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LA Essentials

Think of this as your first-timer’s blueprint to Los Angeles. A mix of the city’s iconic classics and the spots that locals actually love, The LA Essentials Guide is our curated list of places that define the LA experience. From must-visit restaurants and breezy patios to cultural landmarks and neighborhood gems, these are the stops we’d recommend to anyone who asks, “I’m new to LA...where should I go?”

Explore tags

🇺🇸American

🇦🇲Armenian

🖼️Art

🥯Bagels

🎂Birthday Spot

🍳Breakfast

🥞Brunch

🍔Burger

😎Casual

🇨🇳Chinese

🕰Classic

👔Classy

🍸Cocktails

🎸Concert

🪵Cozy

🎭Cultural

🥛Dairy-Free

💏Date Night

🌗Day-to-night

🍛Dinner

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38 places

38 places

Where everyone’s going right now

From new openings to local favorites having a moment, this is where you’ll find what’s worth checking out . . .

👥Group Hangout

🪑Bar seating

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23 places

23 places

Best coffee shops to work from

Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery. These coffee shops are perfect for getting work done outside . . .

🛏️Boutique Hotel

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17 places

17 places

Best new restaurants of 2025

Our favorite meals in 2025! Between Chinese-American comfort dishes, way above-average diner food, and British pub small plates, . . .

👥Group Hangout

Getting-to-know-you date spots first place image

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20 places

20 places

Getting-to-know-you date spots

Just-right places for when you like them…but don’t want to overdo it. You’ve moved past the first date . . .

🍇Natural Wine

🌞Outdoor Seating

Places that are criminally underrated first place image

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36 places

36 places

Places that are criminally underrated

The places we can’t stop thinking about. A lineup of sleeper hits, neighborhood anchors, and new obsessions actually . . .

🍇Natural Wine

Spots in LA we would die to try again for the first time first place image

Spots in LA we would die to try again for the first time second place image

Spots in LA we would die to try again for the first time third place image

23 places

23 places

Spots in LA we would die to try again for the first time

Some places are so good, you wish you could erase your memory just to experience them all over . . .

🇮🇹Italian

🏡Local Favorite

The best photo booths in LA first place image

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11 places

11 places

The best photo booths in LA

From vintage strip machines in dive bars to sleek K-style booths in cafés, these are the spots around . . .

🌗Day-to-night

Festive spots for holiday drinks first place image

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16 places

16 places

Festive spots for holiday drinks

For when you want a cocktail and a little holiday atmosphere without committing to a whole plan. Cozy . . .

Dimly lit corner booths that serve martinis first place image

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20 places

20 places

Dimly lit corner booths that serve martinis

If you’re just looking for a dark booth and a really good martini, this list is it. These . . .