ELLA'S LA GUIDE
Coffee & breakfast
Cafe Telegrama
Great coffee and a lovely spot for a quick breakfast.
Verve Coffee
Great coffee in an amazing location.
Community Goods — Design Center
I won’t queue for more than 15 minutes for a coffee, so this is the location I’d head to. Great coffee, too!
Du-par’s
A classic American breakfast experience, with pancakes as the speciality.
Adante
Coffee!
Drinks before or after dinner
Jones
A great late-night spot. Book a few days in advance.
Chateau Marmont
A must visit for the atmosphere, iconic old hotel. Must call in advance to book a table in the courtyard.
Marvin
A cute winebar on Beverly Blvd, has a neighbourhood vibe. Great for wines and snacks
Sunset Tower Bar
My absolute favourite. A moody atmosphere, live jazz and all the makings of a fun night.
Must order: Tower Smash, truffle fries and something from the ice cream menu.
Favourite places to eat
Sushi Fumi
Unassuming from the outside, this is a great spot for lunch or an early dinner. Fresh Japanese food in a casual setting, with a lively atmosphere.
Luv2Eat Thai Bistro
One of our favourites for Thai street food, tucked away in a strip mall. It’s always busy, but the waitlist moves quickly, and the menu is fantastic.
Must order: Grilled pork, prawn spring rolls and any curry.
Anajak Thai
Over the hill and a bit of a drive, but well worth it—especially on a warm night. Amazing Thai food, a great wine list and a lively atmosphere.
Must order: Thai fried chicken, crudo and pad siew.
RVR Venice
One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in LA. Amazing Asian fusion food, a DJ playing records in the back and a great atmosphere. It gets busy, so book ahead.
Must order: Sushi hand rolls and Gyoza.
Great White
A lovely location, and the salads with added protein are my go-to. I’d also recommend the tostada!
El Coyote
A Mexican institution that’s well worth a visit.
Must order: Shrimp fajitas and a house margarita.
Escuela
Casual Mexican with a great street vibe.
Must order: Margarita & fish taco
Add to my list: The Musso & Frank Grill, Angelini Osteria Alimentari, Laurel Hardware, South Beverly Grill and Honor Bar.
For the LA experience
Erewhon & Laurel Supply
For the quintessential LA supermarket experience. Worth a visit for a ridiculously priced juice or smoothie.
Melrose Farmers Market
Great place to people watch and stop for a coffee
The Grove
Mel’s Drive-In
The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bel Air Hotel for cocktails
The Bel Air Hotel movie nights
Check for: NBA games, College Football or Dodgers Baseball
Shopping
Rose Bowl Flea Market
You need to be in the right mood for a rummage, but it’s absolutely worth visiting. It’s only on once a month, and I’ve picked up some amazing vintage pieces here.
XIV Karats
The holy grail of jewellery. Look for the blacked-out building and head upstairs for incredible jewellery at wholesale prices. Always great people watching too.
Other shopping stops: Wasteland, Madhappy, Reformation Vintage, LA Apparel, Brandy Melville at The Grove, Paloma Wool, JCrew, Madewell and SKIMS.
