What’s the best time to visit Los Angeles?
The movies make it seem like Los Angeles is a summer wonderland 365 days a year; but L.A. does actually have seasons, they are just not the ones you know back home. The city's various microclimates mean it can be gloomy and cold in one part of town and scorching in another. The dry season starts around April or May, and the city doesn't see a drop of rain until November. Fog can make May gray or June gloomy, but July through October is the finest time of year in the beach communities. Typically, they enjoy sunny 75 F days and nights perfect for sleeping with open windows. Further inland and in the valleys, however, temperatures get into the 80s and 90s, making air-conditioning a must, so if you've planned a summer vacay pack the suntan lotion and a hat. By September or October, enclaves in the canyons and near national forests become hot and dry tinderboxes subject to devastating wildfires. Even during the season between November and April, there isn't that much rain. Just 15 inches falls in an average year, usually in the form of big downpours between January and March. When it's not raining, days are sunny and bright, with temperatures in the high 70s and 80s during the day and 50s or 60s at night.
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17 hours agoCaroline Patek answered the question:
What are the best waterfront hotels in Los Angeles?
Head 30 miles southwest of Los Angeles to discover Terranea, a vast 102-acre resort that sits along the coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Palos Verdes. Outdoor water activities abound here, from paddle boarding to whale watching to kayaking. Explore Terranea’s 75 acres of natural outdoor space, including the various hiking trails and 9-hole, par 3 golf course. The relatively new property (opened in 2009) boasts 582 guest rooms and suites, including bungalows and private homes, too. When the temperatures drop at night and a chill comes off the water, Terranea’s 228 outdoor fire pits and fireplaces will keep you warm. Traveling with kids will be a breeze thanks to the impressive family programming offered at the hotel, from falconry to tide pooling to day camps for kids, as well as eight dining options ranging from gourmet California fare to Asian fusion to casual seafood. -
18 hours agoCaroline Patek answered the question:
What are the best kids activities in Los Angeles?
If you’re willing to make a short drive, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is a fun activity for kids of all ages. The interactive shark tanks (yes, you can actually touch live sharks) and Loirkeet Forest (feed birds with a cup of nectar) are unique in their hands-on approach, and a new exhibit, Ocean Exploration is set to debut on May 24th.
The California Science Center is also a great option, especially for those with a penchant for space exploration. In 2012, the center received the famed Space Shuttle Endeavour after its two-day journey through the city. The trip attracted throngs of people who witnessed the massive shuttle making its way through the LA streets. Now you can see the shuttle in person, learn about its missions as well as other cool facts about space. The center’s location in Exposition Park (and right next to the University of Southern California campus) means you’re also within walking distance to the Natural History Museum and African American Museum, among others. -
On May 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What’s the best time to visit Los Angeles?
The movies make it seem like Los Angeles is a summer wonderland 365 days a year; but L.A. does actually have seasons, they are just not the ones you know back home. The city's various microclimates mean it can be gloomy and cold in one part of town and scorching in another. The dry season starts around April or May, and the city doesn't see a drop of rain until November. Fog can make May gray or June gloomy, but July through October is the finest time of year in the beach communities. Typically, they enjoy sunny 75 F days and nights perfect for sleeping with open windows. Further inland and in the valleys, however, temperatures get into the 80s and 90s, making air-conditioning a must, so if you've planned a summer vacay pack the suntan lotion and a hat. By September or October, enclaves in the canyons and near national forests become hot and dry tinderboxes subject to devastating wildfires. Even during the season between November and April, there isn't that much rain. Just 15 inches falls in an average year, usually in the form of big downpours between January and March. When it's not raining, days are sunny and bright, with temperatures in the high 70s and 80s during the day and 50s or 60s at night.
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On May 6Alex Stratta answered the question:
What are the best farmers markets in Los Angeles?
There’s the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market that’s great. I’m going to try to get most of the [Scarpetta] menu from those markets. There are three — Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday — that I’m going to be hitting. That’s what excites me as far as being a chef, finding incredible people and ingredients. -
On April 30Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best waterfront restaurants in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles County boasts 72 miles of pristine coastline from Malibu to Orange County, and there is no shortage of delicious and esthetic dining along the way. While you won't encounter many restaurants where you can actually sink your toes into the sand, picturesque views and top cuisine are enough to satisfy any craving.
