Glossy Magazine’s Salim Uddin-Khandakar visits La La Land, home of Hollywood stars, the TV and movie industry, the Oscars, gorgeous beaches and endless days of sunshine.
Los Angeles (LA), situated on America’s west coast in Southern California, on the glistening shores of the Pacific Ocean, is a sprawling metropolis with each neighbourhood offering its own unique flavour and character, and towering skyscrapers that punctuate the skyline. Downtown LA is a vibrant hub of culture and commerce, boasting attractions such as the historic Olvera Street, the futuristic Walt Disney Concert Hall and the bustling Grand Central Market.
For a taste of Old Hollywood glamour, head west to Hollywood. Experience the glitz of the entertainment industry and discover a melting pot of cultures, reflected in its vibrant arts and culinary scene. LA is synonymous with entertainment and nowhere is this more evident than in its world-class venues and attractions. Catch a live performance at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, where the sounds of symphonies and rock concerts fill the night air. Experience the magic of the silver screen at Universal Studios Hollywood, where thrilling rides and behind-the-scenes tours offer a glimpse into the world of moviemaking. For a taste of the high life, head to the glamorous neighbourhoods of Beverly Hills and Bel Air, where luxury boutiques, upscale restaurants and celebrity sightings abound. Indulge in a spot of retail therapy on Rodeo Drive or take a leisurely drive through the tree-lined streets of some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the world.
STAYING
AC Hotel
Located directly opposite the Crypto.com Arena, home of the world famous LA Lakers, this hotel’s timeless Spanish heritage can be described as cheeky yet charming. Boasting 12 brand new restaurants, bars and clubs, you won’t be disappointed here, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering some magnificent views and 347 modern and spacious rooms. Prices for rooms at the AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles start at $209 per night (£165 at current exchange rates).
Silver Lake Pool and Inn
Located on a corner just south of the Sunset Junction in the heart of Silver Lake, one of the most vibrant and exciting neighbourhoods in LA, this property is proud of its community vibe. Take a walk out to some of the best restaurants in the city and discover an active art and music scene, with indie shops, galleries and cafés filled with locals who inspire and influence the neighbourhood’s one-of-a-kind culture.
Rooms and suites offer everything you would ever need for a comfortable stay, all with a front-row seat to Silver Lake’s dynamic energy. The décor is modern and flushed with warm, lush and luxurious touches and a healthy dose of Southern California sunlight. With free Wi-Fi, fully stocked gourmet minibars, 55″ HDTVs, safes and Diptyque bath amenities lovingly included. Rooms start at $325 per night (£257 at current exchange rates).
EATING
The dining and drinking options at AC Hotel Downtown LA are exceptional. There’s breakfast, dinner, or drinks with a view at the intimate AC Bar and Lounge on the 34th floor. La Lo La Rooftop offers tapas and cocktails with views of the Hollywood Hills. The hotel also houses the one-stop hospitality complex Level 8 where you will discover the exceptional South American grill Qué Bárbaro, the Japanese cuisine at both Maison Kasai and Lucky Mizu, and Sinners y Santos, a cathedral-inspired nightclub. With poolside carousel bar Golden Hour, alfresco oyster bar Mother of Pearl and The Brown Sheep on the terrace, you’ll never run out of views or vibes. Be ready for some extraordinary entertainment…this is La La Land after all.
Great White
Breakfast at Great White located in the lovely village of Larchmont. This community-focused casual café restaurant reminded me of Victors in Hale. The menu is coastal-Californian with a focus on fresh produce, superb coffee and a buzzing vibe. The avocado toast with fresh chilli, market radish and chilli oil on sourdough is sensational.
Smorgasburg
The largest open-air food market in the USA, Smorgasburg have locations in New York, Jersey City, São Paulo, Miami, Toronto and Los Angeles.
Almost 100 small businesses showcase some fabulous food, beverage, fashion and independent traders. With a family-friendly beer garden, it’s the perfect place to spend a Sunday.
