Intimidated by Los Angeles? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Stretched across more than 503 square miles, LA’s infinite sprawl and vast network of freeways frightens visitors to the point where many simply hunker down either at the beach or close to Hollywood tourist traps and seldom venture further. But when LA is understood as a collection of manageable neighborhoods (which in some cases are separate townships), suddenly the entire city becomes more approachable and, dare we say it, lovable. Here’s where to eat, sleep and play in the City of Angels.

Venice is one of LA’s must visit neighborhoods.

Venice

Gangs in Venice? Yeah, that was once a thing. What a difference a decade or two makes. This once scruffy beach community has gone from shabby to chic and is now the darling of the West LA beach scene. Think surfers and skaters alongside movie stars and tech moguls. A three-pronged approach to Venice includes strolling its Insta-worthy canals and waterways; sunbathing, people watching and tchotchke shopping along its famous boardwalk; and pretending like you’re shopping while secretly ogling celebrities on Abbot-Kinney, the area’s boho-chic shopping boulevard.

EAT: Trendy eateries like Gjenlia, Felix and Great White are the darlings of the city’s dining scene, as are hipster chains like Blue Bottle Coffee and Portland-based ice creamery Salt & Straw.
SLEEP: Venice caters to young and affluent party people. Pick the Hotel Erwin for beach boardwalk bliss and the Kinney if you don’t mind being inland.

Santa Monica’s beach and boardwalk are charmingly irresistible.

Santa Monica

Technically its own city, Santa Monica is nevertheless synonymous with LA. It’s easy to see why. The 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier are beloved tourist haunts. Skip both and instead peruse the charming shops and cafes lining less-visited Main Street, give your gams a workout running up and down the Santa Monica Stairs and swing by roadside oddball Camera Obscura Art Lab. Of course, the real draw is the beach, and we’ll forgive you for wanting nothing more than to sunbathe along the city’s 3.5-miles of gorgeous coastline.

EAT: Meat on Ocean (or MOO, get it?) offers surf and turf with a view; do Little Ruby at lunch and check out the parmesan cheese pasta wheel at Forma.
SLEEP: For luxury and ocean views, check out Casa Del Mar and Loews Santa Monica; for cheaper sleeps go for the excellent Gateway Hotel.

Malibu definitely lives up to its fame.

Malibu

Disappointed by the underwhelming Walk of Fame and overhyped Rodeo Drive? Get yourself to Malibu, where there’s no such thing as a bad day. Stereotyped as a popular zip code for the rich and famous, in reality Malibu can be a down-to-earth and relaxed haven thanks to its 27 miles of accessible coastline. Spend a morning enjoying the Cal-chic vibes at Trancas Country Market and grab some snacks for either a day of surf and sun at stunning El Matador State Beach or hiking around Solstice Canyon and Malibu Creek State Park.

EAT: At sunset, snag a table at one of the city’s ocean-facing mainstays like kitschy seafood palace Paradise Cove Beach Café or Hawaiian-themed Duke’s Malibu.
SLEEP: The Malibu Beach Inn is downright sublime and for a luxury vacation rental with the perks and amenities of a hotel, check out the surf chic at Native.

Photo courtesy of The London

West Hollywood

Teensy WeHo enjoys a privileged status as a separate township smack in the middle of LA. Part of its charm is that it’s far from freeways and close to the Hills — which explains why young Hollywood loves it. Sundays at mega flea market Melrose Trading Post are a must (followed by a selfie in front of the Paul Smith Pink Wall)— but so is boozing and sunbathing poolside at a glam Sunset Strip hotel like the new Jeremy or the Mondrian Los Angeles. Don’t miss raucous gay bingo at Hamburger Mary’s or the city’s best standup at the Comedy Store.

EAT: It’s not easy snagging a table at Gracias Madre, thanks to its delicious vegan Mexican and amazing people watching; Norah is elegant without being pretentious; Jones serves tasty Italian until 2 a.m. — a bona fide rarity in LA.
SLEEP: The London might have the prettiest rooftop in all WeHo and is quieter than Sunset Strip party hotels like Grafton on Sunset and the Standard.

Photo courtesy of Mama Shelter

Hollywood

Thanks to the LA subway system (yes, there is one!), a neighborhood once synonymous with the movie business (most of which is long gone) has been reborn as a pedestrian enclave friendly to both tourists and locals alike. It’s fine to spend a few hours snapping pics in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater and following the Walk of Fame, but locals will tell you to have a martini at retro eatery Musso & Frank, see a live show at the superb Hollywood Bowl and do a movie under the stars — and among the dead — at Hollywood Forever Cemetery by Cinespia.

