Elissa’s Local Guide to Los Angeles

A third generation Angelino, Elissa is a true-blue local to one of California’s most famous cities. Both of her grandfathers were born and raised in Los Angeles, and her father works as an architect Downtown. She has also had the benefit of moving away four times, to San Diego, Washington DC, Madrid, and Seoul. Because of this, she’s been lucky enough to have developed a wonderful insight into her hometown. I had to have her sit down and provide her own local guide to Los Angeles! Trust me, there’s a lot more to this city than Hollywood!

Elissa’s Local Guide to Los Angeles

Before You Go

  1. LA is massive. It extends beyond the main city limits to include the parts of Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Many locals actually live out in the counties in suburbs and commute in.
  2. Because of this, the following recommendations are just my favorite places. An Angelino from a different area or generation may have a completely different list, which also makes exploring LA fun because there are so many amazing places!
  3. Most LA natives cringe when they hear “Cali.” Call it snobby, but it’s just incorrect! We prefer California, SoCal, or C-A.
  4. Traffic is always bad. So give yourself an hour ( an hour and a half during rush hour- about 7am-10am and 3pm-8pm) to get anywhere. Also, the drivers are really aggressive so be cautious.
  5. Because everything is spread out, it’s definitely recommended you rent a car while you’re here. Whenever I show friends around, they’re always surprised by how long we wind up spending in the car to go between the big sites you see in movies. ** We recommend RentalCars.com because you can compare the different groups. Check them out here.

Where to Eat

The Donut Man

I grew up going to this donut shop after church and the fact that it is frequently considered one of the best donut shops in the country doesn’t surprise me. They are known for their seasonal fresh fruit (like strawberry and peach) donuts. Also, the donuts are almost always fresh! My favorite is the Tiger Tail, a long, twisted glazed donut striped with chocolate.

  • Address: 915 E Rte 66, Glendora, CA 91740
  • Hours: Open 24/7

Taix

French food and LA? Not something you hear often but this place is an institution. I originally heard about it from my grandpa who grew up next to the owners. It originally started out as a hotel restaurant in 1927 run by a third and fourth generation French family. The current location has been around since 1962 and the restaurant is celebrating its 90th Anniversary! They also serve cassoulet which is my favorite French food and is so hard to find outside of southern France so it’s a keeper in my book for that alone!

  • Address: 1911 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
  • Public Transportation Tip: Take the Metro Red, Purple, or Gold Line to Union Station and catch an Uber/Lyft Pool in front of the Station. The 10-minute ride will cost about $5.
  • Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 10:00pm, Friday: 11:30am – 11:00pm, Saturday: 12:00pm – 11:00pm, Sunday: 12:00pm – 10:00pm

El Cholo

Another favorite of my grandpa’s especially since the owner was a school friend of his. Established in 1923, the first El Cholo (then the Sonora Cafe) opened near the Coliseum and has since expanded to six restaurants around the LA region.

  • Locations in Los Angeles, Downtown LA (DTLA), Santa Monica, La Habra, Corona Del Mar, and Anaheim Hills
  • Hours vary by location but they’re open every day around 11:00 am- 10:00 pm.

Paradise Cove Cafe

This is on the list mainly because of the ambiance. They serve basic (although pricey) American food and seafood but what makes this place special is it’s right on the beach. The outdoor patio area has tables in the sand and many of the indoor booths have front row ocean views. The restaurant is also on the same beach where they shot the film Gidget. I recommend coming here for lunch the same day you visit the Getty Villa since they’re about 25 mins (by driving) from each other.  

  • Address: 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Parking: $30 minimum Restaurant Purchase Required.
    • Up to 4 Hours: Monday – Friday:  $6, Weekends & Holidays:  $8
    • Over 4 Hours: Monday – Friday: $35, Weekends & Holidays: $50
  • Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 8:00am – 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 8:00am – 11:00pm

>> Search hotels in Malibu here <<

In-N-Out

You can’t come to California without going to In-N-Out. There’s also a “secret menu” (*that list doesn’t include the Neapolitan Shake for those who can’t decide between a strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate milk shake).  

Philippe

Established in 1908 and claims to have created the “French Dipped Sandwich” in 1918. Philippe’s was a favorite of my other Angelino grandpa. I love the ambiance and history of the restaurant, with its communal seating and set-up in an old machine shop.

  • Address: 1001 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles CA, 90012 
  • Directions: Take Metro Red, Purple, or Gold Line to Union Station. It’s about a 5 min walk from the Station.
  • Hours: 6:00am -10:00pm daily

Favorite Places to Visit

Did you know there's an Italian villa right in Malibu? Read more about the Getty Villa and get ready to add it to your LA list!

Getty Villa

Getty Villa is my favorite place in LA. The sister Getty Center is also amazing but the Getty Villa is special. I love the fact that the museum is designed to house the art and artifacts as they would have been displayed at the time they were made. The drive along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) to get there and the museum cliffside views of the ocean also doesn’t hurt. 

READ MORE: The Getty Villa, LA’s Best Kept Secret

Olvera Street

This Mexican marketplace, known as the “birthplace of Los Angeles,” and a great place to learn more about the history of Los Angeles. I have many fond memories of taking the train to downtown and visiting Olvera Street with my grandparents. Definitely, check out the Siqueiros Mural and its fascinating story.

