When I first posted What should Pasty Minnesotans do in LA? Paige Appel (aka The Ambassador of Fun) busted me for being east-side-centric.
Hello.
I still wouldn't want to live on the west side. But this series does make me want to cross La Brea a little more often.
Here's Paige on Westwood/West LA + Brentwood:
In my opinion, the west side doesn't go east of the 405, but I have to cover the neighborhoods slighted in the previous posts. I'm breaking it down by location and categories for easy reference in case those Minnesotans can only hit up a few neighborhoods. All of these recs have been tried and loved by me and mine.
Westwood/West L.A.
Eat.
Apple Pan for the longest running mom and pop burger house in the city.
Westside Tavern for chicken liver mousse and a great Sazerac.
Native Foods for vegan twinkies and flavorful brown rice bowls.
Junior's Deli for potato latkes and matzo ball soup.
Stan's Donuts for the peanut butter and chocolate filled monster donut.
In N Out near UCLA for the design and burger.
Sunnin for Lebanese amazingness.
Shabu Shabu, Ramen, and Sushi on Sawtelle.
Diddy Riese for the UCLA student gawking and overrated cookies.
(Stan's Donuts)
Shop.
Wally's for wine, handcrafted liquors, and gourmet cheeses.
Children's Book World for a vast curated selection of kids books.
HAMMER Museum book store for art books.
Buy rare movies at Cinefile.
Buy rare used books at Alias Books
See + buy the most beautiful bonsai trees at the nurseries on Sawtelle
Do.
HAMMER Museum for the best contemporary art shows in the city. See Paul Thek now.
See local live theatre at The Geffen Playhouse.
See the Farmer's Classic tennis tournament live at UCLA every July. (ya know, if you like tennis)
See the best midnight movies (aka THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH) at Landmark's Nuart
Fall asleep on a leather couch eating chocolate with sea salt at Landmark's Westside Pavillion
Paul Thek Untitled (Meat Piece with Flies) at The Hammer
Brentwood
Eat.
Tavern for butter crumbed eggs and brisket hash.
Sugarfish for no frills, high quality sushi.
FARMSHOP for a considered, but light lunch in the mart.
Reddi Chick for cheap and good fried chicken and BBQ sauce.
Sweet Rose Creamery for small batch, homemade ice cream. Get the Basil, Salted Caramel or Black Sesame Soy.
Pressed Juicery for fresh concoctions straight from the cold press. Fave is pear ginger pineapple mint.
Osteria Latini for spaghetti bolognese straight from Northern Italy.
SusieCakes for sour cream cheesecake and whoopie pies.
Luxxe Cafe has the best beans and best espresso drinks in the city. (yes, I'm claiming that) Mr. Appel has had the acclaimed versions at Intelligentsia, LAMILL, and the likes and demands Luxxe is as close to Italian coffee as he has ever had in the states.
Shop.
Compartes for geometric and tasty chocolates.
Selima et Benjamin for sunglasses.
Poppy for well-made, unique, european kids clothes.
Turpan for curated eclectica.
Union Made for Steven Alan-esque menswear.
Post26 for new and vintage fashions.
James Perse for linen Repetto flats and what else? James Perse.
Diesel bookstore. A disappearing breed of books.
Broken English for interesting jewelry.
Trading Post for a post office straight out of Mayberry complete with unique sundries.
(Broken English)
Do.
Drive up Kenter Canyon to Crestwood Hills Park and on the way marvel at the cluster of Case Study post and beams.
Obviously, go to the Getty.
Hike Mandeville Canyon.
Have a drink at the top of the Hotel Angeleno for a breathtaking view.
Walk, shop, eat. See above.
east-side-centric = awesome LA centric.
ReplyDeleteAdd Bar Hayama to the list. Best sushi in LA. Sit by the fire pit.
ReplyDeleteThese guides are REALLY making me want to take a trip to LA that's NOT a business trip, for once.
ReplyDeletewhy don't you have a 'stay" category?
ReplyDelete