West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
About
Growing up, and even into college, if you would have asked me where I was going to live after I graduated, I would have told you “L.A.” without a moment of hesitation. Why? Proximity to the Pacific Ocean, perfect weather 100% of the time, big city with lots to do, a health-focused community of people pushing the consumer goods industry to produce better for you products, and the wellness industry to produce new workouts, new treatments, etc. to optimize for health, longevity, and beauty. Call me vain, but I was intoxicated by the appeal of L.A. Did I end up moving there? No. But I have traveled there more times than I can count at this point, and while I love it, I don’t know that it’s a place I would want to call home as much anymore, but damn is it a great place to travel to — for work, play, or a little bit of both.
How to get there
Fly into LAX. Rent a Turo, you’ll need one to get around. LA is more sprawling than you realize, and while traffic sucks, what sucks more is not getting to enjoy all the city has to offer if you don’t have your own wheels.
Know before you go
LA has a ton of different neighborhoods, each offering their own pocket of goodness. Depending on what you are looking for, you’ll want to stay different places. To be honest, the only spots I’ve stayed in LA are: Los Feliz (Hipster), West Hollywood (Big w. LGBTQ+ community), Marina Del Ray (Harbor-side), Santa Monica (Beachside), and Venice Beach (Beachside). Los Feliz is next door to Silver Lake (known for chic bars, coffee shops, and restaurants) and home to the Griffith Observatory, which is fun and challenging to hike to. West Hollywood is home to some of the best restaurants, and comedy clubs are close. Venice is home to “Muscle Beach” and watching the skaters at the skate park at the beach has always brought me a lot of joy around sunset’s golden hour. Santa Monica offers great restaurants, beachside dining, a lovely walking path right along the ocean, and shopping... bonus points on proximity to Malibu. Pick your poison! You can’t go wrong.
Since LA is sprawling, and I’ve had many experiences there, but only had a taste of what the city has to offer, I am going to keep my recommendations here limited to what I do know.
Eat
Coffee — Pick up your morning coffee at Carerra Cafe, right across from the pink wall and walking distance to yoga class at Y7 West Hollywood. Or if you’re beach bumming it, pick up at Dogtown Coffee before your oceanside walk. Since you’ll be walking off the calories anyway, order the Salty Dog.
Breakfast — Grab a smoothie at Juice Crafters before heading out on your walk.
Lunch — It’s so basic of me, but I actually go out of my way to get the Thai Salad from Mendocino Farms. I have never actually been into one of their locations, but if I’m getting lunch in LA during a work trip, I am Doordash-ing this salad.
La Boheme’s spicy margs, food, and vibes did not disappoint!
Dinner — Special shout out to my friend Kevin for writing up the latest and greatest for me when I was headed there for my last birthday.
These restaurants are all short distances to The Comedy Store, so you can trust that you’ll get a great meal, great vibe, and won’t have to battle traffic on your way to get a great seat at the comedy show after…
Merois - Upscale place. Right across from the comedy store. Kinda pricey but romantic with amazing views of LA. It’s technically asian fusion, but the dishes are all pretty curated and unique.
La Boheme - Food is delish, the atmosphere is better. Quintessential sceney/vibey LA restaurant.
Catch LA - Rooftop seafood restaurant (but they have other things too), the food is delish, the vibe is 👌🏽, if you celebrate your birthday with them, they have a dish that comes like a little ferris wheel of donuts that’s not only cute, but will make you feel very special.
Great White - new American restaurant. Food is delicious. Vibe is tamer compared to the places above, but still super cute
The Den on Sunset — Get the spicy crispy chicken and then walk off your calories on your way to The Laugh Factory (jk it’s like a 7 min walk, those calories are staying with you).
Stay
West Hollywood — The Thompson
Los Feliz / Silver Lake — The Freehand Hotel
Santa Monica — The Proper
Venice Beach — We got an airbnb right on the beach, but Hotel Erwin had an awesome rooftop bar, and the hotel seemed like the kind of place I’d want to stay.
Marina Del Ray — I was here on work travel, so I didn’t stay here, but I had dinner and drinks and loved the proximity to the Harbor, the food and service was great, plus there’s an amazing pedestrian path right outside the front door that goes for miles… The Ritz or for something more budget friendly, check out the Marriott.
Workout
Boutique Fitness —
Y7 offers hip hop yoga and is one of my favorites, they’ve got spots in West Hollywood and Silver Lake. The one in West Hollywood is just down the street from the Iconic Pink Wall (which I hear is maybe changed since I was last there?)
