I hopped off the plane on LAX with my appetite and my chambray short-suit. The weather this time in the City of Angels was, to my surprise, bearable (knowing it’s the end of August and I’m a seasoned complainer about the heat). After a two hour something flight from Bellingham (thanks Allegiant!), we cruised through the also surprisingly smooth LA traffic to DTLA.
Our crib for the week was shiny and new, ultra-chic, with multi-million dollar view of Downtown Los Angeles. LEVEL furnished living is not only strategically located in the heart of DTLA, it’s equipped with amazing amenities (pool, outdoor theatre, spacious gym with its own room for Peloton - yes, I worked out during this trip), and did I mention the view from our 29th-floor suite was spectacular?! What made this stay particularly memorable tho,was the level of hospitality we received from their all-star team: impeccable with personalities bubblier than a chilled grapefruit LaCroix!
My memory of DTLA only goes as far as a mid-May pool party on top of the ACE hotel. But this time, I really got to explore the hood - and it was lovely. Of course there are those quintessential Los Angeles institutions (HA!): celebrity Whole Foods, Sweetgreens, and Bottega Louie but I obvs. skipped the healthy-ish stuff and went straight to the important ones. Cocktail bars - surprise!
On our first night, however, I was in the mood for wine. Natural wine. Upon a little research, we stumbled upon Garçons de Café, a rustic-chic French wine bar with sizeable library of vino that includes several bottles of skin-contact and natural wines. A glass of Le p’tit Barriot Syrah was poured to start the evening: full-ish body, bursts of floral and stone-fruit with just the right amount of tannin and spices too. It would’ve been a perfect serenade-me-to-bed kind of wine but nonetheless it was delicious even to start the evening.
Before I ran out of battery, we made it to the Nomad Los Angeles and caught a second wind. The DTLA chapter offers the classic Nomad feels: luscious, velvety, old-school bank-turned-to-hotel with a touch of California sunshine. Colours, textures and prints fill the lobby bar. Photogenic and poetic. Serving up the classics from the NYC counterpart, original, some large format (cocktails for 2), and even larger format (for 3-4,‘depending on your tolerance’ they said) libations, it’s one of those places to see and be seen, to drink and to be (day) drunk. Bonus point for the attractive staffs HA!
I had to come back to the ACE just to relive my youth one more time. Surrounding myself with hype kids, who, most likely would have released more than one EPs in their early 20s, it was adorable. It terms of the menu, It was more a tequila soda with a side of overpriced cold-pressed juice for me.
Conveniently located behind our apartment, is the Broken Shaker. A rooftop pool bar with bumpin’ music and killer tiki cocktails. Fun, colourful, rum and tequila-focused menu with late-night bar bites, it’s a perfect place for a nightcap, especially when you live literally steps away!
DTLA’s sunshine, full-blast air conditioning and fluffy pillows somehow made my hangover less dreadful and more manageable. I had two options: go downstairs and check out the smoothie bar, or go downstairs, turn the corner and get shake shack. I feel like this was an obvious choice when one is in LA, but you never know, cause a lady never shack and tell 😏.
We spent the afternoon exploring the jewelry district as we made our way to the Grand Central Market. A food-enthusiast Mecca with tons of vendors that are uniquely DTLA: from eggslut to oyster bar, Filipino-inspired rice bowls to cold-pressed juice and tacos (obvs), everything is available in one, huge-ass foodhall.
Right across the street from GCM, is the staircase that leads you to the other side of DTLA. The financial district (I assume), the Broad and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This hike (yes, I considered this steps a hike) took my breath away, literally. My out-of-breath self rejoiced when I saw the Kogi truck waiting for us at the top - worth every step. Naturally, we made a pit-stop for the infamous short rib tacos, which, hit the spot.
*intermission* We went to the Broad, saw some Basquiat and Murakami, took photos of some Koons, almost saw Kusama yada yada yada skipped the Runyon and took nap...*
Fast forward to dinner time!
Honestly one of the things that I am most excited about during this trip was our dinner at Petit Trois. The middle sister restaurant from the award-winning, celebrity chef Ludo Lefebvre (who’s also behind Trois Mec and Ludo Bird). Offering classic French cuisine meets Los Angeles strip-malls. Juxtaposition at its finest and most delicious form.
The 35-seater restaurant is bustling with people coming in and out, basting in the aroma of butter and fresh-baked bagutte. J’ador - Je’ very hungry!
Both the cocktail and wine list are well-curated to accompany the Parisian bistro-style food menu. No fuzz no muss. Tartare de boeuf, escargot that’s bathed in butter and garlic (extra baguette), steak frites, perfectly fluffy, shiny and spotless French omelette of my dream, and I cannot stress how bummed I was that we didn’t order the burger. Tres bien, parfait!
This evening turned into a whirlwind of tequila sodas and bar hopping along WeHo that I honestly can’t really recall the deets 😏 but it was the perfect Friday night, thanks to my lovely companion ❤️
I started the last day in LA with a pleasant surprise. My hangover was a no show - honestly, at this age, this is a big win. I hopped on a uber to the art district for a cute coffee meeting with an old friend Blake and his lovely wife Ashley at the newly opened Verve coffee. The property is HUGE, it might as well be a mall. They also take my morning coffee experience to the next level with their “cocktail” menu: no booze just buzz. It was very fascinating and exciting - exactly what we need back here in Vancouver.
We spent the last couple hours wandering around Abbott Kinney and Venice beach. My goodness the people here are too pretty for their own sake. Jeremy even insisted to go to muscle beach for a little pull-up session. I was just there, sipping my CBD-infused lemonade, sticking out like the sore thumb - it was hysterical.
A hop, skip and an hour nap later, I came back to Nomad for one last cocktail. Still hoping for a meet-cute with a good looking, well-dressed, fresh out of Hollywood star to happen. It did not happen.
I took my hungry self to KazuNori, the original handroll sushi bar, just couple blocks away from the Nomad. The yellowtail and the scallop were particularly stellar that night - and the sea bass sashimi was also a big winner. I don’t know if it’s an LA thing or whatever, but the couple next to me shared six pieces of handrolls. I successfully stuffed 12 rolls to myself. Oh well - it was f*ckin delicious.
With three hours of sleep, I gathered myself and started packing. We watched the sunrise on the way to LAX, half alive but fully grateful.
I absolutely can’t wait to go back to LA. I mean, I didn’t get a chance to eat KBBQ this time... so Elay, I’ll be back!
Thanks again to Allegiant! for the fabulous flight and LEVEL furnished living for the hospitality!