Shelley’s Santa Monica-Venice guidebook
Neighborhoods
Santa Monica/Venice Day:
Take Venice Blvd. to Abbott Kinney and park near the corner or on the street somewhere. Zinque or Erewhon are great for lunch and there are many others along Abbott Kinney (Tasting Kitchen, etc. - on restaurant list). Walk to look at the shops Along Abbot Kinney and then continue to Venice Beach Boardwalk to look at the "weirdos" and "muscle beach" On weekends is quite a scene! It's best on the weekends but in summer it's busy every day. It's best not to eat on the Boardwalk. Tocaya nearby has good California-Mex food or Ospi, Rose, etc. Then go back to the car and drive along Main street Venice (Urth café is fun for coffee) to Santa Monica – park in the Santa Monica Mall (free/cheap parking). Walk along the promenade and to the pier (you can walk on the cliff park along the water). Then come back to the mall and go upstairs to Sonoma Wine Garden for appetizers/view or the food court patio to look at the view. The big Ferris Wheel at the pier is fun day or night. There are many restaurants and shops in Santa Monica - all types of food and clothing. Check restaurant list!
513 moradores locais recomendam
Santa Monica
Santa Monica/Venice Day:
Take Venice Blvd. to Abbott Kinney and park near the corner or on the street somewhere. Zinque or Erewhon are great for lunch and there are many others along Abbott Kinney (Tasting Kitchen, etc. - on restaurant list). Walk to look at the shops Along Abbot Kinney and then continue to Venice Beach Boardwalk to look at the "weirdos" and "muscle beach" On weekends is quite a scene! It's best on the weekends but in summer it's busy every day. It's best not to eat on the Boardwalk. Tocaya nearby has good California-Mex food or Ospi, Rose, etc. Then go back to the car and drive along Main street Venice (Urth café is fun for coffee) to Santa Monica – park in the Santa Monica Mall (free/cheap parking). Walk along the promenade and to the pier (you can walk on the cliff park along the water). Then come back to the mall and go upstairs to Sonoma Wine Garden for appetizers/view or the food court patio to look at the view. The big Ferris Wheel at the pier is fun day or night. There are many restaurants and shops in Santa Monica - all types of food and clothing. Check restaurant list!
WEST HOLLYWOOD/HOLLYWOOD/ GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY DAY:
Park in the Farmer’s Market/Grove lot to see the Grove and have lunch in one of
the stalls at the old Farmers Market or the Cheesecake Factory, etc. then take
the car up Fairfax to Melrose, turn right and drive along (stop to shop if interested
– lots of used clothing stores, etc.)…Go to La Brea and turn left, go to Hollywood
Blvd. and turn right a few blocks and you’ll be at the Graumann’s Chinese
(handprint) theater. Try to end up here AFTER dark (first you can go to the:
Griffith Park Observatory for the sunset, beautiful Deco building and views over the city. There is also the Planetarium and you can see the shows at different hours during the day and night, they run often). You can go down the hill to hang out in Hollywood
for dinner or, much better, you can combine this with Hollywood by taking Vine to Sunset and continuing
down Sunset to Echo Park. There are many good restaurants and shops in this large area - a great place to wander and you can also see the lake with it’s lotus blossoms.
ECHO PARK-SILVERLAKE/ Griffith Park Observatory
These are the best hipster areas of Los Angeles. The Echoplex clubs and Masa (Latin fusion food) are pretty much the center of the area but Pine and Crane (new Chinese fusion) or Mza (Mediterranean) are in another center of this area. Sage or Elf Cafe (Vegan) are also good. It's worth seeing both the Silverlake side and the Echo Park side. You can always stop for a serious hipster coffee at Intelligentsia Coffee or LA Mill (amazingly good coffee and most expensive!)
