Los Angeles, California: the city of angels, palm trees and perfect breezes. And, the perfect destination for a fun weekend escape for you and your crew. There’s always something happening in the city; whether it’s three nights of sold out Beyoncé concerts, posh brunches overlooking the hills or even a lazy day kicking back and day drinking at a rooftop pool in the middle of Hollywood.
The EBONY lifestyle team recently took a quick trip out to the West Coast for a change of scenery—and weather—during the long Labor Day weekend. It was exactly what the travel doctor ordered as we gear up to finish out the year strong. Of course, being the gracious bunch that we are, we’ve curated the ultimate guide for you and your friends to experience the best of Los Angeles in only a few days.
If you’ve been looking for a dope weekend experience on the ‘Left Coast’, check out our recommendations below.
Where to Stay
Los Angeles is huge. So staying in a pretty central location is key to ensuring you’re able to get around efficiently. During our girls weekend, we booked a suite at the Kimpton Everly Hotel. Located in the heart of Hollywood, this IHG Hotels & Resorts property was the icing on the cake for our getaway. The hotel’s Everly Suite came with the perfect view of the iconic Hollywood sign in the hills.
While there, we took full advantage of the hotel’s rooftop pool—with cabanas and music. The great thing about this pool is that even if you aren’t staying on property, you can buy a day pass to the pool on Resort Pass. In addition to the pool, there’s a restaurant on-site—Jane Q—as well as a dope lobby bar—Ever Bar—which hosts a daily happy hour with complimentary wine. Yes, please!
Where to Eat
If Issa Rae and the Insecure cast taught us anything, it’s that you can’t leave LA without hitting at least one taco stand during your visit. There are several Black-owned trucks to try, including: Savage Tacos in Long Beach, All Flavor No Grease, and Big Mike’s Tacos.
Another Los Angeles must-do—brunch. This go round, we made the short drive to Burbank for Saturday brunch at Castaway. Overlooking the city, you’ll want to make a reservation to ensure you get a table on the patio. We ordered the crab cake Benedict, the short rib Benedict over waffles, and of course, unlimited mimosas. For Sunday brunch, we stayed within Hollywood and took the trip over to Mama Shelter. A global staple, this is where some of the city’s top Black influencers like to hang. Get there after 12p to have brunch on the colorful rooftop. What we ordered: the strawberry waffles, the California breakfast and a vanilla latte. Or, check out one of Issa Rae’s Hilltop locations across the city.
For dinner, you can head downstairs in the Everly for your fill of pasta and pizza at Jane Q’s. Or, head to the iconic Baldwin Hills neighborhood for the Jerk catfish at Post and Beam, Bludso’s BBQ for the brisket, and Pips on La Brea for live jazz and wine.
What to Do
What’s a trip to the city without a little outdoor hiking/walking. It’s a given to dedicate one of your mornings to the trails of Runyon Canyon Park—after all, you never know who you will run into while there. There are tons of other trails and hikes around LA, so even if Runyon is a little too cliché for you, you still have options.
Outside the plethora of outdoor exercise options, there are plenty of cute bars to pop into for day drinking or a nightcap. Some of our old faithfuls are: Everly Bar, Library Bar, and The Roger Room.
Finally, be sure to pack a blanket or mat and your swimsuit for a day on the beach. Venice and Malibu are two of the most popular and where you’ll catch most of the action. Oh, and cigar aficionados, swing by Debonair Cigar Lounge—it’s always a vibe.
The post Your Guide to the Ultimate Girls (or Guys) Weekend: Los Angeles Edition appeared first on EBONY.