Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Cafe Gratitude
512 Rose AveExcellent vegan hotspot.
Excellent seafood with great views overlooking the ocean and Santa Monica pier and amusement park.
83 locals recommend
The Lobster
1602 Ocean AveExcellent seafood with great views overlooking the ocean and Santa Monica pier and amusement park.
Great people watching, great food. Trendy burgers, chicken wings, drinks, etc.
56 locals recommend
Larry's
24 Windward AveGreat people watching, great food. Trendy burgers, chicken wings, drinks, etc.
Local hot spot 1 minute walk from the apartment. Great food, drinks, and the best chocolate soufflé.
258 locals recommend
James' Beach
60 N Venice BlvdLocal hot spot 1 minute walk from the apartment. Great food, drinks, and the best chocolate soufflé.
Canal Club
2025 Pacific AveSushi and Asian fusion right across from James Beach; same owners.
Bellissimo Venice
68 N Venice BlvdGreat coffee, breakfast, lox and bagels...
The long line is totally worth the wait if you are a coffee aficionado. Plus their pastries are excellent.
394 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Venice Coffeebar
1331 Abbot Kinney BlvdThe long line is totally worth the wait if you are a coffee aficionado. Plus their pastries are excellent.
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdWorth trying if you can get in.
Excellent, fast, pizza, sandwiches, vegetable salads, desserts. Sometimes a short line, but it moves fast. If you're in a hurry, you can pre-order by telephone and avoid the wait.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdExcellent, fast, pizza, sandwiches, vegetable salads, desserts. Sometimes a short line, but it moves fast. If you're in a hurry, you can pre-order by telephone and avoid the wait.
Specify your own salad ingredients from many innovative choices. Also, soups, and flavored lemonades of course.
516 locals recommend
Lemonade
1661 Abbot Kinney BlvdSpecify your own salad ingredients from many innovative choices. Also, soups, and flavored lemonades of course.
Huge portions, family friendly, great service, friendly waiters, nice outdoor patio, garlic pizza dough balls, food quality fair but overall a fun experience. You may hear a familiar Italian song...
181 locals recommend
C&O Trattoria
3016 Washington BoulevardHuge portions, family friendly, great service, friendly waiters, nice outdoor patio, garlic pizza dough balls, food quality fair but overall a fun experience. You may hear a familiar Italian song...
Joe's Restaurant
1023 Abbot Kinney BoulevardExcellent food and atmosphere.
Not a restaurant, but excellent--and expensive--cold pressed juices, almond milk, etc., and delectables.
104 locals recommend
Moon Juice
507 Rose AveNot a restaurant, but excellent--and expensive--cold pressed juices, almond milk, etc., and delectables.
SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa
600 W 7th StGood sushi
The Cow's End Cafe
34 Washington BlvdLocals hangout, coffee, juices, smoothies, etc.
Geoffreys
27400 Pacific Coast HwyGood food, great setting, with a beautiful view of the ocean.
Nobu Malibu
22706 Pacific Coast HwyExcellent expensive sushi in a classy setting.
Good Italian food with amazing warm bread served with garlic basil olive oil.
71 locals recommend
La Vecchia Cucina
2654 Main StGood Italian food with amazing warm bread served with garlic basil olive oil.
Entertainment & Activities
Great healthy food suitable for adults and kids. At Santa Monica mall and 3rd Street Promenade, so you and walk and shop while you're there.
95 locals recommend
True Food Kitchen
395 Santa Monica PlGreat healthy food suitable for adults and kids. At Santa Monica mall and 3rd Street Promenade, so you and walk and shop while you're there.
Touristy shopping, dining, and movie themed amusement park. I haven't been in years so I can't speak too much about it.
516 locals recommend
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaTouristy shopping, dining, and movie themed amusement park. I haven't been in years so I can't speak too much about it.
