Three Perfect Days: A trip to Los Angeles

Located on unceded Tongva land, LA is only a 30-mile stretch, yet filled with dozens of unique neighborhoods. Hollywood itself is only 3.5 square miles. Within this mosaic of communities, world cultures thrive side by side. From Little Bangladesh, Thai Town, Little Armenia and Koreatown to Little Ethiopia, Tehrangeles, Historic Filipinotown and Leimert Park, LA is a true kaleidoscope of culture.

But trying to visit multiple places in a day will age you decades from all the traffic. Best bet? Pick a couple. I recommend starting east and working your way west. And the first stop is downtown.

Begin in the Bunker Hill neighborhood and hop on the historic Angels Flight. Boasting the world’s shortest railway, the train ride is more for the story and social media—the full commute is less than a minute. At the end of the swift journey, it’ll spit you out to feast at Grand Central Market, LA’s oldest and largest public market.

Choose from a bevy of storied cuisines that reflect the diaspora of Los Angeles, including legacy vendors like restaurant Tacos Tumbras a Tomas and more contemporary successes like Sticky Rice. Once you’re full and content, browse the market for produce, spices and other specialty goods.

Two blocks down is the beloved Last Bookstore, California’s largest bookstore that also hosts a record store, comic book store and five art studios. Walking through its famous book tunnel is exactly what it sounds like. But beware of ghosts while browsing the hundred-year-old former bank building (as I bet deals on vintage books is not the business model the original owners had in mind).

To shop local in LA, head to Olvera Street and Little Tokyo. Olvera Street is one of LA's oldest areas, often referred to as the city’s birthplace. This unique and culturally significant street is lined with family-owned storefronts and eateries with roots over 100 years old. Supporting these small businesses is one way to make sure this piece of history does not vanish.

Nearby, Little Tokyo, one of only three official Japantowns in the United States, is the second oldest neighborhood in Los Angeles. The Japanese Village Plaza is a vibrant cultural beacon shaped by decades of redevelopment and displacement after the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. Visitors can help preserve the Plaza by frequenting local businesses, like Bunkado. The family-owned gift shop means “house of culture” in Japanese. Here, you can shop for home goods, drinkware, stationary and more. Another must-visit is Japangeles. The exclusive Little Tokyo store is strictly a brick-and-mortar establishment, so shopping online later isn’t an option.

LA is also a city for museum lovers, as it’s home to more museums per capita than any other city in the U.S. Here’s our list of recommendations to hit on your first afternoon:

• The Broad Museum: Rhyming with code, The Broad’s collection of contemporary art from the 1950s to the present has free admission to its permanent galleries and rotating temporary exhibitions.
• Band of Vices: For a more intimate experience, this petite art gallery began as a popup and now holds a permanent residence in West Adams. Their mantra emphasizes the rejection of labels and uplifting of groups historically undervalued. The international gallery exhibits contemporary, emerging and mid-career artists who embrace these ideals.
• California African American Museum: CAAM celebrates African American art, history and culture. Its collection emphasizes objects connected to California and the American West and is home to a growing collection from the African diaspora.
• LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes: A community hub adjacent to Olvera Street where communities gather to celebrate Latinx culture. Explore the museum, performance space and edible garden.

To round out the afternoon, unwind at Tea at Shiloh, a teahouse tucked away in the Arts District. The intimate space radiates a refreshing energy as you sample teas and partake in the shop’s revolving apothecary practices, creative activities and connection opportunities. If you're looking for a peaceful way to wind down at night, check out their Late Night Tea series, where you can engage the senses in workshops, rituals, jazz music and art. Make a reservation in advance for either daytime or Late Night Tea.

Not sure where to stay in LA? We recommend checking out United Hotels to find the right one. On your way back for the night, stop at a taco truck for the perfect bedtime bite with the downtown Los Angeles skyline glittering in the background.

The institution of Hollywood has a permanent residency in pop culture’s heart. Beneath the fluff and frills and past the gleaming well-kept gates, the town’s ethos is simple but grand: it’s where the dreamers go.

Hollywood is where artistry ignites, and since so many Los Angeles residents are part of the creative arts community, this spirit is present in every corner of the city. In my experience, artists often like to sleep in. So, before you dive into your day, I recommend you catch the sunrise at Griffith Park—a moment of peace before the city wakes.

To fully immerse yourself in the entertainment industry or the Los Angeles art scene (or both), we recommend:

• The Warner Bros. Studio Tour: This is a great alternative to other studio tours that can take a whole day. Located in nearby Burbank, the three-hour tour brings visitors through the studio’s backlot to check out sets from beloved films and shows. Certain tours even give a behind-the-scenes preview of the newest blockbuster films.
• The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Another icon of moviemaking, and one of the newer additions to the city’s Hollywood fare. Here, you can explore exhibitions and programming on the film industry’s history, science and cultural impact.
• The Getty Center: If antiquities are more your style, explore The Getty. Said to be among the best date spots in the city, the museum’s collection has art pre-dating the 20th century, including works by van Gogh and Rembrandt. The art isn’t the only must-see; scope out the Center’s stunning architecture and four gardens.

