When it’s sunny, hike. When it’s rainy, watch the storm fall on the city from above. Unexpectedly romantic.
Rosemary pistachio. Orange blossom. The Ballpark with caramel corn and peanuts. Go get an artisanal cone now. Read more.
If you and your friends want a serious buzz, go straight to the punch bowls on the pages-long cocktail list. Read more.
Score all-natural, organic beauty products that you can scent yourself from a custom aromatherapy bar. Read more.
People rave about the handmade pretzel and endless craft beers, but our love affair is with the lamb burger.
Get tipsy on craft beers in the back garden or score the front booth for its famous mac ’n’ cheese. Read more.
This is one of the coolest places in San Diego. It is tough to get in, but worth it. You will have to send a text to ask for reservations. Here is the number: 619.888.4713
During the week it's really cool to go to the roof and check out the view of downtown L.A. -Danielle Keene, Top Chef Just Desserts
Widest variety of specialty drinks I've ever seen (Silver tequila with jalapenos??) & an amazing speakeasy vibe. Mixology at its finest. Get there early to beat the starlets and hipsters.
Once you get the daily passcode online, walk into a dark moulin-rouge setting and have yourself the finest cocktails around. This place is the french laundry of bars, good luck getting in. -Yigit Pur
One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. A great way to spend an afternoon.
At Salt’s Cure, everything’s made in house: cheeses, pickles, condiments, bread – they even butcher their own pork, beef and chicken. As seen on Food Paradise: Manliest Restaurants. Read more.
3 hours parking for free at the Grove. If you exceed 3 hours and don't buy anything somehow, just grab a magazine from Barnes and Noble to get validation. Better than paying 13 bucks or whatever.
Home to the Santa Cruz Mountains' finest Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvginons. And the view might be the best in all of the South Bay.
Home to the Santa Cruz Mountains' finest Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvginons. Oh, and the view might be the best in all of the South Bay.
A beautiful and massive beer hall with a gorgeous patio. The food is no pub grub. 31 craft beers are on tap and go perfectly with the exceptional house-made soft pretzel.
Cinespia's outdoor movie screenings are here all summer, & Masonic Lodge on the grounds is a spooky evocative place to see bands. Don’t miss Dia De Los Muertos celebrations here. Read more.
Homebrewers: you can also pick up of vials of super-fresh yeast here for a very reasonable price!
Great beer, brewery food and local's atmosphere. If you do not like it you probably do not belong here.
This place has the best selection of beers in northern California, hands down. Tip well and ask for tastes and recommendations
Tourists: think Whole Foods meets Trader Joes minus the crowds, high prices, & Charles Shaw. Thumbs up!
1st class is free for local newbies. lots of classes for different styles & levels. Liberation is the best, ego-free, truly nurturing, yoga studio in the city
Yoga with music, BIG, Will Smith, Van Morrison... Always seems to keep me focused.
The BEST yoga studio in town. Period. Saul David Raye for a spiritual journey, Annie Carpenter for an ass kicking workout, and Kyra Anastacia for a mix of both!
It's the original Starbucks in San Francisco. It first opened in 1992 and has amazingly friendly staff, lots of outlets and a nice space to work at.
Beautiful hiking at any time but I highly recommend a weekday if you can swing it. You'll have the trails practically to yourself.
My favorite restaurant ever! Go and get the full tasting menu, sit back, relax and you will have one of the best meals of your life! -Danielle Keene, Top Chef Just Desserts
Get your daily Greens 3 (kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon, ginger). Each bottle is made that morning and contains about five pounds of produce. Your colon thanks you.
Jason is awesome. When I told him that my smoothie wasn't as good ad previous ones, he gave me a new one for free saying "I want every smoothie you have to be perfect"
This was a favorite hangout of The Doors in the '60s. Bet you can find at least two references or pics of The Doors. Take a pic & upload them to our foursquare page. foursquare.com/thedoors.
Is there a more legendary Rock 'n' Roll venue in the United States than the Whisky A-Go-Go? No - there is not. Since 1964, the Whisky has been the gold standard for rock action.
In 1991, Nirvana released Nevermind on an unsuspecting world. Recorded between May-June of '91 at Sound City Studios, the album heralded, for the mainstream at least, the coming of a new age of rock.
Go on Sunday! You'll find Philippe himself and plenty of samples. Grab a bacon croissant and pretend you are in France.
Best mani pedi in weho! The ladies are so nice. Not to mention complimentary boba smoothies, water, & 5 minute neck massage!
A must in Downtown Napa! Gorgeous Hog Island Oysters, Organic veggies galore, Italian pastries that would make Pavarotti cry, hopped up coffee & culinary antiques set on the Napa river. Really.
