Megan & Mike’s neighborhood guidebook
Activities
The Farmer's Market has been around since 1934! LA's world famous Original Farmers Market offers over 100 gourmet grocers, restaurants, food stalls, prepared food vendors, and amazing gift shops.
22 locals recommend
The Original Farmers Market
6333 West 3rd StreetThe Farmer's Market has been around since 1934! LA's world famous Original Farmers Market offers over 100 gourmet grocers, restaurants, food stalls, prepared food vendors, and amazing gift shops.
When there’s a need to hit a name-brand store or restaurant, this outdoor mall is the spot. There are some great eats, including Blue Ribbon Sushi, Laduree (macarons!), and Dominique Ansel Bakery (cronuts!).
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr When there’s a need to hit a name-brand store or restaurant, this outdoor mall is the spot. There are some great eats, including Blue Ribbon Sushi, Laduree (macarons!), and Dominique Ansel Bakery (cronuts!).
Pacific Theatres at The Grove
189 The Grove DrThe nearest and biggest movie theater.
Pacific Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset BlvdOur favorite movie theater.
Sunday open-air market features a range of vendors selling antiques, vintage goods & collectibles.
182 locals recommend
Melrose Trading Post
7850 Melrose AveSunday open-air market features a range of vendors selling antiques, vintage goods & collectibles.
Hamburger Mary's
8288 Santa Monica BlvdHamburger Mary's has a fun Drag Brunch and a Trivia Night!
LACMA is a fantastic museum -- you could spend hours and hours inside. And during the Summer you can spend hours outside with their outdoor concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, or posing for photos with their outdoor installations (the streetlights are a favorite).
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdLACMA is a fantastic museum -- you could spend hours and hours inside. And during the Summer you can spend hours outside with their outdoor concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, or posing for photos with their outdoor installations (the streetlights are a favorite).
Bring a picnic and watch an outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
1407 locals recommend
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdBring a picnic and watch an outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Hike up and down Runyon Canyon -- catch amazing views of Los Angeles, and maybe see a celebrity or two!
41 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 North Fuller AvenueHike up and down Runyon Canyon -- catch amazing views of Los Angeles, and maybe see a celebrity or two!
You can walk to an Improv show at the Groundlings Theater.
87 locals recommend
The Groundlings Theatre
7307 Melrose AveYou can walk to an Improv show at the Groundlings Theater.
Take a stroll through Pan Pacific park, pack a lunch and have a picnic, or bring your kid and play on the various playgrounds.
183 locals recommend
Pan Pacific Park
7600 Beverly BlvdTake a stroll through Pan Pacific park, pack a lunch and have a picnic, or bring your kid and play on the various playgrounds.
Larchmont is a great spot to sit back, relax and watch the world go by. There is an abundance of cute cafe/restaurants, boutiques and walkable shop fronts.
179 locals recommend
Larchmont Village
Larchmont is a great spot to sit back, relax and watch the world go by. There is an abundance of cute cafe/restaurants, boutiques and walkable shop fronts.
Food scene
Most Dependable Super Close Breakfast/Lunch Option: Fratelli’s (6 min walk) -- Open every day, has friendly owners, and lots of healthy and unhealthy options for an early meal. We love the Jacksons wrap, Croissant Sandwiches, and the cold brew. It gets a bit slammed during peak brunch times on weekends.
23 locals recommend
Fratelli Cafe
7200 Melrose AveMost Dependable Super Close Breakfast/Lunch Option: Fratelli’s (6 min walk) -- Open every day, has friendly owners, and lots of healthy and unhealthy options for an early meal. We love the Jacksons wrap, Croissant Sandwiches, and the cold brew. It gets a bit slammed during peak brunch times on weekends.
Best Breakfast with an Outdoor Patio:
Sycamore Kitchen (16 min walk) -- Another great spot for breakfast and lunch with a large outdoor patio to take advantage of the great LA weather.
114 locals recommend
The Sycamore Kitchen
143 S La Brea AveBest Breakfast with an Outdoor Patio:
Sycamore Kitchen (16 min walk) -- Another great spot for breakfast and lunch with a large outdoor patio to take advantage of the great LA weather.
Blu Jam (6 min walk) -- A perennial best brunch in LA contender, Blu Jam is packed most days and scary busy on weekends. If you wake up early or don’t mind lines, it’s a great choice.
268 locals recommend
Blu Jam Cafe
7371 Melrose AveBlu Jam (6 min walk) -- A perennial best brunch in LA contender, Blu Jam is packed most days and scary busy on weekends. If you wake up early or don’t mind lines, it’s a great choice.
Best Weekend Brunch Without a Line:
Petty Cash (8 min walk) -- Fun Mexican iterations on brunch classics.
