1. Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · Mid-City West · 233 tips and reviews
Gabe Rose: Go for the rabbit spring rolls, ribs, ox tail poutine (essentially gravy fries), and veal brains. You haven't lived until you've tried veal brains.
Kat Witt: Belly Sliders, Crispy Rabbit, Petit Basque are all phenomenal. The acoustics aren't well planned, the room is extremely noisy and makes conversation difficult for any party greater than 4.
Travel Channel: Animal is a carnivore-centric restaurant specializing in all those good bits. Tony Bourdain tried marrow bone, chicken hearts, hamachi tostada, coconut sweetbreads, pig tails and crispy rabbit legs.
2. Samy's Camera
8.3
431 S Fairfax Ave (btwn Drexel & Colgate), Los Angeles, CA
Camera Store · Mid-City West · 42 tips and reviews
Michael Camacho: Rabbit punch a DSLR sales representative.
LA Weekly: Huge selection of consumer and professional cameras and everything photography related. Skip the elevator and take the stairs to check out the displays of rare Rock'n'Roll photos in the stairwell! Read more.
Brian Rodda: Sometimes these guys have soooo much attitude...and sometimes not. It's hit or miss I say, but the products are amazing!
3. El Rey Theatre
8.7
5515 Wilshire Blvd (at Burnside Ave.), Los Angeles, CA
Concert Hall · Mid-City West · 84 tips and reviews
Shil Pa: Great concert venue, intimate with just enough space
Bravo: Mid-sized concert venue that has the best of the new music coming through. Get tickets when you can. Don’t worry who is playing, it will be great. -Mark Peel, Top Chef
Darren Kim: No matter what. Stay behind the black lines!!!! :)
4. The Bazaar by José Andrés
465 S LA Cienega Blvd (at San Vicente Blvd), Los Angeles, CA
Tapas Restaurant · Mid-City West · 255 tips and reviews
James C: Amazing experience try the guacamole tapas and modern olives. Be risky it's worth it.
Showtime Network: Liquid nitrogen Caipirinha! Love the decor at SLS. very interesting dining experience. Love the Philly cheese steak. It's like an delicious explosion in your mouth. -Francine, The Real L Word
Bloomingdale's: A slam-fest for just about all the senses, from the surreal décor by Philippe Starck to the equally surreal, small-plate sensations by a molecular gastronomy master. Don’t ask – just eat.
Auntie Karen: Come for the drinks and the breeze at Stark Bar. Great gin selection. Great proper bar!
The Most Interesting Man in the World: At the LACMA Café, I absent-mindedly rearranged the ingredients of my fruit salad into a smiling face. I returned from the restroom to discover my creation had been awarded Best in Show.
Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest encyclopedic museum west of Chicago, with a collection of more than 100,000 works
6. Cinefamily
611 N Fairfax Ave (at Melrose Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Indie Movie Theater · Mid-City West · 45 tips and reviews
LAist: Who says that film culture has to be stuffy and boring? Cinefamily's hodgepodge of events includes live performances, midnight movies, animation, and the definition-defying Everything Is Festival. Read more.
LA Weekly: Nowhere else in LA can you find programming this weird, wild and wonderful! Known for their epic Halloween party, 24 hour Telethon, frequent celebrity guests & the least common movies & events in LA! Read more.
LA Weekly: LA Weekly's Best of LA 2010 pick - Weirdest, Coolest, Most Unsilent Silent Movie Theater!
Neal U.: Pampas Grill = Cheap, amazing Brazilian food. Make sure to try the Russian bakery too.
The Most Interesting Man in the World: I prefer picking an exotic piece of fruit myself, however dangerous the circumstances, but the quality and selection of tastes here might be worth risking your life for as well, should it be crowded.
Bravo: A small glimpse into Old Hollywood with produce stands and lots of really good food stalls. -Danielle Keene, Top Chef Just Desserts
9. The Grove
9.1
189 The Grove Dr (at W 3rd St), Los Angeles, CA
Shopping Mall · Mid-City West · 661 tips and reviews
Jessica: Very very pretty! A great place for a casual date. They have a bit of everything: shopping, movies, restaurants, farmer's market, scenic fountain, etc.
HISTORY: The Grove opened in 2002 and has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Los Angeles ever since.
Ellen DeGeneres: This is a great place to visit when you're in L.A. It's just like an orange grove, but instead of oranges, you can pick designer clothes and funny outfits for your iPhone.
10. Milk
7290 Beverly Blvd (at Poinsettia Pl), Los Angeles, CA
Dessert Shop · Mid-City West · 248 tips and reviews
Danny Vigil: Try the ice cream macaron sandwich and dulce de leche latte. You have to wait in line like 30min or so. But its worth it! 🍧☕️
Food Network: When I'm in LA, I like to cool off at MILK with a Brownie Sundae. – Chef Anne Thornton, Dessert First
LA Weekly: Featured in LA Weekly's "30 Scoops in 30 Days" Read more.
11. The Hart + The Hunter
7950 Melrose Ave (at N Hayworth Ave), Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · Mid-City West · 82 tips and reviews
Alison: So delicious! Come early to avoid crowds. Butter biscuits live up to their reputation, and the grits are divine!
Los Angeles Times: The South filtered through the not-South: fried chicken skin served with hand-made Tabasco, a hot biscuit with a spoonful of pimento cheese or a steaming bowl of black-eyed peas. Read more.
Ronni Davis: Amazing! The Brussels sprouts and the chicken liver was to die for! Everything was good.
12. New Beverly Cinema
9.0
7165 Beverly Blvd (at Formosa Ave.), Los Angeles, CA
Indie Movie Theater · Mid-City West · 52 tips and reviews
987LA: FYI: Cash only. Also FYI: Cherry Coca Cola ON TAP. Love this super hip theater with cheap entertainment- always shows great alternative movies, from art house stuff to grindhouse, to cult classics. Read more.
Samuel Johnson: No longer cash only. God bless.
Mike Breiburg: Please do not kick the seat in front of you, unless the person in it checks the time on their LIT UP CELL PHONE during the movie. Then it's okay to kick their seat until they put their phone away.
14. The Village Idiot
7.8
7383 Melrose Ave (at Martel Ave.), Los Angeles, CA
Gastropub · Mid-City West · 131 tips and reviews
Flo: Nice atmosphere and kind waiters. Food is great - beer choices are awesome!
Dina Sakr: I could spend all day at this place - great location and great food.
AskMen: Locals flock here to share a few pints with their mates & dine on classic pub fare, from fish’n’chips to mussels. The nights are packed, making for a lively atmosphere. So grab a barstool & have fun. Read more.