Check surfline.com or other forecasts and go when the tide is low otherwise you won't be able to see/appreciate the tide pools. There's a cave right at the rocky point of the bend.
On sunny days you can grab a spot on the beach or hike inland on an old logging road over 10 miles long. Boat launch, bonfires until 10 PM, boat rental just across the bridge.
Best professional beauty supply in Los Angeles. Professional artists, sign up for your MAKE UP FOR EVER backstage professional discount!
Best selection of beauty products. My go to destination on the West Coast for pro makeup! ❤
Violet, salted caramel and lemon are mouth watering. Lette has some of the best macarons I gave had in my entire life. Very creative flavors and guess what?? They ship out of the area!! Uh, oh.
I highly recommend the earl grey if you're a fan of the tea. It's their deliciously sweet take on it.
All flavors are so good. Get 12 for $19.50, and they last a long time if you refrigerate them. Also, macaroons are something very different from macarons (pronounced macarones). Just saying...
Try exotic flavors like Columbian coffee, Sicilian pistachio, Caribbean chocolate and violet cassis. Recommendation: Bring a box to a dinner party or as a house warming gift.
A morning pastry shop/market, lunchtime café, and all-day dining room decked out in marble and French antiques—you’ll swear it’s the Parisian patisserie Ladurée. Try the perfect pizzas and macarons.
Best mom n pop donut shop. Open 24 hours and basically they got everything here! Donuts, bagels, breakfast burritos and sandwiches. Many choices on drinks too! From coffee to smoothies with boba! Yum!
I enjoy the Johnny 5 alive ( a spicy apple juice) and the Old Fashion (Greens) . Amazing fresh juices. Don't forget to bring your bottles back for a $2 refund!
Farmers and food makers from the Bay Area and beyond show off their best produce and specialty items at Saturday's Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco.
cant beat those potato puffs and always good gourmet food with rotating menu. Great Fine-dining ready for a gourmet picnic or special night at home!
a must-do in big sur. the views are incredible. the outside tables overlooking the cliff are worth the wait. I would avoid bringing kids.
Get the freeze! Healthy alternative to froyo. Don't expect it taste like froyo though, but it's just as delicious as any other frozen treat.
Amazing outdoor happy hour from 4-6pm Mon -Fri. $5 snack menu (pulled pork nachos, cheese plate, meatballs, etc), $5 wines, $2.5 beer.
Delightfully rustic farm to table restaurant in the heart of the Napa Valley. Family style food in an old barn. Delicious food with very reasonable prices. (3 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more.
Enjoy a glass of our Marsanne/Viognier while browsing our living gallery, follow that up with a flight of Blackbird Vineyards Proprietary red wines out by the fire pit and experience the magic. Read more.
Looks like the most touristy of attractions, but if you love movies, this is a treasure of real costumes & props. Talk to the staff! Many have worked in the business w/ great stories to tell.
Ahi Tuna burger FTW. Weighs a ton but somehow feels light and fresh. It's like eating an amazing giant burger of sashimi.
Love their selection of donuts. Very inventive and unique creations with a large variety. The maple bar with bacon is a great choice.
Awesome museum about Walt Disney. Expect lots of reading for 3-4 hours! Now the Wiki entry about Walt Disney doesn't do him justice. :)
The most recent meat-free effort from those behind Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre follows a slightly more formal model in which guests are urged to make reservations for vegan Mexican cuisine. Read more.
Macaron ice cream sandwiches are perfectly executed. The fridge keeps them at the perfect chewy-soft temperature!!
LA (Eat) Gourmet specialty items, delicious (affordable!) lunch and beautiful fresh produce all in one huge open air market.
Congratulations, you've found one of Esquire's Best Bars in America. The cocktails are flawless, and all of them are consumed right-side up. Order a Remember the Maine, with rye and Cherry Heering.
LA: You're not allowed to make changes to the burgers here, but the burgers will definitely change you. They're that good. -IFC Viewer Read more.
Come for Sunday brunch for pancakes with crumbled Snickers, and fried chicken wrapped inside of a waffle. There are beers, of course, and a suggested pairing is noted next to each menu item: Read more.
Perfect place to kill a diet. Start with the Death by Duck which is duck fat fries topped with duck confit then move on to the waffle battered fried chicken with maple syrup and hot sauce. Orgasmic.
Beautiful place to get lunch or a snack. Try their vinegar drinks (lemonade or peach). They have communal meals so check the schedule. They have super expensive but kitchen supplies and cookbooks.
This casual spot is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood. Its first come, first serve - so breakfast is often to best time to drop by. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.
