Grand Central
Market
(See also: “Can you pick me up from LAX?”) Don’t get us wrong, we love our City of Angels, but the sprawling nature of our nation’s second-largest metropolis makes it challenging to give one-size-fits-all recommendations. Here, we’re privy to iconic boardwalks that line the Pacific Ocean, hikes that position you right beneath the emblematic Hollywood sign, a boulevard where you’re guaranteed to stumble upon your favorite star, cultural enclaves that let you travel the world without booking a flight, tar pits that offer insight into our city’s prehistoric past, and countless food experiences that span every type of cuisine and budget imaginable. Yeah, we get it, it can be a little overwhelming to plan your trip.
So rather than call up your Angeleno friends and risk getting sent to voicemail, peruse this ultimate city guide that spans Downtown to the Valley, beach cities, and beyond. It's complete with the city’s top dining destinations; memorable, only-in-LA experiences; and where to book your stay so you don’t miss a thing.
This historic food hall first opened its doors in 1917 and is still going strong, offering a convenient microcosm of the various communities that have shaped LA’s food scene. Grand Central Market is home to more than 40 vendors spanning every type of cuisine, plus fresh produce, dried spices, candy shops, and even a jewelry store, with legacy tenants like China Cafe and Roast To Go set up alongside newcomers like celebrated restaurateur Marie Petulla’s Knead and plant-based Ramen Hood.
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Even if you can’t catch the ceremony of a new celebrity earning their star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame (check the schedule and plan accordingly), it’s fun to wander aimlessly down Hollywood Boulevard from Gower to La Brea and on Vine Street from Sunset to Yucca and look for your favorite stars—you’re sure to be confronted by performers dressed like them as you mosey on down the boulevard. There are 2,600 stars on the Walk of Fame, with 24 new stars added each year in categories that include Motion Pictures, Television, Radio, Recording, Live Theatre/Performance, and Sports Entertainment, so regardless of whether you’re a film buff or a sports fan, you’re guaranteed to find the star of someone you admire. Browse the directory or star map to find your favorite luminary with ease.
Stroll the hollywood walk of fame
This classic, century-old hotel is conveniently located next to LA Live and the Staples Center, but feels world’s away with art deco design featured throughout its 14 floors. Home to America’s only coffin-shaped pool, Hotel Figueroa has several dining concepts on site, including Cafe Fig for a casual yet refined all-day menu with an elevated coffee and tea program, Casita for poolside bites alongside live music in a two-story villa, and newly debuted Sparrow for an eclectic take on coastal Italian and Mediterranean favorites.
Hotel Figueroa
credits
This luxury hotel landed in the heart of Hollywood in fall 2021, boasting a convenient location to all the neighborhood sights, plus a Mediterranean-inspired rooftop that’s quickly become a favorite among nightlife seekers, an on-site fitness center, and a forthcoming French-inspired restaurant from renowned chef Lincoln Carson set to arrive soon.
Thompson
Hollywood
This neighborhood gem just celebrated its 100th year—take a gander at the sprawling fig tree out front to get an idea of that span of time; it was planted around the same time the hotel opened. The hotel is walking distance from the beach, as well as the renowned Santa Monica Farmers Market, with pools and several dining concepts on site. Enjoy simple, fresh sushi at the intimate, eight-seat Soko; sample the neighboring farmers market’s produce via the menu at garden-inspired Fig; and head to Bungalow, an aptly named club with pool tables that garners wrap-around lines, after dark.
Fairmont Miramar
This classic hotel in the center of Hollywood offers a convenient location for exploring the surrounding neighborhood, with plenty of amenities for travelers who prefer to stay on-site, including the famous David Hockney-painted Tropicana Pool. You’ll also find Nancy Silverton’s chic Cal-Italian steakhouse The Barish, and The Spare Room, where you can play board games and go bowling.
Hotel roosevelt
The enclave of historic bungalows that encompass Hotel June Malibu once served as a Point Dume-adjacent retreat for artists of all kinds—including Bob Dylan, who penned his seminal Blood on the Tracks album in Bungalow 13. Each bungalow features a private patio, Cal-Mex eats can be enjoyed at the on-site Scenic Route restaurant, and the hotel also boasts a heated swimming pool and deck—a rarity for the area. With four acres of property, it’s the perfect option for creatives who are looking to unplug and unwind.
