7 cool & fun spots to hang out in Los Angeles

At the Cove Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
At the Cove Skatepark. Photo: Roscoe Ramone

I've been to Los Angeles a couple of times. The first time I didn't get that much time to explore as I was there with the band I used to play in - however photo shoots helped us to see more of LA. And the last time I was in Cali I knew people who could show me a around.

I feel like I've name dropped Sri (who lives in LA) plenty of times on this blog, I could have just called this post Sris guide, 'cause she took me to four of the places on this list. And truth be told, there are more than 7 cool & fun spots to hang out in Los Angeles, but I guess something stood out with these chosen ones. Anyway. Let's go!

1. MOHAWK BEND

Mohawk Bend is a craft beer bar and restaurant located in Echo Park, featuring an impressive list of locally-sourced craft beers & healthy food. The place is fresh, modern and has a nice vibe going on. I was here with Sri and her band mates, and we just ordered and shared a bunch of things. One of mye favorites, which I still remember was, embrace yourself, A BAHN MI PIZZA.

I could feel Vietnam meeting Italy in my mouth, and they were having fun. Unfortunately I can't find it on their menu now, but they have a lot of other tasty stuff on the menu as well. Vegan options too!

2. THE BROAD

I mostly went Downtown LA because I wanted to take pictures of the awesome architecture there. Honestly, there are some fascinating buildings there, like the Walt Disney Concert Hall whis has this curved stainless-steel exterior. And then there's The Broad, a contemporary art museum founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. I was so happy with the artsy picture I took of this cool building, but I sincerely regret not seeing it from the inside. If there's one kind of art I love it's contemporary art.

This museum offers free general admission and presents an active program of rotating temporary exhibitions and innovative audience engagement. Which I also love. However the line was endless and I tried to go online to find tickets, but it was all booked. Learn from my mistakes and book tickets in advance!

The Broad in DTLA,, a contemporary art museum founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad.
Designed by Diller Scofidio in collaboration with Gensler
3. STORIES

After hanging in Downtown LA, I headed off to Echo Park to meet a Norwegian dude who's also into music. Of course I got stuck in traffic, got there late and felt extremely stupid. Luckily he took it very well and was really cool about it. I just hate being late, 'cause it's about respecting other peoples time.

Anyway, he had suggested that we meet up at Stories which is a great bookstore and café where they have decent coffee and a hand-picked selection of both new and used books. I was stressed out when I got there, but something about that place made me calmer. This is a spot I would probably hang out in if I lived in LA.

4. SAGE

Since we're already in Echo Park, let me take you to Sage. My ex-bandmates, but still friends, Sofie, Richard and I ate breakfast here when we were on our mini-tour in the states. Of course I had to go back again on my last trip.

Sometimes I think that healthy food doesn't taste good, but at this organic plant based eatery they know their stuff. They have these fresh juices that energize, and I can appreciate a good tofu egg scramble and a tempeh sausage. So as you can imagine I was thrilled to be eating there again!

Sage in Echo Park, LA.

5. HOMESTATE

Another great breakfast place is Homestate, a Texas kitchen that features breakfast tacos, queso, frito pies, brisket & Austin's Cuvée coffee. Sri and I had to stand in line, but there's a good reason for why there was a queue for those breakfast tacos: They were delicious, and people knew that! In fact, they were so delicious that my eyes rolled back when I took that first bite. I'm getting a foodgasm just by thinking about that messy taco filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, seasoned beans and simply rich flavors.

I'm so grateful Sri took me out for breakfast tacos. Definitely doing that again some day!

Texas kitchen Homestate.

6. CLIFTON'S CAFETERIA

The last spot Sri took me to was Clifton's Cafeteria in Downtown, the oldest surviving cafeteria style eatery in Los Angeles and the largest public cafeteria in the world.

The facade was kitschy and theatrical, and there was a different theme for each floor: The Marketplace, the Monarch, Gothic Bar, Pacific Seas, and where we ended up: The Brookdale. At this elegant floor there was live music and classy people dancing Lindy hop (a dancestyle I've always wanted to learn) and Swing. 

It did feel as though I had travelled in time, and things got a lot more fun when a dude asked me to dance, and learned me a few steps. Of course Miss Sri stood behind this as well, the puppeteer aka. the best travel guide ever!