For lunch, head over to a rooftop bar—because why not? There are several where the best thing on the menu is the view, including Cha Cha Chá and Cara Cara. Toast to the Hollywood sign, and on a clear day, watch the Pacific Ocean peek out over the horizon. If you have a 35 mm film camera in tow, bring it. The aura might awaken the dreamer in you, too.

Spend the rest of the afternoon sampling the entertainment created in LA. Sunset Strip has legendary comedy venues like The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store, which launched the likes of Richard Pryor and Whoopi Goldberg. Down the street is rock icon the Troubadour, home of Elton John’s first U.S. gig.

You can also go see a movie (obviously). Sure, you could do that anywhere, but any old theater doesn’t compare to those off Hollywood Boulevard:

• The Hollywood Bowl: With impeccable sound quality, this is a premier destination for live music. Plus, the Bowl often showcases classic films accompanied by a live orchestra.
• Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery: During the summer, classic Hollywood movies are projected onto the side of the cemetery’s mausoleum. Screen films picnic-style and look out for Judy Garland’s ghost.
• TCL Chinese Theatre: An iconic movie palace that hosts many premieres and red carpets. The TCL also has the only IMAX screen in Hollywood.
• El Capitan Theatre: Walt Disney Studios’ home on Hollywood Boulevard and venue for the majority of the House of Mouse’s premieres.

Round off the day with dinner at the James Beard Award-winning Bludso’s BBQ on La Brea. With skills reared in Texas, pitmaster Kevin Bludso is lauded for his LA spin on the delectable cuisine. Longtime fans of this food scene staple know the line out the door is worth the wait. If you happen to visit during the summer, catch Bludso’s Smoke Tour - a BBQ festival in nearby Compton famed as the event of the season.

A Hollywood day isn’t complete without the chance to meet a special someone on a late-night dancefloor. For a Hollywood meet cute, venture to the chic Honey’s at Star Love. Welcoming a Queer and inclusive crowd, the vibe encapsulates everything Hollywood: Beauty, whimsy, clutch libations and next-level entertainment. So grab a drink and respectfully hit a dancefloor that’s part of LA’s Queer Bar Renaissance. You’ll lose track of time dancing into the late hours.

Dig out an old vintage T-shirt and ripped jeans on your last day and embrace the chill California vibe. You’re practically an Angeleno now.

One of California’s gems is that it feels like multiple countries. From the coastal waves to the towering Redwood trees, to the arid desert and snowy mountaintops, one could spend a lifetime discovering its curiosities. At Cafe 27, just northwest of LA, you can have your morning coffee in a literal yet spacious treehouse in the canyons. With the bustle of the city in your rearview, this lesser-known taste of americana is transformative. If you haven’t felt like you’re on vacation yet, you will now.

California native Joan Didion said, “A good part of any day in Los Angeles is spent driving.” I’d like to envision she meant driving down Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27). Here, the journey is the destination, winding through the Santa Monica mountains and right to the beach. But the destination is also pretty sweet: the Pacific Coast Highway opening up to the vast Pacific Ocean.

For lunch, Malibu Pier is a must-stop. Checkout Malibu Farm Cafe or Restaurant, both situated right on the pier. Watch the coastline fade into the distance while the rough Pacific crashes on the shores below, and sample delectable coastal Californian cuisine from founder and chef Helene Henderson. The Swedish-born, Black American chef infuses her fare by sourcing local and organic products.

In the afternoon, and after you’ve padded your stomach with some food, we recommend a tasting flight from one (or more) Westside offerings:

• Cielo Farms translates to “heaven”, apt for the wine epicureans of this vineyard. The dreamy estate boasts 40+ acres in the Santa Monica mountains. Be sure to make a reservation for a tasting at their exclusive “wineyard.”
• Malibu Wine Hikes is where you can enjoy a wine hike (complete with tasting along the way) and tour of the lush vineyard. For the more spirited, there’s the option for a 4x4 tour of the ranch or a scenic VW wine bus tour.
• Three Weavers Tasting Room is for beer lovers. Conveniently located near Sofi Stadium, this is the perfect place to stop on your way to Inglewood for a game or a concert. The beer connoisseurs offer interior family-style seating and an expansive exterior beer garden and patio. The tasting room is also dog-friendly.

There’s always time for a shopping break when you’re anywhere near LA. We recommend browsing the unique shops along Venice’s Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Walk down the mile-long shopping hub, weaving in and out of eclectic, century-old bungalows and modern architectural buildings. Shop the local community mainstay that marries timely design and quirky style. It’s a true staple of the Venice arts community.

Bookend your third day with tacos at Socalo—the most talked about SoCal Mexican food on the Westside. Hailing from culinary icons Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, their foundational Californian cuisine won’t disappoint. As a woman and LGBTQ+-led establishment, intention is in every detail. Community and sustainability are the main ingredients in all of Milliken and Feniger’s work, and you can taste it. LA is a hard place to leave, but they’ll have you ending the night in a golden state of mind.

Whether you’re just visiting or are an honorary Angeleno, Three Perfect Days in LA is effortlessly possible year-round. From best-kept secrets and true gems to the popular tourist sites—you’ll go home feeling like one of the stars this city has a habit of creating.