Visiting Los Angeles is a bucket list experience that everyone should have at least once. Rich in history, from its roots with the Chumash and Tongva Native American tribes to its evolution into the world’s entertainment capital, LA is a city that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re on a California road trip or exploring the best spots in California, LA’s blend of glitz, culture, and beauty makes it one of the world’s top destinations.
From iconic beaches and scenic drives along the Pacific Coast Highway to eclectic neighborhoods, trendy restaurants, and amazing Hollywood attractions, LA has endless ways to keep you entertained. Let’s jump into this Los Angeles travel guide and explore the best things to do, the top places to stay, and the dining options you don’t want to miss.
Where to stay
Looking for a place to rest your head for the night? From cozy Airbnbs to suites that come with a free sports car, LA has a hotel for every preference and budget. These are a few of the best hotels in Los Angeles.
Best location: The LINE LA
The LINE LA is located in the heart of Koreatown where decades of Korean, Latino, and American heritage converge (authentic Mexican blankets and Korean snacks can be found in the rooms). Originally built in 1964 and once home to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, the LINE LA embraces its midcentury design and heritage, and celebrates the culturally rich neighborhood it’s tucked into.
Since the hotel’s opening in 2013, it has become a destination for urban explorers and creatives. The LINE LA also gives back to the community and has partnered with philanthropic organizations like Alexandria House, a resource for women and children without housing, Spacemakers for queer and trans people of color, and World Central Kitchen for communities in crisis.
Price: From $172/night
- Time: 37 min by car
- Distance: 17 miles
Best for couples: Hotel June
Wood tones and boho décor make up Hotel June, which pays homage to its SoCal roots. Just a stone’s throw away from LAX, the mid-century modern hotel building has a laid-back aesthetic complemented by a soothing color palette. Don’t sleep on viewing the pieces from the artist in residency every month. As part of a Proper Hospitality Hotel, Hotel June’s mission is to donate 1% of their time, hotel space, and management fees toward the betterment of the surrounding communities.
Price: From $175/night
- Time: 7 min by car
- Distance: 2 miles
Best modern: Modernist Solar Guesthouse
Rejuvenate in this luxury modernist retreat with its own private desert-style cactus garden. This eco-friendly guesthouse is equipped for sustainable living via solar electric power, solar radiant floor heating, and organic bedding — very on-brand for Venice, California. The host suggests lighting a fire in the outdoor fireplace and relaxing in a lounge chair under the stairs in the evening.
Price: From $439/night
- Time: 18 min by car
- Distance: 6 miles
Best luxury: The Nomad
You’ll feel like a million bucks once you step inside The Nomad. Situated in downtown LA’s Giannini Building, The Nomad is both a piece of history and luxury. If you love art, you’ll definitely appreciate the original artwork from a Paris-based design studio that can be found in all rooms. At the heart of downtown LA, this 5-star hotel also has an excellent location.
Price: From $375/night
- Time: 24 min by car
- Distance: 17 miles
Best amenities: SLS Hotel
Who doesn’t want to be treated like a royal prince or an A-list celebrity every once in a while? Enjoy the luxurious life at the SLS Hotel with its stunning rooftop pool deck and modern yet comfortable rooms. After a long day wandering around, you can treat yourself to refreshing cocktails by the poolside. When you wake up the next day, a delicious continental hotel breakfast buffet awaits.
Price: From $304/night
- Time: 30 min by car
- Distance: 10 miles
Best hotel: London West Hollywood
Located in Beverly Hills, which homes Hollywood actors and actresses, London West Hollywood will surely make you feel like a star in Hollywood films with its expensive-long suites, expansive rooftop pools, and enchanting view of Los Angeles. Among all the hotels in the city, this one has the largest accommodations in L.A., providing you with oversized bathrooms with walk-in showers, deep soaking bathtubs, and spacious, private balconies.
Price: $459/night
- Time: 30 min by car
- Distance: 10 miles
Best splurge: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
If you’re looking to go all out, then the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is the place to be. This hotel is situated in the heart of Beverly Hills and features oversized guestrooms conceived by interior design legend Pierre-Yves Rochon. Select suites include 146 square-foot private terraces, large panoramic windows, and separate living areas.
The hotel is also complete with a rooftop pool and wellness center, as well as the La Prairie Spa, where you can enjoy massages, facials, manicures, and more. The Waldorf Astoria also offers The Suite Ride package, which provides guests with a complimentary luxury vehicle to use during their stay.
Price: $1,095/night
- Time: 35 min by car
- Distance: 13.6 miles
Where to eat
No trip to Los Angeles is complete without dining at some of the world’s best restaurants. LA is full of people from all over the world, and the cuisine is no different! These are a few of our favorite restaurants around town.
Below is a guide to the restaurant’s prices.
- “$” = budget-friendly or cheap
- “$$” = average
- “$$$” = expensive
Grand Central Market
This is the place to find L.A.’s best bites under one roof. Grand Central Market opened in 1917 and never looked back. The Market has always reflected the changing population of downtown Los Angeles. In the 1920s, the Market was an open grocery. The 90 stalls back in the day included greengrocers, fishmongers, Jewish delis, and butchers.
