Guidebook for Los Angeles
Drinks & Nightlife
Great views of downtown, minutes away from the apartment. Good cocktails, excellent brunch, and beautiful rooftop vista. DJ on certain nights of the week
239 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ace Hotel
929 S BroadwayGreat views of downtown, minutes away from the apartment. Good cocktails, excellent brunch, and beautiful rooftop vista. DJ on certain nights of the week
Mariachi Night. Rock En Espanol Night. Morrissey Karaoke Night. 40s era burlesque style dancers night. A sunken bar and poles and cheap beer. And the music…my favorite bar in all of Los Angeles.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Eastside Luv Wine Bar
1835 E 1st StMariachi Night. Rock En Espanol Night. Morrissey Karaoke Night. 40s era burlesque style dancers night. A sunken bar and poles and cheap beer. And the music…my favorite bar in all of Los Angeles.
Canadian-Indian fusion. Surprisingly good wine list.
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
BADMAASH Downtown LA
108 W 2nd StCanadian-Indian fusion. Surprisingly good wine list.
Great cocktails. Cool atmosphere. On certain nights it's a piano bar
109 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Varnish
118 E 6th StGreat cocktails. Cool atmosphere. On certain nights it's a piano bar
Seven Bar Lounge
515 W 7th StPremiere whisky bar.
Great bar tucked in an alley off the street in Little Tokyo.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Far Bar
347 1st StreetGreat bar tucked in an alley off the street in Little Tokyo.
Excellent happy hour, especially on Mondays when top shelf Japanese whisky is half off!
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wolf and Crane Bar
366 E 2nd StExcellent happy hour, especially on Mondays when top shelf Japanese whisky is half off!
Cheap drinks in this unfussy bar. Pool table. Great pizza next door.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tony's Saloon
2017 E 7th StCheap drinks in this unfussy bar. Pool table. Great pizza next door.
Solid selection of wine by the bottle or the glass. Also: great tastings, cheese and charcuterie plates.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mignon
128 E 6th StSolid selection of wine by the bottle or the glass. Also: great tastings, cheese and charcuterie plates.
Food Scene
Incredible rustic Italian food, excellent wine selection, and great cocktails at one of L.A.s premiere restaurants. Get there before doors open to ensure a seat. Order the mussels.
322 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bestia
2121 E 7th PlIncredible rustic Italian food, excellent wine selection, and great cocktails at one of L.A.s premiere restaurants. Get there before doors open to ensure a seat. Order the mussels.
One of the best cafes in town is a short walk away!
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blue Bottle Coffee
582 Mateo StOne of the best cafes in town is a short walk away!
Another coffee favorite, close to Bestia
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
806 S Santa Fe AveAnother coffee favorite, close to Bestia
Bread Lounge
700 S Santa Fe AveGreat baked goods, breakfast bites and sandwiches
One of the best French restaurants in town, located in the Nabisco Biscuit Lofts. A Jonathan Gold favorite.
62 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Church & State LA
1850 Industrial StOne of the best French restaurants in town, located in the Nabisco Biscuit Lofts. A Jonathan Gold favorite.
A great cafe down a quant little alley. Serves top notch espresso drinks (with foam art) and great breakfast and lunch. Try the following sandwiches: "The Margot" for breakfast and "The Farmer" for lunch. A good place to sit with your laptop and write on a sunny day too!
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Societe
1820 Industrial StA great cafe down a quant little alley. Serves top notch espresso drinks (with foam art) and great breakfast and lunch. Try the following sandwiches: "The Margot" for breakfast and "The Farmer" for lunch. A good place to sit with your laptop and write on a sunny day too!
A huge selection of domestic and foreign beers. Little Bear specializes in Belgians. Great menu as well--it may well have the 2nd best reuben in town
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Little Bear
1855 Industrial StA huge selection of domestic and foreign beers. Little Bear specializes in Belgians. Great menu as well--it may well have the 2nd best reuben in town
Best ramen in town, hands down. Get ready for long lines, but worth the wait for the Korubuta pork belly ramen. A Jonathan Gold favorite.
