cafe
807-C Meridian Ave
27 locals recommend
Delicious food and baked goods, right off the Gold Line
Fresh baked goods and Mexican-style hot drinks
58 locals recommend
La Monarca Bakery
5833 N Figueroa St
58 locals recommend
Fresh baked goods and Mexican-style hot drinks
Delicious food, coffee and pastries. Outdoor seating.
288 locals recommend
Urth Caffé
459 S Hewitt St
288 locals recommend
Delicious food, coffee and pastries. Outdoor seating.
for your Starbucks fix; drive thru
124 locals recommend
Starbucks
300 E Colorado Blvd
124 locals recommend
for your Starbucks fix; drive thru
Famous for their pastrami, burgers, and chicken.
80 locals recommend
The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd
80 locals recommend
Famous for their pastrami, burgers, and chicken.
Old-school pizzeria
62 locals recommend
Casa Bianca Pizza Pie
1650 Colorado Blvd
62 locals recommend
Old-school pizzeria
A bit pricey, but delicious, quality ingredients.
72 locals recommend
CaCao Mexicatessen
1576 Colorado Blvd
72 locals recommend
A bit pricey, but delicious, quality ingredients.
Healthy and creative seasonal fare
72 locals recommend
Four Cafe
2122 Colorado Blvd
72 locals recommend
Healthy and creative seasonal fare
Fresh pho in a hip setting
61 locals recommend
Blossom Vietnamese restaurant
426 S Main St
61 locals recommend
Fresh pho in a hip setting
Amazing Italian food and small bites for sharing! Beautiful art deco setting.
584 locals recommend
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave
584 locals recommend
Amazing Italian food and small bites for sharing! Beautiful art deco setting.
A popular spot for cocktails and sushi
101 locals recommend
Wokcano
800 W 7th St
101 locals recommend
A popular spot for cocktails and sushi
Creative Spanish-fusion fare; share dishes to keep the cost down! So delicious!
125 locals recommend
Bäco Mercat
408 S Main St
125 locals recommend
Creative Spanish-fusion fare; share dishes to keep the cost down! So delicious!
Casual beer and wurst spot--can have a long line, so go at odd hours.
194 locals recommend
Wurstküche
800 East 3rd Street
194 locals recommend
Casual beer and wurst spot--can have a long line, so go at odd hours.
Great food as far as chain restaurants go; shop along Colorado and grab a bite.
494 locals recommend
The Cheesecake Factory
4142 Vía Marina
494 locals recommend
Great food as far as chain restaurants go; shop along Colorado and grab a bite.
Outstanding quality--salads, meats and veggies.
432 locals recommend
Tender Greens
6290 Sunset Blvd
432 locals recommend
Outstanding quality--salads, meats and veggies.
Pizzeria--both traditional and vegan options abound
84 locals recommend
Blaze Pizza
667 E Colorado Blvd
84 locals recommend
Pizzeria--both traditional and vegan options abound
yummy Italian fare
52 locals recommend
Mi Piace
25 E Colorado Blvd
52 locals recommend
yummy Italian fare
Delicious NY-style pizza in a retro diner setting!
102 locals recommend
Tomato Pie Pizza Joint
2457 Hyperion Ave
102 locals recommend
Delicious NY-style pizza in a retro diner setting!
Deli sandwiches, pizza, pasta and craft beers
37 locals recommend
The Heights Deli & Bottle Shop
2927 N Broadway
37 locals recommend
Deli sandwiches, pizza, pasta and craft beers
downtown winery with tasting room and restaurant
45 locals recommend
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar St
45 locals recommend
downtown winery with tasting room and restaurant
delicious Chinatown restaurant--great soups, fried calamari, and seafood dishes
Full House Seafood
963 N Hill St
delicious Chinatown restaurant--great soups, fried calamari, and seafood dishes
support this amazing organization and enjoy some delicious baked goods and coffee
15 locals recommend
Homegirl Café
130 Bruno St
15 locals recommend
support this amazing organization and enjoy some delicious baked goods and coffee
delicious Italian food with a prix fixe dinner on Mondays; great adjacent deli
276 locals recommend
Little Dom's
2128 Hillhurst Ave
276 locals recommend
delicious Italian food with a prix fixe dinner on Mondays; great adjacent deli
Delicious sandwiches and salads; great brunch spot; full bakery offerings for coffee/dessert; garden seating; cocktails in the evening
310 locals recommend
Alcove
1929 Hillhurst Ave
310 locals recommend
Delicious sandwiches and salads; great brunch spot; full bakery offerings for coffee/dessert; garden seating; cocktails in the evening
great brunch spot
26 locals recommend
Mustard Seed Cafe
1948 Hillhurst Ave
26 locals recommend
great brunch spot
Steakhouse and dive bar all-in-one
210 locals recommend
The Dresden Restaurant & Lounge
1760 N Vermont Ave
210 locals recommend
Steakhouse and dive bar all-in-one
food stalls with world cuisine
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway
968 locals recommend
food stalls with world cuisine
fresh pastries, bread and coffee
52 locals recommend
Bread Lounge
700 S Santa Fe Ave
52 locals recommend
fresh pastries, bread and coffee
specialty coffee shop
80 locals recommend
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
806 S Santa Fe Ave
80 locals recommend
specialty coffee shop
Blazing Stone local pizzeria at the foot of our hill
3501 Monterey Rd
3501 Monterey Road
Blazing Stone local pizzeria at the foot of our hill
fresh Mexican pastries, treats and coffee
58 locals recommend
La Monarca Bakery
5833 N Figueroa St
58 locals recommend
fresh Mexican pastries, treats and coffee
specialty ice cream
9 locals recommend
Scoops Chinatown
727 N Broadway
9 locals recommend
specialty ice cream
ramen shop!
Ramen Champ
6229 N Broadway
ramen shop!
New Orleans fare like po boy sandwiches and gumbo; also a small grocery shop
25 locals recommend
The Little Jewel of New Orleans
207 Ord St
25 locals recommend
New Orleans fare like po boy sandwiches and gumbo; also a small grocery shop
New pho shop in Chinatown
61 locals recommend
Blossom Vietnamese restaurant
426 S Main St
61 locals recommend
New pho shop in Chinatown
delicious baked goods!
35 locals recommend
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
111 S Ave 59
35 locals recommend
delicious baked goods!
brunch spot with vegan choices!
198 locals recommend
Kitchen Mouse
5904 N Figueroa St
198 locals recommend
brunch spot with vegan choices!
Coffee spot
116 locals recommend
Civil Coffee
5629 N Figueroa St
116 locals recommend
Coffee spot