Today, the Market is a destination dining spot with 40 of Los Angeles’ most exciting culinary concepts. ‘Evolution’ has been a through-line for the market’s dynamic lineup of vendors over the decades, as downtown Los Angeles evolves, Grand Central Market evolves with it. Our favorite places to graze at the Market: PBJ. LA, Sarita’s Pupuseria, and Sticky Rice.
- Best for brunch, lunch, and dinner
- $$
Night + Market
Night + Market is an animated Thai spot with a menu that features the classics. It’s almost impossible to go wrong at this restaurant, but you may order a dish that’s spicier than expected. As long as you have a cold drink nearby, and you’re not ashamed to sweat a little, all of their dishes are a must-try. The best part about this place is its backstory — a local kid opened his own Thai restaurant attached to his parents’ old place on Sunset. Today, there are three locations around LA.
- Best for lunch and dinner
- $$
Milo + Olive
Milo + Olive is a neighborhood bakery and pizzeria created by a husband-and-wife team. The menu is a reflection of the best ingredients available from local farmers and vendors with sustainable practices and it represents the team’s continued commitment to truly seasonal, market-driven cuisine. Even the wine and beer lists focus on highlighting small vineyards and breweries from across the globe.
Additionally, the coffee is from a local artisan roaster. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to pizza at Milo + Olive, but the Burrata & Prosciutto di Parma is a game changer. The garlic knots and homemade dipping sauces are also mouthwatering. The fresh bread, pastries, coffee, hot breakfast, pizza, wood-grilled veggies, handmade pasta, wine, beer, and more are all available for outdoor dining, curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery. It also offers cooking kits for an easy DIY dinner at home.
- Best for breakfast, brunch, and lunch
- $$
SUR Restaurant and Lounge
Located in West Hollywood, SUR Restaurant and Lounge is perfect for anything from an intimate night out to a fun evening with friends. Made famous from the television show Vanderpump Rules, this spot has continued to evolve for nearly 20 years.
The space is illuminated in pink, purple, and blue lights, giving the restaurant a romantic feel. The only thing better than the ambiance? The food. Appetizers include fried goat cheese balls, charred Spanish octopus, and smoked eggplant dip, while mains include vegan curry, sauteed shrimp, and grilled prime skirt steak. The restaurant is also known for its fabulous cocktails, so make sure to order a drink or two.
- Best for dinner and drinks
- $$
What to do
There may not be a lot to do in the city, but there are a few fun outdoor options and things to do in California if you’re willing to grab a car and venture out a bit. Just don’t leave during rush hour.
Wine taste in Ojai
You’ve most likely heard people rave above the wineries and tasting rooms in Napa Valley or even Paso Robles, but, there’s a place closer to home that shouldn’t be overlooked. Ojai is a charming small town located in Ventura county. If you plan on exploring it for a day, don’t forget to hit up these spots.
Tipple & Ramble
Wine taste on Tipple & Ramble’s wine and cheese patio. The wine bar also sells food and cocktail wares and even home décor.
Bart’s Books
Pop into Bart’s Books, an open-air bookstore (literally) that is a book lover’s heaven.
Farmer and the Cook
Fuel up at Farmer and the Cook, an organic market and bohemian café with a large patio serving vegetarian Mexican cuisine.
Take a trip to Denmark
Solvang was birthed after Danish immigrants made their way west and eventually settled in the Santa Ynez Valley. Although there aren’t many Danes in Solvang anymore, you will find wooden windmills and rural houses. You’ll also find an assortment of Christmas shops, Hans Christian Andersen and Little Mermaid keepsakes, and Danish bakeries around town.
Eat a doughnut that gives back
Treat yourself to a delicious donut from Sidecar Doughnuts. They make their doughnuts fresh every hour and claim to have the ‘world’s freshest donuts’. Sidecar fries the doughnuts in small batches all day long, for a warm, fresh treat (we recommend their signature Huckleberry). On the first of every month, Sidecar drops a few seasonal flavor options (in addition to their 11 daily flavors). Gluten-friendly and vegan options are available. The shop also gives back to the community via The SideCares program, which donates leftover sweets to local food banks and shelters.
How to save money on your trip to Los Angeles
Experiences
Los Angeles is just not known as the filmed entertainment capital of the world but for many things as well, including founding major studios such as Disney, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures and having a higher quality of life, top-notch restaurants, world-class infrastructures, and diverse culture. Surely, trying to experience all of these can break your bank. Fortunately for you, offers great deals so you can live your L.A. life while you’re on vacation without spending too much.
Hotels
Of all the cities in the U.S., Los Angeles has arguably one of the best accommodations out there. It has everything you need—from the most luxurious to the cheapest accommodations. However, if you want to save on hotel but spend your money on something else, provides the best deals for hotel accommodations.
Vehicle rentals
There are so many countless things to do and visit in L.A. Truth of the matter is that a week’s vacation isn’t even enough to experience a quarter of what the city has to offer. That is why we suggest you rent a car if you’re planning on roaming around the city. Don’t worry, also offers great deals for vehicle rentals, so you can enjoy your journey around the city worry-free.