122 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Daikokuya
327 1st StBest ramen in town, hands down. Get ready for long lines, but worth the wait for the Korubuta pork belly ramen. A Jonathan Gold favorite.
One of the last remaining vestiges of old Boyle Heights when it was home to a larger community of Japanese. Go here to eat inexpensive sushi and sashimi, tempura, and noodles. A staple since the 50s!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Otomisan Restaurant
2506 1/2 E 1st StOne of the last remaining vestiges of old Boyle Heights when it was home to a larger community of Japanese. Go here to eat inexpensive sushi and sashimi, tempura, and noodles. A staple since the 50s!
Incredibly delicious roasted goat. You can't find a better birrieria for miles!
Birrieria De Don Boni
1845 1st StIncredibly delicious roasted goat. You can't find a better birrieria for miles!
Great thin crust slices, vegan offerings, and made to order pies.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Purgatory Pizza
1326 E 1st StGreat thin crust slices, vegan offerings, and made to order pies.
Best tacos in town and winner of many accolades for their home made tortillas and stewed meats. Veggie options. Try the mole and cochinita pibil tacos (watch the heat levels!) and aguas frescos.
395 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Guisados
1261 Sunset BlvdBest tacos in town and winner of many accolades for their home made tortillas and stewed meats. Veggie options. Try the mole and cochinita pibil tacos (watch the heat levels!) and aguas frescos.
Delicious Joseph Centeno restaurant specializing in various "back" sandwiches. Excellent cocktails as well.
125 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bäco Mercat
408 S Main StDelicious Joseph Centeno restaurant specializing in various "back" sandwiches. Excellent cocktails as well.
Genius small dishes. Winner of several awards and on everyone's list of places to eat in downtown LA.
142 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Little Door
246 26th StGenius small dishes. Winner of several awards and on everyone's list of places to eat in downtown LA.
Another Joseph Centeno restaurant serving Tex-Mex inspired food. Excellent.
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar 107
118 W 4th StAnother Joseph Centeno restaurant serving Tex-Mex inspired food. Excellent.
Vietnamese restaurant specializing in pho soup. Very fresh. Good wine list too.
61 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blossom Vietnamese restaurant
426 S Main StVietnamese restaurant specializing in pho soup. Very fresh. Good wine list too.
The originator of the french dip sandwich (or is it Philippe's? You be the judge.) Also--two great bars, one in front, one in back (The Varnish).
153 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cole's French Dip
118 E 6th StThe originator of the french dip sandwich (or is it Philippe's? You be the judge.) Also--two great bars, one in front, one in back (The Varnish).
Sausages, sandwiches, and beer. A perfect afternoon hang out.
194 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wurstküche
800 East 3rd StreetSausages, sandwiches, and beer. A perfect afternoon hang out.
Traditional and innovative flavors from
Latin America and other parts of the World. Vegetarian options. Live acoustic music certain nights.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Un Solo Sol
1818 E 1st StTraditional and innovative flavors from
Latin America and other parts of the World. Vegetarian options. Live acoustic music certain nights.
Mas Malo
515 West 7th StreetMexican food and tequila.
Mo-Chica
514 West 7th StreetDelicious Peruvian food.
Great outdoor patio area, excellent cocktails
85 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zinc Cafe & Market and Bar
580 Mateo StreetGreat outdoor patio area, excellent cocktails
Amazing. Simply Amazing!
Rustic Italian food in a beautiful setting.
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Factory Kitchen
1300 Factory PlAmazing. Simply Amazing!
Rustic Italian food in a beautiful setting.
