City Guide - Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one of the most popular cities in the western United States. It is the second largest city in terms of population, falling just short of the big apple, and the most populous city in the state of California. An internationally recognized destination, it is famous for being the land of sun, beaches, and celebrities, and discoverlosageles.com posted that a record breaking 45.5 million tourists visited the city of angels in 2015 alone. It is the place to be!
Being a rare and elusive, Los Angeles-born native, I could not be more proud to call this my home. I have the added benefit of knowing this city as only a native could, having a living directory of places to dine, shop, enjoy the nightlife, and more. With this in mind, I would love to share a few of my favorite places in the city I call home.
I was raised in a neighborhood the hugs the border of downtown Los Angeles. This
is prime territory for eating as there are always new restaurants to explore. Half the fun is finding the best of the best – or at least discovering a place you love. Here is a look at a few of my favorite places to dine, drink, shop, and explore.
Dining:
Terroni
Right along the edge where the Historic Core meets the Fashion District, just before you hit the main artery of downtown Los Angeles, lies my favorite place for Italian food: Terroni. Located inside a reclaimed bank building built in 1924, the specialty here is rustic, southern Italian fare made from fine quality ingredients. Personally, I live for the Linguine alle Vongole e Bottarga. A linguine pasta with clams and salmon roe in a delectable white wine sauce. Dinner is the most popular time of the day to dine here, packed to the brim with patrons, the twinkling lights of the city, and a live DJ playing a mix of classic and current hits; however, I prefer the quieter, local feel of the lunchtime. With a few diners sprinkled throughout the front end of the restaurant, one can take a seat at the bar and sip leisurely over a glass of wine, converse with the bartenders, and linger over their meal while a soccer game plays on a large screen television in the background. The large roof-to-ceiling windows allow copious amounts of natural light to pour in as you twirl your fork full pasta noodles.
Hae Jang Chon
I am a carnivore! And if you are a carnivore like me, then it is imperative that you visit Hae Jang Chon in Korea town, aka K-Town, in mid-city just west of downtown and south of Hollywood. Hae Jang Chon is, in my opinion, one of the best all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ places to be found, and the patrons who are willing to wait approximately two hours or more are the proof. Unlike others, this restaurant uses cast iron grills to cook their wares, and with up 22 different choices of meats and seafood, you are bound to find something to love. A staple of Korean food is bulgogi, thinly-sliced, marinated beef, and their bulgogi is some of my favorite because of its flavor and tenderness. The side dishes are abundant as well with an array of choices, which are also all-you-can-eat! I just adore the steamed egg and Chinese broccoli. One of my favorite perks is that the restaurant does not close until 2 AM, and with plenty of beverages to choose from, It’s a great, late night dinner spot!
Honorable Mentions:
- Suehiro - Japanese
- Bottega Louie - Italian & French desserts
- Lala’s Argentinian Grill - Argentinian
- 1810 - Argentinian
- The Bazaar by Jose Andres – Mexican Fusion
- Grand Central Market – Various Types of Cuisine
- Blossom - Vietnamese
- Pine & Crane – Asian Fusion
- Artisan House – American Fine Dining
- Industriel – Rustic French
- Pampas - Brazilian
- The Boiling Crab - Seafood
Nightlife:
Clifton's Cafeteria
Another one of my regular haunts in downtown Los Angeles is Clifton’s Cafeteria, located right in the heart of the city on the corner of Broadway and 7th street. Clifton’s is a bit of living history having opened in 1935 in the middle of the Great Depression and Hollywood’s Golden era! It is a living vestige that marks a time when cafeteria-style eating was hugely popular; however, I do not recommend this place solely for the food. I come here on Friday and Saturday nights for the drinks and dancing! No one would imagine that a cafeteria, decorated to look like Disneyland crossed with a hunting lodge – complete with animal taxidermy – would be one of the best places for a fun night out! It was a sort of ritual of mine to come here with a friend or two, order a few drinks at the second-floor bar and take a seat in front of the fire place, which also happens to be a (fake) redwood tree that stretches up to the ceiling, and scope out the scene. After the burlesque show in front of the tree, but across from the encased buffalo, we would make our way to the third floor where a live big band played. Dancers in circle skirts and zoot-suits dominate the floor. Everyone makes it a point to take a selfie by the mountain lion or the running deer and coyote, and then you head to the second bar for your second (or maybe third) glass while you look down over the bannister to the floor below. You also have to make a stop by the (possibly) oldest neon sign in the world, hidden photo booth, and see the Cabinet of Curiosities. And yes, this is all happening simultaneously.
