LifetoLauren Guide to Los Angeles

Over the past few years, LA has hands down become one of my absolute favorite places to visit!

Colton and I first went together for a week in 2014, to visit my Aunt for Thanksgiving and fell in love with it! A year later, one of my best friends moved there and since then, we have made it a special point to visit 1-2x a year! We would move there if we could – lol. Anyways, needless to say, throughout the years, we have really been able to try/see/do a lot throughout Los Angeles.

As a reminder, with every city guide I put out, please remember these suggestions are based purely off of my taste and where I have actually visited. Los Angeles is filled with so many amazing places & I know that (!!) so if your favorite is not on this list and you want me to try it out our next trip, please leave your suggestions in the comments section below!:)

Favorite Places To Eat

Coffee, Juice, and Cafes

Alfred’s Coffee: (multiple locations) Home of the famous “But First Coffee” cups.

Alfred’s Tea Room: (off melrose) Another super famous, insta worthy Alfred Concepts. This bubble tea room, right off of Melrose is the perfect healthy, afternoon pick me up!

Kreation Organic: (multiple locations) A super popular, well known juice and smoothie spot throughout the la area!

Madison & Park Coffee: (west hollywood) stumbled across this coffee shop with Colton one morning during a neighborhood walk and fell in love! Seriously so cute, it’s roomy inside with lots of places to sit and the coffee is great!

The Henry Coffee Bar: (Beverly Hills) Super – super cute coffee/breakfast spot in Beverly Hills! Sit outside or inside, both are cute. Splurge and get the blueberry muffin. It was divine.

Madison & Park CoffeeAlfreds Coffee Alfred Tea HouseLeft: The Henry | Right: Kreation Organic

Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner

Catch LA : beverly hills

(dinner) Catch is 100% the place to be seen. The food is great, the drinks are spot on and the whole restaurant itself is so cool and quite the experience! If you’re wanting to see celebrities, this is a good spot. It’s very hard to get into, so make reservations in advance!! Also, I highly recommend the spicy margarita and just ordering a whole bunch of “shareable” options for the table!

Cecconi’s : west hollywood

(lunch – happy hour – dinner) I freaking loveCecconi’ss. I’ve only been for happy hour, but let me tell you, we spent the best three hours there one afternoon! Everyone you ask who has been there will tell you the same thing. It’s just a good time. It’s super cute and bougie inside with a great atmosphere!!

Laurel Hardware : west hollywood

(dinner – late night drinks) Arguably one of the best dinners I have ever had. On the weekends, the inside of Laurel’s is more of a party during dinner time but if you can get past the crowds and ask to be seated in the courtyard, you will fall in love! It’s so laid back and the court yard is beautifully draped with twinkling lights. Order a bottle of red white, a pizza and the brussels sprouts for the table to share.

II Pastaio : beverly hills

(lunch – dinner) The best damn pasta I have ever had in my entire life. No wonder it’s supposedly Justin Beibers favorite spot (they even have a pasta named after him!!). The inside is beautiful but if you can get a table outside on the patio, you will literally feel like you are at a cafe in Paris. Highly recommend the truffle pasta that is table side tossed in a cheese bowl. I can’t remember/find the name of this dish for the life of me…. but if you ask them when you’re there, they will know exactly what you’re talking about! Depending on the size of the group, get that pasta to split with the table, along with a side salad and an appetizer like the calamari to start!

Malibu Farm Pier Cafe

(brunch – lunch) Basically, the cutest little farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the ocean in Malibu. The whole place it light, airy, mostly outdoors and farmhouse chic.

Nobu Malibu

(lunch – dinner) A trip to Los Angeles isn’t the same without heading to Malibu for Nobu at least once! No other Nobu in the world compares to the one in Malibu. The portions are the best, the fish is the freshest and the views are EVERYTHING. Reservations are more than highly recommended…. that’s unless you know someone who can get you in or if you don’t mind grabbing a seat at the bar. The chilean seabass and shishito peppers are a must!

Perch LA : downtown

(brunch – lunch – dinner) A rooftop restaurant located downtown. It’s seriously so bougie and chic! Sit outside, order a bottle of champagne, along with the truffle fries and then thank me later.

Sugarfish Sushi

(lunch-dinner) For true sushi lovers only! If you are more of a crazy, over the top roll sort of person, than Sugarfish probably isn’t for you. They are located throughout LA and while their menu is very basic, it’s so incredibly fresh and I love knowing that no matter when or whichever location I go to, it’s going to be solid.

Taste on Melrose

(brunch-lunch) Love Taste for lunch! We stopped in here randomly while shopping on Melrose and were so happy that we did! I got the Superfood Salad with Salmon and Colton got a burger. Both were A++.

The Ivy : beverly hills

(brunch – lunch) A forever favorite!! I’m always so sad when I’m not able to make it here during a trip! Go for brunch or lunch, make a reservation way in advance and specifically ask to sit outside. It’s SO cute, charming and oddly has a little southern touch to it with all of the cali vibes. The food is amazing and upon arrival, you are welcomed with a glass of champagne.

The Kimpton Hotel Wilshire

(dinner – late night drinks) Great rooftop atmosphere. Since it can get really chilly in LA at night, I loved that they had heaters for every table. Go for dinner and then stay for the party at the pool after.

II PastaioThe Ivy Beverly HillsNobu MalibuLeft: Catch LA | Right: Laurel’s Hardware