Train Bunda has a location in Santa Monica and is a 45 minute weights and stair master class, you will not regret this one!
Outdoor Fitness —
Marina Del Ray, Venice or Santa Monica — Follow the pedestrian path along the harbor or ocean as long as it goes and enjoy the beautiful sun!
West Hollywood, Los Feliz, Sliver Lake — Take an Uber to the base of the hill where Griffith Observatory sits, it’s about a 2 mile hike up and will challenge your legs, here’s a hike guide that should get you where you need to go.
Play
I love to relax, I love to hike, I love to shop and I love to giggle. Here’s a random assortment of where I do those things in LA.
Relax
Facial at Face Place or Face Haus in West Hollywood.
Massage at Squeeze, the new massage concept from the founder of Drybar, then get your hair done at Drybar. Go to the Brentwood locations, since Drybar’s original founding location was Brentwood.
Shop
Head to Beverly Hills for some shopping on Rodeo Drive, where you’ll find the highest end shops of your dreams! Every girl’s dream moment in Pretty Woman takes place on Rodeo Drive… So, you kind of have to check this out.
Hike / Be a Tourist
Take an Uber to the base of the hill where Griffith Observatory sits, it’s about a 2 mile hike up and will challenge your legs, here’s a hike guide that should get you where you need to go. Bonus points, you’ll get a cute pic with the Hollywood sign in the background too!
Go to the Hollywood walk of fame, find your favorite person, take a pic, and then leave immediately! This is a really gross, seedy area of LA, but it feels like you kind of have to at least go.
Get a picture in front of the Pink Wall, then grab coffee across the street, and enjoy the people watching for as long as you want! The helpless, floundering boyfriends and parents of out-of-town influencers are the best to observe.
Go on a celebrity safari with the TMZ crew. Possible celeb sightings (definitely some C listers), but guaranteed laughs.
Eat fire with Cat on Airbnb experiences. This was insane!
Rent or charter a boat and get out on the Pacific. Last time we did this was the same day Lana Del Ray launched Chem Trails. It was pretty cool.
Giggle
Laugh Factory — Standup — Theo Vonn was headlining here on my most recent trip, but I’ve also seen Chris Redd here, Tony Rock (Chris Rock’s brother) is a regular here, probably the greatest thing about LA is you have NO IDEA who might just drop in to do a set that night. Famous comedians have to work on their new content before filming their next Netflix special, and the comedy community connections run deep, so literally go any night and you might just see the best up-and-comer in town, or one of your comedy rockstars.
The Comedy Store — Standup — This is THE spot for Standup in LA. They’ve got a few different stages, and on any given night you have no idea who might bless the stage… Apparently Mitzi Shore is the woman to thank for her contributions to the US’s comedy scene, this is where guys comedy great’s like Joe Rogan got their start.
The Groundlings — Improv — Apparently this is the theater where Will Ferrell got discovered! For my birthday, my friend Grace took me to see a fully improvised show, it was amazing!
A Dream Day
Wake up at the Thompson Hotel in West Hollywood and grab an uber or scooter to Coffee at Carerra Cafe, right across from the pink wall. Get your photo taken early at the pink wall to avoid the crowds. Walk or scooter to yoga class at Y7 West Hollywood. You’ll be drenched in sweat when you leave, so head back to the hotel for a shower, and change of clothes for your hike to the Griffith Observatory.
Fully exhausted from the activities of the morning, go to your first spa appointment of the day, your Massage at Squeeze, followed by getting your hair done at Drybar. Go to the Brentwood locations, since Drybar’s original founding location was Brentwood. Now that you’re beautified, uber to Beverly Hills to do some window shopping on Rodeo drive. Alternatively, if spa days and shopping aren’t your thing, definitely learn how to eat fire and go on the TMZ tour — this will result in a verrrry different type of day, but you will have stories for a lifetime!
Head back to your hotel to have lunch and relax a bit at the Rooftop pool before your evening out. Order lunch via Doordash and have Mendocino Farms deliver you a Thai Mango Salad poolside. Shower up and head to dinner at any one of the restaurants listed in the Eat (Dinner) section… for birthday girls and sushi girlies, I recommend Catch LA. Finally, head to The Comedy Store to laugh your ass off. On your way home, grab a night cap and debrief the show at another one of the restaurants from the Eat (Dinner) section. Then head back to your hotel, lay your head down, and know you made the most of your day in LA.
Summary
LA has so much to offer. From the city to the shore. You’ll find what you are looking for. If you’re a comedy fiend like me, I hope you get your jollies in at one of these clubs.