In Malibu, Moonshadows offers delicious modern American favorites with waves crashing under your coveted spot on the elevated alfresco patio. Geoffrey's Malibu also gives you stunning views of the coast while you're seated on their breezy patio, sipping a stiff martini. Paradise Cove is where you want to dine if you're spending a casual day at the beach. You can either grab a bite in their beachside cafe or book a cabana on the beach (definitely plan that in advance during warmer days).
In Santa Monica, head to beachside Coast restaurant at Shutters On The Beach any time of day, or Catch restaurant at hotel Casa del Mar; both offer stunning views and chef-driven cuisine. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best day trips near Los Angeles?
Situated south of Santa Barbara and north of San Diego and Orange County, Los Angeles is the perfect jumping off point for a number of day trips, from coastal cities to wine country.
Santa Ynez Valley. A quick two-and-a-half hour drive up the coast and inland from Santa Barbara, you'll stumble on Central Coast wine country. Made famous in the 2004 Academy-Award-winning movie Sideways, the valley boasts more than 75 wineries, most of which are family owned. Wineries are speckled throughout the valley, but you'll want to hit the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, where tasting rooms offer selections of varietals like Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, among others, without requiring reservations. Complement your wine tasting by dining at one of the delicious contemporary restaurants serving wine-country cuisine across the valley in Los Olivos, Buellton and Solvang.
Catalina Island. Just 22 miles off the L.A. coast, accessible by boat or helicopter, the Channel Island is perfect for a day trip of coastal hiking, shopping, kayaking and golf.
Laguna Beach. Just an hour's drive from L.A., this Orange County seaside art town offers numerous fine art galleries, in addition to the Laguna Art museum. You man also choose to spend your day walking along the pristine beaches and dining in one of many delicious restaurants. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best waterfront restaurants in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles County boasts 72 miles of pristine coastline from Malibu to the Orange County, and there is no shortage of delicious and esthetic dining along the way. While you won't encounter many restaurants where you can actually sink your toes into the sand, picturesque views and top cuisine are enough to satisfy any craving.
In Malibu, Moonshadows offers delicious modern American favorites with waves crashing under your coveted spot on the elevated alfresco patio. Geoffrey's Malibu also gives you stunning views of the coast while you're seated on their breezy patio, sipping a stiff martini. Paradise Cove is where you want to dine if you're spending a casual day at the beach. You can either grab a bite in their beachside cafe or book a cabana on the beach (definitely plan that in advance during warmer days).
In Santa Monica, head to beachside Coast restaurant any time of day inside Shutters On The Beach, or Catch restaurant at Casa del Mar hotel; both offer stunning views and chef-driven cuisine. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What restaurants have the best views in Los Angeles?
On a clear day, epic views of Los Angeles stretch from downtown to Santa Monica and the South Bay and at night, city lights twinkle across the basin. You are often stopped by sunsets that grade from orange, to pink, to red and the Pacific shimmers in its glow.
It's easy to score a prime spot to experience any of these scenarios. Some of my favorite restaurants to catch a view are high up. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck offers Asian-inspired cuisine 24 stores above Los Angeles. Perch, also downtown, offers indoor and alfresco patio dining 15 stories up. You can also take a staircase up to their open-air rooftop bar and sip on cocktails before or after your meal.
On the coast, Moonshadows offers delicious modern American favorites on the Pacific Coast in Malibu. You literally see the waves crashing below you as you nibble on your tuna tartare. A little farther south in Pacific Palisades, Gladstones offers casual beachside dining. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
People joke about the weather in Los Angeles perpetually being 70-degrees and sunny, and while the city does see some rainy days and legitimate UGG Boot-worthy temperatures, the climate is temperate for most of the year—which means L.A. is always an ideal location to visit.
Weather aside, I recommend people visit L.A. in the summer because there is no shortage of unique experiences to be had. From outdoor festivals, to pool parties and music everywhere, it's the best time of year to visit.
The Hollywood Bowl heats up with its summer music season that swings into full gear in late June. The Bowl is the summer home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic which plays their classical series every Tuesday and Thursday night. It's the perfect time to pack a picnic, a bottle of wine or two and hear world-class music under the stars. You can also pack a picnic for Cinespia's movie-screening series at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Get there early on most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer to see cult classic and cinema favorites. As the summer progresses, temperatures normally climb, which improves your changes of having a warm day at one of L.A. iconic beaches as well. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best bars in Los Angeles?
If there is one thing people in Los Angeles are serious about, it is a well crafted cocktail. Mixologists in L.A. source their ingredients from farmers markets, barrel-age specialty cocktails and atomize essences with skill. Here are a few of my favorite bars.
The Varnish. In the heart of downtown, you walk into a restaurant famous for French Dips called Cole's. But you're not looking for the bar at Cole's, instead proceed straight to the unmarked door in the back of the restaurant and walk through it into The Varnish. One of L.A.'s first "speakeasies," this jewel-box bar offers classic cocktails like Aviations and Old Fashioneds. If you can't decide what looks good on the menu, relay your poison to the suspendered bartender and he will concoct one to fit your taste.
The Roger Room. There is no sign, you just have to look for the doorman standing by the emblazoned psychic sign near Largo at the Coronet. This snug speakeasy offers classic cocktails and inventive drinks like my personal favorite, the Thug (Maker's Mark bourbon, Bärenjäger honey liqueur, lemon juice and spicy habanero bitters).
Sassafras. This Southern-themed bar is new on the Hollywood scene. What's most notable about it are two very apparent items: 1) they make their own barrel-aged cocktails which rotate over the bar on an antique dry cleaning conveyor belt, and 2) they dismantled an historic house in Savannah, Georgia, transported it to Hollywood and reconstructed it inside the bar; it's where you'll want to grab a seat and sip on your Blackstrap Old Fashioned. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best bars in Los Angeles?
If there is one thing people in Los Angeles are serious about, it is a well crafted cocktail. Mixologists in L.A. source their ingredients from farmers markets, barrel-age specialty cocktails and atomize essences with skill. Here are a few of my favorite bars.
The Varnish. In the heart of downtown, you walk into a restaurant famous for French Dips called Cole's. But you're not looking for the bar at Cole's, instead proceed straight to the unmarked door in the back of the restaurant and walk through it into The Varnish. One of L.A.'s first "speakeasies," this jewel-box bar offers classic cocktails like Aviations and Old Fashioneds. If you can't decide what looks good on the menu, relay your poison to the suspendered bartender and he will concoct one to fit your taste.
The Roger Room. There is no sign, you just have to look for the doorman standing by the emblazoned psychic sign near Largo at the Coronet. This snug speakeasy offers classic cocktails and inventive drinks like my personal favorite, the Thug (Maker's Mark bourbon, Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur, lemon juice and spicy habanero bitters).
Sassafras. This Southern-themed bar is new on the Hollywood scene. What's most notable about it are two very apparent items: 1) they make their own barrel-aged cocktails which rotate over the bar on an antique dry cleaning conveyor belt, and 2) they dismantled an historic house in Savannah, Georgia, transported it to Hollywood and reconstructed it inside the bar; it's where you'll want to grab a seat and sip on your Blackstrap Old Fashioned. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Los Angeles?
The eclectic and ambitious Los Angeles restaurant scene is often overlooked in place of dining-driven destinations like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Over the years, more and more recognized chefs have seen the sun and gravitated toward it, making Los Angeles their home; so much so that now there is no denial that Los Angeles is in the middle of a restaurant Renaissance and offers a breadth of stellar, chef-driven dining options.
I could write for days about restaurants that could be considered the best. It's all a mater of what type of cuisine you want to eat, and where you want to eat it. I like taking my guests downtown because of the variety of cuisine that's offered there. One of my go-to spots is chef Josef Centeno's Baco Mercat. It's there where you can grab a "baco," Centino's signature flatbread sandwich, some where in between a gyro or a very dense taco. You can get the baco stuffed with lighter ingredients like feta and chickpeas in "the fava fritter," but I recommend going all out and ordering "the original," which is a mix of pork, beef carnitas and a salbitxada sauce. Other must-haves on the menu are the Ceasar Brussels sprouts, named that because of the anchovy garlic sauce, and pork belly served over rocotta cavatelli. The pates are smaller, which makes them perfect for exploring the menu and sharing among up to four people.
Not too far away from Baco Mercat you'll stumble on chef Ricardo Zarate's restaurant, Mo Chica, which offers bold flavors from Peru in a lively atmosphere. The menu offers Zarate's signature alpaca stew served with tagliatelle and aji amarillo sauce with fried organic fertile egg on top. If a more familiar option is your speed, try the lomo saltado, which is a sautéed beef filet with roma tomatoes in a ginger-garlic soy sauce, served with Kennebec fries; or the pan con tuna, spicy tuna, tossed in a traditional rocoto sauce with yuzu mayo served on grilled bread.
