View of Downtown of Los Angeles from Griffith’s Park as taken from my iPhone
Los Angeles is more like thirty suburbs sewn together instead of a city. Accordingly, everything is spread out. For this reason, mass transit is very limited. Everyone travels by car and it is why there is bumper to bumper traffic during rush hours (approximately 6 AM-10AM and 3PM-7PM) despite a seven lane highway. Since Los Angeles is so spread out, you can find anything you are looking for (ethnic food, specific entertainment, etc.) if you are willing to drive there. However, I recommend choosing and staying in a general area to explore to avoid being on the highways at the wrong times. There are touristy things to do (e.g. Hollywood walk of fame, Chinese theater, Rodeo drive) that are really not that exciting but you see them anyway if it is your first time in the city. There are also theme parks such as Universal Studios and Disneyland. In regards to Universal Studios, it is more about the film sets in the Los Angeles location compared to the action rides in the Florida park. Again, there is a lot in Los Angeles so the below are a combination of must sees and neat spots that I found but not going to reflect all that the city has to offer. It is more of a starter’s guide.
- Griffith’s Park (2800 East Observatory Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90027)
It is my favorite spot in Los Angeles. Drive up to the observatory for the best view of Los Angeles from the mountains. Parking is limited at the actual lot in front of the observatory but you can park outside on the roads that lead up and down it. There are also hiking trails that start from the bottom of the park and go up the mountain. The elevation change is not crazy. It is an ideal spot for sunrise or sunset. There is also a hiking trail that brings you to the Hollywood sign. I did not hike all the way there but I did walk 15-20 minutes for a closer view of the sign.
There are also short films shown inside the observatory. I watched “Centered in the Universe”. The theater has an awesome 360 screen on the ceiling. The film is about the creation of the universe via the Big Bang. The film shows the explosion and expansion of the universe. It is really interesting and visually great.
- Los Angeles Coastline
The coastline is stunning. Although traffic on the highways going east and west for the coast can be crazy, it is fine going north and south once you reach it. There are a number of great beaches. Any of these spots are also great for sunset as the sun will descend below the ocean.
- Manhattan Beach
It is a beautiful beach best known for volleyball and surfing. Beach houses and condominiums line the beach. There are plenty of spots to eat. I have gone to the Manhattan Beach Creamery (1120 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266) both times I have been here. Their ice cream is amazing. I go for the Nutella flavor. Even if it is not listed on the menu, ask for it. We thought that the flavor was discontinued the second time we went but they had it in the back when we asked for it.
- Venice
Venice Beach stands out for Muscle beach, skateboard parks, and basketball courts for streetballers. It is not as nice or clean as the other beaches. It also does not feel as touristy. There is a promenade where you can walk up and down the beach. However, I would focus on visiting Abbot Kinney Boulevard. There are a bunch of great food carts along the road. Intelligentsia (1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 9029) is one of the most well-known coffee shops in Los Angeles.
- Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach is directly north of Venice. Ocean Avenue is a beautiful walk. The Santa Monica Pier is a popular spot. It has an amusement park and a gorgeous view of the mountains to the north. Be careful where you park. I would just put it in a parking lot. My friend has had his car towed when a parking spot randomly became a valet zone after a certain time. He has also had several other instances when he was ticketed for some random infractions.
- Malibu
Malibu is a dream location to live. As a place to visit, there is not much there if you do not want to lay out on the beach or go for a swim. There are fish and chips spots along the highway but there is better food in Los Angeles. Pepperdine is a beautiful campus if you want to take a tour.
- Little Tokyo
There are a lot of ethnic neighborhoods for food (e.g. Little Armenia, Chinatown, etc.). If there is something in particular you are craving, you can find it. I really enjoyed Little Tokyo. There is a paid parking lot connected to the Japanese Village Plaza which is not too expensive. Be careful not to stray too far from the village and streets close to it. In particular, avoid Skid Row [especially at nighttime]. It is known for a lot of homeless people and being a bit shady. You can tell pretty quickly if you begin to walk in that area.
