This is my giant working list of places I love in LA and want to share. I used to keep a Google doc all to myself, but figured this would be a lot easier to share with people visiting, friends etc.
I don’t care if you disagree with these, this is my list.
*** — All-Star Fav #1 Super Duper Great
COFFEE
La Colombe
Silverlake / Frogtown — has my fav oat milk latté and an amazing chocolate chip cookie
Woodcat
Echo Park — a cute lil shop a short walk from my house, always has the oat melk (check)
Intelligentsia
Silverlake — steps from La Colombe; I once saw eric andre here.
BRUNCH
Destroyer***
Culver City — conceptual brunch on the architect-y part of the westside
Fred 62
Los Feliz — classic diner with walls covered in Wayne White paintings
Meson
Koreatown — tiny cafe with a yummy kimchi fried rice bowl
Honey Hi
Echo Park — good lunch/brunch bowls if u wanna sit on a stool on Sunset and people watch
Sqirl
Silverlake — they have an amazing crispy rice, get the Crispy Disco (The popular sorrel rice is v acidic)
All Time
Good variety of brunch foods (their crispy rice ain’t crispy tho)
Norm’s
LA Classic. $12 Steak and eggs. Open late. Self-explanatory.
BOOZE
The Cha Cha
Silverlake — really fun, gr8 photobooth, cheap drinks !! gets pretty packed on the weekend
The Friend
Silverlake — kinda sceney, bar staff all wear matching outfits, fun DJ, cute drinks / grab some matchsticks!
Golden Gopher
Downtown — cute dive bar / get tacos from the (BEST) taco truck outside and eat them at the bar !!!
4100
Silverlake — divey vibes; owned by the same people as Golden Gopher; dark, has a BBQ out front and darts insid
Bar Calo***
Echo Park — cuuuuuuute Mezcal/Tequila bar with really good small plates and a patio
Bar Bandini
Echo Park — small natural wine bar across the street from Elf Cafe; also have beer and lil charcutz
Thirsty Crow
Silverlake — good happy hour w cocktails, a bit dark with a bunch of little tables and booths
Crawford’s***
Echo Park — $3 Bud and fantastic fried chicken, I always insist on taking people here
Everson Royce Bar
Arts District — v special bar; great patio, happy hour cocktails and a big food menu
Broken Shaker
Downtown — across the street from Golden Gopher; rooftop tiki-esque bar with great views and a pool
Employees Only
West Hollywood — if you absolutely must go to WeHo this is the only bar I’ll step foot in. Bougie cocktails
In Sheep’s Clothing
Arts District — in a building that says pizza outside, it’s really quiet and dark and super bougie ‘scotch’ lists or whatever, but really nice. Needs resy.
FOODIE FOODZ
Night + Market Song/Sahm***
Silverlake/Venice — (No Resy) amazing Thai, best best best wine list, just buy the whole bottle.
The Prince***
Koreatown — I have my birthday party here every year, good cocktails, Korean food, A+ fried chicken!!!!!
Beverly Soon***
Koreatown — SOLID Soondubu! Anthony Bourdain vetted, cool tables, cheap and quick
Elf Cafe***
Echo Park — teeny tiny vegetarian restaurant with fun mediterranean dishes. One of my all-time favs. Book in advance via email, their resy list is literally a sheet of paper.
Mh Zh***
Silverlake — (No Resy) pronounced “mah-zeh” solid menu, only open for dinner. Literally everything here is good and cheap
Hippo
Highland Park — solid new italian, great wine list and cocktails
Hail Mary Pizza ***
Atwater Village — FAV fav fav pizza in LA with wild flavor combos, solid choco chip cookie, and a good wine list
Cosa Buona
Echo Park — Another solid pizza and general italian spot, when i don’t feel like going to Atwater
Flaming Taco (truck)
Echo Park — In the parking lot across the street from Cosa Buona, get the Al Pastor!
Guisados
Multi. Locations—LA must have!! stewed meatz n veggies
Woon
Echo Park — Taiwanese, cute space w great noodles, cool beer selection, they’re new so their menu is still kinda small
Little Fatty ***
Mar Vista — Taiwanese, get the vegan fatty noodles
Woodspoon ***
Downtown — Brazilian!! Get the steak or the lamb
Joy Highland Park
Highland Park — the east side Little Fatty, taiwanese with a changing menu
Maury’s Bagels
Silverlake - Get the zaatar or the one w the tomatillo slice, right next to Psychic Wines
Yeastie Boys (truck)
Pho Cafe Silverlake
Sticky Rice
X’Tisou
Lalibela
Fairfax— fav Ethiopian spot, huge portions, very much no-thrills comfort food
Fiona —RIP Closed :( (BUT, Nicole Rucker has Fat & Flour in Grand Central Market now!)
Daikokuya Ramen
Brooklyn Bagels
Man Soo KBBQ
Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong KBBQ
SUSHI SHORTLIST
Kombu
Kazu Nori
SHOPPING
Sleeper (Vintage)***
Echo Park — I’ve found the coolest stuff here, really small and just around the corner from my apartment. Big name labels and fair prices
Cookbook
Echo Park — small boutique grocery store? Amaaazing zaatar blend and fresh bread, also bought some interesting fresh flowers here
Gentle Monster***
Downtown — just a fun experience to walk around and try on all their super insane glasses
Hennessy + Ingalls
Arts District — magazine/book store
Bearded Beagle (Vintage)
Mohawk General Store
Silverlake — this is where i buy something and oOPS
Mister Green
Silverlake — amazing curated shop of ‘weed paraphernalia’ including nice housewares, clothing, magazines, knick knacks, etc.
Aesop
Big Bud Press
Tuesday Bassen
Abbott Kinney
Larchmont
BREWERIES / BEER / WINE SHOPS
Arts District Brewing Co.
Sunset Beer Company
Echo Park — a shop and a bar, small but LOTS of variety with the beerz and right next to Bar Calo
Mikkeller DTLA
Frogtown Brewery
33 Taps
Psychic Wines
Silverlake — more niche wine selection, a lot smaller and much more of a ‘local’ shop than Silverlake below
Silverlake Wines
Silverlake — has a pop-up twice a week hosted by a winemaker for $15 you get a bunch of ‘tastings’
THINGS TO DO
HVW8 Gallery***
Fairfax — Fun exhibits, the owner Tyler is a great guy and hosts all kinds of artists and parties
Jeffrey Deitch Gallery***
Norton Simon Museum
MOCA + Geffen Contemporary
The Hammer Museum***
Westwood — amazing museum considering it’s UCLA’s museum. The permanent collection has quite the range
Hauser + Wirth***
Arts District — nice museum, small, in a good location to spend the day and pop-in
Echo Park Lake***
Echo Park — bring a blanket and some beers, go on the swan pedal boats, visit the CHURRO MAN!!!
Eames House in the Palisades
Palisades — $10 for an outdoor tour, you can see right into the house. Book this in advance!
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Long Beach Antique Market