My ideal travel adventures involve a lot of food. Actually, who am I kidding? They revolve around food. Eating, cooking, talking about food, taking pictures of food… you name it, if it involves food, I heart it. One of my favorite parts of researching our Los Angeles trip was checking out food blogs and top ten lists of city restos and bars. We picked a couple from the lists and made sure to pick a couple from exploring. Overall, we ate at too many great places to mention so here are my Top 4 LA Spots.
Eat the City: Los Angeles Edition
Alfred Coffee & Kitchen – 8428 Melrose Place
If you love caffeine, and Instagram, chances are you’ve seen or used the hashtag #butfirstcoffee. Well, that originated with this funky spot. They have even trademarked it, lol. Alfred’s coffee is delicious and the interior of this local haunt is gorgeous. I discovered this after getting my hair done at Nine Zero One Salon (yes, THAT Nine Zero One). More on that experience later… This was the best coffee I had in LA and I had a lot of coffee. I don’t remember what I ordered because I buckled under pressure and ordered something super fancy sounding and paid roughly $6 for it.
Worth it.
{Photos via Instagram}
Mercado – 7910 West Third Street
My initial dream for our trip to Cali was to spend the week eating fresh seafood and crave-worthy Mexican food. Check and check. Mercado is a three-location restaurant with a fairly simple drool-inducing menu. We cheated a little and ended up visiting the Santa Monica location instead of the downtown LA venue, but the menu was the same. The ceviche and guac were incredible – and I am a bit of a guac snob. Don’t ever give me a bowl of plain mashed avocado unless it is literally the best avocado in the world. I had the enchiladas as my main, and they were so good I didn’t speak for the entire 4 minutes it took me to eat them. I don’t remember what my hubby had. Mine was better.
{Photos via Instagram}
Bar Marmont – 8171 West Sunset Blvd.
Chateau Marmont is an iconic Old Hollywood hotel and restaurant, with the equally iconic Bar Marmont just beside it. Considered one of the top bars in all of LA, we HAD to go there. We were able to get a seat at the bar no problem on the night we went and ended up having drinks and food in what is arguably the best celebrity people-watching spot in the place. We are primarily gin drinkers, so we easily dummied a couple of Cucumber Collins and Brass Flowers. This was also our introduction to St. Germain liqueur which is basically nectar from the gods. (It’s an elderflower liqueur, and it’s magical.) I had a rabbit dish that was divine, but I most remember the drinks, lol.
Butchers and Barbers – 6531 Hollywood Blvd.
**Update** Since we were here, the LA site has closed 🙁 It has other locations, so if you live near one I strongly suggest you check it out. This place had such a cool old-school vibe. All the bartenders had exquisite mustaches and suspenders, which I personally dug. The cocktail list was small but well curated. We had oysters and a fancy grilled cauliflower dish to start – thus began our year of being obsessed with cauliflower plates. This was the first dinner out we did in LA and it was awesome to walk along Hollywood Blvd afterward to see the main touristy sites at night, walk of fame etc. The location can’t be beaten. I think it’s going to be a Thai resto now (?) but I could be wrong.
{Photos via Instagram}
So, tell me – what am I missing? These are the best meals we had during our 4-day trip to LA but for sure there are others that need to be tested out. We skipped The Ivy due to my hair appointment taking a few hours longer than expected (sorry, babe!) and couldn’t quite catch the Kogi BBQ Truck . Would love to hear from LA residents or frequent visitors as I’m hoping to go back in January 2018!
Want more? Check out my Top Kauai, Hawaii activities! Or my favorite Toronto pizza joints!
Deborah Cochran
We moved to the LA area 4 years ago and love finding new unique places to eat. We haven’t dined at Mercado’s in a couple of years – time to go back!
Robyn Cobb
i would love to visit L.A. at least one time.
IAN MITNICK
looks like food that tastes very good
Michelle Starr
I would love to try some of Los Angelos’ food!!!
Danijela WorldGlimpses
It all sounds great. I can only imagine how it tastes like! Or can’t I? 😉 Great photos, thanks!
sherianne
I spend a lot of time in LA and will check these out — thanks for sharing!
Patti
All these places look so good! I’ll make sure to check them out when I visit LA.
Sandy N Vyjay
These suggestions hold the promise of some really yummy times in LA. The food looks spectacular and the ambience of the places adds value. Nothing like spending quality time in one of these places. Personally, I would fancy Bar Marmont.
Oyinkan Ogunleye
OMGGGG girlll I’m always saving restaurants to visit when in town! This is sooo perfect!
anna
I am such a foodie! I love everything about this post!!
Kevin Wagar
You sure know how to pick some incredible flavour locations! Everything looks amazing!
nicolas d'hoedt
If I ever find myself in LA, I will defo go check these places! Great list and pictures!
Bob
The food at Mercado looks really good. What was your favorite place?