7. SANTA MONICA TO VENICE BEACH

We'll end this on a touristy note. I love the beach, and I love the fact that there are so many cool, picturesque things around Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Like you could go to the Playland Arcade, do people watching on your walk, pretend your cool at the Cove Saktepark and get someone to take a photo of you and your gang on the pier, eating ice cream, with the tivoli in the background.

Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California.


MORE CALI?



Comments

  1. I am hoping to visit LA in the near future, so I loved reading this post about all the fun places you visited. :) Those restaurants sound great. Good food is always one of my top priorities on any trip!

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    1. Cool, I hope you get to do that! I'm also a foodie so I've been googling and saving new eateries in LA for if I go there again :) I want to try som cotton candy desert places I've found, like Milk Tavern.

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  2. I’ll have to visit some of these spots soon!
    (Allie)

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  3. I would love to visit the US one day. I live in England just south of London. LA looks like such an amazing place!

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  4. Ugh I would LOVE to visit LA!!!! Iv heard Venice beach is out of this world gorgeous..this is such an amazing city guide, and I love your photos..great post!!!

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  5. We just got back from an LA trip, visiting family and I would've loved to have read this post beforehand. I'll be sending this to my family who lives there so they can enjoy more of their city. Great photos and ideas. I'll use this next time we visit! We have done the Santa Monica to Venice Beach (in reverse) on a previous trip. We love great places to eat so will check out your suggestions next trip as well!

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    1. Thank you, Sally! I love great places to eat as well, hope you get to try out some of these next time.

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  6. This is perfect! I'm going to LA with my sister in August, so I'll keep this in my back pocket as a resource!

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    1. Nice, hope you end up trying some of these places out :)

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  7. Texas gal here! yes! breakfast tacos are the best. I've never been to LA but California does have a hard time getting their tacos right hahaha. If I ever visit, I'll have to check out Homestate.

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    1. Hey Texas gal, and I guess I have to come to Texas to taste more tacos😜

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  8. Although I have also visited L.A. before, I have not been to any of the 7 spots you have included on this list. They all look great though so I will have to have them on my radar for the next time I visit.

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    1. Jupp, that’s what so great about the world - there’s always new places to explore.

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  9. Great post for people visiting LA, there are lots of fun things to do in the city!

    ~xo Sheree
    poshclassymom.com

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  10. These places look stunning! Maybe one day I'll visit :)

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  11. Such great tips! I've only been to LA once but would love to go back again

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  12. It's been ten years since I last visited LA. I have family members living in the OC and I enjoyed the beaches there.

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  13. It has been a while since we have been to LA! These look like great spots to visit!

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  14. I have never been in LA but my aunt said it is a good place to visit and she also said that there are a lot of nice spots to explore in that place and because of that it gives me an interest to visit LA and hope to be happen soon!

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  15. LA is definitely one of the places I'm dying to visit!

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  16. The sad thing is that I follow quite a few people who live in LA and I've never seen them talk about any of these places. A few more to add to my list of things to see when I finally get to visit LA.

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    1. Probably because there is so much to do in LA. I hope you have fun when you finally go :)

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  17. LA is such a great city to visit! All the times I've been there, I've never enjoyed the sights you mentioned. Next time we are in CA I'll have to check them out.

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  18. I'll bookmark this list just in case I get to LA sometime this year. Great list!

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  19. It was such a ashamed that I missed out Santa Monica and Venice Beach during my visit last winter. Flew all the way from Asia to visit California but didnt get to see these iconic beach park. The roller coaster in the picture are just the thing that we were dying to try out.

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    1. But I'm pretty sure you got to see and experience a lot of other things! Whenever I get bummed out for missing out on stuff, I always tell myself "next time". <3

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  20. What a fun trip. It looks like you had a great time. Such beautiful photos...I definitely want to visit!

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    1. thanks, i absolutely had a great time, hope you get to experience that too!

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  21. There are some really awesome spots you highlighted here they are totally instagrammable too. I hope you had fun visiting them all.

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    1. Thanks, and yes, very instagrammable, and I did have a lot of fun!

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  22. My aunt is located in LA, we use to visit her once a year but I never went to those places yet. Hope to take a chance this year! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. How nice, hope you get to try some of these places out :)

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  23. What a great list of places. I need to check a few of these spots.

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