First published on 30 Jan 2012. Updated on 3 Feb 2012.
Eat and drink
Sydneysiders Nick Hatsatouris, Nick Mathers and Lincoln Pilcher have won over New York with their restaurants and cafés (including Kingswood and Ruby's) and now they’re are conquering LA with
Eveleigh, a restaurant offering a brilliant fusion of Australian and Californian cuisine and the best cocktails on Sunset.
8752 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. (+1 424 239 1630). The Ivy is a hotspot thanks to the quality of food and outdoor space. It's also renowned for attracting big-name actors.
113 N Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. (+1 310 274 8303). One of the hottest hotel bars in LA at present is the
Tropicana Pool Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Here, grab a cocktail and a deckchair and soak up the old-Hollywood atmosphere.
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. (+1 323 466 7000). For a late-night snack or a great hangover cure, find an
In-N-Out Burger outlet for the best burger and fries in California. Food trucks are typical of LA eating culture – you follow online where they will be parked that day.
Kogi Korean Barbeque is the one to beat
. Desperate for good coffee? Try
Intelligentsia – some say it’s the only decent cup in LA.
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA. (+1 310 399 1233).
See and do
You’ll need to hire a car so book one from
Alamo before you land – we've tried them a few times and they have very competitive rates. Head up to Pasadena and have a look around one of LA's most underrated areas. Stop by the
Norton Simon Museum and take a tour of the private collection of prints including rare Rembrandt and Picasso works, and a garden inspired by Claude Monet's in Giverny.
411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA. (+1 626 449 6840).
If your appetite is for art, then the enormous, remodelled
Los Angeles Country Museum of Art is where you can see works spanning ancient times to now.
5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles CA. Thu–Tue. A great street to shop on is Melrose Avenue. Start from the renowned Fred Segal
store and walk up to the Urban Outfitters store (just after N Spaulding Ave).
8118 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA. (+1 323 651 1800). On Santa Monica's third street promenade you'll find everything from Zara to H&M, Diesel and Rip Curl, while at the southern end of the street, the new
Santa Monica Place Shopping Center has a good selection of local and international brands.
395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA. (+1 310, 394 5451). While you’re down this way, take a drive out to Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway and enjoy the Californian coastline.
Stop in at
Moonshadows for a Mojito and some oysters on the deck – hopefully catching some dolphins swimming past.
20356 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA. (+1 310 456 3010). At sunset, drive up to the top of N Beachwood Dr into the Hollywood Hills. You'll hit a dirt road and eventually have to stop. You’re in a canyon below the Hollywood sign with an amazing view of the city.
Stay
Head about 15 minutes from downtown LA and rest up at the
Langham Huntington in Pasadena. This former mansion was built in 1865 and offers the city’s most stress-free break, while still being close to all the action of Los Angeles.
1401 South Oak Knoll Ave, Padadena, CA. (+1 626 568 3900). If you'd rather stay in the middle of the action,
Time Out recommends
Sofitel Los Angeles.
8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. (+1 310 278 5444). For something more affordable, consider our bang-for-buck favourite, the Australian-run
Ramada Plaza West Hollywood,and make sure you book the Marilyn Monroe suite.
8585 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA. (+1 310 652 6400).
Getting there
Qantas (
www.qantas.com) flies from Adelaide to Los Angeles via Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney.
Time Out recommends forking out a few extra dollars or points for the 14-hour flight across the Pacific and flying in Business where star chef Neil Perry's menu is a flying high version of dining in Rockpool. Similarly, upgrade to
Virgin Australia's Business Class (
www.virginaustralia.com) which offers a restaurant quality, Luke Mangan-inspired food menu, an on-board bar and a very impressive list of Australian films on demand, while the airline's Premium Economy offering is also outstanding.
Newsletter |
RSS feed |
Other Time Out cities
Print
Email