I am surprising my husband for his 40th and flying to LA for a Lakers game and then driving to Las Vegas. We arrive in LA around 11am and the game is at 6:30pm. I'm renting a car and would like to do a little sight seeing, nice dinner and then the game. Any suggestions?

I love getting drinks at the Casa Del Mar hotel that has a view of the ocean. Expensive.

Dantana's restaurant on Santa Monica is pretty much guartunteed star sighting. Expensive.

Graumans Chinese is always fun. Though touristy.

Not much downtown by the Staples center, so I would be concerned about the logistics of going from the ariport to downtown. That could take 30-40 on a good day. With a game on...I don't know.

There are lots of great restaurants downtown. Park near Staples Center and use the Metro Blue Line/Red line(mta.net) or the DASH busses to get around. The F Dash (25 cents) runs til game time, and will take you straight up Figueroa to the Union Bank Plaza, where Ciudad is located. Reserve for dinner.

Or take the Metro up one stop to 7th street. Two blocks away is the Standard Hotel which has a fun rooftop bar, perfect for 40-somethings.

Dash Routes:
http://www.ladottransit.com/dash/rou.../downtown.html

Favorite downtown map:
http://downtownla.com/map6.htm

Avoid the Pantry. It's close but awful.

I've just been reminded that Roy's recently opened a branch at 8th and Figueroa near the Staples Center.

Zucca is at 801 S. Figueroa, it's one of the Patina Group empire.

http://www.patinagroup.com/zuccaRistorante/

Great Downtown map MLGB - I guess I should have clarified that there is not much downtown that I like. But looking at your map reminded me about the bar at Biltmore which is beautiful.

I will have to check out Ciudad and Roys...