48 HOURS IN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles has been my home for over 10 years and for the most part, it is as beautiful as you see on television, with a few not so glamorous parts. I’ve laid out my favorite parts of L.A. to visit in a 48 hour period.  Make sure to read to the bottom of this article because I’ve listed out all of my favorite restaurants, activities, and sites to see if you’re visiting Los Angeles for more than 48 hours!! Good luck and tell me how your trip goes!!

Day 1: Santa Monica Beach!! Get your tan on!

1. Have a great breakfast at Art’s Table on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. They have some of the best food on the Westside (It’s called the West side because it is West of the 405 Freeway, which divides L.A.)
2. Go to the 3rd St. Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier (only 2 blocks from each other) and shop, listen to musical street performers, ride roller coasters, play games, and you can pay about $60 (get tickets in advance) and have the best time at trapeze school, which is also right on the pier. One of my favorite restaurants is called Blue Plate Oysterette, which is some of the best seafood in Los Angeles!
3. Rent Paddle boards at one of the local places by the beach and go for a swim if the water isn’t too cold!
4. Now you can either stay in Santa Monica and eat at some of their amazing restaurants, such as Blue Plate Oysterette, which is some of the best seafood in Los Angeles and then end the night with drinks up at the rooftop terrace of The Shangri-La! Or you can head towards Hollywood and check out the nightlife. Just be warned, Hollywood is filled with lots of interesting characters. Check out the list below for great restaurants, tips, and activities!

 

Day 2: Venice & Hollywood

1. Start the day in Venice by checking out the Venice beach Sign and go to a really fun street called, Abbot Kinney.  have lunch at one of these hot spots: The Butcher’s Daughter has awesome food and is vegan friendly, The Rose is stunning to look at (great for Instagram shots) as well as having some of the most amazing food. Grab gourmet hot dogs (even crazy flavors like rattle snake) and craft beers at Wurstkuche, The Venice Ale House has an awesome beer list besides having delicious food and you’ll be able to look at the beach while having lunch, then grab a donut at Blue Star Donuts on Abbot Kinney!
2. After lunch, head to Rodeo Drive to have the total L.A. shopping experience and probably spot a celebrity!
3. Then kill two birds with one stone, by checking out the Hollywood Sign while at the Griffith Observatory! I suggest going an hour before Sunset so that you get to watch the sun go down over L.A.
4. Next grab dinner and a show in Hollywood, either at The Pantages Theatre (more kid friendly) or The Avalon (more adult friendly) Or go see a comedy show at the Laugh Factory on Sunset Blvd.

 

THINGS TO BE AWARE OF:

• California has one of the biggest homeless populations in the country so you will see homeless people, unfortunately. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.
• If you are visiting during a weekday and even sometimes on the weekends, you will hit a lot of traffic if you are trying to go from one part of L.A. to another part. L.A. is very spread out so going from say Santa Monica to Hollywood at 5pm will take you about an hour and a half.
• LAX airport is closer to Santa Monica than Hollywood. I would recommend depending on how long your trip is, staying at least one night, if not two in the Santa Monica area. If you’re staying for a longer stay, break your trip up between Santa Monica and the Hollywood Area, as these are two major cities on opposite ends of L.A. and are the easiest to get to other areas of L.A. from these points.

MUSEUMS:

• The Broad Museum
• LACMA Museum
• Getty Museum is absolutely wonderful and free (you have to pay for parking, but you park right under neath the museum)

There are two “The Getty Villa” in Malibu and “The Getty Center” in Brentwood. The art at the Brentwood museum is much bigger and better in my opinion and is easier parking wise.

You can’t go wrong with any of these museums. They are all unique in their own way

RESTAURANTS:

Santa Monica

• Art’s Table
• Paradise Cove (Restaurant on the beach)
• Back On The Beach
• Blue Plate Oysterette
• Esters (amazing food and cocktails/wine)
• The Misfit
• Milo & Olive
• Tar & Roses ($$$$)
• Bodega Wine Bar
• The Shangri-La (Rooftop cocktails)
• Sonoma Wine Garden (restaurant and bar overlooking ocean at the outdoor mall, top level)
• Father’s Office (the best burgers, not the best ambiance)
• Joe & The Juice (Coffee)
• Alfreds (Coffee, matcha, tea)
• Sidecar (Coffee and YUMMY donuts)

West Hollywood/Hollywood Area

• The Ivory on Sunset
• Republique
• Providence
• The Hungry Cat (Seafood)
• Open Sesame (amazing mediterranean food. Order the Chicken Tawook if you go!!)
• Gwen
• California Donuts (Perfect Instagram donuts/fun designs)
• Carrera Cafe (light lunch and gourmet donuts)
• Toast (great brunch/lunch)
• Laduree (Beverly Hills)

DOWNTOWN

• Broken Shaker
• Bottega Louie
• Perch
• Redbird
• Bestia

HOTELS:

• Mondrian Los Angeles (Right on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood)
• The London (Beverly Hills)
• The Hollywood Roosevelt (Right In Hollywood)
• The Ace Hotel (Downtown)
• Hotel Erwin (Venice Beach)
• Palihouse (Santa Monica)
• Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows (Santa Monica)

ACTIVITIES:

• Rent Kayaks in Marina Del Rey and see seals
• Griffith Observatory
• Runyon Canyon Hike in Hollywood
• Helicopter Rides of Los Angeles
• Chinese Theatre to go see a movie and enjoy some shopping
• Hollywood Wax Museum if you want the touristy experience
• 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica (beautiful outdoor mall)
• Huntington & Descanso Gardens
• The Santa Monica Pier
• Abbot Kinney Street in Venice
• Wine Tasting at Malibu Wines
• Ride motorcycles up Mulholland Drive
• Shop on Rodeo Drive
• Take a chocolate Tour in Beverly Hills
• Visit the Cheese Store in Beverly Hills

CLOSE BY PLACES TO VISIT:

• Santa Ynez/Solvang for wine tasting (only 2 hour drive away)
• Catalina Island (about an hour boat ride)
• San Diego (2 hours away)

I hope you enjoyed this article and it was filled with enlightening and exciting tips for your upcoming trip to L.A.!!