43 locals recommend
Petty Cash Taqueria & Bar
7360 Beverly BlvdBest Weekend Brunch Without a Line:
Petty Cash (8 min walk) -- Fun Mexican iterations on brunch classics.
Best Sneaky Place to grab great coffee and good food:
Melrose Umbrella Company (7 min walk) -- This gorgeous cocktail bar with great drinks is quite a scene at night, but quiet and charming during the day.
88 locals recommend
Melrose Umbrella Co.
7465 Melrose AveBest Sneaky Place to grab great coffee and good food:
Melrose Umbrella Company (7 min walk) -- This gorgeous cocktail bar with great drinks is quite a scene at night, but quiet and charming during the day.
Golden State (17 min walk) -- A great classic burger. They serve Juicy Lucy’s on Sundays.
47 locals recommend
The Golden State
1916 Lincoln BlvdGolden State (17 min walk) -- A great classic burger. They serve Juicy Lucy’s on Sundays.
Best Vietnamese Food:
Nong La (13 min walk) -- We love the noodle salad (bun), but everything’s delicious!
34 locals recommend
Nong La Cafe
2055 Sawtelle BlvdBest Vietnamese Food:
Nong La (13 min walk) -- We love the noodle salad (bun), but everything’s delicious!
Best Italian Food:
Jon & Vinny’s (17 min walk) -- Little Italy comfort food by award-winning chefs. A bit crowded, but a winner for any meal of the day.
124 locals recommend
Jon & Vinny's Fairfax
412 N Fairfax AveBest Italian Food:
Jon & Vinny’s (17 min walk) -- Little Italy comfort food by award-winning chefs. A bit crowded, but a winner for any meal of the day.
Osteria Mozza (15 min walk) -- Nancy Silverton’s Michelin Star pasta powerhouse. You can celebrate a big night here with an extravagant pasta tasting, or just sneak to the bar for a great drink and the best burrata in town.
166 locals recommend
Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose AveOsteria Mozza (15 min walk) -- Nancy Silverton’s Michelin Star pasta powerhouse. You can celebrate a big night here with an extravagant pasta tasting, or just sneak to the bar for a great drink and the best burrata in town.
Chi Spacca (15 min walk) - The meat-centric brother of Osteria Mozza, known for amazing steaks and focaccia.
21 locals recommend
Chi Spacca
6610 Melrose AveChi Spacca (15 min walk) - The meat-centric brother of Osteria Mozza, known for amazing steaks and focaccia.
Angelini Osteria (7 min walk) -- Authentic Italian dining. Can’t beat the lasagna verde!
Angelini Alimentaria (7 min walk) -- The casual eatery next door - also serves that tasty lasagna.
72 locals recommend
Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly BlvdAngelini Osteria (7 min walk) -- Authentic Italian dining. Can’t beat the lasagna verde!
Angelini Alimentaria (7 min walk) -- The casual eatery next door - also serves that tasty lasagna.
Terroni
7605 Beverly BlvdTerroni (14 min walk) -- Southern Italian pastas and pizzas.
Best Gourmet Dining (time to blow it out!):
Animal (17 min walk) -- Now ten years old, this is one of the most influential restaurants in the city. Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo’s amazing meat-centric dishes are still fantastic.
117 locals recommend
Animal
435 N Fairfax AveBest Gourmet Dining (time to blow it out!):
Animal (17 min walk) -- Now ten years old, this is one of the most influential restaurants in the city. Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo’s amazing meat-centric dishes are still fantastic.
Best Gourmet Dining (time to blow it out!):
Trois Mec (17 min walk) -- Ludo Lefebvre’s LA flagship. A tough reservation, and we like the bistro next door better, but it won’t disappoint.
29 locals recommend
Trois Mec
716 N Highland AveBest Gourmet Dining (time to blow it out!):
Trois Mec (17 min walk) -- Ludo Lefebvre’s LA flagship. A tough reservation, and we like the bistro next door better, but it won’t disappoint.
Best Thai Food:
Noree Thai (15 min walk) -- Chef Fern and Chef Pla have serious skills. So many delicious Thai dishes here. Best Thai in the area.
Noree Thai
7669 Beverly BlvdBest Thai Food:
Noree Thai (15 min walk) -- Chef Fern and Chef Pla have serious skills. So many delicious Thai dishes here. Best Thai in the area.
Best Thai Food:
Summer Buffalo (4 min walk) -- Really good, and really close!
13 locals recommend
Summer Buffalo (Melrose)
7275 Melrose AveBest Thai Food:
Summer Buffalo (4 min walk) -- Really good, and really close!
Prime Pizza (16 min walk) -- The best by-the-slice option. Their NYC-style pizzas are great, but we usually order their square “Grandma” style pies. Hard to beat!
14 locals recommend
Prime Pizza
446 N Fairfax AvePrime Pizza (16 min walk) -- The best by-the-slice option. Their NYC-style pizzas are great, but we usually order their square “Grandma” style pies. Hard to beat!
