la la land.
Ahh Los Angeles. There is so much to do in LA yet everything is unfortunately, pretty spread out. Navigating LA is not easy and driving in LA is not for the faint of heart. I think a lot of tourists are disappointed when visiting LA because they think they will be able to see so much in such a small amount of time. If you are going to LA for the first time and only have a day to spend, here are my recommendations for 24 hours in Los Angeles. If you have more time to spend in the city, below are some of our favorite places, in no particular order. Keep in mind, all of the places below are very spread out and not to be completed in one day.
The Art District is my favorite part of Los Angeles. The district is full of murals, unique shops, hipster coffee shops, and many breweries. The district was recently gentrified so it has newer establishments in historical buildings. There are many parking lots in the Art District, we have never had a problem with finding a place to park. We loved walking around and enjoying the murals on nearly every building.
Mural in the Arts District, Los Angeles, CA, April 2018
One of our favorite breweries was Angel City Brewing, located in an old fire house. The brewery tour here is really interesting. It’s free and involves several free tastings. Angel City has a fun beer garden and even has a permanent taco food truck (order the nachos!). Inside Angel City there are a couple different bars, indoor corn hole and other games, and even a second floor lounge area.
Angel City Beer Garden, Los Angeles, CA, March 2019
Just down the street from Angel City is the Arts District Brewing Company. Another great brewery with food, arcade games, and a large patio.
Hidden in the courtyard of an old building is Manuela. A super fun, outdoor restaurant that serves brunch and dinner. We enjoyed stopping here for a breakfast cocktail. This is a really neat and hidden spot! There are also public restrooms near Manuela.
Manuela Patio, Los Angeles, CA, April 2018
Cafe Gratitude is also in the Arts District and serves a large assortment of vegan dishes.
Do you want a good spot to see the Hollywood Sign but don’t want all the crowds? Go to Terra, the rooftop bar at Eataly located in Westfield Mall. They have a beautiful coastal vibe rooftop with a huge wine list and awesome views. The mall has a parking garage so parking won’t be a problem!
Another good viewing spot of the Hollywood sign without the crowds is the fifth floor of the parking garage at The Grove. Whether you want to see the sign or not, I really like going to the Grove to walk through the historic Farmer’s Market. The market is part of the mall so it’s always open. I’ve never seen so many different food options. Any ethnicity of food that you are looking for is there and from what I can tell, it’s all very authentic. Stop by for a snack or a meal, your taste buds will be transported all over the world and you won’t be disappointed. The Grove also has a parking garage so parking will not be an issue.
The Malibu Cafe is a fun spot to stop for a drink or spend the day! The name is a bit deceiving as it’s so much more than a cafe. Located on the Calamigos Ranch, Malibu Cafe has both a spa, a hotel, several outdoor restaurants, and bars. You can rent paddle boats, play lawn games, or just relax outside with a delicious cocktail. Though it’s quite the drive to get here, you will get to see a different side of Malibu; steep mountain roads! I had no idea Malibu was so mountainous until I went to the cafe.
If you are near Malibu, a fun spot to stop at is Thornhill Broome Beach. You can park along the side of the long coastline and across the street is a giant sand dune. It’s a lot harder to climb that you would think! Running down the dune makes you feel like you are going to run straight into the ocean!
Sand Dune Across PCH Near Malibu, CA, March 2020
If you like to hike, look no further than Sturtevant Falls. The falls are located in the Angeles National Forest near Pasadena. The hike is dog friendly but is pretty strenuous. Thankfully Charlie made it okay but it was definitely difficult for the big guy! The parking can fill up fast so go early and make sure you don’t make your own parking spot like we did. We ended up getting a very expensive parking ticket here because we parked on the street. Get there early and you will be just fine!
Sturtevant Falls, Pasadena, CA, April 2018
Are you looking for a fun date night idea? Go see a show at the historic Pantages Theatre! We saw Wicked and we went at Christmas time which made it all the more special. When purchasing our tickets, I was able to also pay for parking ahead of time and secure a spot. I highly recommend doing this as parking on a show night can be difficult. Seeing a show at the Pantages is so fun! Located downtown Hollywood, right next to Capitol Records and surrounded by stars on the sidewalks, the Pantages is a special experience. Prior to seeing the show, we had incredible wood fired pizzas at the dark and moody Stella Barra. This was within walking distance to the theatre.
Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, CA, December 2018
The Grand Central Market, frequently seen on both the Travel Channel and the Food Network, is a unique spot to visit! Located in the heart of downtown LA, Grand Central Market is an eatery that offers dozens of different vendors crafting ethnic foods. We saw La TostaderÃa on the Travel Channel and oh my goodness, it was the best ceviche tostada I have ever had. I still think about it and no ceviche has ever come close to being this good! Grand Central Market gets extremely busy, it can be slightly overwhelming. Finding a place to sit and eat can be difficult. We were lucky and found seats at the La TostaderÃa after walking around with our food for awhile. Just prepare yourself that this place will be busy, it’s part of the experience! There is a parking garage right next door so no need to stress about parking!
Grand Central Market, Los Angeles, CA, August 2018
If you are looking for a beach to spend the day, I do not recommend going to Santa Monica or Venice. Both these beaches get extremely busy and are quite frankly, pretty dirty. If you want to experience a true southern California beach day, drive a bit south and go to either Hermosa, Redondo, or Manhattan Beach. All are just south of Los Angeles. If you are in the Malibu area, I also really like Zuma beach.
LA is a city of opportunity. There is so much to do no matter what you enjoy. Just be careful not to drive back and forth throughout the city. Plan your day ahead of time so you don’t waste time in the car! Traveling to Orange County? Here is my guide on the OC!