Essentials
Large health food supermarket. Everything from organic produce, fish, meats, beer, wine, and fresh prepared foods. The only place I shop.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdLarge health food supermarket. Everything from organic produce, fish, meats, beer, wine, and fresh prepared foods. The only place I shop.
Ralphs
1644 Cloverfield BlvdFairly close grocery store, but Whole Foods Market is closer and better.
Windward Market
105 Windward AveVery close small market.
One of the most interesting and special things you can see, the Space Shuttle Endeavor. See it up close. Also it's last flight on the back of a 747 and then how they transported it from LAX through the streets of LA to the CA Science Center.
24 locals recommend
Space Shuttle Endeavour
700 Exposition Park DrOne of the most interesting and special things you can see, the Space Shuttle Endeavor. See it up close. Also it's last flight on the back of a 747 and then how they transported it from LAX through the streets of LA to the CA Science Center.
Everything Else
Three long blocks of shopping, dining, and movies. Touristy, and with street performers, but if you're a tourist, it's probably worth going. At the south end is the very nice Santa Monica Mall.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeThree long blocks of shopping, dining, and movies. Touristy, and with street performers, but if you're a tourist, it's probably worth going. At the south end is the very nice Santa Monica Mall.
Nice outdoor mall anchored by Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. The excellent True Food Kitchen is on the first floor and is great for kids and adults. The mall is at the South end of 3rd St. Promenade.
178 locals recommend
Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica PlaceNice outdoor mall anchored by Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. The excellent True Food Kitchen is on the first floor and is great for kids and adults. The mall is at the South end of 3rd St. Promenade.
On Sundays until 1pm. Aside from the fresh vegetables and fruits, you can get prepared eggs, crepes, waffles, etc. Also live entertainment and usually horse rides for little kids.
162 locals recommend
Santa Monica Sunday Main Street Farmers Markets
2640 Main StOn Sundays until 1pm. Aside from the fresh vegetables and fruits, you can get prepared eggs, crepes, waffles, etc. Also live entertainment and usually horse rides for little kids.
Closest pharmacy. Turn left on Pacific, right on Rose and it's there at the next corner on your left.
76 locals recommend
CVS
255 Main StClosest pharmacy. Turn left on Pacific, right on Rose and it's there at the next corner on your left.
Venice Sign
1501 Main StreetBike rental
VB Surf
38 Washington BlvdSurf board, stand up paddle board rentals, beach clothing, etc.
Great surf shop, lots of gear, footwear, clothing, sunglasses, etc.
Including snowboarding gear in winter.
20 locals recommend
ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main StGreat surf shop, lots of gear, footwear, clothing, sunglasses, etc.
Including snowboarding gear in winter.
Arbor Venice
102 Washington BlvdSkateboards and clothing.
Main Street
Main StreetGood shopping and restaurants with a nice farmer's market on Sundays
Sightseeing
Merry-go-round, ferris wheel, rollercoaster, etc...and annoying arcade for the kids!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierMerry-go-round, ferris wheel, rollercoaster, etc...and annoying arcade for the kids!
Beautiful houses and canals on what's left of Abbot Kinney's "Venice of America" development in 1905. Consider walking through this area on your way to Abbot Kinney Blvd.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
Beautiful houses and canals on what's left of Abbot Kinney's "Venice of America" development in 1905. Consider walking through this area on your way to Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Vintage hotel where the little people from the Wizard of Oz stayed during filming of that movie. Also downtown Culver City is a nice area with lots of restaurants and a movie theater.
211 locals recommend
The Culver Hotel
9400 Culver BlvdVintage hotel where the little people from the Wizard of Oz stayed during filming of that movie. Also downtown Culver City is a nice area with lots of restaurants and a movie theater.
Museum of Flying
3100 Airport AveAviation history
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrEmbarrassed to say I haven't been, but definitely worth going...
Embarrassed to say I haven't been, but definitely worth going... You'll have to research the difference between the two museums.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyEmbarrassed to say I haven't been, but definitely worth going... You'll have to research the difference between the two museums.