Order the Smoked Fish Combination Platter [not on the menu] - the hot smoked salmon is exquisite!
New favorite restaurant in SF - the most incredible seafood. Try the arctic char, oysters, lobster salad, trout (amazing!), and chowder. Read more.
This raw bar now serves $1 oysters and $3 Sierra Nevadas every Monday-Thursday from 5pm-6:30pm. Try $5 glasses of wine, and discounted signature dishes like Seafood Chowder and fish tacos. Read more.
The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen has created an entire cake made out of grilled cheese sandwiches that you can order from either of their shops. Read more.
start with the shooters. and then the porterhouse will be the softest, most delicious thing you'll ever have
Serves up beignets stuffed with crawfish, apple or chocolate, & goodies like shrimp over cheddar grits. The po' boys here are as yummy as anything you could find in the Big Easy. Read more.
It's classy, it's dark and it's delicious. Bone marrows are off the hook. Bring a date and show her how you bone down marrows.
Nick Balla & Cortney Burns make food that sounds improbable-Hungarian dishes with Japanese influences--but tastes remarkable. Bonus: They make pickles, spices, sodas, cured meats & cheeses in house. Read more.
The prosciutto ice cream is imbued with the flavor of pork, but it’s completely smooth and lucid and wonderful. - Mike Thelin, Unique Eats
The food is classically NorCal and produce-centric, with many ingredients grown exclusively for the restaurant on small farms. Plus, wine and decor are both on point. Read more.
Fantastic tour guide! This is a great way to see the slough and learn about sea otters, shore birds and seals in their natural habitat.
One of the most beautiful restaurant I have ever have dinner in. Great ambience. Lovely scenery. The cable car to get to the restaurant is so cute.
No fair-weather fritters or twists here— each confection is made to order. Pick your donut, fill it up (w/ fruit, jam, Nutella, or even cheese), choose a glaze, and top it off (candy, nuts, bacon).
Tiny brasserie, the cheapest ticket to Paris from LA. Wonderful snails, steak frites and crème brûlée.
See Marilyn Monroe's million-dollar dress, Rocky's boxing gloves, Hannibal Lecter's jail cell and many more treasures from the museum's 10,000-piece collection of Hollywood history.
Originally Max Factor studios, the Hollywood Museum still has the famous 'color rooms' designed to bring out the best in any hair color.
Great selection of natural juices, smoothies and salads! You seldom get to eat something healthy which tastes real good.
Ippuku is amazing. Takes me back to a robot grill I enjoyed in Osaka... Corn, bluelake beans, grilled mochi in nori, bacon-wrapped tomatoes, and hard-to-find beers from Japan... Love the cedar!
Everything is Authentic except the prices. (more expensive than comparable spots in Tokyo)
Great selections of wine. Don't be shy to ask for some sampling and advice in wine drinking.
While it's a bit on the pricey side, they do offer a really good selection of local beer and wine. Worth a visit.
Try a wine flight. They put a series of wines together so you can enjoy several in one evening.
See the beautiful renovation and views! If you're motivated you can launch a hike up into Land's End Trail from here. Otherwise have a cocktail and then stroll down the beach to see the kites.
Sun-seekers, runners, dog-walkers, and kiteboarders come to this scenic bay-front beach and promenade. Pass through the restored tidal marsh en route to the Warming Hut, a cozy stop for lunch.
Take a dip in the clothing optional hot baths and head to the spa for a massage. Ahhh Bliss
Even if just driving through Big Sur (Shame!) stop for a drink or coffee at Ventana Inn a seat on the outside terrace...the view & magical feeling are a clue to why this is in my top 10 Special Places Read more.
Beautiful. On the ocean side, you can see McWay Falls, and inland, you can hike Ewoldson Trail - super dusty 4.5 mile uphill loop.
A quick, nice stop on the way to other places. Park on the side of the road (many other cars will have done the same) to avoid the unnecessary park fee.
You absolutely MUST stop here. The views are breathtaking and the waterfall is an added bonus.
Not your average hike! The canyon walls are pretty magical, like a hanging garden. Challenging hike up & over fallen trees, prepare for wet shoes!
Ask to be seated in the open-roofed patio overlooking the dunes and split a warm cinnamon roll and spicy breakfast sandwich for a sweet-and-savory start to your day. Read more.
You can park along the highway for free if you don't want to pay $10 for parking.
Must do in big sur. The waterfall trail to see mcway falls is an easy short walk really. Canton trail is beautiful too. Pay $10 to park inside. There's absolutely no network so come prepared.
