Book a table at Bestia or Felix, walk the galleries at LACMA, and eat tacos downtown. Plan each day around one or two neighbourhoods, and drive outside rush hour when you can.

Los Angeles at a glance

Time zone
Pacific Time: UTC−8, and UTC−7 with daylight saving from March to early November
Currency
US dollar ($). Cards and phone payments are widely accepted; some restaurants add a service charge, so read the bill before you tip
Language
English. Spanish is widely spoken, and many Koreatown signs are in Korean
Airports
LAX: the FlyAway bus leaves for Union Station every 30 minutes and takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. Burbank (BUR): about 30 minutes to Union Station by Metrolink or Pacific Surfliner train
Best months
April and May, and October to November
Power
Type A and B plugs, 120 V
Tipping
Expected: about 18 to 22% at restaurants and bars, unless a service charge is already on the bill

Know who’s in Los Angeles when you are

O is an invite-only community for people who travel. Post your trip in seconds and see who’s in Los Angeles the same week. Apply to join.

Where to spend your time

  • Silver Lake and Los Feliz Have coffee at Go Get Em Tiger on Hollywood Boulevard, walk the path around the Silver Lake Reservoir, then drive up to Griffith Observatory for the view at dusk.
  • Echo Park Walk the loop around Echo Park Lake, then a sake at Ototo or a cocktail at Thunderbolt.
  • Downtown and Arts District Eat at Grand Central Market and see the Broad by day; book dinner in the Arts District, about 10 minutes away by car.
  • Koreatown Go for Korean barbecue or Oaxacan mole at Guelaguetza, then a cocktail bar; some bars here stay open past midnight.
  • Hollywood and West Hollywood Hike Runyon Canyon early, book a booth at Musso & Frank, then drive west for a drink at the Tower Bar on the Sunset Strip.
  • Venice and Santa Monica Walk Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the Venice canals, then follow the beach path north; eat on Wilshire in Santa Monica.
  • Miracle Mile and Beverly Grove See LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard, then drive a few minutes north to the shops on Beverly Boulevard.

