Los Angeles’s relaxed, beachy vibes inspire a vibrant multicultural city that attracts both celebrities and cutting-edge creatives. Whether shopping in Beverly Hills, partying in Hollywood or surfing in Venice, there’s fun to be had in every diverse neighborhood of this sprawling metropolis, including a revitalized downtown. Glamour is in the air, and palm trees and bougainvillea dot the streets, leading the way to historic theaters, tantalizing street vendors, hiking trails in Runyon Canyon, and outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. There’s just something about the City of Angels that makes you feel as if all your dreams will come true.
Photography provided by Pendry West Hollywood
Stay
A Swarovski crystal tree with shimmering mother-of-pearl leaves welcomes you to Los Angeles’s most alluring new hotel in the middle of the iconic Sunset Strip. Pendry stands out among the competition with its sexy postmodern design and bold original art, paired with top-notch dining and wellness offerings, a rooftop pool, and a bowling alley. With 149 luxe guest rooms and 40 residences in a second building across a private courtyard, the property encompasses a full city block.
Wolfgang Puck returns to West Hollywood with Pendry’s three culinary concepts, including all-day European-style cafe Ospero, where you can start your morning with the best hotel pastries in the city. Don’t miss the Basque cheesecake and the hazelnut pain au chocolat. Spa Pendry features face and body treatments by Babor, including a grounding earth experience with dry brushing, a warm cocoon wrap and a gentle nourishing massage.
Photography provided by OSEA
Do
OSEA Malibu has developed a devoted fan base thanks to popular plant-based products like its ocean cleanser, yet this exclusive Venice skincare studio just past the busy shopping stretch of Abbot Kinney remains a hidden gem. Anyone who’s fallen in love with the brand needs to visit for a gentle facial massage and layers of serums and masks that ensure you walk out glowing.
There are just two treatment rooms in this whitewashed beach cottage plus a private garden for relaxing in afterward, so book an appointment well in advance. Every facial includes customized masks mixed to order along with a unique combination of high-frequency LED light therapy, cranial touch massage, lymphatic drainage and gua sha depending on your skin’s needs. Don’t be embarrassed if you’re lulled to sleep by the soothing ocean soundtrack and your therapist’s soft hands — it happens to the best of us.
Photography provided by Imari
Dine
Understated elegance is the name of the game at Imari, the new authentic Japanese restaurant in Brentwood from restaurateur Philip Camino. The intimate dining room feels like walking into a friend’s home. Request one of six seats at the chef’s counter or choose from a handful of indoor and outdoor tables for more privacy.
Begin with chilled fresh tofu that’s as creamy as burrata along with delicately fried maitake mushroom tempura for an umami punch. Seasonal seafood and wagyu beef are imported from Japan, and even the ostensibly straightforward chicken gyoza are impossibly juicy and flavorful, anchored by a crispy base. There are sophisticated sushi hand rolls, A5 wagyu strip loin served with fresh wasabi, and local ice cream and sorbet for dessert in partnership with Sweet Rose Creamery, all accompanied by Japanese beers and a thoughtful sake program. Pressed for time? Order a sushi bento box to go.
Photography provided by Row DTLA
Shop
This outdoor shopping destination in the historic Fashion District boasts the best collection of homegrown indie retailers in town, from Pantora (the new ready-to-wear location from Making the Cut season two winner Andrea Pitter) to Jean-Pascal Florist (a floral atelier with a uniquely French flair). The diverse community of makers and entrepreneurs includes sustainable swimwear at Coast by Coast, statement jewelry at Dylan Lex and Japanese tableware at Kinto. Try a high-intensity, Pilates-inspired workout at Coreology or learn to spin pottery at Still Life Ceramics before indulging in a pedicure at Powder Beauty or a blowout at Nova Arts Salon.
Foodies will enjoy perusing the vibrant fruits and vegetables at 7th Street Produce Market, where you can rub elbows with some of Los Angeles’s top chefs Monday through Saturday mornings. On Sundays, ROW hosts Smorgasburg, the largest open-air food market in the city, featuring 100 delicious local vendors.
Photography by Wonhon Frank Lee
Dine
This opulent Spanish eatery’s American debut is everything you would expect from a restaurant with outposts in Madrid and Ibiza. Rafael Nadal is a partner, and fellow sports superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Pau Gasol are investors. No expense was spared in the design, with wraparound red leather booths and gold accents inspired by the Roaring Twenties. There are nightly jazz, flamenco and burlesque performances, and the outdoor patio has become a neighborhood hot spot for late-night cocktails and celebrity spotting.
The menu boasts a collection of Spanish classics simply prepared with the finest ingredients (including custom-blend olive oil) and executed with impeccable technique. Begin with Ibérico ham de bellota served with crisp tomato bread and a warm pillowy tortilla before diving into the delicate wild sea bass baked in a salt crust or the decadent veal Milanese topped with a soft poached egg and freshly shaved truffle.
Photography provided by Descanso Gardens
Do
Springtime is everyone’s favorite season at Descanso Gardens, with 30,000 tulips as well as camellias, lilacs and cherry trees blooming in March. April brings azaleas, wildflowers and wisteria, and by May, everything is coming up roses. The 150-acre attraction boasts dozens of winding trails through the Japanese garden, California garden and oak forest. A bevy of geese and ducks is born each spring, too. The lakeside lookout is a prime location to observe fish and turtles, and birdwatchers will delight in spotting 100+ species, including flashy wild parrots.
Kids can frolic on a guided tour to find Descanso’s resident pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds, and the whole family will enjoy horticulturist Adam Schwerner’s outdoor art installations and designs. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, a casual cafe serves sandwiches, salads and snacks made with fresh local produce.
