These stores can be found all over LA, but this West Hollywood store is one of the best. Why pay full price for stuff like napkins and Band Aids when you can fill up a basket with dollar items? Some of the so-called fresh produce has seen better days, and I don’t think I’d trust an off-brand can of baby...
Small and cozy (some might call it tiny) sushi spot that gets raves for the freshness of its sushi and the friendliness of the staff. Big ups for its miso, too. The chef names his sushi rolls after American presidents – there’s even a Nixon roll. Man, there’s no good way to wrap your mind around that one.
This two-story upscale collection of 25 vendors is the place to go for antique jewelry. A diverse selection, with lots of prime pieces trickling down from estates. Don’t let the word “vendor” fool you – this is pricey stuff. Take your time and browse and don’t be afraid to bargain.
Barney’s Beanery is slightly grubby, the way you feel when you’ve slept in your clothes, but kinda warm, too. Lots of comfort food, especially if your idea of comfort is a pint of beer and a bowl of chili. There’s no denying Barney’s Beanery’s claim to fame. It’s been around since the 1920s and for a long time was considered...
Bennett’s Ice Cream has been scooping at the Farmer’s Market for 64 years – eons-long in LA time. They’re famous for their soft serve cones but the real reason to blaze a trail to their Farmer’s Market location is their homemade ice cream. Sure you’ll find the flavor stalwarts of choc/van/straw but you’ll also have the option to go elegant...
As the book-buying public shifts their cash to the big chains and Amazon, independent book stores have become a dying breed. If you value the kind of bookstore where the owner’s stamp is clearly seen, where the clerks’ enthusiasms are on display, go to Book Soup. Here you’ll find small-press books sharing space with mainstream blockbusters. As expected, you’ll find...
Bossa Nova isn’t bustling with people for no good reason – this top notch Brazilian Restaurant excels in providing delicious, heaping portions of traditional cuisine to droves of hungry clientele. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little atmosphere for a delicious meal, Bossa Nova is the place to be. They also deliver, and the word is their pizza is top-notch...
A civilized European-style coffee house in the heart of LA. Lots of celebrities pop in, from Oprah to Daniel Craig, for the gelato and sorbetto, considered some of the best in the city. Flavors include Roasted Almond with Fig, White Chocolate Hazelnut, Sicilian Pistachio, Fresh Melon, Wild Italian Strawberry and pure Indian Mango. The coffee lounge sports Armani leather couches...
Canter’s Delicatessen has been serving up piled –high pastrami sandwiches since 1931. You’d expect steeped in the bull Hollywood types to be Canter’s Deli regulars, but a surprising group of regulars were the members of Guns N’ Roses. First time? Go for the hot corned beef and cabbage. Canter’s also has freshly made goods from their own bakery. Canter’s provides...
Settle in at the Chamberlain West Hollywood’s rooftop pool and imagine Turtle from Entourage trying not to slosh his martini as he checks out the players. When you stay at the 112-room Chamberlain you’ll feel like you’re at your own West Hollywood condo. Nice touches in the rooms are a gas-log fireplace and private balcony. One-Bedroom Suites have separate bedrooms...
Chateau Marmont is a 1920s-era legend that has hosted a cavalcade of Hollywood stars, from Robert Mitchum to Natalie Wood, but maybe its stickiest memory is laying claim to being the place where John Belushi overdosed. The castle-like hotel was originally built as an imitation of the Chateau Amboise on the Loire in France. The hotel has sixty-three rooms, and...
Looking for a particular Bukowski title to fill out your collection? Maybe you just have to have the latest issue of Vogue Hommes International. Chances are Circus of Books will have what you’re looking for – and if they don’t, you’ll probably find something else to pique your interest. They stock a nice selection of books, magazines and gifts, including lots...
Drop in for a hand-rolled cigar made from tobacco grown from Cuban seeds. They’ve even imported authentic Cuban masters to practice their craft in LA. Their tobacco is aged from three to twelve years for distinct flavor. They have over 25 varieties of shapes, sizes, strengths, and blends. The atmosphere is easygoing, with lots of back-and-forth over the virtue of a...
If you’re traveling with your doggie in tow, show it how the other half lives by taking it for a stroll down the high-end aisles of D.O.G Pet Boutique. Make the proper first impression when you enter this trendy, tail-wagging store by referring to it as DEE-O-GEE. Perhaps you need a “Let them eat cake” mindset to really get into...
This place has been around for more than 45 years. They drive an Italian menu right down the middle of the road, with a décor to match, including red-checked tablecloths and chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling. But it all works. Chances are it will be super-crowded and you’ll have to wait. Chill at the bar with a generous cocktail...
The Darkroom walks the line between dive and refined, and that’s what make it so attractive to a variety of clientele. With a sleek black interior and a bright flashy jukebox, this place is sure to appease more classy customers as well as the dive bar set. The $3 Pabst Blue Ribbons can’t be beat for the price, and the...
They’ve been serving south of the border cooking since 1931 – icy cold margaritas, albondigas soup (kind of a spicy meatball), shrimp fajitas and green corn tamales. I’m getting hungry just writing this. Tripping in off the sun-blasted sidewalk into cool Mexico – can’t wait to get back. Friendly people, too.
The film Crash made the point that the citizens of LA never really connect – they have to crash into each others cars to have a conversation. This is definitely not true of the Farmer’s Market, a collection of more than a hundred stalls and eateries, many of them al fresco. This is where LA effortlessly rubs elbows and spills...
What do you need to know? This LA basic food group has been serving it up big and greasy for decades. Order the XXXL 24 oz. burger. Not enough for you? Add bacon, chili, a slice of cheese and a fried egg. Have an ambulance waiting.
Cool location at the end of a block, making the whole restaurant light and airy. A pleasant staff, lots of bubbling pots, the scent of curry in the air and an abundance of sunlight make Flavor of India an appealing choice for lunch. The menu has lots of familiar choices, from tandoori chicken to chicken tikka masala, but you’ll also find...