Natalie’s guidebook
My favorite local eateries, walking distance from our home.
Delicious food, varied menu, healthy choices at a popular, local restaurant frequented by the hippest LA crowd. Outdoor seating!
140 locals recommend
Toast Bakery Cafe
8221 W 3rd StDelicious food, varied menu, healthy choices at a popular, local restaurant frequented by the hippest LA crowd. Outdoor seating!
Delicious coffee beverages, lovely indoor space. Get the avocado smash.
6 locals recommend
Bluestone Lane West Hollywood Café
8100 W 3rd StDelicious coffee beverages, lovely indoor space. Get the avocado smash.
Sushi by H
480 S San Vicente BlvdDelicious sushi! Great menu. Can't go wrong here.
Chicas Tacos
9345 Culver BlvdWhat's LA without Mexican food? Try the vegan tacos.
Inexpensive, healthy fast food Mexican food! Everything is delicious here.
22 locals recommend
Plancha Tacos
8250 W 3rd StInexpensive, healthy fast food Mexican food! Everything is delicious here.
Really good Chinese food. Outdoor seating. Good service. Lots of vegetarian options.
Mandarette Chinese Cafe
8386 Beverly BlvdReally good Chinese food. Outdoor seating. Good service. Lots of vegetarian options.
My favorite places to indulge my sweet tooth.
Best cupcakes, hands down. Our kids love the red velvet. I love the vanilla cupcake with milk chocolate icing.
9 locals recommend
Sprinkles The Grove
189 The Grove DriveBest cupcakes, hands down. Our kids love the red velvet. I love the vanilla cupcake with milk chocolate icing.
J Market
8253 W 3rd StPints of Haagen Daaz ice cream. Sometimes you just get a craving for it.
Only THE BEST DONUTS in Los Angeles. My husband chooses his donuts by asking, "What's warm?" I love that! Get coffee with your donut/s.
9 locals recommend
Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts
6333 W 3rd StOnly THE BEST DONUTS in Los Angeles. My husband chooses his donuts by asking, "What's warm?" I love that! Get coffee with your donut/s.
Neighborhoods
Los Angeles is huge. Urban sprawl. Our neighborhood is a real neighborhood. Tree-lined streets. We know our neighbors. It's walkable. We can walk to the market (Trader Joe's is a 5 minute walk; to countless restaurants and cafes, historic Farmer's Market and The Grove Shopping Center and more. It's generally safe to walk at night in our neighborhood, but I don't recommend walking alone at night.
22 locals recommend
Beverly Grove
Los Angeles is huge. Urban sprawl. Our neighborhood is a real neighborhood. Tree-lined streets. We know our neighbors. It's walkable. We can walk to the market (Trader Joe's is a 5 minute walk; to countless restaurants and cafes, historic Farmer's Market and The Grove Shopping Center and more. It's generally safe to walk at night in our neighborhood, but I don't recommend walking alone at night.
City/town information
We live in a part of Los Angeles, between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. There are so many iconic and historical landmarks within a 20-45 minute drive from our house. Perhaps you want to people watch, roller skate or skateboard at Venice Beach. Maybe you want to put on your walking shoes and hike Runyan Canyon--get to the top and take in spectacular views from downtown LA to the beach. Maybe you want to shop on Rodeo Drive or drive to see the mansions in Beverly Hills. Maybe you want to hit the many art museums including The Getty, LA County Museum of Art, the Arts & Crafts Museum, or The Annenberg Museum of Photography among others. Maybe you want to walk along Hollywood Blvd. or visit The Griffith Park Observatory. For all day fun, don't forget Disneyland, Universal Studios or Knott's Berry Farm.
And you rarely need to worry about the weather. Most days you can walk out wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I hate being cold, so I usually bring a sweater with me in case I find myself getting chilly in an air conditioned place. Otherwise, you can pretty much count on having a sunny day in LA. Oh yeah, make sure to wear sunscreen!!!!
234 locals recommend
Los Angeles
We live in a part of Los Angeles, between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. There are so many iconic and historical landmarks within a 20-45 minute drive from our house. Perhaps you want to people watch, roller skate or skateboard at Venice Beach. Maybe you want to put on your walking shoes and hike Runyan Canyon--get to the top and take in spectacular views from downtown LA to the beach. Maybe you want to shop on Rodeo Drive or drive to see the mansions in Beverly Hills. Maybe you want to hit the many art museums including The Getty, LA County Museum of Art, the Arts & Crafts Museum, or The Annenberg Museum of Photography among others. Maybe you want to walk along Hollywood Blvd. or visit The Griffith Park Observatory. For all day fun, don't forget Disneyland, Universal Studios or Knott's Berry Farm.
And you rarely need to worry about the weather. Most days you can walk out wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I hate being cold, so I usually bring a sweater with me in case I find myself getting chilly in an air conditioned place. Otherwise, you can pretty much count on having a sunny day in LA. Oh yeah, make sure to wear sunscreen!!!!
City advice
Travelling with kids
You need a car or to Uber.
While our neighborhood is walkable, you generally need a car or to Uber to get around Los Angeles. Yes, there is a good bus system, but no comprehensive metro system.