A Guide To LA: How To Spend 48 Hours In Los Angeles
A guide to LA - covering everything from where to sleep, eat, shop & drink!
Where to stay - Downtown LA: Freehand Hotel - 416 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Kat and I spent two nights at the Freehand Hotel in Downtown LA and loved it - it was super affordable, yet it had a luxe boutique style feel to it! The decor was lovely, a super easy self check in and it was the perfect location for exploring downtown LA, and a great base for exploring the rest of LA!
I particularly loved the pool / outdoor bar area on the rooftop - we spent a day there sunbathing to recover from jet lag and we really loved the vibe! The hotel has rooms to meet all budgets - whether you're looking to book the Loft Suite or share a hostel style room with their shared rooms, there really is something to each taste & budget! I couldn't recommend this hotel anymore - we had a wonderful stay!
Where to stay - Hollywood: W Hollywood, 6250 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
If you're looking for a slightly slicker, more up market hotel then the W Hotel in Hollywood is the one for you! With it's beautiful swanky lobby and gorgeous rooftop pool with a view of the Hollywood hills - it really is the perfect place for a luxe escape in the very heart of LA!
Where to eat in LA:
In-N-Out Burger: If you're looking for a quick meal and / or a delicious burger then In-N-Out Burger is the one for you! We went to an In-N-Out Burger drive through on the way to Palm Springs, it never disappoints!
Rawberri: Looking for something healthier? We LOVED Rawberri! A great joint for smoothies, acai bowls and healthy snacks! Located in West Hollywood - this spot is well worth a visit!
Tocaya Organica: We actually visited Tocaya Organica twice as we loved the food so much! This healthy Mexican joint, offers bold flavours using the best ingredients - they offer Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free too!
Gracias Madre: This restaurant is super popular; and it's easy to see why! Mexican cuisine, made plant-based, all from scratch using local ingredients - the food was SO delicious!
What to do in LA:
Griffith Observatory: We drove up to the Griffith Observatory one day to check out the views and I'd highly recommend it if you're visiting LA! The views across the city are amazing!
Cycle from Santa Monica to Venice Beach: One of our favourite things we did in LA was cycle from Santa Monica to Venice Beach - you can hire bikes inexpensively from the pier, such a fun cycle path - grab some lunch in Venice Beach then head back!
Watch the sunset on Santa Monica Beach: After our day of cycling and exploring, we sat and watched the sunset on Santa Monica beach - it was a magical ending to a wonderful day!
Drive around Beverly Hills: We LOVED driving around Beverly Hills and seeing how the other half live! We stopped off at the Beverly Hills Hotel for some pictures and just spent an hour or so cruising around in the sunshine - it was so fun!
Visit Santa Monica pier: Take a stroll along the Santa Monica Pier, whether you're looking to check out the rides or grab some food - it's worth a wander along on a sunny day!
Check out the Urban Lights at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art: The columns you always see on Instagram - that's the Urban Lights installation outside the LA County Museum of Art! It's SUCH a cool spot for pictures and well worth visiting (we went around 9am on a weekday and it was pretty quiet!).
Have you been to LA? Is it somewhere you'd like to visit? I love the different pockets and neighbourhoods of LA - so fun to explore!