Hotel June Malibu
After going viral for its sobaqueras, or massive burritos wrapped in 18-inch handmade flour tortillas and stuffed with beans, onion, cilantro, salsa, guacamole, and your choice of meat, this taqueria expanded from a taco truck in Boyle Heights to a walk-up window in Silver Lake. Owner Walter Soto, also known as El Ruso, borrows from his Tijuana upbringing as well as his experience cooking at taquerias across Mexico, for a menu that features carne asada, chorizo, carne en chile Colorado, beef birria, mole, and more in tacos, quesatacos, and of course, signature sobaqueras. Wash it all down with housemade agua de Jamaica or horchata.
El Ruso
First opened in 1970 and named after the royal palace in Bangkok, Thailand, this spot that celebrates Southern Thai cuisine changed ownership in 2006 and quickly became one of the most popular restaurants in East Hollywood’s Thai Town. Helmed by siblings Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong and Suthiporn “Tui” Sungkamee, Jitlada features the lesser-known Southern Thai dishes that they grew up, like crispy catfish salad and Southern pineapple shrimp curry, plus popular Thai staples like pad Thai and tom kha soup. Adventurous eaters can take chef Tui’s dynamite spicy challenge and see if they can take down his spiciest dish with your choice of meat with bell peppers, green beans, and Thai basil in a spicy mix of fresh and dried Thai chilies.
JITLADA
Imagine a Venice beach pit stop with a diner-inspired menu featuring burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. We’ve just described Doors frontman Jim Morrison’s favorite Venice hangout. Three pool tables, a jukebox, and live music on the weekends help this long-standing dive keep its edge.
HINANO CAFE
Get a taste of New Orleans in LA at this homestyle Cajun and Southern restaurant that’s been owned by the Legaux family for three generations and is one of the city’s best and most popular soul food spots, with a comfortable dining room and a back patio with picnic tables and yellow umbrellas. The file gumbo with dark roux, ground sassafras, shrimp, sausage, ham, blue crab, and chicken is their most popular dish, but you can’t go wrong with any of the po’boy sandwiches, Louisiana-style catfish, jambalaya, or shrimp & crawfish étouffée. It’s also one of the only places in LA where you can enjoy a traditional crawfish boil when the freshwater crustaceans are in season.
Harold & Belle's
Hotville is owned by Kimberly Prince, whose family is credited with inventing the Nashville hot chicken recipe, and there’s no better place to taste the trend. But don’t just limit yourself to their famous chicken sandwich dubbed "The Shaw." Their crispy swai fish is perfectly fried and can also be adjusted to your heat level—it’s recommended to start with “Music City Medium,” but we say go big with “Nashville hot”—just make sure you have some sweet tea on the side. Sides like mac 'n cheese, a BBQ baked bean trio, and cobbed corn, plus desserts that include banana pudding and lemon sour cream pound cake, will make you want to ask for the family’s entire recipe book.
HOTVILLE
CHICKEN
Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo have built up a formidable roster of restaurants since launching their first restaurant, Animal, in 2008, with this eponymous eatery acting as a personal ode to Italian-American cooking with fresh California ingredients. Kick back in a contemporary, diner-inspired environment beloved by all Angelenos, along with celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyoncé (among others). The spicy fusilli is a must-order.
Jon & Vinny's
Chef Neal Fraser and Amy Knoll’s flagship restaurant inside the Vibiana cathedral in Downtown LA is an architectural wonder, with a stunning sky-lit courtyard, plush dining room, and a garden oasis with a canopy of olive trees and the restaurant’s vegetable garden on view. The menu rotates with the seasons and features imaginative New American dishes. The award-winning cocktail program is led by Tobin Shea, and Beverage Director Matt Fosket promotes an international list that gives equal room to emerging and established producers.
Redbird
Wes Avila left his first brick-and-mortar Guerrilla Tacos to open this Chinatown diner that’s dedicated to reimagining your favorite comfort foods with a menu of hefty burritos, sandwiches, and tacos. The rotating daily specials are where Avila really flexes his creativity, so show up early and get treated to dishes like a bay scallop and sea urchin tostada or beef shank guisado burrito before they sell out.
Angry egret Dinette
This family-owned restaurant has long been hailed as one of the best options for Oaxacan cuisine in the country, serving traditional moles, tlayudas, sauteed chapulines (grasshoppers), and more. The festive dining room and cacti- and palm-filled patio will transport you to one of Mexico’s most exciting culinary destinations, and the restaurant boasts an extensive mezcal list that’s divided into sections from beginner to expert, plus it changes seasonally so there’s always something new to try.
