5D4N: Welcome to LA’s comprehensive guide for food and culture! I have created a 5-day 4-night itinerary for any first timer to LA, focusing on the highlights from many of my visits there. LA is quite big and therefore it is ideal to rent a car during your stay. Also be aware of the traffic during rush hours, it is no joke. If you have more time in the west coast, you can add Big Sur to your itinerary.

Day 1

• Arrive in LAX at noon

• Pick up rental car

• Lunch @ In-N-Out Burger

• Greystone Mansion & Park (suggested duration 30 mins; free to tour the park)

• Check-in @ Beverly Wilshire (5 stars) or The Orlando Hotel (4 stars) or Elan Hotel (3 stars)

• Hollywood:

  • Chinese Theater

  • Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Griffith Park:

  • Griffith Observatory (Free)

  • Picture of the Hollywood sign (or hike to it if time permits)

• Korean BBQ dinner @ Hae Jang Chon

• Blockheads Shavery

Day 2

• Beverly Hills:

  • Rodeo Drive

  • Beverly Gardens Park

  • Spadena House (picture only)

• Brunch @ Chaumont

• The Getty Center (free admission; $15 parking or $10 after 3pm)

• 3pm: The Getty Villa (free admission but must reserve in advance; $15 parking or $10 after 3pm)

• Dinner @ Malibu Farm Restaurant

• Night out @ Beauty & Essex in Hollywood & then Dream Hollywood for the view

Day 3

• Taiwanese breakfast @ Huge Tree Pastry

• Downtown LA:

  • Park the car @ Equinox Downtown LA (free for 2 hrs if you are a member)

  • Bradbury Building (free but it was closed when we were there)

  • Grand Central Market

  • Angels Flight Railway (via funicular for $1 or take the stairs)

  • The Broad Museum (free admission but must reserve in advance; suggested duration 1 hr)

• Lunch @ La Sin Bala Restaurant

• The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens ($29; suggested duration 3 hrs)

• Half & Half Tea Express or Salju Dessert

• Walk around Old Pasadena

• Dinner @ The Arbour

Day 4

• Venice:

  • Walk around Abbot Kinney Blvd:

    • Breakfast @ Gjelina or Gjelina Take Away (if the wait is too long)

    • Ice cream @ Salt & Straw

  • El Bordello Alexandra (pic only; google map)

  • Venice Beach

  • Muscle Beach

  • Venice Canal Walkaway

• Santa Monica:

  • Lunch @ Bay Cities Italian Deli

  • Pier

  • Beach

• Manhattan Beach

• Dinner @ Izakaya Hachi

Day 5

• Long Beach:

  • Day trip to Catalina Island (Avalon) via Catalina Express (1 hr ride)

    • Descanso Beach

• Belmont Shore:

  • Lunch @ Saint & Second

  • Walk through the street like Corona Ave for unique houses

• Evening flight to NYC

Other points of interest & food

• Spend a day at Universal Studio if you are looking for some amusement park experience

• The Gamble House ($15 for 1 hr guided tour)

• Drinks @ NoMad

• Taiwanese breakfast @ JJ Bakery (Arcadia)

Tips

• Fly with Alaska Air from NYC and you can relax at Alaska Lounge at JFK T7 with Priority Pass

• Have time to work out? Stop by Equinox South Bay, Westwood, or downtown LA.