Things To Do

The Broad

A wonderful museum to visit while you are in DTLA. Please note that although tickets are FREE, you must have advanced ticketed reservations to visit the museum. Fortunately, "tickets are released on the last Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. PT for the following month", so for the planners in the group, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best art in Southern California!

Our Beaches

If it is your very first visit to Sunny Los Angeles and you are extending your stay past the weekend, you can’t miss an opportunity to pack a swimsuit and hit up the beach! Even if you’re not planning on getting in the water, you can still enjoy some serious people watching and outdoor activities at either the Santa Monica Pier or Venice Beach. If you want serious beach time, driving up the famous “1” highway to Zuma or El Matador in Malibu is always worth it, even just for the obligatory stop for fresh fish at Malibu Seafood on the way there or back.

Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Nestled in Griffith Park (home to plenty of hiking trails), it’s a wonderful way to not only experience a working observatory, but unparalleled views of the Los Angeles skyline as well as the Hollywood Sign. Note that there is fairly limited parking here, so we recommend planning ahead for time to park and possibly prepare for a bit of a trek from your car, but it is absolutely worth it! If you’re in a hurry and can’t make it up, you can get great views of the observatory and the Hollywood sign from the Hollywood and Los Feliz neighborhoods.

Hollywood Sign

How can we forget the classic Hollywood Sign? Although you can see this sign from “the ground” at a ton of vantage points in Hollywood and Los Feliz, experiencing the sign with a hike is a great way to spend some outdoor time in the Hollywood Hills. You can get much closer than you would from the streets of Hollywood, and the hike also comes with some great views of the city; plus some exercise!

The Getty Center (and Getty Villa)

Boasting incredible views of the coastline as well as wonderful architecture, art, and picturesque gardens, The Getty Center is a museum experience that you likely won’t find in many other places. For bonus points, visit the sister museum, The Getty Villa in Malibu, for a recreation of ancient Greco-Roman architecture juxtaposed in the Southern California landscape that is honestly hard to describe. Admission is free to both museums with a parking fee, but requires advance online reservation times. Note also that The Getty Center is closed on Mondays, while the Villa is closed on Tuesdays.

FOOD BELOW

Grand Central Market

Part of Downtown LA’s core, and not too far from the venue, is a wonderfully eclectic mix of food counters, representing a wide variety of the food of this wonderful city. From tacos to BBQ to Jewish deli food in an open market style food court, everyone should be able to find something new to try here.

El Coyote

A place of historic significance for many reasons, El Coyote is first and foremost some really good Mexican food. The business has been family operated since 1931, and for good reason. To our friends in the Northeast, take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy some tacos, tamales, burritos and fajitas with some classic Hollywood ambiance.

Johnnie's Pastrami

Johnnie’s Pastrami in Culver City (not to be confused with Johnny’s Pastrami in West Adams– no, really) is a cash only pastrami spot, and boy is it some good pastrami. Look, we know the Montrealers get to have Schwartz’s in their daily diet and it’s hard to compete with the best, but honestly, this is a really close second, and you will certainly not regret it.

The Apple Pan

Speaking of cash only spots, The Apple Pan is an historic diner that has been operating since 1947 and feels like it. Walking into this restaurant will transport you back to the diners of the 50s; sporting the same original horseshoe shaped counter-only seating layout, it basically still is one. The menu is equally simplistic and true to form, serving just a small selection of burgers and pies. But trust us, you’ll definitely want to try both.

In-N-Out Burger

And of course, should the subject of burgers come up, we are legally obligated, as residents of California, to recommend In & Out to our East Coast friends. Whether it lives up to the hype is hotly debated and ultimately up to you, but no trip to LA can be complete without having experienced one of the most beloved institutions Southern California has to offer.

Can't Find What You're Looking For?

Finally, if you don’t see anything on the list that you really love or have simply already done it all, don’t be afraid to reach out and we can give you some personalized suggestions.