Guidebook for Los Angeles
Essentials
Galleria Market
3250 W Olympic BlvdRalphs
645 W 9th StBank of America with walk up and drive-through ATMs.
9 locals recommend
Bank of America (with Drive-thru ATM)
3320 W Olympic BlvdBank of America with walk up and drive-through ATMs.
Getting Around
Wilshire / Western Station
South Western AvenueMetro Purple Line (subway). Also major bus line hub.
Western / Olympic station
Bus Stop
Western / Pico station
Bus Stop
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1619 N Gower StFood Scene
ILCHA Korean BBQ
3377 W Olympic BlvdBest AYCE KBBQ restaurant walking distance from the home! Around $20 per person.
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand AveGood coffee + if you've ever had a beer flight.. Try the LA version - a juice flight. Also a location near the Grove / Beverly Center.
149 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
833 S Spring StGood coffee + if you've ever had a beer flight.. Try the LA version - a juice flight. Also a location near the Grove / Beverly Center.
Afternoon and late night happy hour! $1 oysters and $5 beers and house wine! Everything else is also very good, including calamari and the infamous Uni Pasta.
87 locals recommend
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar
3500 W 6th StAfternoon and late night happy hour! $1 oysters and $5 beers and house wine! Everything else is also very good, including calamari and the infamous Uni Pasta.
HIPSTER - This theater turned restaurant has tons of charm and will make all of your IG followers jealous. They take reservations so I would suggest that if you plan ahead.
323 locals recommend
Mohawk Bend
2141 Sunset BlvdHIPSTER - This theater turned restaurant has tons of charm and will make all of your IG followers jealous. They take reservations so I would suggest that if you plan ahead.
Roy Choi's famous rooftop greenhouse restaurant. Amazing ambiance and good eats. $50 brunch buffet on Sundays includes Bottomless Mimosas!
72 locals recommend
Openaire at The LINE LA
3515 Wilshire BlvdRoy Choi's famous rooftop greenhouse restaurant. Amazing ambiance and good eats. $50 brunch buffet on Sundays includes Bottomless Mimosas!
4 stars and 3500 reviews on Yelp can't be wrong - unique farm-to-table restaurant in Venice. Charming, rustic, but not pretentious. Pricey but not overly so. Call ahead for reservations.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney Blvd4 stars and 3500 reviews on Yelp can't be wrong - unique farm-to-table restaurant in Venice. Charming, rustic, but not pretentious. Pricey but not overly so. Call ahead for reservations.
Hands down top 5 restaurants in LA for me. Used to have 3 month reservation queues but now the hype has died down, still great food. Roughly $25-50 per person, but well worth it. GET THE BONE MARROW. Rich and kind of heavy, but will leave you wanting more.
322 locals recommend
Bestia
2121 E 7th PlHands down top 5 restaurants in LA for me. Used to have 3 month reservation queues but now the hype has died down, still great food. Roughly $25-50 per person, but well worth it. GET THE BONE MARROW. Rich and kind of heavy, but will leave you wanting more.
Cheese bar + restaurant. Wonderful pasta tossed... in a cheese bowl... It's as cool as it sounds.
31 locals recommend
Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar
1610 Montana AveCheese bar + restaurant. Wonderful pasta tossed... in a cheese bowl... It's as cool as it sounds.
Lawry's -- yes like the seasoning salt -- has an amazing and renowned prime rib (also have steak/seafood options) restaurant in Beverly Hills. Definitely a special place. Don't forget about the free chips and meatballs while you're waiting for your table!
63 locals recommend
Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 La Cienega BlvdLawry's -- yes like the seasoning salt -- has an amazing and renowned prime rib (also have steak/seafood options) restaurant in Beverly Hills. Definitely a special place. Don't forget about the free chips and meatballs while you're waiting for your table!
Instagram-ready dessert! Korean style shaved ice served in a bowl for sharing.
10 locals recommend
Sul & Beans
621 S Western AveInstagram-ready dessert! Korean style shaved ice served in a bowl for sharing.
CottonHi
3825 W 6th StCreative soft-serve with toppings + cotton candy!
Parks & Nature
Spot celebrities - and wannabe celebrities while taking in gorgeous views of LA.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller AveSpot celebrities - and wannabe celebrities while taking in gorgeous views of LA.
Arts & Culture
Awesome art museum + famous light poles in front!
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd Awesome art museum + famous light poles in front!
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrPetersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire BlvdLots of great innovative food, shops, art galleries, and fashion. Named "Coolest Block in America" by GQ magazine. Check this place out on the First Friday of every month for the original "First Fridays" food truck event.
225 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney BLVD Shopping
Navarre CourtLots of great innovative food, shops, art galleries, and fashion. Named "Coolest Block in America" by GQ magazine. Check this place out on the First Friday of every month for the original "First Fridays" food truck event.
LA's newest Contemporary/Modern art museum opened in 2016. Lines to get in can be long, so suggest reserving a ticket ahead of time. Wonderful museum!
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand AveLA's newest Contemporary/Modern art museum opened in 2016. Lines to get in can be long, so suggest reserving a ticket ahead of time. Wonderful museum!
Entertainment & Activities
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaLocal K-town movie theater. They often play American and Korean films. The American films get korean subtitles (but voices in english still). COMFY seats!
45 locals recommend
CGV Cinemas Movie Theater
621 S Western AveLocal K-town movie theater. They often play American and Korean films. The American films get korean subtitles (but voices in english still). COMFY seats!
Sightseeing
OUE Skyspace LA
633 W 5th StGet a (near) 360 degree view of LA + try out the sky slide!
I would suggest seeing the Observatory ONLY after you have taken LA in for a day or so, so you can truly appreciate its expanse and how such an eclectic bunch of people can live amongst each other in this beautiful place! Especially suggest at nights to see the twinkling city lights (although you won't fully appreciate the architecture Observatory itself), after rain/winds (when there is no smog), or at sunset if possible!
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdI would suggest seeing the Observatory ONLY after you have taken LA in for a day or so, so you can truly appreciate its expanse and how such an eclectic bunch of people can live amongst each other in this beautiful place! Especially suggest at nights to see the twinkling city lights (although you won't fully appreciate the architecture Observatory itself), after rain/winds (when there is no smog), or at sunset if possible!
The terminus of Route 66. Also the scene of many famous Southern California shots!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierThe terminus of Route 66. Also the scene of many famous Southern California shots!
Famous Venice Boardwalk - where Gold's Gym got its start and a good place to people watch!
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front WalkFamous Venice Boardwalk - where Gold's Gym got its start and a good place to people watch!