Everything Else

Fresh ice cream--unique flavors
105 locals recommend
Scoops
2143 West 182nd Street
105 locals recommend
Fresh ice cream--unique flavors
Amazing park close by, with great hiking trails and sweeping views of the city!
112 locals recommend
Ernest E Debs Regional Park
4235 Monterey Rd
112 locals recommend
Amazing park close by, with great hiking trails and sweeping views of the city!
Every Thursday from 4-8pm!
48 locals recommend
South Pasadena Farmers' Market
920 Meridian Ave
48 locals recommend
Every Thursday from 4-8pm!
Large outdoor mall; it's across from the older but huge Glendale Galleria for all of your retail shopping needs
642 locals recommend
The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way
642 locals recommend
Large outdoor mall; it's across from the older but huge Glendale Galleria for all of your retail shopping needs
Outdoor mall near the shops of Old Town Pasadena
117 locals recommend
The Paseo
300 E Colorado Blvd
117 locals recommend
Outdoor mall near the shops of Old Town Pasadena
local dry cleaning service
Halvorson's Cleaners
701 Mission St
local dry cleaning service

Drinks & Nightlife

Funky vibe and delicious cocktails
90 locals recommend
La Cuevita
5922 N Figueroa St
90 locals recommend
Funky vibe and delicious cocktails
pub food
98 locals recommend
The Greyhound Bar & Grill
5570 N Figueroa St
98 locals recommend
pub food
Great gastropub and lively vibe
219 locals recommend
The York
5018 York Blvd
219 locals recommend
Great gastropub and lively vibe
Beer bar
148 locals recommend
The Hermosillo
5125 York Blvd
148 locals recommend
Beer bar
lots of great shows here
305 locals recommend
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd
305 locals recommend
lots of great shows here
Fun and funky dive bar
152 locals recommend
Short Stop
1455 Sunset Blvd
152 locals recommend
Fun and funky dive bar
Dive bar close to the Short Stop
112 locals recommend
Little Joy
1477 Sunset Blvd
112 locals recommend
Dive bar close to the Short Stop
Great DJs and pints
38 locals recommend
The Old Chalet
1630 Colorado Blvd
38 locals recommend
Great DJs and pints
local indie music spot with monthly Monday night residencies
127 locals recommend
The Satellite
127 locals recommend
local indie music spot with monthly Monday night residencies
funky bar with great music--can get crowded on weekends
107 locals recommend
Cha Cha Lounge
2375 Glendale Blvd
107 locals recommend
funky bar with great music--can get crowded on weekends
grab a pint and a bratwurst
149 locals recommend
The Red Lion Tavern
2366 Glendale Blvd
149 locals recommend
grab a pint and a bratwurst
fun outdoor space for cocktails
83 locals recommend
Villains Tavern
1356 Palmetto Street
83 locals recommend
fun outdoor space for cocktails
downtown brewery with several more, like Mumford Brewing Co., to open soon
179 locals recommend
Angel City Brewery
216 S Alameda St
179 locals recommend
downtown brewery with several more, like Mumford Brewing Co., to open soon
long-running and tiny LA tiki bar!
123 locals recommend
Tiki Ti
4427 Sunset Blvd
123 locals recommend
long-running and tiny LA tiki bar!
A great dive bar renowned for their chicken wings
67 locals recommend
Ye Rustic Inn
1831 Hillhurst Ave
67 locals recommend
A great dive bar renowned for their chicken wings
dive bar with jukebox/karaoke nights
37 locals recommend
Dresden Room
1800 Hillhurst Ave
37 locals recommend
dive bar with jukebox/karaoke nights
