In a city where business is done behind closed menus and on mobile phones to the sound of honking horns, there are a host of hunger-busting, car-friendly venues for talking shop. Whether you're securing the rights to a biopic or simply want to stock up at Maxfield en route to an Oahu film set, LA is built for the business traveller.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Nobody walks anywhere. For trips of more than two blocks expect to buckle up. |
| 02 |
Angelenos are obsessed by the traffic, so don't be surprised if you get embroiled in long-winded discussions about street surfaces and freeways. |
| 03 |
Take advantage of valet parking everywhere. From department stores to gyms, this inexpensive service is a boon to drivers. |
| 04 |
LA makes up for being the only US city where you can expect to pump your own gas, by the fact that you never have to apply your own tan. |
| 05 |
Never ask for a second basket of bread at dinner, you may provoke an intervention. Carbohydrates are to be consumed in private. |
| 06 |
Drink alcohol in moderation. One glass of wine with lunch is an eyebrow raiser, two glasses will land you a weekend at Promises. |
| 07 |
Having dined on macrobiotics and quaffed herbal infusions, expect to get the munchies and join the hordes feasting on Fatburger at 03.00. |
| 08 |
In a town where publicists have publicists and PAs have PAs, you'll have to learn to "spin". |
| 09 |
An hour to spare? Head for Ralph's to do a bit of A-list celebrity spotting. |
| 10 |
Expect to get the brush-off at parties unless you're incredibly well-connected. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
The Chamberlain
1000 Westmount Drive
West Hollywood
+ 1 310 657 7400
chamberlain
westhollywood.com
Dependable chain
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2151 Avenue of the Stars
+ 1 310 288 1234
centuryplaza.hyatt.com
One premium
Viceroy
1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
+ 1 310 260 7500
viceroysantamonica.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
BLD
7450 Beverly Boulevard
West Hollywood
+ 1 323 930 9744
bldrestaurant.com
Business breakfast
King's Road Café
8361 Beverly Boulevard
+ 1 323 655 9044
kingsroadcafe.com
Mid-morning coffee
Any branch of Peet's Coffee
Working lunch with colleagues
Il Sole
8741 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
+ 1 310 657 1182
Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Pizzeria Mozza
641 North Highland Avenue
West Hollywood
+ 1 323 297 0101
mozza-la.com
Lunch on your own
Matsuhisa
129 North La Cienega Boulevard,
Beverly Hills
+ 1 310 659 9639
nobumatsuhisa.com
Afternoon tea/drink
Beverly Wilshire Bar
9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
+ 1 310 275 5200
fourseasons.com
Dinner on your own
Fatburger
7450 Santa Monica Boulevard
(and Gardener), West Hollywood
+ 1 323 436 0862
fatburger.net
Dinner with colleagues
Sushi Sasabune
Wilshire Brentwood Plaza
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
+ 1 310 820 3596
Big dinner with partner/clients
Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi
114 West Channel Road,
Santa Monica Canyon
+ 1 310 573 1660
giorgiobaldi.com
Drink after dinner
Social Hollywood
6525 South Sunset Boulevard
+ 1 323 462 5222
Late drinks
Winston's
7746 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
+ 1 323 654 0105
On the tiles
The Dime
442 North Fairfax Avenue
West Hollywood
+ 1 323 651 4421
04
Reading
Book Soup
8818 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
+ 1 310 659 3110
booksoup.com
05
Thank yous
Flowers or wine
Hollywood Farmers Market
(Sundays from 08.00-13.00)
Ivar and Selma Avenue, Hollywood
+ 1 323 463 3171
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Hot Dogs by Pinks Hollywood
709 N La Brea Avenue
+ 1 323 931 4223
pinkshollywood.com
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Barneys
9570 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
+ 1 310 276 4400
barneys.com
Something for the kids
Clothes from Fred Segal Kids
500 Broadway, Santa Monica
+ 1 310 394 9814
fredsegalfun.com
Something for someone you love
Fashion from Ron Herman
8100 Melrose Avenue
+ 1 323 651 4129
ronherman.com
Something for yourself
Clothes by James Perse
8914 Melrose Avenue
+ 1 310 276 7277
jamesperse.com
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Griffith Park Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
+ 1 213 473 0800
griffithobservatory.org
From the Observatory head back via 4616 Dundee Drive just below Griffith Park to find Richard Neutra's Lovell Health House, the first steel-frame residence in the US, completed in 1929.
|
02 |
02 J Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
+ 1 310 440 7300
getty.edu/museum |
08
Limousine/car
BLS
2860 North Fletcher Drive
+ 1 323 644 7166
blslimo.com
09
Transport
Taxis or limousines everywhere, or hire yourself an Escalade and ride around like a true Angeleno.
10
Fitness
Good gym
Angel City Gym
8816 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood
+ 1 310 858 6812
Good running route
Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica
Alternative diversion
Hiking in the Temescal Canyon