Guelaguetza
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Harold & Belle's
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Redbird
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Guelaguetza
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
Explore the bounds of our universe while taking in unparalleled views of LA at the Griffith Observatory (ICYMI: Adele sang on its steps during her recent TV special), which sits at the top of Griffith Park and serves as a beacon of completion for hikers navigating the park’s trails. The most-visited observatory in the world was first built in 1935 and underwent a 2002 renovation that expanded its grounds by almost 40,000 feet and added a large, multi-level exhibit gallery, 200-seat presentation theater, new observing instrument, classroom, cafe, and other public areas. You can immerse yourself in space with a show at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, peer into the universe through one of the telescopes, or simply pose with the Hollywood sign.
See The stars at Griffith observatory
Spanning 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades in the north to Torrance County Beach in the south, the paved Marvin Braude Bike Trail (more commonly known as The Strand) is one of the most scenic options for exploring LA’s beaches. Though it’s referred to as a bike path, you’ll see just about every non-motorized option with wheels ranging from skateboards to rollerblades and bicycles (and maybe even unicycles and stilts when you get to Venice Beach). It’s easy to rent your preferred mode of transport at whatever beach you decide to begin your journey, and there are plenty of sidewalk cafes and sandy shores if you need to take a break along the way.
Bike, rollerblade, or skate down The Strand
Get a prehistoric lesson on the origins of LA at the La Brea Tar Pits, adjacent to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Over 50,000 years ago, Ice Age animals, plants, and fossils were trapped in a sticky asphalt that acted as a preservation method, and you can see replicas of these “pits” as well as ongoing excavations. More than 100 excavations have been conducted at the tar pits since 1900, with most of the discoveries still housed at the museum. After you’re done peeking in on paleontologists, head over to the public “Urban Light” exhibit by Chris Burden, featuring a maze of vintage lamp posts that the artist collected over many years.
Catch “Urban Light” and learn LA history
The city of Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by 44 pobladores, or townspeople, of Indigenous, Spanish, and African heritage as Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. Back then, the area that’s now Olvera Street was filled with grapevines and originally named Wine Street or Vine Street, depending on which 19th century map you reference. In 1818, the Avila Adobe was built by Francis Avila, and it remains the oldest standing building in the city. Wine or Vine Street became Olvera Street in 1877, and after several decades of neglect, a wealthy woman named Christine Sterling convinced the city to preserve the city’s oldest buildings and rededicate the area as a pedestrian plaza and Mexican marketplace that honored its history. Just across the street from Union Station, El Pueblo de Los Angeles now represents a living museum with various Mexican restaurants, food stands, and artisans selling their wares. The Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles and Italian American Museum of Los Angeles are also located within the area.
Celebrate la's
mexican history
At the base of South Hill Street across from Grand Central Market in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown LA sits a more-than-century-old railway that holds the distinction of being the shortest in the world. It costs just $1 to board Angel’s Flight, $2 for a souvenir roundtrip ticket, or 50 cents with a previously loaded Metro TAP card. Deemed one of LA’s Historic-Cultural Monuments, the short railway has made countless TV and film appearances, including Kiss Me Deadly, The Muppets, and La La Land. It’s a great start to a day of exploring Downtown LA, letting riders off near The Broad Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and Walt Disney Concert Hall on S. Grand Avenue, or Grand Central Market and Grand Park on S. Hill Street.
TAKE IN THE SIGHTS DURING ANGEl'S FLIGHT
Venice Beach entered our cultural lexicon as an eclectic hippie and art haven in the ‘60s when it was frequented by rockers like The Doors frontman Jim Morrison—let’s just say it served as an unofficial neighborhood dispensary long before cannabis was legal. Since then, Venice has undergone multiple waves of gentrification and displacement, leaving the two-mile Venice Boardwalk as a last relic where you’ll still be privy to street performers, local artists selling sculptures and paintings, numerous cannabis dispensaries, skaters conquering halfpipes in the skate plaza, and bodybuilders on Muscle Beach. While you’re in the neighborhood, take a break from the bustling boardwalk to stroll through the charming Venice Canals, which were originally dug by developer Abbot Kinney as a way of bringing Venice, Italy, to America. Many of the original canals were filled to create more city roads and those that still remain lucked out when the Great Depression left the city contractor too broke to finish the job.