Here you'll find some 20 Belgian, German, & domestic beers on tap & the same number of inventive sausages. Round out your order w/ a Filipino Maharlika-it's sweet & savory w/ a snappy natural casing. Read more.
The acai bowl is huge so know you’re going to struggle finishing it going in. Read more.
Get the flight. Try 4 flavors for $10. Chocolate chip cookie dough and coconut were our favorites!
The Portland-based ice creamery is known for their farmers-market driven flavors and wacky combos, and are the perfect treat to keep you cool during the heat wave. Read more.
This is one of two restaurants at the Line Hotel in Koreatown. Chef Roy Choi has brought his Korean-fusion food truck cuisine indoors. Well, almost—the restaurant is located in a greenhouse. Read more.
The tide pools and old castle and the fun waves and clear water! It's a long walk but it's all worth while
Great place to find healthy skincare and makeup. Lots of indie, handcrafted products. And plenty of free parking!
Best people watching. Those hanging out---nude sunbathers, vogue-ing youth--and the cross walk running through it adds a constant parade to the show.
It's a video shop that still has VHS, sells espresso, and the best hand-drawn signs out front. One day it's a David Lynch reference, the next it's a puking lion. Love this old Mission establishment!
Forget stale popcorn. This popular Mission spot has a full oyster bar and serves Cal/Med dishes with the movie, screened on a high brick wall on the patio.
They have amazing green tea bingsoo! I like it :D the matcha powder that filled from the top and throughout the inside, the condensed milk makes it even more better! The staffs were friendly too😄😄
Tired of the same old fro-yo? Head over to Cottonhi and try its famous cotton candy and soft serve creations ranging in flavors from lemonade to salted caramel. Read more.
Tourist tip: Not to be confused with shave ice, this is shaved ice cream! The black sesame is delicious and so are the add ons, like lychee jelly or honey boba - a unique, frozen treat!
Amazing fusion stylish shaved ice compare to the real Asian ones. But this is super good too! From an Asian, I'm telling you must try the Mochi! It's so good that I doubled it!!
Their ice cream sandwiches ($5 each) are yummy! Thai tea and Red velvet are my favorite. The jasmine one is good too. Their blue velvet cake ($5/slice) is so moist and served cold. Perfect with milk!
Hands down, the best place for boba tea in L.A. (and I've been to most places near Monterey Park). The almond and coconut milk teas are my favorites. Now I'm ready to explore the rest of the menu.
The best milk tea and boba by far. I went to Coco almost every day when I lived in China, and Coco's quality is always consistent.
My first bubble tea in LA : honey fluffy jasmine green tea with mango jelly and I love it!!
Delicious selection of bread puddings. Glazed donut is the most popular. Almond, soy, and coconut milk available for your coffee!
The made to order ice cream is awesome. The Rose and lavender ice creams are so delicious. It was so flavorful without being herb-y. The shaved ice are huge. Even the small one.
Farm to table experience to an extreme. Very pricey. I loved the experience and thought it was worth it. But I can see many people not appreciate it at all, especially those who seek big steak.
You can never go wrong with the earl grey pie. The honey lavender cheesecake is also delicious - give it a try if you're feeling adventurous!
Scenic high-mountain landscape. Glacial cirques, virgin forests, windswept alpine ridges, 2 subalpine lakes, a lush meadow, & panoramic vistas make this 1 of the finest & most memorable hikes in soCA
1 of Orange County's most popular riding spots.It's a unique combo of city & country land. Trails & roads crisscross area above Laguna Canyon Drive, & from the ridge, 4 other trails go into the park.
Great fishing at the lake if you brave the drive up. Don't look down! At great place to float tube but not really a place for boats.
Climb along a stream w a waterfall thru flower-covered meadows,past a string of lakes.Bordered by rugged peaks of the Glacier Divide & the Sierra Crest, it's a cross-country enthusiast’s paradise.
Undoubtedly, the hike is one of the most scenic in the Santa Ana Mountains. The hike passes under a multitude of trees, and crosses Holy Jim Creek many times before eventually reaching the falls. Read more.
Total biker bar...Sunday is live music. I like their Taco Tuesday sportbike night.
The ride from Ambassador Drive on the Bike Trail to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery amd back is scenic, with a few good uphill climbs and downhills, or extend your trip by doing the Lake Natoma Loop.
Arguably one of the most successful and beautifully paved bike paths in northern California, this 32-mile gem of a trail stretches from downtown Sacramento eastward to Folsom Dam. Read more.
Lake clementine "Dam" is the highlight of the hike!! You see the beautiful rainbow?
You’ll encounter raging rapids, soothing pools, a loud waterfall at a dam, and a tranquil lake. Start near the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River. Read more.