Where we’d send a friend

  • Maru Coffee Arts District. A coffee bar in the Arts District, a short walk from Bestia. 1019 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles. Open 7:30 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM at weekends. Website
  • Sqirl Virgil Village. A café open for breakfast and lunch, and the maker of Sqirl jam. 720 N Virgil Ave #4, Los Angeles. Open 8 AM to 4 PM every day. Walk in, or reserve a table on Resy. Website
  • Huckleberry Santa Monica. A bakery and café on Wilshire for pastries, breakfast and lunch; it bakes for the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. 1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica. Order: A pastry and coffee at the counter. Open 7 AM to 3 PM every day. Website
  • République Mid-Wilshire. A bakery and restaurant on La Brea: breakfast and lunch every day, dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles. Order: Pastries at breakfast; book for dinner. Breakfast and lunch daily, 8 AM to 2 PM; dinner Tuesday to Saturday, book on OpenTable. Website
  • Go Get Em Tiger Los Feliz. A Los Angeles roaster’s coffee bar on Hollywood Boulevard, with a patio set back from the street, next door to Kismet. 4630 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles. Order: Coffee, with breakfast from the kitchen. Open 6:30 AM to 4 PM on weekdays, 7 AM to 4 PM at weekends; the kitchen closes at 3 PM. Website
  • Gjelina Venice. Pizza from a wood-fired oven and seasonal plates on Abbot Kinney, from breakfast to dinner. 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. Order: A pizza to share. Breakfast and lunch on weekdays, brunch at weekends, dinner daily from 5 PM. Reservations online. Website
  • Grand Central Market Downtown. A market hall open since 1917, with counters for tacos, noodles, sandwiches and coffee. 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles. Open 8 AM to 9 PM daily; each stall sets its own hours. Website
  • Sonoratown Downtown. Tacos, caramelos and burritos on flour tortillas. 208 E 8th St, Los Angeles. Order: A caramelo, or tacos on flour tortillas. Open 11 AM to 10 PM every day. Website
  • Langer’s Deli Westlake. A deli since 1947, known for hand-cut pastrami on double-baked rye. 704 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles. Order: The No. 19: pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing. Closed Sundays. Open 8 AM to 4 PM Monday to Saturday; parking is validated at its lot on 7th St and Westlake. Website
  • Bestia Arts District. An Italian restaurant in the Arts District, open for dinner every night. 2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles. Dinner from 5 to 11 PM daily; book on OpenTable. A 4% service charge is added to the bill. Website
  • Kismet Los Feliz. A vegetable-led restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard, open for dinner every day. 4648 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles. Dinner from 5 PM daily, until 9 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Book on Resy. Website
  • Park’s BBQ Koreatown. Korean barbecue grilled at the table, open since 2003. 955 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles. Order: Prime beef to grill, with banchan. Open 11 AM to 10 PM every day. Walk in, or reserve a table through its site. Website
  • Musso & Frank Grill Hollywood. On Hollywood Boulevard since 1919, with red-jacketed waiters. 6667 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood. Order: A martini, then a steak. Closed Mondays. Open 5 to 11 PM Tuesday to Saturday, 4 to 10 PM on Sundays; book on OpenTable. Website
  • Felix Venice. Pasta and pizza on Abbot Kinney, for dinner every night. 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. Seatings from 5 PM daily, the last at 9 PM (9:30 PM Thursday to Saturday). Book on Resy. Website
  • Rustic Canyon Santa Monica. A wine bar and seasonal kitchen on Wilshire, busy most nights, with a happy hour at the bar. 1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica. Order: Whatever is seasonal, with a glass from the list. Dinner from 5 PM daily, last seating 9 PM (9:30 PM Fridays and Saturdays); book on Resy. Happy hour 5 to 6:30 PM at the bar, walk-ins only. Street parking only. Website
  • Lunasia Dim Sum House Alhambra, San Gabriel Valley. Cantonese dim sum in Alhambra since 2009, in the San Gabriel Valley, about 20 minutes east of Downtown by car. 500 W Main St, Alhambra. Order: Dim sum to share, ordered from the menu. Open 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM on weekdays, 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM at weekends. Reserve on OpenTable or walk in; parking in the garage behind. Website
  • Guelaguetza Koreatown. A family-run Oaxacan restaurant on Olympic Boulevard since 1994, and a James Beard Award winner for its moles. 3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles. Order: One of the moles, such as the mole negro. Closed Mondays. Open 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday to Thursday, 9 AM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, 9 AM to 9 PM on Sundays. Reserve on OpenTable or walk in. Website
  • Thunderbolt Historic Filipinotown, by Echo Park. A neighbourhood cocktail bar with Southern food, where Echo Park meets Historic Filipinotown. 1263 W Temple St, Los Angeles. Order: A house cocktail and a biscuit. Closed Tuesdays. Opens at 5 PM (2 PM on Sundays); reservations for up to 9. Website
  • The Dresden Los Feliz. A lounge and dining room on Vermont Avenue, with live music in the lounge. 1760 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles. Order: A drink in the lounge. The lounge and patio are first come, first served; book the dining room on Resy. Website
  • The Normandie Club Koreatown. A cocktail bar inside the Hotel Normandie, a 1926 landmark, with classic and modern drinks. 3612 W 6th St, Los Angeles. Order: A classic cocktail during Social Hour. Open 6 PM to 2 AM daily; Social Hour from 6 to 8 PM. Website
  • The Tower Bar West Hollywood. The Sunset Tower Hotel’s bar and dining room, in Bugsy Siegel’s former apartment, with a fireplace and discreet booths. 8358 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood. Order: A martini at the bar. Dinner Monday to Saturday from 6 PM; Sunday dinner is for hotel guests only. Breakfast and lunch daily. Book online or by phone; the house asks for smart dress. Website
  • Ototo Echo Park. A James Beard award-winning sake bar with Japanese bar food, next to its sister izakaya, Tsubaki. 1360 Allison Ave, Los Angeles. Order: Ask for a sake flight, with something fried. Closed Wednesdays. Open 5 to 10 PM (9 PM on Sundays); walk-ins only. Website
  • Heath Ceramics Beverly Grove. Heath’s Los Angeles shop, for the tableware it has made since 1948. 7525 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles. Open 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, 10 AM to 5 PM at weekends. Website
  • The Last Bookstore Downtown. New, used and rare books, plus records and art, in a historic building on Spring Street. 453 S Spring St, Los Angeles. Open 11 AM to 8 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 AM to 11 PM Wednesday to Saturday; check Sunday hours on its site. Website
  • The Broad Downtown. Postwar and contemporary art on Grand Avenue, free to enter. 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles. Closed Mondays. Free; a timed ticket online is recommended, and walk-ups are available daily. Open until 8 PM on Thursdays. Website
  • Getty Center Brentwood. European art, gardens and views across the city from a hilltop campus by Richard Meier. 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles. Closed Mondays. Free entry with a timed reservation; open 10 AM to 6:30 PM, until 9 PM on Saturdays. Parking is paid. Closed from Mar 15, 2027, for about a year of renovation; the Getty Villa in Malibu stays open. Website
  • Griffith Observatory Los Feliz. Free public telescopes and exhibits on the slope of Mount Hollywood, with a view over the basin. 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles. Closed Mondays. Open noon to 10 PM Tuesday to Friday, 10 AM to 10 PM at weekends; entry is free. Website
  • Runyon Canyon Hollywood. A short, steep loop in the hills above Hollywood, with views over the basin and off-leash areas for dogs. 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles (south gate). Open sunrise to sunset. Trails can close after fires, so check LA Parks before you go. Go early: there is little shade. Website
  • LACMA Miracle Mile. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire, with Chris Burden’s Urban Light streetlamps outside. 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. Closed Wednesdays. Advance timed tickets are recommended; walk-up timeslots can sell out. Open until 8 PM on Fridays. Website