INCREDIBLE handmade udon noodle restaurant. Easy parking or metro a block away. Excellent shopping and bars within a block from the restaurant. One of my new favorite restaurants in LA
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Marugame Monzo
329 E 1st StINCREDIBLE handmade udon noodle restaurant. Easy parking or metro a block away. Excellent shopping and bars within a block from the restaurant. One of my new favorite restaurants in LA
Sushi Gen
422 E 2nd StBest sushi in Little Tokyo. Great lunch specials.
Great ramen, especially when Daikokuya is too long of a wait.
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo
132 S Central AveGreat ramen, especially when Daikokuya is too long of a wait.
Izakaya Haru Ulala
368 E 2nd StAwesome Izakaya restaurant close to bars and other eateries.
Pinkberry
2829 Hyperion AveSoft serve frozen yogurt!
Acclaimed restaurant from Josef Centeno, creator of Baco Mercat and Bar Ama
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lazy Ox Canteen
241 San Pedro StreetAcclaimed restaurant from Josef Centeno, creator of Baco Mercat and Bar Ama
Solid, cheap slices or whole pies. Next to a whole-in-the-wall bar, Tony's Saloon.
57 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pizzanista!
2019 E 7th StSolid, cheap slices or whole pies. Next to a whole-in-the-wall bar, Tony's Saloon.
Everything Else
Here's where you want to catch a train. Convenient and cheap!
Also the site of our local ice cream parlor and a Mexican farmer's market serving great neighborhood street food.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mariachi Plaza
1831 E 1st StHere's where you want to catch a train. Convenient and cheap!
Also the site of our local ice cream parlor and a Mexican farmer's market serving great neighborhood street food.
Raspado Don Manuel
1156 S Lorena StMexican version of a snow cone. Come in a variety of flavors.
Essentials
A Latin Whole Foods. Great selection of organic produce. Delicious tacos outside.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Northgate Market
425 S Soto StA Latin Whole Foods. Great selection of organic produce. Delicious tacos outside.
Easy and inexpensive alternative to Northgate Market on Soto Street.
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Food 4 Less
5100 N Figueroa StEasy and inexpensive alternative to Northgate Market on Soto Street.
Ramirez Liquor, Wine, & Kegs
736 S Soto StWonderful selection of spirits and beers.
High end and pricey grocery store with an excellent selection of organic packaged foods, gluten-free and selected produce, specialty food items, gourmet cheeses and meats.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Urban Radish
High end and pricey grocery store with an excellent selection of organic packaged foods, gluten-free and selected produce, specialty food items, gourmet cheeses and meats.
Shopping
One of the best bookstores in town, and definitely the best in downtown.
324 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Last Bookstore
453 South Spring StreetOne of the best bookstores in town, and definitely the best in downtown.
American Apparel
747 Warehouse StIf you need an inexpensive Sweatshop-free...
Macy's
750 W 7th StGet your basic clothes needs taken care of here
Sightseeing
Restaurants, shops, and general cultural interests. Dim sum!
399 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chinatown
Restaurants, shops, and general cultural interests. Dim sum!
Arts & Culture
Los Angeles Gun Club
1375 E 6th StGo blow some steam off. Safely.
Museum of Contemporary Art -- the best modern art museum in Los Angeles.
401 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central AveMuseum of Contemporary Art -- the best modern art museum in Los Angeles.
Great sister museum to the MOCA in the heart of Little Tokyo
401 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central AveGreat sister museum to the MOCA in the heart of Little Tokyo
Climbing gym in the Brewery Arts District
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Stronghold Climbing Gym
650 S Avenue 21Climbing gym in the Brewery Arts District
Great modern art museum and latest art addition to downtown L.A. lines can be very long, but book in advance to reserve tickets. A must see.
1555 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Broad
221 S Grand AveGreat modern art museum and latest art addition to downtown L.A. lines can be very long, but book in advance to reserve tickets. A must see.
Incredible acoustics make any performance (and always top-notch) an excellent experience. The LA Philharmonic calls this place home.
1063 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveIncredible acoustics make any performance (and always top-notch) an excellent experience. The LA Philharmonic calls this place home.