234 moradores locais recomendam
Echo Park
1632 Echo Park AveWEST HOLLYWOOD/HOLLYWOOD/ GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY DAY:
Park in the Farmer’s Market/Grove lot to see the Grove and have lunch in one of
the stalls at the old Farmers Market or the Cheesecake Factory, etc. then take
the car up Fairfax to Melrose, turn right and drive along (stop to shop if interested
– lots of used clothing stores, etc.)…Go to La Brea and turn left, go to Hollywood
Blvd. and turn right a few blocks and you’ll be at the Graumann’s Chinese
(handprint) theater. Try to end up here AFTER dark (first you can go to the:
Griffith Park Observatory for the sunset, beautiful Deco building and views over the city. There is also the Planetarium and you can see the shows at different hours during the day and night, they run often). You can go down the hill to hang out in Hollywood
for dinner or, much better, you can combine this with Hollywood by taking Vine to Sunset and continuing
down Sunset to Echo Park. There are many good restaurants and shops in this large area - a great place to wander and you can also see the lake with it’s lotus blossoms.
ECHO PARK-SILVERLAKE/ Griffith Park Observatory
These are the best hipster areas of Los Angeles. The Echoplex clubs and Masa (Latin fusion food) are pretty much the center of the area but Pine and Crane (new Chinese fusion) or Mza (Mediterranean) are in another center of this area. Sage or Elf Cafe (Vegan) are also good. It's worth seeing both the Silverlake side and the Echo Park side. You can always stop for a serious hipster coffee at Intelligentsia Coffee or LA Mill (amazingly good coffee and most expensive!)
Best Museums: MOCA, Broad Museum, Pacific Asia Museum
Arts District Galleries
Important Sites: Disney Hall, Union Station, Grand Central Market, Biltmore Hotel, Angel’s Flight
My suggestion is that you start at Grand Central Market (many different food choices inside) for lunch or first drive past Disney Hall and start with MOCA or the BROAD museums and then go to Grand Central Market to eat and walk around. The central area is located between 3rd and 9th streets along Spring St. and Broadway so you can park in a lot around there. You can walk down Spring street to see the Last Bookstore and then go up 5th to see the Biltmore Hotel on Grand (and maybe the old Library on Hope if you feel energetic) then walk back to Broadway to see the Grand Central Market and take Angel’s flight. Across the street from Grand Central Market is the Bradbury Building - an architectural gem where "Blade Runner" was filmed. Other fun places for lunch: Pine and Crane (Chinese fusion), Barcito, Bavel (a bit far, only if you have a car), Vespaio (italian, near the Broad, just OK). Guisados tacos are the authentic street tacos, Guerilla tacos - my pick for best tacos in LA
After lunch you can walk down 1st Street through Little Tokyo and check-out Union Station's beautiful California "mission" tile and then go to the Arts District. If you are walking to the Arts District, do NOT walk between 3rd street and 7th street and between Los Angeles Street and Central Ave. That square on the map is Skid Row and it is a bit dangerous (and very sad) to walk there. So either walk along Alameda from Union station or take your car between the center of Downtown (Grand Central Market area) and the Arts district. In the Arts District, Hauser and Wirth is one of our best galleries and the Pie Hole has all kinds of pies. Many of the best restaurants are in that area but they are not usually visible from the street so it's best to pick one (Bestia and Yxta, etc.) and drive there. If you like vegetarian/vegan food – Zinc café is in the arts district near Hauser and Wirth gallery. Umami burger has Kobe beef burgers, Urth cafe has a large menu for lunch/dessert
If you can go downtown at night, I highly recommend the bar at the Ace Hotel on Broadway – make sure to take the elevator to the upstairs bar with the cool view of the Eastern building and the city. The view is an interesting sighting of the Eastern building, etc. and it has a great vibe (especially after dark). The food at the Ace Hotel is also good. If there is any way that you can talk your way into the theater next door to the Ace Hotel, it’s one of the most amazing building interiors in LA..but only open when there’s an event going on and they don't always let people inside. Across the street and one block away is Clifton’s Cafeteria (7th and Broadway) - definitely worth stopping in to see if they're open – it’s weird décor on three floors and now has two bars in it also. It’s actually an old cafeteria from the forties - you can go there for dessert or drinks on weekend nights and just peek around (food is not very good). Sometimes it's crowded for dancing, etc. and sometimes has bands. Once you've done Clifton's (or if it's closed), walk to Perch for more drinks and a different, higher view in a cool old building (jazz on weekend nights). Nomad is also worth a stop if you have time. If you like to be VERY high up (not for me!) Spire 73 is the tallest bar in the Western Hemisphere. I've heard you can save the $25 per person fee by getting a drink at the hotel two floors down!