A first week in Los Angeles

  1. Day 1: Land and stay west. Check in, then walk Abbot Kinney and the Venice canals. Watch the sunset from the beach, then dinner at Rustic Canyon rather than crossing town.
  2. Day 2: Downtown by day. Lunch at Grand Central Market, then the Broad and the Last Bookstore, all within a short walk. Book dinner in the Arts District.
  3. Day 3: Museums on Wilshire. See LACMA, then the shops on Beverly Boulevard. Have dinner in Koreatown, at Guelaguetza or a Korean barbecue, about 15 minutes east by car.
  4. Day 4: Silver Lake and Los Feliz. Coffee at Go Get Em Tiger, a walk around the Silver Lake Reservoir, then Griffith Observatory for sunset. Dinner at Kismet or a drink at the Dresden.
  5. Day 5: Out of town. Choose one: Malibu and the coast road, or the train to Santa Barbara. Both take most of the day.
  6. Day 6: The Getty and the west side. Reserve a morning entry at the Getty Center (from Mar 15, 2027, it closes for about a year: go to the Getty Villa in Malibu instead), then lunch at Huckleberry in Santa Monica. Head back before about 3 PM, when traffic builds.
  7. Day 7: Hollywood, then Echo Park. Hike Runyon Canyon early, then the lake in Echo Park. End with sake at Ototo or a cocktail at Thunderbolt.

Where people meet

  • Cocktail bars Hotel and neighbourhood bars such as the Tower Bar, the Normandie Club and Thunderbolt suit a drink alone or with one other person. Sit at the bar.
  • Lounges with music The Dresden’s lounge has live music and first-come seating; arrive early for a table.
  • Coffee Try Go Get Em Tiger in Los Feliz or Maru in the Arts District for a short stop between neighbourhoods.
  • Museums after hours The Broad stays open until 8 PM on Thursdays, LACMA until 8 PM on Fridays and the Getty until 9 PM on Saturdays. Check each site for evening events.