Good Times at Davey Wayne’s
In Hollywood, you have your pick of the litter when it comes to night time venues. You can choose a place that speaks glamour, and mimics the red-carpet life of the celebrities we know and love to hate, hate to love, and everything in between. Or you can find a place with more of an underground appeal. Some bars are thematic, some eclectic, and some you are not entirely sure what is happening. Good Times at Davey Wayne’s (or just Davey Wayne’s for short) is one of those places that fall into the thematic, eclectic, under-the-raider type of bars. Located in East Hollywood, just before you reach the mecca of tourism, one would not know exactly where to look for Davey Wayne’s if not for the line to get out the door. However, this door is a refrigerator, and it is more like a time machine back into to the wild, party-loving 70s. Once you pass through you are, literally, in a house straight out of that 70s show, and you are pretty sure the cast is lurking behind a corner around the pea green sofa of the living room. The bar, which looks more like a well-stocked den, is adorned in paraphernalia from the era. While the main social area is an actual living room, complete with family photos along the mantel-piece. The back patio is a wooden, Astroturf lined deck with hammocks, string lights, and a bar that is the top-half of a trailer cover. Needless to say, the owner definitely knows how to stick to the theme. The people will be an eclectic mix of the cool, glamorous, and some just want a fun place to have a drink.
Honorable Mentions:
- Far Bar – Japanese Themed
- Parlour Room – 20s/30s Themed
- Library Bar – 20s/30s Themed Lounge
- Las Perlas – Tequila Bar
- Crocker Club – Dancing 20s Themed
- The Standard Hollywood – Contemporary, High-End
- The Edison -30s Themed
- Lock & Key – Modern, Hip
- EightyTwo – 80s Arcade/Pinball Machine Bar
Shopping:
Melrose Trading Post:
This is a fun and worthwhile experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who happens to be visiting or anyone just looking for something fun to do! Please note that admission is $3.00, and they are only open on SUNDAYS. For those of you who thrive on owning unique, one-of-a-kind, and hard to duplicate items: clothing, furniture, décor, accessories, and more – then this is a good place for you! You'll come across all sorts of vendors with a variety of wares for just about any style out there such as: 80s and 90s inspired Taxi CDC, or the house of MVT, owned by the personable Mary, where you will find an assortment including great vintage finds, urban/street wear, and a few unexpected finds like a Louis Vuitton coat! There is even a shop with a wide selection of real leather, vintage handbags. At the end of the day, visitors will not be disappointed with this gem of shopping destinations.
Honorable Mentions:
- Tanner Goods – Men’s Wear
- 7th & Fig. – Retail Shopping
- The Grove/Farmer’s Market – Retail, Boutique, Department Store
- Shopping on Melrose (between La Brea & Beverly) - Boutique
- Popkiller - Vintage Shopping
- Old Town Pasadena - Various
- Santa Monica Promenade - Various
- Hollywood & Highland - Various
Outings:
The Last Bookstore
My Favorite place in the entire city of Los Angeles is nestled right in the heart where the Bank District meets the Art Distrct. On the corner of 5th and and Spring is a building that is a relic - virtually an endangered species of its kind: a bookstore. Actually, its The Last Bookstore, and its moniker is an ode to all the bookstores that have unfortunately met their end at the hands of e-books, kindles, and tablets (Borders... RIP). I am an avid reader! And there is nothing like a good book in hand, the feel of pages between my fingers, to put my soul at ease. But The Last Bookstore is not only a place to buy books, one can also sale old books, converse with locales, enjoy open mic nights, and late night shopping every second Thursday of the month:The Downtown L.A. Art Walk! However, this place is not only a holder of books, but it also home to an art gallery, book labyrinth, curio shops, and a knitting club on its second floor. And if that still is not enough to tempt a visit, I highly suggest going just to see the decor of books which look more art sculptures.
Honorable Mentions:
- LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)- Museum
- Little Tokyo – Japanese Tourism
- Griffith Observatory - Astronomy
- The Natural History Museum - Kid-friendly and fun!
- California Science Center - Kid-friendly, fun, and FREE!
These are just a few of the many places I love and visit in my hometown of Los Angeles. However, it is a dynamic city that is in a constant stage of change. While these places are all worth visiting, I am sure there are even more out there to discover, so get out and explore!
Photo credits: Unless otherwise noted all images were taken by Adneisha W. for 6+Done, 2016.
1) JoeInSouthernCA - 1906 Map of the Los Angeles Trolley/Electrified Streetcar Transit System via photopin (license)
2) Good Times at Davey Wayne's images - website & @frankishman
3) lavocado@sbcglobal.net - Clifton's Cafeteria Entrance via photopin (license)
4) Paul Narvaez - clifton's & clifton's 2 via flickr (license)