Heading west through Hollywood, Forbes Travel Guide 4-Star Rated Providence delivers top seafood, but in a much more refined atmosphere. It's here, you'll want to opt for chef Michael Cimarusti's market-driven tasting menu with wine pairings. Littlefork is a more casual seafood-focused restaurant, which also pays homage to the flavors of the Northeast. Pair your daily selection of raw oysters here with a hearty lobster roll and selection of dishes made with house-smoked fish and meats. Meat-driven cuisine takes the spotlight at chef Jon Shook's and Vinny Dotolo's Animal, in the form of dishes like marrow bone with chimichurri with carmelized onions and crispy pig head with salsa macho, crema and avocado.
Santa Monica offers Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Mélisse where chef Josiah Citrin shops the Santa Monica Farmers Market and serves you the very best from it teamed with top French technique. At Tar & Roses, chef Andrew Kirschner serves eclectic shareable plates, many of which are cooked in the restaurant's wood-burning oven.
Manhattan Beach, the seaside South Bay gem that was much overlooked for serious dining until recently, offers seafood-driven dining at M.B. Post and Fishing with Dynamite from chef David LeFevre. Chez Soi served upscale farm-to-table American fare along with Strand House which adds epic views of the Manhattan Beach Pier. -
On April 29Christina Xenos answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Los Angeles?
The eclectic and ambitious Los Angeles restaurant scene is often overlooked in place of dining-driven destinations like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Over the years, more and more recognized chefs have seen the sun and gravitated toward it, making Los Angeles their home; so much so that now there is no denial that Los Angeles is in the middle of a restaurant Renaissance and offers a breadth of stellar, chef-driven dining options.
I could write for days about restaurants that could be considered the best. It's all a mater of what type of cuisine you want to eat, and where you want to eat it. I like taking my guests downtown because of the variety of cuisine that's offered there. One of my go-to spots is chef Josef Centeno's Baco Mercat. It's there where you can grab a "baco," Centino's signature flatbread sandwich, some where in between a gyro or a very dense taco. You can get the baco stuffed with lighter ingredients like feta and chickpeas in "the fava fritter," but I recommend going all out and ordering "the original," which is a mix of pork, beef carnitas and a salbitxada sauce. Other must-haves on the menu are the Ceasar Brussels sprouts, named that because of the anchovy garlic sauce, and pork belly served over rocotta cavatelli. The pates are smaller, which makes them perfect for exploring the menu and sharing among up to four people.
Not too far away from Baco Mercat you'll stumble on chef Ricardo Zarate's restaurant, Mo Chica, which offers bold flavors from Peru in a lively atmosphere. The menu offers Zarate's signature alpaca stew served with tagliatelle and aji amarillo sauce with fried organic fertile egg on top. If a more familiar option is your speed, try the lomo saltado, which is a sautéed beef filet with roma tomatoes in a ginger-garlic soy sauce, served with Kennebec fries; or the pan con tuna, spicy tuna, tossed in a traditional rocoto sauce with yuzu mayo served on grilled bread.
Heading west through Hollywood, Forbes Travel Guide 4-Star Rated Providence delivers top seafood, but in a much more refined atmosphere. It's here, you'll want to opt for chef Michael Cimarusti's market-driven tasting menu with wine pairings. Littlefork is a more casual seafood-focused restaurant, which also pays homage to the flavors of the Northeast. Pair your daily selection of raw oysters here with a hearty lobster roll and selection of dishes made with house-smoked fish and meats. Meat-driven cuisine takes the spotlight at chef Jon Shook's and Vinny Dotolo's Animal, in the form of dishes like marrow bone with chimichurri with carmelized onions and crispy pig head with salsa macho, crema and avocado.
Santa Monica offers Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Mélisse where chef Josiah Citrin shops the Santa Monica Farmers Market and serves you the very best from it teamed with top French technique. At Tar & Roses, chef Andrew Kirschner serves eclectic shareable plates, many of which are cooked in the restaurant's wood-burning oven.
Manhattan Beach, the seaside South Bay gem that was much overlooked for serious dining until recently, offers seafood-driven dining at M.B. Post and Fishing with Dynamite from chef David LeFevre. Chez Soi served upscale farm-to-table American fare along with Strand House which adds epic views of the Manhattan Beach Pier.