Pizzeria Mozza (15 min walk) -- Awesome wood-fired pizzas with great ingredients.
187 locals recommend
Pizzeria Mozza
641 N Highland AvePizzeria Mozza (15 min walk) -- Awesome wood-fired pizzas with great ingredients.
Ronan
7315 Melrose AveRonan (5 min walk) -- More delicious wood-fired pizzas with odd-but-tasty toppings.
Spartina
7505 Melrose AveSpartina (9 min walk) -- Great patio and sides as well as solid pizzas.
Best Healthy (but pricey) Eats:
M Cafe (10 min walk) - Macrobiotic veggie-based meals.
82 locals recommend
M Cafe
7119 Melrose AveBest Healthy (but pricey) Eats:
M Cafe (10 min walk) - Macrobiotic veggie-based meals.
Best Pub Food:
Village Idiot (8 min walk) - British gastropub with a full bar and televised soccer games.
125 locals recommend
The Village Idiot
7383 Melrose AveBest Pub Food:
Village Idiot (8 min walk) - British gastropub with a full bar and televised soccer games.
Best Pub Food:
The Cat & Fiddle Pub (16 min walk)
24 locals recommend
The Cat & Fiddle Pub & Restaurant
742 N Highland AveBest Pub Food:
The Cat & Fiddle Pub (16 min walk)
The Parlor (6 min walk) -- More of a sports bar, but the food’s better than it needs to be.
53 locals recommend
The Parlor
7250 Melrose AveThe Parlor (6 min walk) -- More of a sports bar, but the food’s better than it needs to be.
Best BBQ:
Bludso’s (7 min walk) - Terrific Texas BBQ with a great bar. Love the brisket!
76 locals recommend
Bludso's Bar & Que
609 N La Brea AveBest BBQ:
Bludso’s (7 min walk) - Terrific Texas BBQ with a great bar. Love the brisket!
Best Chicken and Waffles:
Sweet Chick (18 min walk) -- Fried chicken and waffles in permutations you didn’t even know you wanted/needed.
16 locals recommend
Sweet Chick
448 N Fairfax AveBest Chicken and Waffles:
Sweet Chick (18 min walk) -- Fried chicken and waffles in permutations you didn’t even know you wanted/needed.
Best Indian Food:
Badmaash (17 min walk) - Classics are solid, especially the Butter Chicken but you’re here for the fusion stuff, like the Chicken Tikka Poutine and the Lamb Burger.
13 locals recommend
Badmaash
418 N Fairfax AveBest Indian Food:
Badmaash (17 min walk) - Classics are solid, especially the Butter Chicken but you’re here for the fusion stuff, like the Chicken Tikka Poutine and the Lamb Burger.
Best Sushi:
Sugarfish (16 min walk) - Order the “Trust me” and enjoy.
654 locals recommend
SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa
600 W 7th StBest Sushi:
Sugarfish (16 min walk) - Order the “Trust me” and enjoy.
Best Hot Dogs:
Pink’s Hot Dogs (10 min walk) - too crowded for us, but it’s a landmark.
297 locals recommend
Pink's Hot Dogs
709 N La Brea AveBest Hot Dogs:
Pink’s Hot Dogs (10 min walk) - too crowded for us, but it’s a landmark.
Best German Food:
Wirtshaus (10 min walk) - great beer and sausage combos.
14 locals recommend
Wirtshaus German Restaurant & Beer Garden
345 N La Brea AveBest German Food:
Wirtshaus (10 min walk) - great beer and sausage combos.
Best Deli:
Canters (17 min walk) - classic old-school deli that will outlive us all.
183 locals recommend
Canter's Restaurant, Bakery, Deli and Bar
419 N Fairfax AveBest Deli:
Canters (17 min walk) - classic old-school deli that will outlive us all.
Escuela Taqueria
7450 Beverly BoulevardEsquela Taqueria (14 min walk) - A huge variety of tacos and BYOB.
Mercado (7 min drive) - Love the guac, carnitas, and cucumber margaritas!
193 locals recommend
Mercado
7910 W 3rd StMercado (7 min drive) - Love the guac, carnitas, and cucumber margaritas!
Open Sesame
5215 2nd StOpen Sesame (11 min walk) - Classic mediterranean fare.
Ta-Eem Grill (7 min walk) - Kosher mediterranean order-at-the-counter spot. Great shawarma.
22 locals recommend
Ta-Eem Grill, Inc
6118 Melrose AveTa-Eem Grill (7 min walk) - Kosher mediterranean order-at-the-counter spot. Great shawarma.
Tatsu Ramen
7111 Melrose AveBest Ramen:
Tatsu (9 min walk) -- Draws crowds for great ramen.