people-watch on the venice boardwalk
The busy corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue has represented a destination for fresh produce and artisanal eats for nearly a century, and the Original Farmers Market next to the Grove shopping center remains one of the best places to discover burgeoning dining concepts and support local purveyors. Grab gourmet groceries or indulge in a French-inspired menu at Monsieur Marcel, cozy up alongside LA’s celebrated restaurateurs as they order high-quality cuts from family-owned Marconda’s Meats, and support the only farmer-owned stall in the market at Rick’s Produce. Fuel up for shopping with a quick pit stop at mom & pop stalls like Singapore’s Banana Leaf, Pampas Grill, and The Gumbo Pot, or enjoy dine-in service at the new English pub Market Tavern or vibrant El Granjero Cantina.
tour the original farmer's market
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Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
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Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
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Photo by Tanveer Badal
Photo by Trevor Tondro
Fairmont Miramar
Hotel Roosevelt
Hotel June Malibu
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Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
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mgs/Getty Images
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
Photo by Tanveer Badal
Photo by Trevor Tondro
Edgewater Hotel
The State hotel
Photo by Ellie Lillstrom
LeoPatrizi/Getty Images
Writer: Danielle Dorsey
Editors: Jamie Feldmar, Kelly Dobkin
Editor-in-Chief: Helen Hollyman
Editorial Director: Pete Dombrosky
Photographers: Alicia Cho, Dee Williams
Director of Photography: Drew Swantak
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Creative Director: Audra V Pace
FPO
Across the street from MacArthur Park sits one of LA’s most iconic family-owned Jewish delis, Langer’s, which first opened in 1947. The delicatessen began with just 12 seats, offset by a lengthy menu that offered hundreds of combinations to accommodate even the pickiest eaters. Multiple recessions and changes in the neighborhood almost led to the restaurant’s closure, but a convenient location next to the Metro Red Line and famous hot pastrami sandwiches on fresh rye bread keep regulars coming back year after year. Langer’s is such an institution in the city that the intersection of 7th and Alvarado was rededicated as Langer’s Square in 2008.
Langer's
Photo by Alicia Cho for Thrillist
You can’t come to LA without trying Korean BBQ and if you’re going to gorge yourself on tender grilled meats and fresh banchan, you might as well go all out with all-you-can-eat service. The menu at Hae Jang Chon features top-shelf USDA Choice and Prime beef in belly, tongue, and brisket cuts, plus thin- and thick-sliced Canadian pork belly, chicken, seafood, and more that’s seared on thick Korean stone grills. Soybean paste soup, kimchi pancakes, and more are available as sides, but make sure you save room for a tableside preparation of kimchi fried rice with mozzarella for a oozy, cheesy, crispy finish to your meal.
Hae Jang Chon
Hae Jang Chon
You can’t come to LA without trying Korean BBQ and if you’re going to gorge yourself on tender grilled meats and fresh banchan, you might as well go all out with all-you-can-eat service. The menu at Hae Jang Chon features top-shelf USDA Choice and Prime beef in belly, tongue, and brisket cuts, plus thin- and thick-sliced Canadian pork belly, chicken, seafood, and more that’s seared on thick Korean stone grills. Soybean paste soup, kimchi pancakes, and more are available as sides, but make sure you save room for a tableside preparation of kimchi fried rice with mozzarella for a oozy, cheesy, crispy finish to your meal.
Hae Jang Chon
Hae Jang Chon
Across the street from MacArthur Park sits one of LA’s most iconic family-owned Jewish delis, Langer’s, which first opened in 1947. The delicatessen began with just 12 seats, offset by a lengthy menu that offered hundreds of combinations to accommodate even the pickiest eaters. Multiple recessions and changes in the neighborhood almost led to the restaurant’s closure, but a convenient location next to the Metro Red Line and famous hot pastrami sandwiches on fresh rye bread keep regulars coming back year after year. Langer’s is such an institution in the city that the intersection of 7th and Alvarado was rededicated as Langer’s Square in 2008.