A favorite spot for those who like to go without clothing. Requires a gradual 6-mile hike or a steeper 2-mile one. The Deep Creek Hot Springs are quite a find and will amaze you once you get there. Read more.
Shhhhhhhhh... Do you hear that? Peace and Quiet never sounded so good! Where's my Corona?!
The beach is stabilized to some extent by minor rocky breaks in the shoreline & by extensive kelp beds offshore. At Sequit Point you’ll find good surfing, swimming, skin diving & cave/cove clusters. Read more.
Reservations are a must. All dogs are up for adoption! Chris here is a chihuahua mix who loves attention.
The menu—American food with a Louisiana accent—rarely changes. Svelte stars have been chowing down on crab cakes, fried chicken, and Cajun prime rib for years, or at least pretending to. Read more.
Best creole cuisine west of the Mississippi! Get there over the holidays for some gumbo, crawfish etouffee, or the seafood platter! Read more.
Opened 1969. South L.A. Creole restaurant opened by New Orlean’s transplants Harold & Belle Legaux. It was renovated in 1985.
Absolutely stunning! The Black Sand Beaches are amazing! Beautiful! Plan ahead as it's tiny and you are limited to restaurants. Awesome bar, Fish&Chips and 9 hole golfing along the airport runways.
Opened as the Prince in 1991. Originally was an outdoor garden cafe on 1927 & then turned into the elegantly French restaurant Windsor in 1949.
Good place for a hike amongst an incredible array of rare and endangered trees. Things bloom throughout the year, so there doesn't seem to be a bad time to visit.
Ask for the "treehouse" to stay the night. Lovely decorated luxury but simple wooden hut. Light up fireplace, switch off lights and enjoy the starry sky through the glass roof! Delicious organic food!
There are few better places to indulgent in complex moles than the massive restaurant that always manages to feel especially festive. Read more.
Great service and beautiful ambiance. Loved the ricotta gnudi, pasta al pomodoro, and (off menu special) pork fusilli.
The freshest ingredients and creative toppings each day make this gourmet ghetto favorite a must. Long lines at times, but with live music and great vibe, its well worth the wait.
This showstoppingly beautiful Malibu beach has earned its place with a storied past that includes stints as a whaling spot, a nudist beach and (on film) Tony Stark’s rad home. Read more.
The start of Cali’s oil boom is in this Santa Clarita field; this gusher started in 1876 and continued to produce oil for 114 yrs. Now it’s a ghost town named Mentryville, which includes hiking trails Read more.
One of the West Coast’s great structures—an office building that’s got wrought iron, Italian marble stairs and enough skylights to make it look part soaring cathedral and part Parisian alleyway. Read more.
This little grab-and-go eatery has innovative wraps where veggies hold everything together. The Asian-inspired Chicken wrap has organic chicken, carrots, celery, onion and cauliflower wrapped in nori. Read more.
You’re going to be missing your pasta, but you won’t miss the texture with the kelp noodles here, made into a non-dairy feast in “Alfredo” sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes and dehydrated mushrooms. Read more.
This Studio City place is waiting: Pan in past the red awning over a few sidewalk café tables, past the working fireplace and bookshelves to the back patio. Get the strawberry brioche French toast. Read more.
This just-opened spot is an outpost of the famed St.-Tropez bakery, and you’re getting the classic French treatment here: delicious open-faced tarts served on little marble tables. Read more.
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse is serving both creative and classic baked goods. Try the soon-to-be classic California Croissant, which is a croissant stuffed with salmon, nori, ginger, and wasabi. Read more.
Cruffin and feature donut flavors are announced on Instagram and Facebook on a weekly basis. There is 1 cruffin flavor and 2-3 donut flavors a day. 2 cruffins per person limit :)
Rooms vary in themes. Leather club chairs, lush draperies & dramatic iron candelabras combine with factory steel in this steampunk alternate reality. For cocktails try The Mistress ($14). Read more.
35-cent Cocktail Nights are the best! Wed-Fri Happy Hour. FREE Burlesque show every other Thursday. This was Cheap Date Idea #97 on my blog. Read more.
Amazing gallery space, esp of you're into Dark Art. Try to catch the infamously annual Conjoined group show in February, curated by the incredible dark artist, Chet Zar.
Awesome experience. You'll want to get the speed pass. Wait times can exceed 2 hours for the popular attractions.
The little storefront next door "Cookbook No. 2" offers classes and seminars. Pick up a snack at the main store before class. Read more.
Unbelievably good vegan food. The spicy udon blew me away. As did the Petit Syrah. Great service.