Bacari Silver Lake
A Venetian-inspired eatery situated in a beautiful open-air herb garden with an electric atmosphere, serving small plates featuring Mediterranean-influenced dishes created by Chef Lior Hillel. This is the fifth restaurant by the Kronfli brothers, a family-owned group of restaurants trending in LA. Here you’ll find a rotation of craft cocktails, small production wines and eclectic beers from around the world.
Honey Hi
If eating sensibly and responsibly matters to you, Honey Hi serves food that promotes personal, public and planetary well-being. The team strives to source and prepare food, as well as cultivate community, in thoughtful ways that support this mission.
The company are always pushing to improve and build new relationships with non-industrialised farms, individuals and companies. This is essential because they place equal value on where and who produces the foods and its nutritional integrity, as they do on the way it tastes. The menu mainly consists of local, organic vegetables from small farms at the Echo Park in Hollywood and Santa Monica farmers markets.
El Compadre
Opening in 1975, El Compadre Restaurant in Hollywood has been one of Southern California’s hot spots for Mexican cuisine. Situated along trendy Sunset Boulevard, the restaurant fashions the look and feel of an old-world hacienda. Lined with clay roof tiles, wrought iron lanterns and stained-glass chandeliers, its walls grace Mexican heritage with paintings, artifacts, antiques and vase floral trimmings.
Enjoy family recipes handed down over generations using select cuts of meats, and choice seafood alongside season fresh vegetables. And be sure to try their legendary Flaming Margarita. Coupled with nightly live music from a trio singing Mexican classics, paired with dimly lit, sultry lighting, the romantic ambience is unmatched.
Pijja Palace
This interesting concept is an Indian sports bar with large flatscreen TVs showing every sport available. But don’t be put off by this if you’re not a die-hard sports fan – it’s not rowdy football fans, but a sophisticated clientele who have come to enjoy onion rings coated in dosa batter and chicken wings marinated in cilantro-mint chutney. The fusion of India meets Italy brings me on to the rigatoni in a creamy tomato masala that evokes a vodka tomato sauce with thin, saag smeared pizzas. Be warned, Pijja Palace requires pre-booking so expect at least a two-week lead time, it’s that popular!
TO DO
Food Tour with Six Taste Tours
Meeting at Angels Flight Railway on Hill Street, this guided tour lasts approximately two hours. Founded by Sally Tiongoo in 2009, you’ll unearth the hidden historic and cultural gems of the LA neighbourhoods. Make sure you’re hungry as all the food is included! Six Taste Tour guides are well informed, and their local knowledge ensures your experience is an amazing one with plenty of food, fun and facts.
Fashion | Flower | Jewellery District Tour
With over 4,000 independently owned and operated retail and wholesale businesses, this colourful neighbourhood covers 107 blocks steeped in culture and history. Get inspired as you explore LA’s cutting-edge creativity, hotels, galleries and eateries. The area is the epicentre of LA style.
LA Lakers
The LA Lakers are the world-famous basketball team playing in the NBA’s Pacific Division. The Lakers’ star-studded team include LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Spencer Dinwiddie. Based at the Crypto.com Arena, watching a game is a family experience not to be missed. Go Lakers!
The Academy Museum
Surprisingly only five years old and housing more than 13 million objects, this homage to the art and science of the movies is not to be missed. Fast track tickets enable you to skip queues but be sure to get there early anyway, as you can spend hours reliving those classic movie scenes on the huge screens dotted around the various exhibitions.
For a small additional fee, get to lift an actual Oscar at your own presentation which is captured and sent to you via email in seconds. This immersive, educational and entertaining part of the tour makes the Academy Museum a must.
The Grove and Original Farmers Market
The origins of The Grove date back to 1880, when A.F. Gilmore and a partner purchased two dairy farms. Ten years later, Gilmore took control of the 256-acre ranch which is now a hive of shopping, dining and entertainment, with top brands, a cinema and restaurants in a picturesque setting.