EAT: Your options are limitless, but good luck with parking. Trois Mec and Gwen are the nabe’s heaviest hitters; grab a lobster roll at the Hungry Cat before hitting up a flick at the ArcLight and Pie Hole has the best — you guessed it — pies in Los Angeles.
SLEEP: The new Dream Hollywood is a beautiful hotel attracting an even more beautiful crowd; hip and budget-oriented Mama Shelter has one of the best and busiest rooftops in town while the Hollywood Roosevelt, which opened in 1927, is as classic and cool as it gets.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Normandie

K-Town

One of LA’s busiest and most congested neighborhoods is ironically where people come to relax. That’s because Koreatown is full of 24-hour bathhouses where Angelenos soak their weary bones after sitting in traffic all day. Wi Spa is the most famous of the bunch, but it has many worthy competitors. Afterward, stroll around lovely MacArthur Park (technically in nearby Westlake Village) then join the queues for mouthwatering pastrami sandwiches at ancient Langer’s Deli. Best of all, the Purple Line subway cuts through the entire ‘hood.

EAT: Here’s Looking at You offers inventive New American fare, but if it’s Korean BBQ you want, don’t miss Road to Seoul or Quarters.
SLEEP: The Line Hotel is the reigning champ of buzzy K-Town crash pads, while the Normandie Hotel is an elegant city icon.

Silver Lake

Perhaps the most hipster neighborhood in all of California, artsy Silver Lake can best be understood as a neon-free land of hilltop bungalows occupied by rising-star screenwriters, actors and musicians who eschew the over-groomed plasticity of the West Side. The Silver Lake Reservoir is full once again, which means a morning jog around it is a must. Indie artisans and local farmers hawk their goods every Tuesday and Saturday at the Silver Lake Farmers Market, but save time to stroll Sunset Blvd where the real shopping and dining awaits.

EAT: Locals are abuzz over Israeli joint Mh Zh; both Sawyer and Kettle Black are terrific neighborhood eateries; Botanica epitomizes Cal-fresh cuisine; and soft-serve at Magpie’s is a must!
SLEEP: A low-rise ‘hood, Silver Lake isn’t big on lodging. Sanborn Guest House is a B&B-style oasis in the heart of the ‘hood. It may not ooze charm, but the Comfort Inn is both cheap, right on Sunset and smack in the middle of literally everything.

Echo Park

The scruffy sibling to nearby Silver Lake, it should surprise no one that Echo Park is quickly gentrifying. In addition to having pretty Echo Park Lake as its centerpiece, it’s also a mere stone’s throw (in LA terms) from Dodger’s Stadium, Chinatown and Downtown Los Angeles. Do stroll around the lake and take in a baseball game (this could be their year!), but also sit at the park bench in Hermosa Park and admire the view of downtown’s skyscrapers, run along the LA River (not technically in Echo Park, but close enough) and guzzle brews at Mohawk Bend.

EAT: Pizza is big here. Think Chicago-style deep dish at Masa’s or irresistible thin crust at Cosa Buona. For a true throwback, French eatery Taix (family owned since 1927) is the real deal.
SLEEP: Intimate Noon on Sunset Hill oozes breezy SoCal charm and is housed inside the LA bungalow of our dreams, while Dodger fans on a budget may want to check out the America’s Best Value Inn, a short ride share from the stadium.

Grand Central Market

DTLA

What a difference a decade can make! Once synonymous with the slums of Los Angeles, downtown LA has come roaring back and has a Whole Foods to prove it. Ride Angel’s Flight (the shortest funicular in the world) down the hill to sprawling food hall Grand Central Market; marvel at the interior of nearby Bradbury Building (featured in Blade Runner); get lost in good lit at the iconic Last Bookstore; wander the Arts District in search of the perfect selfie; and end the day with a cocktail at boozy beverage fun house Clifton’s Cafeteria.

EAT: Skip overrated Bottega Louie in favor of Asian-fusion treasures at Little Sister, thrilling veggie fare at PYT or innovative Indian at Badmaash.
SLEEP: The Nomad is the hottest place to sleep in town right now, while the budget-oriented Freehand is perfect if you’re young, broke and cool. The tallest building in LA, the views at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown are eye popping.

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Jason Heidemann, Travelocity Staff Writer

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