ICBRKR GUIDE: LOS ANGELES
“I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They’re beautiful. Everybody’s plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic.”
– Andy Warhol
Known the world over for its iconic palm tree-lined boulevards, as the founding father of the green juice and wellness craze, and of course, for those nine white letters propped up on the Santa Monica Mountains, letting you know you’re in the presence of stars, Los Angeles is a city impossible to overlook.
In the past, LA’s been unfairly considered New York’s younger, hippier, less weather-beaten cousin; a cultural lightweight, hung up on pleasure-seeking. But Los Angeles (literally ‘The Angels’) is so much more than Hollywood after-parties; it’s a melting pot of art, architecture, food, drink, and, most importantly, dreams. It’s epicurean, in only the very best sense of the word.
Facts about LA
It has a population of almost 4 million
The iconic Hollywood sign originally read ‘Hollywoodland’ (in 1949, the ‘land’ portion was taken down)
LA was originally called ‘EPDNSRDLASERP’ (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Ángeles Sobre el Río Porciúncula)
It formed part of Mexico until 1847
Weed is legal there
The Board DTLA
WHEN TO VISIT
Thanks to the city’s eternal sunshine and Mediterranean climate, LA is one of those places you can visit all year round. But if you’re looking to avoid the colder months, steer clear between November and January.
INSIDER TIPS
Stay in the West Hollywood area to take advantage of its central location and nicer hotels
Shop on Melrose Ave, closer to Beverly Hills, for cool designers
Los Angeles has a subtropical climate, with very mild, winters and hot, dry summers
The traffic is awful – trust us. So, avoid traveling in rush hour or you might just end up at the back of a one-and-a-half-hour queue
The public transport system isn’t the best, so we’d recommend renting a car
Sushi is incredibly fresh in LA. Don’t miss out!
Take a trip to Silver Lake, the hipster area of LA
Spend a day in Hermosa Beach (hands down, the best beach in the city)
WHAT NOT TO MISS
The Getty Museum
FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
The Board in Downtown LA
LA County Museum of Art (LACMA)
FOR DRINKS AND DINING
Dinner and cocktails at Chateau Marmont
Have lunch at Gjusta
Try the sushi – you won’t regret it!
FOR LEISURE
A concert at the Hollywood Bowl
FOR SIGHT-SEEING
Visit Stahl House for panoramic views of LA
A stroll down Sunset Strip
WHERE TO STAY
Curating top-notch hotels is something LA does almost too well, making choosing where to stay damn near impossible. We’d recommend staying in West Hollywood, especially if you’re only there for a short stay, for its central location. But do stay at least one night by the beach, in either Santa Monica or Malibu – you’ll thank us later!
WEST HOLLYWOOD
For the prime location (at the corner of Sunset Boulevard) The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
For the vibe, Chateau Marmont
For the curated crowd, Petit Ermitage
For the rooftop pool, Chamberlain West Hollywood
For the four-legged permanent residents, Winston & Churchill The London Hotel
HOLLYWOOD
Cara Hotel
For the nostalgia (once owned by Charlie Chaplin), The Charlie
For the urban oasis vibe, Cara Hotel
For the pooch-pampering stays, The Prospect Hollywood
BEVERLY HILLS
Beverly Hills Hotel. Photo from Grey Malin
For the free bike rentals, Viceroy Hotel
For the ocean-facing terrace, Shutters
For proximity to cool local hangouts, Santa Monica Proper Hotel
MALIBU
For the rooftop bar and restaurant, The Surfrider Malibu
WHERE TO EAT
LA is home to some of the most innovative and talked about restaurants in America, and it’s no surprise given the array of rooftop terraces, cult-favourite food trucks, trendy pop-ups and well-established institutions there are on offer. We’ve narrowed down our top picks so you don’t have to:
HEALTHY BITES
Gjusta. Photo from bonappetit.
