Dave0099

Hi, will be on business one night this month in LA downtown area. I'll have most of that evening available and then part of the next day before I head back to San Fran.

Can someone recommend a trendy area....ie trendy upscale restaurants, shopping and preferably where I can also stay?

Thanks

Surfergirl

Well, downtown LA IS an area unto itself, so I'm not too sure what you mean.

That said, here are my thoughts.

1. Clearly the most "trendy" restaurant/bar area is in what is called the "arts" district . . . very industrial, but this little pocket where old industrial buildings are being gutted to the shell, then restored into restaurant & office (and sometimes loft) space. So you get these pretty amazing restaurants, like Church & State or Bestia, Little Bear gastropub, Pour Haus wine bar, and one or two upscale natural foods shops. But no hotels, and no shopping, per se. And frankly, not an area I'd feel particularly comfortable in overnight, but that's me. However, the restaurants are GREAT!

2. Pershing Square area of downtown has become the latest in upscale, trendy renos, with the restaurant/bar and cool music venue scene cropping up in every which direction. For example, you have Perch at the top of a building overlooking Pershing Square & downtown buildings with a killer view from the outdoor bar, and frankly, great views from inside as well. Because this place has become beyond trendy, reservations for a table should be made well in advance. They do good food and outstanding cocktails. Squeeze in at the bar if you can and people watch. They also have live music there most nights. Get there early. On the bottom floor of the same building is Mrs. Fish, a mixology style bar in the basement, with live music (mostly rock, sometimes blues). They do have what I call "bar food" there, but since it's run by the same group as Perch, it's pretty good. Then there's the Standard a block away at the other side of the Biltmore hotel. It's a hotel, but is known for its rooftop pool and bar, known simply as The Rooftop. Fig & 7th for shopping, but shopping really all around. If you like concerts, there's usually something going on at the Broadway trio (converted movie and vaudeville theaters) -- the Theater @ the Ace Hotel, the Orpheum, and the Palace. Places to stay: The Standard, the Biltmore, the Omni, and the Ace.

3. The Staples Center area. Wanna-be trendy. Totally fake, Times Square bright lights, and generally overdone, like a bad make up job. Having said that, I go to this area all the time, since it has the Grammy Museum (and I am a member)with wonderful exhibits, and two (or 3 if you count Staples Center, or 4 if you count the Clive Davis Theatre at the Grammy) music venues. Lots of different eating choices and packed bars. When I go to the Grammy for a show, I generally stop at Flemings or the Farm for a glass of wine and an appetizer. This area is also fairly close to the Theatre at the Ace Hotel on Broadway, around the corner from Olympic Blvd. Places to stay: JW Marriott, of course,that is housed with the Ritz Carlton, the Residence Inn/Courtyard, Luxe City Center, and Ace Hotel.

jamie99

It has been terribly hot here in the LA area the last two weeks, 85F today down from highs in the 90s and I live one mile from the ocean so downtown must be hotter. By Wednesday it is supposed to "cool down" to 78-79F for a few days. My neighbor just went to Target a short time ago to get an AC unit or large multi-speed fan.
Stay by the beach, maybe Santa Monica if budget permits. Otherwise look at Manhattan Beach Sea View Inn or maybe Marina del Rey (if you have a car).

Dave0099

Thanks all, sorry about the "downtown" bit, not that familiar as to what is defined as what, I'm usually passing through LA and never actually here.

My meetings are in the "Fashion District" if that helps. But I have no problem staying anywhere. Jamie..."hot" no worries...I split my time between Miami and New Orleans so the "heat" is not going to be an issue

Pershing Square area sounds exactly what I'm looking for. Have a hold on a room at the Wilshire, so I guess I'll have to check to see if it is close to the area you recommended.

Any comments on the Rodeo Drive area to stay and eat/drink? That was the other area I was considering, but not sure worth the one night to explore.

Thanks

Surfergirl

You mean the Wilshire on Wilshire & Crescent Heights? That's in the Carthay Circle area around the corner from my mom -- about 9 miles from downtown LA, and less than a mile from Beverly Hills.

