Los Angeles
There are many cities that prioritise convenience. Los Angeles, despite being so familiar to so many, does quite the opposite. Its pleasures are spread across a basin the size of a small country and are hidden away in a network of neighbourhoods. This is a place that asks you to drive nearly everywhere. The glossy version that gets exported – the billboards, the mythology, the people who move here to be seen – is a simplification of the nuance that defines Los Angeles.
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Beyond the glitzy attractions, visitors more often than not return for the light: at dusk, the landscape turns gold, making the most ordinary streets look like a painting. The city is also a beautiful mosaic of cultures and, as a result, its restaurants are among some of the world’s best. Together with the fact that Los Angeles is constantly sunny, perennially laid-back and enjoys an enviable location sandwiched between mountain and ocean, it’s easy to see why it lures creative talent from across the US and travellers in droves. But for first-timers, it can be vast and difficult to navigate and take in. That’s where our guide comes in handy.
Essential information
- Getting from LAX to the downtown: An Uber from LAX to Silver Lake is $45 to $80 depending on traffic and the time of day. Allow 45 to 75 minutes for the journey.
- How much to tip in restaurants: 20 per cent is non-negotiable. Valet attendants, bartenders and hotel staff also rely on gratuities. Leave $5 daily for hotel housekeeping.
- Don’t skip the tacos: Mexican culture is crucial to the city’s fabric. Start with Sonoratown or Villa’s and pay equal attention to the crowded food trucks in car parks.
- Relax in K-Town: If you need to recharge, visit Crystal Spa in Koreatown for a bathhouse experience that generations of local Angelenos swear by.
- Sharpen the senses with a martini: Los Angeles does a mean cold martini, especially at Tower Bar, Musso & Frank Grill and the bar at Chateau Marmont.
This guide was published on 12 June 2026