737 moradores locais recomendam
Downtown Los Angeles
Best Museums: MOCA, Broad Museum, Pacific Asia Museum
Arts District Galleries
Important Sites: Disney Hall, Union Station, Grand Central Market, Biltmore Hotel, Angel’s Flight
My suggestion is that you start at Grand Central Market (many different food choices inside) for lunch or first drive past Disney Hall and start with MOCA or the BROAD museums and then go to Grand Central Market to eat and walk around. The central area is located between 3rd and 9th streets along Spring St. and Broadway so you can park in a lot around there. You can walk down Spring street to see the Last Bookstore and then go up 5th to see the Biltmore Hotel on Grand (and maybe the old Library on Hope if you feel energetic) then walk back to Broadway to see the Grand Central Market and take Angel’s flight. Across the street from Grand Central Market is the Bradbury Building - an architectural gem where "Blade Runner" was filmed. Other fun places for lunch: Pine and Crane (Chinese fusion), Barcito, Bavel (a bit far, only if you have a car), Vespaio (italian, near the Broad, just OK). Guisados tacos are the authentic street tacos, Guerilla tacos - my pick for best tacos in LA
After lunch you can walk down 1st Street through Little Tokyo and check-out Union Station's beautiful California "mission" tile and then go to the Arts District. If you are walking to the Arts District, do NOT walk between 3rd street and 7th street and between Los Angeles Street and Central Ave. That square on the map is Skid Row and it is a bit dangerous (and very sad) to walk there. So either walk along Alameda from Union station or take your car between the center of Downtown (Grand Central Market area) and the Arts district. In the Arts District, Hauser and Wirth is one of our best galleries and the Pie Hole has all kinds of pies. Many of the best restaurants are in that area but they are not usually visible from the street so it's best to pick one (Bestia and Yxta, etc.) and drive there. If you like vegetarian/vegan food – Zinc café is in the arts district near Hauser and Wirth gallery. Umami burger has Kobe beef burgers, Urth cafe has a large menu for lunch/dessert
If you can go downtown at night, I highly recommend the bar at the Ace Hotel on Broadway – make sure to take the elevator to the upstairs bar with the cool view of the Eastern building and the city. The view is an interesting sighting of the Eastern building, etc. and it has a great vibe (especially after dark). The food at the Ace Hotel is also good. If there is any way that you can talk your way into the theater next door to the Ace Hotel, it’s one of the most amazing building interiors in LA..but only open when there’s an event going on and they don't always let people inside. Across the street and one block away is Clifton’s Cafeteria (7th and Broadway) - definitely worth stopping in to see if they're open – it’s weird décor on three floors and now has two bars in it also. It’s actually an old cafeteria from the forties - you can go there for dessert or drinks on weekend nights and just peek around (food is not very good). Sometimes it's crowded for dancing, etc. and sometimes has bands. Once you've done Clifton's (or if it's closed), walk to Perch for more drinks and a different, higher view in a cool old building (jazz on weekend nights). Nomad is also worth a stop if you have time. If you like to be VERY high up (not for me!) Spire 73 is the tallest bar in the Western Hemisphere. I've heard you can save the $25 per person fee by getting a drink at the hotel two floors down!