You'd better have a car if you're planning that trek. The fashion district in recent years borders Main Street downtown, just east of Staples and just southeast of Pershing Square. The newer Fashion District area is around Main & 9th.

People who live in LA generally avoid Rodeo Drive like the plague . . . for the most part, super high end shopping for millionaires who want to go broke, but look well doing it. OK, I will admit they do have the best Brooks Brothers of all of the Brooks Brothers in LA, which isn't particularly high end by my definition. There's a couple of decent restaurants, but for the most part they are (IMO) over-priced chains. I like Il Pastaio on Canon, and Cut at the Beverly Wilshire is pretty darned good.

So, if you really want to spend the evening there, the Hotel Wilshire is a great, less expensive option, with a great rooftop bar.

clarkgriswold

Yeah, good question. Are you driving around in a car, or are you going to be using uber & taxis and having to get to the airport at a certain hour the following day?

sf7307

Surfergirl, totally off-topic (sorry OP) - my DH and his family lived on Commodore Sloat Drive when he was in late elementary school.

Dave0099

yes I will have a car. I need to confirm which hotel I'm at!

clarkgriswold

I think I would head up to the Los Feliz area for dinner and then take in the Griffith Observatory (open til 10pm unless it's a Monday). Maybe stay at the W Hollywood, The Roosevelt or the Loews Hollywood.

The Alcove Café on Hillhurst is one dinner suggestion if you want casual, or maybe just for a happy hour drink with dinner down the street at Spitz afterwards (Mediterranean Doner Wrap with great fries and a cold beer. )

Or if it happens to be Oct 22, you could go see Jimmy Buffet at the Hollywood Bowl.

guptapriyagupta10

The Ambassador Hotel was a hotel in Los Angeles, California, and location of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub until it was demolished in 2005.The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is a historic hotel located at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard on the east side of South Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.The singer Elvis Presley and later the actor Warren Beatty lived several years in the hotel. It was also the home of John Lennon, when he was separated for several months from his wife Yoko Ono.
I think you should choose one of them to stay in Los Angeles.

Dave0099

The hotel I booked is The Hotel Wilshire at 6317 Wilshire Blvd. Hotel pics look nice but goodly street scene not so hot.

Now I'm not sure. On hold, can cancel....I think I'll look around. Like the ambiance of the hotel but would be nice to be in an area that I can walk out and be in the mix among nice shopping or surroundings.

clarkgriswold

If shopping is your main interest, that hotel is not bad since you're just 3/4 mile from THE GROVE and also THE BEVERLY CENTER. And lots of dining around Farmer's Market. A little more walk-friendly in that neighborhood would be The Farmer's Daughter Motel, The Sofitel or The Elan. Or the Wilshire Crest if you'd like to spend time in a typical "neighborhood" rather than on a busy corner.

mlgb

If you are downtown, why not the Miyako in Little Tokyo?

There are also good restaurants in Little Tokyo, including Suehiro across from Miyako which stays open late.

Wolf & Crane is a trendy bar that is around the corner (although I would taxi or drive).

And even though Philippe's is famous for French Dip, I like them better for breakfast.

Dave0099

thanks but that is really not the type of lounge we are looking for.

We're kind of spoiled with the lounge scene in Miami. Hard to beat that.

I think we've settled on the bar on top of Hotel Wilshire and we're making reservations at Perch for dinner which was recommended by a chef friend of ours.

Eat sushi often back home, even make our own, so that is not really a treat for us. Rather experience new culinary scenes, we sort of travel for food.

I dont have a lot of time, will definitely come back as business is going to have me coming to LA many times in the coming year.

Heading up to San Fran right afterwards....hoping to have dinner at French Laundry with a quick tour to pick up some wines before heading back home.

Thanks for all your info, definitely helped us to get to know the areas better.

andy_lewis

Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California.
For shopping you can try Mall & shopping centers, The well, The grand center market etc. The coffee shop they have out front makes the most amazing almond macchiato cappuccino.. or something like that. For more options you can just check the reviews on google.