My favorite part about L.A. is that there is always something to do, somewhere to go, and someone to see. I grew up in a small suburb just thirty minutes outside of the city (where I still live today!) Over the years I’ve accumulated a list of my favorite spots all around Los Angeles…. restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife, bars, etc! These aren’t necessarily “tourist traps”, these are places that us Angelenos actually frequent! I’m going to release these “glow-guides” as I like to call them, categorized by location: downtown, WeHo, the Valley… you get the point :). To start, I’m focusing on West Hollywood.
Some of my most memorable nights in my late teen to early twenties were spent gallivanting around WeHo. With beautiful rooftops, amazing night clubs, and plenty of shopping…it’s almost impossible to be bored in this city.
Restaurants
JON & VINNYS – 412 N. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA
Italian $
Easily one of my favorite Italian places in L.A. and essentially a staple to Angelenos. While this restaurant has multiple locations, the Fairfax location is the only one I frequent. All of their pasta is made in house and their pizzas are also incredible.
Must order: Spicy Fusilli Vodka Basil Parmigiano & Radiatori Pesto Parmigiano
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappaccino Maker – 8653 W Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood CA
Brunch $$
This place is SO. CUTE. They serve brunch all day which is perfect a date, girls day, or family outing. (Last time I was there we saw Lizzo. YES. LIZZO!!) With an abundance of outdoor seating, delicious food, and a super instagram-able aesthetic, you wont be disappointed.
Must Order: Yogurt Parfait
CROSSROADS KITCHEN – 8284 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, C
Vegan $$$
While I’m not vegan, I was blown away with how delicious the food here is! If no one told me it was a vegan restaurant I truly would never have known.
Must order: Spaghetti Carbonara
BACARI – 8030 3/4 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA
Mediterranean/Italian inspired $$$
Ooof I love this place. I’ve been here once for brunch and several times for dinner. I’ve liked ~literally~ every dish I’ve ever tried! You enter through a super slender brick entryway into what looks like a secret garden with large trees and hanging lanterns. Gorgeous and delicious!
Must order: Grilled chicken breast, Hunter’s mac and cheese, & bread pudding for dessert
Bars/Nightlife
MELROSE UMBRELLA CO– 7465 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA
American Cuisine/Drinks $$
While I can honestly say I’ve never come here to eat, I find this to be one of the best place in Los Angeles to grab a drink. The bartenders have always been incredibly friendly and the music selection is always great. They also have an adorable back patio great for socializing with friends…or meeting new ones!
Must Order: The Melrose Mule
DOHENY ROOM – 9077 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA
Lounge/Dance Club
The very first club I visited in Los Angeles…Doheny Room! While you enter a stylish restaurant on the ground level, you climb the staircase in the back to a stylish dance club/lounge upstairs. I’ve never eaten at the restaurant but the upstairs lounge is one of my favorite places to grab a drink and dance! It isn’t overwhelmingly large which I like. It feels more intimate than some of the other clubs in L.A. However if you ARE looking for crazy and overwhelming…check out my next recommendation.
NIGHTINGALE – 643 N La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
Nightclub
Ohhhh Nightingale. The memories I’ve made here! Truly some of the wildest and best nights I’ve ever had. Lots of dancing, celebrity sightings, and a fun photo booth! Singers/rappers often come to perform and you’re almost always guaranteed a great time.
Hot tip: Arrive early to beat lines and dress to impress!
E.P. & L.P. – 603 N. La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA
Cocktail Bar $$$
So let me explain: EP is for dining LP is for rooftop snacks and cocktails. I’ve only visited L.P. and have always been pleasantly surprised. First off the views of Hollywood are impeccable. The entire rooftop is incredibly Instagram worthy and its a great place to mingle!
…ALSO! Adjoined to the LP rooftop is the…
MELROSE ROOFTOP THEATER – 603 N. La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA
Enter through the E.P. & L.P. restaurant, take the elevator to level 3 and you can enter the roof-deck there! It’s an amazing experience, watching a film under the stars in big comfy bean bags! There’s theater snacks (and cocktails) for purchase.
Hot tip: I’d recommend attending in the spring/summer months where its a little warmer!
1Hotel West Hollywood – 8490 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood CA
So you’re looking for a nightcap? The Juniper Lounge inside the 1Hotel is the perfect place to end your night! Their drinks are delicious and it’s the perfect place to wrap up an evening out on the town.
Must Order: Sustainable Espresso Martini
Shopping & Entertainment
THE GROVE
The Grove is simply a staple of Los Angeles. It’s essentially an outdoor shopping center full of popular stores, yummy restaurants, and exciting pop-up shops/events throughout the year. It’s ALSO where I met my very first celebrity! I was probably 7 or 8 and remember meeting Raven Symone at the Cheesecake Factory. I was a big ‘That’s So Raven’ and ‘Cheetah Girls’ fan, so this was a huge deal for me.
Attached to The Grove is one of L.A.’s oldest institutes, the Farmers market! You can get the freshest produce while also visiting over 70 stalls that consist of cafes, stores, and other unique vendors.
MELROSE AVE
Home of the pink wall that I’m sure you’ve seen all over Instagram. Melrose Ave has a ton of awesome shops, trendy boutiques, unique coffeeshops, restaurants, and more! The murals along the walls make for great photo ops
60out Escape Rooms
Escape Room
Let me tell you I am OBSESSED with escape rooms. I’ve been to a couple 60out locations and have yet to be disappointed. My friends and I successfully escaped the Alice in Wonderland room (photo to the right) in WeHo and had a BLAST! The room is super interactive and really keeps you on your toes. Located amongst all the best shops and restaurants on Melrose it’s a perfect location to start (or end) a night of restaurant/barhopping. … P.S. the silver lake location is also amazing… try the Amityville room and see if you can make it out of the room ALIVE.
Pro tip: If your lucky you can find promo codes online if you do a little bit of digging before booking your room!
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