  • Address: 845 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • Directions: Take the LA Metro Red, Purple, or Gold Line to Union Station. Olvera Street is directly across the street from Union Station. If you have time also explore Union Station, it’s gorgeous and has been featured in movies.
  • Hours: Open daily (Hours vary from store to store), Monday – Friday: 10:00am to 6:00 – 8:00pm, Saturday – Sunday: 10:00am to 8:00 – 10:00pm

>> Search hotels in Downtown LA <<

Pasadena

If I settled anywhere, it’d be in Pasadena. It has everything, great restaurants, museums, hiking, and culture.

  • Museums, Gardens, and Architecture: Norton Simon Museum, Huntington Library, The Arboretum (in neighboring Arcadia), Descanso Gardens (in neighboring La Cañada Flintridge), Pasadena City Hall (also Pawnee’s City Hall in Parks and Rec), Pasadena Public Library, and the Gamble House
  • Restaurants: Go to Old Town Pasadena for a great and diverse selection of restaurants and bars
  • Hiking Highlights:  Sam Merrill Trail, Sturtevant Falls Trail, Mt. Wilson Trail
  • Public Transportation: Metro Gold Line Stops: Fillmore, Del Mar, Memorial Park (get off here for Old Town Pasadena), Lake, and Allen

Search hotels in Pasadena

What to Wear

LA is very casual so you can wear whatever you want and no one will care. Angelinos wear athletic gear as normal clothing so if you want to blend in just wear workout clothes everywhere.

Two big misconceptions about LA that people don’t realize: how hot it actually is and that it does get cold! LA has two seasons: Summer and “Winter.” In summer, August to pretty much December is hot hot hot. August and September are “humid” and temperatures can get to over 100°F/38°C. In May and June we have May Gray and June Gloom which means it’s cloudy, cool, and drizzly in the morning and warm or hot in the afternoon. In winter, it can be 80°F/27°C during the day but drop to 40°F/4°C at night so dress for summer during the day but bring a jacket and wear pants when the sun goes down. It also tends to rain (not a lot) in October, December, and February.

Also, the Greater LA Area is huge so the climate definitely changes based on where you are. Closer to the beach is cooler and more temperate, while inland has more drastic changes in temperature (e.g. the temperature dropping in December from 80°F/27°C to 40°F/4°C day to night).

Don’t even bother making fun of Angelinos over the weather, they really don’t care because it’s beautiful year round, and will laugh back at you because others have to deal with snow and humidity. However, you can make fun of them for how they handle rain. That’s fair game!

Where to Shop

Photo by Rob Bye

Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

The Grove

You’ve probably heard of the Grove because your favorite celebrities stop by here on occasion (I’ve definitely seen Mindy Kaling tag herself here on Instagram). It’s great for shopping your favorite brands, but the real highlight in the Farmer’s Market. It has a ton of different food options!

Rodeo Drive

Does this need more of any introduction?

Favorite Touristy Things to Do

The Getty

While the Getty Villa’s art focuses on the ancient world, the Getty Center is a more traditional art museum. It has art from all eras including some by Monet and Van Gogh. However, the design of the museum and garden is reason enough to visit, along with the views of LA.

  • Address: N Sepulveda Blvd & Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
  • Hours: Tuesday – Thursday and Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm; Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm (Extended hours until September 1, 2017), Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, December 25th, and January 1st, Parking lot opens 9:30 a.m.
  • Note: The museum is free but parking is $15. If you go to the Getty Center and the Getty Villa on the same day you only have to pay the parking fee once.
Photo by Gurong Shen

Zuma Beach

In case you didn’t know, the water off the west coast is cold, almost too cold (I didn’t know beaches could be warm until I took a geography class). However, once you are in the water long enough to go numb (I’m totally serious), it’s bearable. I find the water to be most endurable in late July and August.  

My favorite beach is Zuma in Malibu where you can literally swim with wild dolphins. It’s also pretty clean and very beautiful.

Dodger Stadium

If you like baseball definitely check out a game at Dodger Stadium.

  • Address: 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • How to Get There: Take the Dodger Stadium Express shuttle if you don’t want to drive or don’t have a car.
  • Tip: Get the Gametime app for cheap game (concert and theater too!) tickets.

Hollywood Bowl

If you’re going to be in LA during the summer (June-September), look into seeing a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor amphitheater. An added bonus is you can bring food in and have a picnic. If you are attending an LA Philharmonic concert you can also bring in wine and beer. Concerts range from the LA Philharmonic to contemporary artists.

Hiking

One of my favorite places to hike is Malibu Creek, State Park. The Park is gorgeous and has everything, hills, ocean views, waterfalls, etc.

Best LA Moment

Photo by Sasha

My best LA moment happened as I was leaving the Korean Consulate and someone immediately started asking me for directions in Spanish. A moment like that, to me, defines LA. This city, since its founding, has been made up of various cultures living side by side and blending into one another.

Walking down the street and seeing a Korean restaurant on one side and a Mexican restaurant on the other is totally normal. There’s a reason kimchi quesadillas and bulgogi tacos are a thing.

It’s not just Korean and Mexican culture that blend together, growing up I encountered so many different cultures that while visiting Hong Kong and Japan I was reminded of home. Even the LA Metro Notice of Civil Rights sign at each metro station is in ten different languages. So when coming to LA prepare to not only encounter different cultures but cultures that are a mix of many others.

for more travel in the usa

The USA is a massive country, and I always love discovering new places to visit. I’m actually pretty sure I’ll still be hearing of new gems when I’m 90 years old and need a wheelchair to get around! Since I’ve been interested in travel, I’ve visited a number of different places in the US alone. Check out some of posts:

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