Kelsinwonderland
BobMercado! I loveeee fresh seafood and mexican food so this was the absolute best combo! Thanks for reading 🙂
Joe
One could certainly do worse than base one’s travel around food, hahaha! Seriously, some of this food looks delicious. Particularly loving the look of that steak from Mecado 🙂 LA is one of those places that is many things to all people, and I guess it is a place of immense culinary appeal too.
sabs
Will keep these places in mind if I ever go there. Looks delicious!
Diedre
First of all, your blog is amazing & so pretty! And those spots..man makes me sad that I live all the way in South, GA! Everything looks so yummy!
Susannah
Ooo… These all sound like such great places to eat! When I’m in LA I’m going to try some out! <3
Jenny
I am going to LA this year! I will definitely check out Mercado and Alfred’s Coffee.
Thanks for the list!
Kelsinwonderland
JennyThank you for reading!! You can’t go wrong with either of those places 😉
Hanna
WOW! These look absolutely delish!! Especially the coffee shop! I love a pretty latte!
Chanel van Reenen
I love your travel posts! This food looks amazing. I think we should be travel buddies 🙂
Kelsinwonderland
Chanel van ReenenI’m ALWAYS up for a travel buddy!!! You let me know where and when, lol 😉
Tristan Dennington
These all sound like amazing places! I have always wanted to go to Alfred Coffee Kitchen. I am overdue for an LA trip!
-Tristan
http://www.thepolishedposy.com
Kelsinwonderland
Tristan DenningtonIt’s worth the wait!!! Thanks for reading 🙂
Stacy
OOOHHH. We are headed to LA again in the next couple months and this is perfect!
Kelsinwonderland
StacyAmazing! Let me know if you visit any of these and then share your other awesome stops!
Dawn Darnell
This was so fun to read. Great reviews of your experiences in LA. Thank you for sharing.
Kelsinwonderland
Dawn DarnellThanks for reading!!
Julia
When you make it back to LA make sure to give Venice restaurants a try – there are just so many to list here. I recommend using Yelp – LA is very active on Yelp. I would also suggest if you make it to the South Bay to check out Manhattan Beach and El Segundo restaurants! Have travels! Love your post
Kelsinwonderland
JuliaThanks for your suggestion!! I absolutely will 🙂 We only visited venice for a morning last time, but it was so cool we MUST spend more time there. Thanks for reading!
silvia
Love! These spots look amazing, I would so want to try them all.
Ashley Solberg
All of these places look so amazing and each unique. Adding some to my travel list, because afterall, the food is my fave!
Glenny
YAAAAS I love food and im often in cali since my fiance lives there hahaha im totes writing all these recommendations down
Julian
Thats what I was looking for! Will be in LA in December and we are looking for some sweet spots to eat. Thanks!
Lindsay
I haven’t heard of many of these places, but I am dying to go to Alfred!!
Kelsinwonderland
LindsayOMG it is so cool in there. A blogger’s dream for instagrammable pics, lol!
Bonnie
What great places! I’m going to save this for next time we go to LA!
Kelsinwonderland
BonnieThanks for reading! Let me know if you ever make it to one of these 🙂
Julie D
I’ve never been to LA but I’ve been wanting to for so long. What’s got you going back in January?
Kelsinwonderland
Julie DMy husband goes every year for a huge industry conference – I have been working on him to tag along or join after the work part is done!
Beth Newcomb
How cool! I love knowing where the hashtag #butfirstcoffee originated! I use it ALL the time. Haha Great piece!
Kelsinwonderland
Beth NewcombIsn’t that so cool! Thanks for reading 🙂
Christian
Oh these sound like great places! I could spend a few hours in each! Thanks for the list!
Kelsinwonderland
ChristianYou’re very welcome – thank you for reading! Let me know if you ever make it there or have something to add 🙂
Kerry
Sounds like a great trip. I’m all about food too! I had no idea but first coffee started at that coffee shop! What a neat piece of information.
Kelsinwonderland
KerryIsn’t that so cool?! I’ll take foodie places over museums every time, lol.
Shari
This is such a great list. I had no clue where to eat last time I was in L.A.
Patricia
It’s all about the food!!!
Kelsinwonderland
Patricia100% ! Thanks for reading 🙂
Samantha Kuzyk
I’ve never been to LA but would love to
Go one day! I’ll definitely refer back to this post when I get the chance to go!
Kelsinwonderland
Samantha KuzykOh, it’s so much fun there! I am doing a whole series on it, so check back soon!
Bridget
Oh yummy!! Thanks for sharing this, I will definitely keep these in mind!
Kelsinwonderland
BridgetThank you for reading!
Jessica
I’ve never been to LA but those drinks at bar marmot sound divine.
Kelsinwonderland
JessicaAnd that’s only the Gin drinks! The other cocktails were made of 15 things I’ve never heard of, lol. Also upwards of $18 per drink, sooooo you have to know what you’re drinking. It was such a fun trendy place. I hope I make it back!
Leslie
I was in LA a year ago and no one took me to any of these. Next time I go I will go with my own list.
Kelsinwonderland
LeslieWhere did you go? I’m looking for some new places for next year 🙂