If you take a trip to San Diego, touring this aircraft carrier is very interesting. It's worth it to sign up for a private tour, which starts an hour before it opens to the public.
775 locals recommend
USS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor DrIf you take a trip to San Diego, touring this aircraft carrier is very interesting. It's worth it to sign up for a private tour, which starts an hour before it opens to the public.
At the California Science Center. VERY cool to see this space ship up close. Also a great movie showing how it was moved through the city streets from LAX. Great for kids and adults.
24 locals recommend
Space Shuttle Endeavour
700 Exposition Park DrAt the California Science Center. VERY cool to see this space ship up close. Also a great movie showing how it was moved through the city streets from LAX. Great for kids and adults.
Space Shuttle Endeavor;
iMax 3D movie Hubble Space Telescope. Early space capsules and much more (not all of it aviation/space oriented).
442 locals recommend
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park DrSpace Shuttle Endeavor;
iMax 3D movie Hubble Space Telescope. Early space capsules and much more (not all of it aviation/space oriented).
The iMax3D movie Hubble Space Telescope is AMAZING! Takes you within a few feet of Astronauts repairing the telescope and far far away in the galaxy. One of the best movies I've seen.
442 locals recommend
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park DrThe iMax3D movie Hubble Space Telescope is AMAZING! Takes you within a few feet of Astronauts repairing the telescope and far far away in the galaxy. One of the best movies I've seen.
After touring Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and maybe Hollywood, the drive on Sunset back to the coast is nice, then south on Pacific Coast highway through Santa Monica and back to the apartment.
334 locals recommend
Sunset Strip
After touring Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and maybe Hollywood, the drive on Sunset back to the coast is nice, then south on Pacific Coast highway through Santa Monica and back to the apartment.
Hollywood Wigs
6530 Hollywood BoulevardI've never been or really seen it other than from a plane...
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood BlvdI think the stars handprints are here.
You can see all the stars as you walk along Hollywood Boulevard. Some that you recognize some that you never even heard of...
1913 locals recommend
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset BlvdYou can see all the stars as you walk along Hollywood Boulevard. Some that you recognize some that you never even heard of...
Shopping
Not sure why you might need to know where this is, but here it is...
130 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
13463 Washington BlvdNot sure why you might need to know where this is, but here it is...
Sport Chalet
2 Civic Center DrWide variety of sporting goods
Beverly Center
8500 Beverly BlvdGreat indoor mall
Very nice outdoor mall with great shopping and some good restaurants.
372 locals recommend
Westfield Century City
10250 Santa Monica BlvdVery nice outdoor mall with great shopping and some good restaurants.
A group of trendy, high end stores, individually owned, where you just might see a celebrity. Also Mauro's, a very good Italian restaurant with inside and patio for lunch. Highly recommended.
99 locals recommend
Fred Segal
8500 Sunset BlvdA group of trendy, high end stores, individually owned, where you just might see a celebrity. Also Mauro's, a very good Italian restaurant with inside and patio for lunch. Highly recommended.
A group of trendy, higher end stores, individually owned. Not quite the same since the original of 2 buildings was closed for demolition. Worth going if you're shopping in SM. Small cafe for lunch.
99 locals recommend
Fred Segal
8500 Sunset BlvdA group of trendy, higher end stores, individually owned. Not quite the same since the original of 2 buildings was closed for demolition. Worth going if you're shopping in SM. Small cafe for lunch.
Excellent higher end shopping, several places to eat, and a playground for the kids. If you like home decorating, check out Room at the Beach.
195 locals recommend
Malibu Country Mart
3835 Cross Creek RdExcellent higher end shopping, several places to eat, and a playground for the kids. If you like home decorating, check out Room at the Beach.
Bartels' Harley-Davidson
4141 Lincoln BlvdIf you like Harley's...
Target
735 S Figueroa StIn case you need to go to Target...
Toys"R"Us
In case...
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo DriveFor nice Beverly Hills Shopping and sightseeing.