flamenco performances
65 locals recommend
El Cid
4212 Sunset Blvd
65 locals recommend
flamenco performances
beer garden
149 locals recommend
The Red Lion Tavern
2366 Glendale Blvd
149 locals recommend
beer garden
local wine bar
17 locals recommend
Eastside Luv Wine Bar
1835 E 1st St
17 locals recommend
local wine bar
bowling alley and bar combo
253 locals recommend
Highland Park Bowl
5621 N Figueroa St
253 locals recommend
bowling alley and bar combo

Sightseeing

Modern Art Museum
401 locals recommend
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central Ave
401 locals recommend
Modern Art Museum
A promenade filled with Mexican eateries and often live music and cultural events
412 locals recommend
Olvera Street
Olvera Street
412 locals recommend
A promenade filled with Mexican eateries and often live music and cultural events

Arts & Culture

Check out a play in downtown's theater complex
31 locals recommend
Mark Taper Forum
135 N Grand Ave
31 locals recommend
Check out a play in downtown's theater complex
Catch a Lakers, Clippers, or Kings game
1228 locals recommend
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St
1228 locals recommend
Catch a Lakers, Clippers, or Kings game
Fun bowling spot with karaoke
16 locals recommend
All Star Lanes
4459 Eagle Rock Blvd
16 locals recommend
Fun bowling spot with karaoke
These theaters are known for their stellar sound and picture quality
110 locals recommend
ArcLight Cinemas - Pasadena
300 E Colorado Blvd
110 locals recommend
These theaters are known for their stellar sound and picture quality
Enjoy the unique shape of this Frank Gehry-designed music hall. Across the street is a theater complex featuring incredible plays, operas and musicals. Look online or visit the box office for tickets.
1063 locals recommend
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand Ave
1063 locals recommend
Enjoy the unique shape of this Frank Gehry-designed music hall. Across the street is a theater complex featuring incredible plays, operas and musicals. Look online or visit the box office for tickets.
for baseball lovers, catch a game at the stadium
877 locals recommend
Dodger Stadium
1000 Vin Scully Ave
877 locals recommend
for baseball lovers, catch a game at the stadium
catch a basketball, hockey game or concert at this arena--there are many bars and restaurants in the vicinity
1228 locals recommend
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St
1228 locals recommend
catch a basketball, hockey game or concert at this arena--there are many bars and restaurants in the vicinity
Beautiful restored movie theater playing one new release each week
417 locals recommend
Vista Theater
4473 Sunset Dr
417 locals recommend
Beautiful restored movie theater playing one new release each week
New free contemporary art museum--book online or get free tix there
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand Ave
1555 locals recommend
New free contemporary art museum--book online or get free tix there

Shopping

An iconic Old Town Pasadena Bookstore; catch a flick next door
65 locals recommend
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E Colorado Blvd
65 locals recommend
An iconic Old Town Pasadena Bookstore; catch a flick next door
Original, beautiful women's clothing and home wares hint: head for the sale rack!
Anthropologie
35 N Fair Oaks Ave
Original, beautiful women's clothing and home wares hint: head for the sale rack!