Veggie burger from Gjusta. Photo from ninafood.com
Chinese Chicken Salad from Joan’s on 3rd. Photo from lamag.com
TOP 3
Neighbourhood: Venice
Must try: veggie plates & veggie burger. Roast beef sandwich
Neighbourhood: Central LA
Must try: Chinese chicken salad
Cafe Gratitude (all vegan)
Neighbourhood: Venice
Must try: I AM ENTHUSIASTIC
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Gjelina
Erewhon
Gracias Madre
Botancia
Kismet
Superba Food + Bread
Jewel
Moon Juice
ASIAN
TOP 3
Sushi Nakazawa (Michelin star)
Neighbourhood: Los Angeles
Must try: Everything! (we’re not kidding)
Hayato (Michelin star)
Neighbourhood: Downtown Los Angeles
Must try: The Lunchbox (make sure you order ahead)
Chosun Galbee (Korean BBQ)
Neighbourhood: Koreatown
Must try: Galbee (marinated short ribs)
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Sugar Fish (a great budget alternative to Nakazawa)
Sushi Park
Sushi Kiriko
Sushi Tsujita (best Chirashi lunch)
Kazu Nori (LA staple)
Matsumoto (sushi)
Pine & Crane (Taiwanese)
Kazan (ramen)
Matshushisa
Nozawa Bar
Magal BBQ (Korean BBQ)
Jeon Ju (Korean)
LA Tofu House (Korean)
Myung Dong Kyoja (Korean. Spicy Cold Noodles)
Marugame Monzo (handmade udon)
n/naka (2 Michelin stars; book 3 months ahead)
n/soto
Luv2Eat Thai Bistro
Sun Nong Dan (Korean)
Tsujita LA (ramen)
Tasty Noodle House (Shanghainese)
ANYTHING ELSE
Holbox. Photo from Timeout
TOP 4
Neighbourhood: Fairfax
Must Try: Fungi Pizza and Zucchini Flowers Pizza
Neighbourhood: Miracle Mile
Must Try: The baguettes (they’re the best in LA); avocado toast
Neighbourhood: Century City
Must Try: Lobster roll; kurobuta pork chop
Holbox (Michelin star)
Neighbourhood: Historic South Central
Must Try: Kapachi; Uni Tostada
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Osteria Mozza
Mother Wolf
Horses
Jon & Vinny’s (fun Italian)
Providence (Michelin star)
Song of a Gun
Matsu
Dr. Sandwich
Unami Burger (unmissable)
Animal
Canter’s Deli (old school deli; great for late night snacks)
Dan Tana’s (LA scene)
The Ivy (LA scene)
Rosaline
Bay Cities (best Italian sandwiches)
SusieCakes (best all-American Cakes)
Bestia
Bavel
Saffy’s
Chi Spacca
Salt’s Cure
WHERE TO HANG OUT
Bootsy Bellows. Photograph: Courtesy Elizabeth Daniels
Chateau Marmont
Sunset at The Edition Hotel
Warwick
MainRo
Bootsy Bellows
Delilah
The Nice Guy
Sound Night Club for electronic music
Tower Bar
Employees Only
Raspoutine
WHERE TO WORK OUT
Wanderlust Hollywood
CorePower Yoga
YogaWorks
Aziam yoga
Artha
Body by Nonna
GST Body
Dogpound
WHERE TO SHOP
You can’t exactly visit the home to the stars without treating yourself like one, can you? So credit cards out and let’s get to work. Hands down, the best places to shop are Melrose (starting on Santa Monica Blvd heading towards North La Brea), Robertson Blvd in West Hollywood, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and Abbot Kinney in Venice.
Here are our stand-out stores:
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
• Maxfield, West Hollywood
• Ron Herman, Melrose
• The General Store, Venice
• Dover St Market, Downtown LA
• Roseark, West Hollywood
• Lost & Found, Santa Monica
• Chrome Hearts, West Hollywood
• Heist, Venice
• Dream Collective, Silver Lake
• The Great, West Hollywood
HOMEWARE
• House of Intuition, Echo Park (get your crystals here!)
• L’Eclaireur, West Hollywood