Best hotels in Los Angeles
AC Hotel by Marriott Beverly Hills
6388 Wilshire Boulevard, CA, 90048
A modern hotel with a distinct air of sophistication, this is the perfect Beverly Hills crash pad. From the rooftop patio, you can take in the hills and the Hollywood sign, while back on terra firma you’re close to Rodeo Drive. Rooms are stylish with high-end bedding and mini fridges.
Park Plaza Lodge
6001 W 3rd Street, CA, 90036
Given a recent refresh, the Park Plaza Lodge is a cool and brilliantly located hotel that’s just to the east of The Grove and well situated for LACMA and shops aplenty. Rooms are simple but bright, clean, and chic, some boasting private patios and others leading you straight to the pool.
Rodeway Inn Near Melrose Avenue
777 Vine Street, CA, 90036
Cheerily dressed in flamingo pink, the Rodeway Inn provided a no-frills base that’s only a mile from landmarks such as Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and the Walk of Fame. All of the rooms have refrigerators and microwaves, while you get a small breakfast to set you up for the day.
Best restaurants in Los Angeles
Pink’s Hot Dogs
709 N La Brea Avenue, CA, 90038
At Pink’s you’ll spot the lines at the same time you spot the garish building that serves up famously good hot dogs. There’s a sprinkle of Hollywood magic on the menu, with the likes of the Rosie O’Donnell dog and the Lord of the Rings dog – topped with onion rings.
Bludso’s Bar & Que
609 N La Brea Avenue, CA, 90036
Kevin Bludso’s way with BBQ has catapulted him from the streets of Compton to television and several outposts of his own ‘Que’ joints. They take inspiration from his family back in Texas, and this is the place for dry-rubbed, slow and low brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs, and sensational sides.
Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly Boulevard, CA, 90036
Stylish, sleek, and seductive, this is very much a superior Italian trattoria. The basics are all handled with aplomb, while seasonality is reflected in the likes of a wood-fired pizza with generous shavings of black summer truffle. The pasta is house-made and made the most of in dishes such as the signature dish of linguine with sea urchin.
What to do in Los Angeles
La Brea Tar Pits
5801 Wilshire Boulevard, CA, 90036
One of the more singular tourist attractions in LA, these pits are where natural tar has seeped up from the ground over tens of thousands of years. Since the Ice Age, it has been capturing and preserving the bodies of animals and is a site of ongoing excavations.
The Grove
189 The Grove Drive, CA, 90036
If you want to shop, eat and enjoy the Californian climate, head to The Grove. Rather than a faceless mall, this is a charming open-air place packed with superb stores and places to eat, drink and play.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Boulevard, CA, 90036
Recently and extensively renovated, LACMA grabs from the second you arrive. Chris Burden’s exterior installation, Urban Light, finds new life for hundreds of vintage streetlamps and sets the tone for what’s inside. Inside you’ll be entranced by galleries that take you from ancient Greece through to the Old Masters and modern times.