Eating in Los Angeles

  • Book dinner, walk in for lunch Reserve sought-after dinners on Resy or OpenTable before your trip. Delis, taco counters and food halls take walk-ins.
  • Eat by neighbourhood Choose dinner near where you spend the afternoon. Crossing town at 6 PM can take an hour.
  • Tacos at the counter Order at the counter and pay as you go. Sonoratown and the stalls at Grand Central Market work this way.
  • Read the bill Some restaurants add a service charge, such as Bestia’s 4%. Tip on top only for what isn’t already included.

Getting around

  • Plan on a car Most visitors drive or use ride-hailing. Santa Monica to Downtown is about 25 km: about 30 minutes on clear roads, and often over an hour at rush hour. Plan each day around one or two neighbourhoods.
  • Metro where it fits The E Line runs from Downtown to Santa Monica in about 46 minutes; the B Line links Union Station, Downtown and Hollywood. Add a TAP card to Apple Wallet and tap at the gate or on the bus.
  • Avoid rush hour Weekday traffic is usually heaviest from about 7 to 10 AM and 3 to 7 PM. Cross town early or after 8 PM, and leave extra time for the airport.

Good to know

  • Tip as you go Tip bartenders about $1 to $2 a drink, or about 20% of the tab. Most card readers suggest a percentage.
  • Park by the signs Read every parking sign: street-cleaning days and permit zones are enforced with tickets and towing.
  • Book ahead, then arrive on time Busy restaurants may release a table after about 15 minutes. Call if you’re running late.
  • Smoke-free Smoking is banned in restaurants and bars, on most patios and on public beaches.

When to go

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable. Most rain falls from December to March, the most in January and February; May and June often start grey near the coast, and July to September can be hot inland, with wildfire risk in dry, windy spells.

January and February
The rainy months. Rain usually comes in a few heavy storms, with clear, cool days in between; pack a jacket.
March and April
Often mild and dry. Good for walking neighbourhoods and the coast.
May and June
Mornings near the coast are often grey and cool, clearing by afternoon. Inland neighbourhoods are usually sunnier.
July and August
Hot inland, milder by the sea. Check the Hollywood Bowl’s summer programme before you go.
September
Often the hottest month inland. Plan outdoor visits for the morning.
October and November
Usually warm and clear. Dry, windy spells can raise wildfire risk; check local alerts.
December
Mild days and cool nights. Many places close or change hours around Christmas and New Year.

Day trips and next stops

  • Malibu Drive the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica, or take Metro bus 134 to Malibu Civic Center, for the pier and the beaches. About 40 min.
  • Santa Barbara Take the Pacific Surfliner from Union Station; the station is two blocks from the beach. About 2 h 40 m.
  • Catalina Island Drive to Long Beach for the Catalina Express boat to Avalon, or to San Pedro, where the crossing takes about 1 h 15 m. Check the sailing times before you go. About 1 h by boat.
  • Palm Springs Drive east from Downtown for mid-century houses, desert hikes and hotel pools; stay a night if you can. About 2 h by car.

Questions people ask

Do I need a car?

For most visits, yes, or plan on ride-hailing. The Metro E and B lines work well for Downtown, Hollywood and Santa Monica, but most neighbourhoods are a drive apart.

Where should I stay?

Stay west, in Santa Monica or Venice, for the beach, or in Los Feliz, Silver Lake or Downtown for the east side. Choose by where you will spend most evenings.

How do I get in from the airport?

From LAX, most people take a car or ride-hail; the FlyAway bus leaves every 30 minutes and reaches Union Station in 30 to 60 minutes. From Burbank, Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner trains reach Union Station in about 30 minutes.

Is Los Angeles a good city for meeting people?

Try a seat at a cocktail bar, a lounge with live music or a museum evening. If you’re an O member, you can also see people who choose to share overlapping travel dates.

How long should I stay?

A week covers the city and one day trip. With less time, pick two areas, such as Downtown and Silver Lake, or Venice and Santa Monica.