COOL PLACES TO GO IN L.A.
L.A. offers so much more than bus tours of celebrity homes and the TCL Chinese Theatre. We’ve pulled together a list of must-dos to ensure an adventure to the City of Angels meets the maximum level of cool. By Lauren Miller Brunch at the Ace When in L.A., one must indulge in (and Instagram) an avocado toast brunch. It’s hipster tradition, and there is no better place to do so than at the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles (929 South Broadway, acehotel.com/losangeles). The boutique hotel chain’s L.A. outpost does the millennial brunch staple right, with fresh avocados and slivers of radish. The gothic-style hotel is not typical L.A., surrounded by skyscrapers and old theatres, but its food lives up to its downtowncool factor. G&B Coffee This open-air coffee shop in L.A.’s famed foodie paradise Grand Central Market is the place for coffee downtown (317 S. Broadway, gandbcoffee.com). The New York Times has praised its almond-macadamia milk latte as one of the best lattes in the U.S. Its bean selection is also supreme, brewing caffeine addicts’ favourites, such as Madcap Coffee, 49th Parallel, and Ritual Coffee. G&B Coffee also has a selection of pie, waffles, and other devilishly good sweets. Eggslut Another Grand Central Market gem, Eggslut (317 S. Broadway, eggslut.com) is a much-loved foodtruck-turned-storefront. The eatery sports winding lines and is known for its egg-centric menu. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich is classic breakfast perfection, with chipotle ketchup and a warm brioche bun made in-house. Eggslut reportedly sells out of breakfast quickly on weekends, so line up early for that egg fix. Mama Shelter Los Angeles’ Rooftop Patio Find an urban Hollywood oasis and expertly made cocktails on the colourful rooftop of Mama Shelter Los Angeles (6500 Selma Ave., mamashelter.com/ en/los-angeles/). The hotel’s newly opened rooftop lounge and bar space has a killer view overlooking the Hollywood strip and has an effortlessly fun feel to it, with striped colourful loungers, layered rugs and mismatched seating. The bar serves a menu of Mediterranean food, including shawarma, salmon kebabs and cauliflower hummus. Cocktails at Faith and Flower To continue an exploration of cocktails, go to Faith and Flower (705 W. 9th St., faithandflowerla.com). The restaurant is airy and enormous, with a refined, slightly moody, urban French-country esthetic. Esquire magazine has deemed its English Milk Punch cocktail as the cocktail of the year, and it packs a wallop with a mix of rum, bourbon and absinthe. In between sips, try the kimchi devilled eggs — they’re excellent, with lots of zingy smokiness. Eat at MessHall Kitchen Anyone in the mood for hearty comfort food should head to MessHall Kitchen (4500 Los Feliz Blvd., messhallkitchen.com). The smoked corn fritters, topped with a poblano and pumpkin-seed romesco, are little pillows of crunchy sweetcorn goodness. The mac and cheese is also nothing to scoff at. Ask to sit on the patio, where the ambience is lovely and laid back, with wooden tables, string lights and an outdoor fireplace. Take in a classic L.A. sunset No one can say they have seen L.A. until they’ve seen it at sunset from the Griffith Observatory (2800 E. Observatory Rd., griffithobservatory.org). The domed building and its grounds, on the south slope of Mount Hollywood, offers the best views of the city and the iconic Hollywood sign. Its also offers free astronomy resources and has a café operated by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Parking can be tricky, so allow plenty of time before sunset to get situated. Lauren Miller was hosted by Visit California and its partners, which didn’t review or approve this story.