Los Angeles faves: shop, eat, see, do.
My recent trip to Los Angeles was fantastic. I went with one of my best friends, and we spent the weekend doing one great thing after another. If you’re planning a trip to LA in the future, here were our faves:
Restaurants
1. The Tasting Kitchen: A farm-to-table spot. Great pasta and small bites. Delicious cocktails. Very accommodating (they kindly fit us in an hour before our reservation time).
2. Superba Snack Bar: An open-air space that can be covered in inclement weather, the small, casual spot offers a variety of very flavorful small dishes. Amazing desserts, too.
3. The Hart and The Hunter: The biscuits. Oh my god, just get the biscuits. Everything here was fantastic, but I’ve been dreaming about the biscuits for the past month. That’s how good they were. The host here was also incredibly nice. They had lost our reservation, and not only did she make space for us, she comped us a couple of glasses of wine.
4. Joan’s on Third: Great for peoplewatching. Delicious meatloaf sandwiches and marshmallow cloud cupcakes.
Shopping
1. Abbot Kinney: the boutiques on this street are great for window shopping and browsing. Things are expensive here, but very curated and special.
2. Scent Bar: Need a new fragrance? Look no further. This small shop is meant to be a place to hang out at the bar as you spend time discovering the best fragrance for you. We literally did spend hours here, and walked away with the PERFECT scents.
As some of you already know, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect fragrance for years. I thought I found it in 2013, and again in 2014, but each time, within a few weeks, I knew that it wasn’t exactly right. This time, it’s for real. 🙂 The people at the Scent Bar just know their stuff. Here’s what I got:
I love it. Love it. Love it.
Things to do
1. Olive and June for Mani-Pedis: Beautiful, clean, super-professional and friendly! Done, done, done, and done!
I mean, check out this questionnaire…be still, my Virgo heart. Definitely make an appointment here.
2. Korean Day Spa: We went to Wi Spa, which is open 24 hours a day. In order to avoid the weekend rush, we went on a Thursday afternoon, and it was great. We got massages, but you can also just get a day pass to enjoy the soaking pools, traditional Korean spa rooms, and wet and dry saunas. (BTW, to read about my slightly traumatizing experience at a Japanese Onsen, read this post).
One more thing
Check out the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. We were too late to get tickets for ASSSSCAT, so we went to the improv show directly before it, which was good but not great. However, I hear that ASSSSCAT can be amazing, so I’ll definitely go back to see it next time I’m in town.
What are your favorite things to do in Los Angeles? Do you have any to add? I’d love to put them on my list for next time!
wow, what a list! I’d like to have lunch today at the Tasting Kitchen, followed by a pedicure at Olive & June (can’t even imagine how fabulous that would be!)
Do you ever meet up with your readers? I would have loved to have a grabbed a coffee with you while you were in my backyard. I couldve also sent you to some fabulous thrift stores in the area.
You have excellent taste-something I already knew. Superba and Tasting Kitchen are 2 of my faves. Did you try the cauliflower steak at former? Yummers. Tell me, how much did the perfumes cost you? Ive been looking and looking for my scent for years with about 8 bottles that I thought were it, but turned out not to be.
Thanks!
Hi Carissa – Yes! I love meeting readers! I come to Los Angeles at least once a year, so next time I will try to post in advance so you can have a heads-up. 🙂
The price range at the Scent Bar ranges from around $25 to over $200, so there is really something for everyone. What I really loved and appreciated was how much time and attention they gave us (and everyone else). We visited on a rainy Saturday afternoon and stayed for almost two hours (!), left with 6-7 samples (on our bodies and in vials), came back on Sunday for another hour, and walked out DELIGHTED. Highly, highly recommend.
Thank you!
🙂