Los Angeles
5D4N: Welcome to LA’s comprehensive guide for food and culture! I have created a 5-day, 4-night itinerary for first-timers to LA, focusing on the highlights from many of my visits. LA is quite large, so it is ideal to rent a car during your stay. Also, be aware of the traffic during rush hours; it is no joke. If you have more time on the West Coast, you can add Big Sur, Palm Springs, or Joshua Tree to your itinerary.
Day 1
Noon arrival @ LAX from NYC
Rental car @ LAX
Lunch @ In-N-Out Burger or donuts @ Randy's Donuts
Greystone Mansion & Park (suggested duration 30 mins; free to tour the park)
Stay @ Westwood (UCLA Luskin; 4-star), Santa Monica, Beverly Hills (Beverly Wilshire; 5-star), or West Hollywood (Elan Hotel; 3-star)
Hollywood:
Griffith Park:
Griffith Observatory (free)
Picture of the Hollywood sign (or hike to it if time permits)
Korean BBQ dinner @ Hae Jang Chon
Day 2
Beverly Hills:
Spadena House (picture only)
Brunch @ Chaumont
The Getty Center (free admission; $20 parking & reduced rate after 3 pm)
The Getty Villa (free admission but must reserve in advance; complimentary for same day visit between the Getty Center & Villa or $20 parking & reduced rate after 3 pm; best to go during the Golden Hour)
Dinner @ Malibu Farm Restaurant
Night out @ Beauty & Essex in Hollywood & Dream Hollywood for the view
Day 3
Taiwanese breakfast @ Huge Tree Pastry
Downtown LA:
Park the car @ Equinox Downtown LA (free for 2 hrs if you are a member)
Bradbury Building (free, but it was closed when we were there)
Angels Flight Railway (via funicular for $1 or take the stairs)
The Broad (free admission but must reserve in advance; suggested duration 1 hr)
Lunch @ La Sin Bala Restaurant
Pasadena:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens ($29; suggested duration 3 hrs)
Walk around Old Pasadena
Dinner @ The Arbour or Boston Lobster Seafood Restaurant
Day 4
Venice:
Walk around Abbot Kinney Blvd:
Breakfast @ Gjelina or Gjelina Take Away (if the wait is too long) or street tacos @ El Primo Taco
Ice cream @ Salt & Straw
El Bordello Alexandra (pic only)
Santa Monica:
Lunch @ Bay Cities Italian Deli, Elephante, or Wally’s
Dinner @ Izakaya Hachi
Day 5
Long Beach:
Day trip to Catalina Island (Avalon) via Catalina Express (1 hr ride) or Maverick Helicopters (15 mins)
Observation Bar @ Queen Mary
Belmont Shore:
Walk through the street like Corona Ave for unique houses
Dinner @ Saint & Second
Other points of interest & food
Spend a day @ Universal Studios if you are looking for an amusement park experience
The Gamble House ($15 for 1 hr guided tour)
Visit El Matador State Beach for the dramatic sea caves and towering rock formations
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir @ Chino Hills
Have a sunset martini @ the Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel or dinner @ Musso & Frank Grill for an authentic "stepping back in time" experience.
Drinks @ NoMad
Taiwanese breakfast @ JJ Bakery (Arcadia)
Sushi @ Mori Nozomi, OOTORO LITTLE TOKYO, Tenno Sushi, Yunomi Handroll
Japanese @ Azay, OOmasa, Sushi Enya Little Tokyo, Ryla, Ojiya Japanese Restaurant Torrance
Vegan @ Âu Lạc
Sandwiches @ Fat Sal's Deli
Visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery during Halloween
Tips
Have time to work out? Stop by the various Equinox locations in LA. Or hike the "Secret" Stairs @ Micheltorena Stairs in Silver Lake or the Santa Monica Stairs.
LA is massive, so don't try to see the whole city in one trip.
Master LA’s "10-to-2" traffic window by avoiding the freeway between 7:00 am and 10:00 am or 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
