My first timer’s guide to Los Angeles
The right way to enjoy a week out here
I have a friend visiting Los Angeles from New York for the first time soon, meaning when my brain feels broken from work I’m killing time by thinking of where to take her.
LA is a weird place to visit. Bounce around trying to see everything and you’ll quickly lose any tether to reality. The sprawl breaks you. I love living out here because I have everything I need in my neighborhood. I rarely sit in the car for more than 15 minutes. If I had my way, we’d probably go out once and otherwise just hang in the backyard and cook.
But I like being a good host, and LA has plenty to offer. Here’s my recommended food-based, pseudo-itinerary — the essential dinner reservations, the must-visit lunch spots, how to enjoy yourself and avoid planning too much.
A lot of these picks overlap with Bill Addison’s wonderful, new list of the 101 best restaurants in California for the LA Times. Bill and I are gonna chat about it on Tuesday afternoon here on Substack. Come hang out.
A first timer’s LA guide
To start, I’ve got a few rules: