Fun and Romance in Los Angeles, California - 24-Hour Travel Guide
Breakfast - Start off your day in style with breakfast at The Belvedere, in the gorgeous Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard. The Belvedere offers an elegant, exotic menu that will make you feel transported to some far off land. If you’d prefer something more casual go to The Brighton Coffee Shop on Brighton Way. This place has been around since the 30s; it’s easy and quick and makes Beverly Hills feel like a small town, almost.
Morning - Since you’re already in Beverly Hills, there’s no better way to spend the morning than a stroll along Rodeo Drive. This is the ultimate shopping experience, or even window-shopping experience. Wealth, extravagance, and style are in evidence every step of the way – Tiffanys, Gucci, Prada, Harry Winston, you name it. At the southern end of Rodeo, across from the Beverly Wilshire, is Via Rodeo, which looks like a little bit of Europe with cobblestone streets and quaint shops. It all reminds you that this is L.A. and The Dream Factory. If there’s time, leave Rodeo Drive and drive north to Sunset Boulevard. Sunset stretches all the way from the Pacific Ocean to downtown L.A. and this is where you get a drive-by view of the extremes of the city – from gritty streets to Hollywood to Bel-Air mansions behind gates.
Lunch - There’s no more elegant place to escape than the Hotel Bel-Air Restaurant for lunch. It’s relaxed and serene, and you’re likely to see Hollywood royalty here. The menu is well-chosen; they don’t try to touch all the bases and offer something for everyone because when you’re at the Bel-Air you aren’t just “everyone”. Try the lemon soufflé.
Afternoon - It’s a bit of a drive, but worth the half hour to go to Barnsdall Park and Hollyhock House on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz. The house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright around 1920 for Aline Barnsdall. The Hollyhock was Barnsdall’s favorite flower and you’ll see stylized version of it in columns, on the walls, the roof, and the fireplace. Barnsdall Park is a center for the arts community with galleries and a theater, and it has one of those spectacular L.A. panoramic views. You can spend the entire afternoon here. If you want to move on, I’d suggest going downtown to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), on Grand Avenue and just across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This museum holds its own against any museum in the country that specializes in modern art.
Dinner - Every time I’m in town I make it a point to have dinner at Taylor’s Steak House on W. 8th Street in downtown L.A. It’s a dark, clubby place with naugahyde booths and old-time waitresses and the menu is classic. There’s something about Taylor’s that will feed your fantasies about “Old L.A.”. You expect to see Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack come through the door.
After Dark - Stop by the Improv on Melrose Avenue. This club is still one of the best places in town to see stand-up comedy. Just about everybody who’s anybody in comedy has performed here – Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Jay Leno, Drew Carey, Lily Tomlin, and others. There’s a cover charge and a two-drink minimum.
Sleep - Oceana is a small boutique hotel in Santa Monica that looks out over the Pacific Ocean. It has huge suites and a nice pool, and it caters to business types because of all the office kind of amenities – Wi-Fi, and large in-room desk spaces. Oceana is also nice because it’s close to the Third Street Promenade and Montana Avenue. It’s a nice place to come home to at the end of the day.
Tags: Couples