Los Angeles is many things: dynamic, vibrant and somehow laidback amongst all the glitz and glamour. The celebrity-packed city is filled with must-visit businesses, hotels, restaurants and experiences, and Worth is breaking down which ones are most worthwhile.
Businesses
Annenberg Foundation
The family name of the late media magnate Walter Annenberg is all over the city, on university buildings and connected to public programs. The arts, education and humanitarian communities nationwide benefit from having this LA nonprofit working in so many scenes. 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1000 S, 310.209.4560, [email protected], annenberg.org
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
With more than 1,650 members, the “voice of business” in the LA area focuses on innovation, education, small businesses and global trade. 350 S. Bixel St., 213.580.7511, lachamber.com
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
This nonprofit reflects the many facets of LA industry, from aerospace and transportation to entertainment and design, with an eye to innovation. 444 S. Flower St., 37th floor, William C. “Bill” Allen, CEO, 213.236.4811, [email protected], laedc.org
Hotels
Chateau Marmont
Are you really not going to stay here at least once? West Hollywood’s castle for celebrities and people who look like they should be celebrities is also very, very pretty, a walk-in jewel box of old Hollywood charm. 8221 Sunset Blvd., 323.656.1010, chateaumarmont.com
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
A Santa Monica classic, the Fairmont Miramar is just feet from the beach and complements gorgeous pools with lovely, classically California architecture. Service at the restaurant, Fig, isn’t the best, but the cool vibe and stylish setting is what draws most guests, a mix of tourists and Hollywood types. The suites, especially the three-bedroom Bungalow One, with its residential feel, are well worth a stay. 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.576.7777, fairmont.com/santa-monica
Westdrift Manhattan Beach
A newly renovated addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the Westdrift is a wonderful hotel. Deceptively simple but comfortable rooms overlook an emerald golf course, and while the location isn’t perfect—it’s a bit of a long walk to the beach—a five-minute cab ride puts you right on Manhattan Beach proper. But what makes the Westdrift work is its communal lobby/bar/restaurant space; it’s spacious enough to afford privacy to those who seek it while also managing to encourage interaction and conversation between guests. A great seasonal menu at the restaurant, Jute, doesn’t hurt either. 1400 Parkview Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310.564.5021, westdrift.com
Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
As with most exciting projects in downtown LA, this one is a stylish renovation of early Hollywood infrastructure, now with art and a theater for live events. 929 S. Broadway, 213.623.3233, acehotel.com/losangeles
Restaurants
Animal
A pioneer of the all-meat experience, Animal is still a place to see protein reinvented and reworked as owners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo constantly find new parts of the creatures of the Earth to prepare in fascinating and delicious ways. 435 N. Fairfax Ave., 323.782.9225, animalrestaurant.com
Father’s Office
A Santa Monica classic from chef Sang Yoon, Father’s Office is known throughout LA for its nearly perfect hamburger, surprisingly healthful (or at least tasty) sides and a magnificently constructed beer list. It’s the kind of place that’s beloved by both the most discerning foodies and least fussy eaters. And it serves food late, not always a guarantee in sleepier parts of LA. 1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, 310.736.2224, fathersoffice.com
Yabu
Los Angeles is known for its hole-in-the-wall, hidden strip-mall treasure food scene, and Yabu is a great example of that. Tucked into a nondescript block with a few auto shops, this unassuming Japanese eatery boasts some of the best sushi in the city. A summer night saw one of the architects of Apple’s new San Francisco HQ and a couple of producer and director types enjoying a massive shared spread—sashimi, pork belly and more— and sake until long after nightfall. Reservations may be hard to come by, but the setting is pleasantly no-frills. 11820 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 310.473.9757, yaburestaurant.com
Grand Central Market
LA’s food culture at a glance (minus the food trucks). All are represented here: the deli, the pupuseria, pizza, booze, barbecue, ramen, Mexican food and a juicery, plus Eggslut, a food stand offering breakfast sandwiches and other egg-based dishes. 317 S. Broadway, 213.624.2378, grandcentralmarket.com
Petit Trois
Veteran celeb chef Ludo Lefebvre perfects the French bistro and the kinds of classics that even non-Francophiles know and love, like steak frites. Bonus: It’s next door to another Lefebvre joint, the sophisticated French eatery Trois Mec. 718 Highland Ave., 323.468.8916, petittrois.com
Experiences
The Broad
A satisfying mix of traditional art and more immersive experiences, LA’s newest contemporary art museum is itself a piece of performance art about the city: Plan ahead or expect sell-outs and lines. (Bonus: It’s free.) 221 S. Grand Ave., 213.232.6200, thebroad.org
Getty Villa
While the main Getty art collection is housed at the J. Paul Getty Museum—and it’s a great collection—the Villa on the road to Malibu is a can’t miss destination. Architecturally, it’s a reproduction of a classical Roman villa, and it’s filled with one of the best collections of classical art in the United States. 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, getty.edu/visit/villa
Hollywood Bowl
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the great live, outdoor music venues in the country and is a center of cultural life in Los Angeles. It hosts the Los Angeles Philharmonic during the summer but also brings in top contemporary acts, from Dierks Bentley to the Arctic Monkeys. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, 323.850.2000 hollywoodbowl.com
Griffith Park
Hidden in plain sight (look for the Hollywood sign), Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S, coming in at 4,300 acres. Depending on where you wander, you’ll find hiking and biking, a collection of old trains, the LA Zoo, a Western museum, (probably) some kind of production being filmed or the Griffith Observatory. 4730 Crystal Springs, 323.644.2050, laparks.org/griffithpark
Santa Monica State Beach
Go to the beach! It’s why people move here, after all. There’s the famous pier, restaurants and a bike path should you want to explore the full length of the place where the American dream was finally able to stretch out and relax. 310.458.8300, smgov.net