- Café Dulce (Japanese Village Plaza – 335 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
First, the coffee here is awesome. Next, the pastries are ridiculously good. I tried the green tea donut, red bean roti, and green tea roti. All three are excellent. The red bean roti is definitely the best.
- Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream (Japanese Village Plaza – 118 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Mochi ice cream is usually good. Mikawaya is the first time I felt blown away by mochi. The hazelnut and strawberry are great flavors. Nevertheless, all the flavors are really good.
- Daikokuya Ramen (327 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
I have had better Ramen but Daikokuya is acceptable. I ordered the Daikoku Ramen which has a tonkotsu soup base. I should have probably ordered the spicy miso ramen for some more kick. It is a ton of food if you want to add a rice bowl to make a combination. However, the chicken bowl I had was a little dry so I ended up not eating much of it. There is usually a line for this spot. We still had to wait an hour even though it was 3 PM in the afternoon on Friday.
- Blu Jam Café (7371 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, California 90046)
Blu Jam has multiple locations. I have been to the one in Hollywood. It is one of my favorite breakfast/ brunch spots in the country. The Crunchy French Toast is incredible. It is an “egg brioche dipped in our secret batter, rolled in crunchy corn flakes and grilled to perfection, topped with fresh berries, served with powdered sugar and vanilla bean sauce”. I only rank one French Toast [slightly] above this one in the country, the Captain Crunch French Toast at Blue Moon Café in Baltimore. The other breakfast dishes are great too. If you go with a group, you can share an order of the French Toast and order other dishes.
- Pasadena
Pasadena is a hip city northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Downtown Pasadena has a bunch of spots to eat. My friend and I grabbed something quick at Poke Salad Bar (12 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105), which had very good Poke. Copa Vida (70 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105) is also an awesome coffee shop in Pasadena.
- ArcLight Cinemas
Of course, going to the movies is a big deal in Los Angeles. There are ArcLight Cinemas throughout the city. It features reserved seating, recliner seats in the main theaters, and a bar. An attendant will watch the beginning of the movie with you to ensure the picture and sound are up to ArcLight standards.
- Coffee
1. Café Dulce (Japanese Village Plaza – 335 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Please see Little Tokyo section. Café Dulce has great coffee and great pastries.
- Copa Vida (70 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105)
It is an excellent coffee shop and great location in downtown Pasadena. There is plenty of space to enjoy your coffee or do some work. Copa Vida is a chain. The one in San Diego is awesome too. Pasadena has the original location.
- G&B Coffee (C-19, 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
It is a great coffee shop in Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles. In Hawaii, I could not get enough of the macadamia nut lattes. G&B features an excellent one here. There are also plenty of spots to eat in the Market. Since it is in the downtown area, you will probably need to park in a lot.
- House Roots (10408 Balboa Blvd Granada Hills, CA 91344)
It is an awesome coffee shop in Valencia, which is approximately 27 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It is currently located at the back of a Korean church before they move to a new location. The founders of this shop learned their craft at Café Dulce before they opened their own shop. Their coffee is on par with any coffee shop in Los Angeles. Their cold brew is arguably the best. They also make their own sodas which are great. They rotate the flavors. They featured a honeydew soda when I visited. In addition, they also offer barbecue on occasion. To my surprise, I loved it too.
- Intelligentsia (1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 9029)
Intelligentsia is a training ground for baristas. A lot of baristas get their training from Intelligentsia and then leave for other specialty shops. When it is on its A game, it is as good or better as any other specialty coffee shop. According to my friend, it took on investors to expand. When you expand too quickly with the pressure of investors, you risk losing some quality.
About Pat Wong
Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies. Patrick is also a passionate foodie. He is Yelp Elite for three years in a row and shares his great finds in New York and his travels.