Hope + Kyle
While You're Here
WESTSIDE, BEST SIDE
30-45 minutes west of DTLA is the beautiful Ocean Park neighborhood of Santa Monica (also home to Casa Morgenstern). Head to Main Street for tons of shops, restaurants, and coffee spots. Just two blocks west is Ocean Park Beach, a huge LA beach with on-duty lifeguards and a 5+ mile bike path. When you're ready for lunch, make your way a mile south to Venice, where you'll find Gjusta, queen of the LA brunch. The wait may be long, but we promise it's worth it. Don't have the patience? Keep going a few more blocks to Abbott Kinney, an artsy and hip Venice neighborhood full of more shopping, galleries, and great food spots. Before you head back downtown, make sure to get a scoop or two at Salt & Straw, small batch, handmade ice cream with unique flavors like Wildflower Honey with Ricotta Lace Walnut Cookies and Rhubarb Crumble with Toasted Anise. Allow for enough time back, as traffic heading east tends to be nuts on weekends.
THE ANGELENO SPECIAL
A green juice-fueled hike followed by an outdoor brunch? How LA of you. First up -- a quick walk to Verve Coffee Roasters for a coffee and juice. Once you're fueled up, it's about 25 minutes to beautiful Griffith Park and the charming neighborhood of Los Feliz! If you're in for a hike, we recommend Glendale Peak, which is a moderate, 2 mile and 1.5 hour route (more details available on modernhiker.com). Not a hiker? Head to the Observatory for amazing views, outdoor spaces, and an A+ planetarium show. A quick drive down the hill to Los Feliz will bring you to our favorite brunch spots -- Messhall Kitchen, Little Dom's, and Alcove Bakery. Note: Planetarium Tickets are $7 and must be purchased day-of at the observatory. Parking can be a pain. We recommend taking an Uber or parking near the Greek Theater if you're hiking or cool with a 20 minute walk to the observatory. Paid lots on Western Canyon Road are also available, but fill up fast.
DTLA ALL DAMN DAY
About a 15 minute walk from the Ace Hotel is Grand Central Market, a downtown LA landmark that's been serving locals since 1917. Sample from the wide array of food stalls, including three of our favorites, Berlin's Currywurst, Wexler's Deli, and Eggslut (I know...we hate the name too.). Afterwards, head to The Broad or MoCA, both world-class museums about a 10 minute stroll away. Note: For The Broad, advance tickets are made available on the first of each month for the following month (i.e. on October 1 at noon PT, tickets for November will be made available). Visit their ticketing portal to book your free advance general admission tickets. Tickets for MoCa are $15.