Langer's
Photo by Brooke Fitts for Thrillist
FPO
You can’t come to Tinseltown without learning at least a little of our Hollywood history, and there’s no better place to get educated than the Academy Museum, which just opened next door to LACMA this fall. In the Hurd Gallery, you’ll get up close and personal with the industry’s biggest backdrops, like the iconic Mt. Rushmore backing from Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, while the Path to Cinema exhibition features pieces from author and documentary photographer Richard Balzer’s personal collection of innovative pre-cinematic objects. Accept the award you’ve been waiting for in the immersive OscarsⓇ Experience, which includes a simulation that calls your name and captures your speech on video. Make sure you conclude your trip with a meal at Fanny’s, the two-story, 10,000-square-foot art deco-designed restaurant that’s named after vaudeville star and Funny Girl inspiration Fanny Brice.
learn the history
of hollywood
Joshua White/Academy Museum
One of the most iconic LA sights is the Santa Monica Pier that juts out into the Pacific Ocean at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado. First constructed in 1909, the Pier has since expanded into Pacific Park, a neighborhood theme park with a historic merry-go-round, arcade games, bumper cars, kid-friendly coasters, restaurants, and food and souvenir stands, with the vibrant Pacific Park Ferris Wheel that illuminates after dark and offers a pristine view of the coastline. Behold street performers as they hone their crafts, fly high with the on-site Trapeze School, go fishing, learn about local marine life at Heal the Bay Aquarium under the pier, and don’t miss the small 66-to-Cali shop that marks the end of Route 66.
explore the
santa monica pier
stellalevi/Getty Images
mgs/Getty Images
You can’t come to Tinseltown without learning at least a little of our Hollywood history, and there’s no better place to get educated than the Academy Museum, which just opened next door to LACMA this fall. In the Hurd Gallery, you’ll get up close and personal with the industry’s biggest backdrops, like the iconic Mt. Rushmore backing from Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, while the Path to Cinema exhibition features pieces from author and documentary photographer Richard Balzer’s personal collection of innovative pre-cinematic objects. Accept the award you’ve been waiting for in the immersive Oscars Experience, which includes a simulation that calls your name and captures your speech on video. Make sure you conclude your trip with a meal at Fanny’s, the two-story, 10,000-square-foot art deco-designed restaurant that’s named after vaudeville star and Funny Girl inspiration Fanny Brice.
learn the history
of hollywood
Joshua White/Academy Museum
One of the most iconic LA sights is the Santa Monica Pier that juts out into the Pacific Ocean at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado. First constructed in 1909, the Pier has since expanded into Pacific Park, a neighborhood theme park with a historic merry-go-round, arcade games, bumper cars, kid-friendly coasters, restaurants, and food and souvenir stands, with the vibrant Pacific Park Ferris Wheel that illuminates after dark and offers a pristine view of the coastline. Behold street performers as they hone their crafts, fly high with the on-site Trapeze School, go fishing, learn about local marine life at Heal the Bay Aquarium under the pier, and don’t miss the small 66-to-Cali shop that marks the end of Route 66.
EXPLORE THE SANTA MONICA PIER
stellalevi/Getty Images
Find this boutique hotel in the historic neighborhood of West Adams, where you’ll also discover some of the city’s most well-preserved craftsman homes and a thriving art scene. Alsace is the perfect option for travelers who want to live like locals, with loaner bikes and a local’s tour available for guests. The 48-room hotel also has a 2,000-square-foot courtyard space, pool, and fitness studio.
alsace
Alsace
Find this boutique hotel in the historic neighborhood of West Adams, where you’ll also discover some of the city’s most well-preserved craftsman homes and a thriving art scene. Alsace is the perfect option for travelers who want to live like locals, with loaner bikes and a local’s tour available for guests. The 48-room hotel also has a 2,000-square-foot courtyard space, pool, and fitness studio.
ALSACE
Photo by Ellie Lillstrom
Wherever you go, your phone goes, so you’ll need on-the-go coverage for all your big adventures. Being America’s leader in 5G coverage, T-Mobile has you covered. In fact, T-Mobile has the most interstate highway miles with 5G (92% coverage to be exact). So go where the open road takes you — and be confident you’ll stay connected to what matters most.
See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com
COURTESY OF: T-MOBILE
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Wherever you go, your phone goes, so you’ll need on-the-go coverage for all your big adventures. Being America’s leader in 5G coverage, T-Mobile has you covered. In fact, T-Mobile has the most interstate highway miles with 5G (92% coverage to be exact). So go where the open road takes you — and be confident you’ll stay connected to what matters most.
See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com
COURTESY OF: T-MOBILE
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