The Original Farmers Market opened in 1934 and boasts a nostalgic atmosphere with diverse food stalls, speciality shops and fresh produce. Expect to find both locals and tourists alike, embodying the vibrant spirit that makes LA what it is.
LA Walking Tours
Running since 2009, this informative tour will educate you on the history of the city – from the creation of the vibrant neighbourhoods to the current stunning skyline. Tours are tailored for visitors, whether you’re on a fleeting visit or chilling for a few months, and are informative, educational and engaging. You’ll certainly leave having learnt something new about the city.
Echo Park
This culturally diverse neighborhood has become known for its trendy local businesses, as well as its popularity with artists, musicians and creatives. The neighborhood is centered on the eponymous Echo Park Lake. Originally built in the 1860s as a reservoir for drinking water, today Echo Park Lake is an iconic LA landmark that functions primarily as a detention basin in the city’s storm drain system, while providing recreational benefits and a wildlife habitat.
Take out one of the new swan boats and pedal across the lake. Rated among the best activities in LA, Echo Park pedal boats are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and were voted in the top 10 things to do in Los Angeles!
LA Bike Tour
My personal favourite ‘to do’ was the E-Bike Tour. These eco-friendly bikes are an exhilarating way to discover lesser-known neighbourhoods and find LA’s hidden gems. We headed on a three-hour ride through Griffiths Park with a 360-degree view of the iconic Hollywood sign and Griffiths Observatory, stopping at LA Zoo and Cathy’s Corner (where the iconic La La Land dance scene was filmed). You may even see a bobcat, cayote or hawks on the way. With a 100% Tripadvisor recommendation I can highly endorse this as a must when in LA.
Sony Pictures Tour
The chances are that the last movie you’ve seen was in some way created at Sony Pictures. This year Columbia Pictures (a Sony Company) celebrates its centenary. Step inside the gates and step back into a legendary time on the Sony Pictures Studio tour. One of the most historic and exciting studio lots in the world, this two-hour guided walking tour will give you the real experience of a working studio.
Visit soundstages of iconic films like The Wizard of Oz, Men in Black and Spider-Man. Swing by the smash-hit game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. You might even catch a glimpse of the Barbra Streisand scoring stage or Walter White’s RV from the hit series Breaking Bad. And witness where John Williams created all those iconic soundtracks that accompany some of the most famous movies ever.
Keep your eyes open… you never know what – or who – will be around the next corner!
Citizens Public Market
This 7,500 square foot, best-in-class food and drinks offering in the heart of Culver city, is a great place to socialise, chill and take in the sights and sounds of one of LA’s trendiest neighbourhoods.
Venice Beach
Is it the bohemian spirit, the buzzing beach, upscale residents, trendy shops, street performers, the skate parks or Muscle Beach Gym that make Venice Beach so special? Answer – all of them! Take time out to explore Abbot Kinney Boulevard, featuring foodie hot spots, stylish boutiques and coffee bars. Discover a picturesque enclave of canals surrounded by modernist homes. And treat yourself to a cocktail or two at Hotel Erwin’s Rooftop Lounge with its stunning views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Getting there
Aer Lingus offers seamless connections from Manchester to Los Angeles, flying via Dublin where customers can preclear US Immigration before stepping onboard their transatlantic flight. Economy fares from the UK start from £229 each way and business class from £1,299 return including taxes and charges. This includes 23kg of complimentary baggage, meals and soft drinks on board plus the very latest inflight entertainment system boasting the latest blockbusters, box sets and more. Business class customers can enjoy spacious seats that transform into fully lie-flat 6.5ft long beds, as well as luxury dining with fresh ingredients sourced from all over Ireland, complimentary alcohol and a generous baggage allowance of 63kg.
LA with its glittering skyline, vibrant culture and natural beauty certainly offers something for every traveller. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, the City of Angels invites you to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and prepare to be dazzled by the endless possibilities that await in Los Angeles – and with a climate best described as mild to hot all year round, what’s not to like!
