I’ve just returned from L.A.—here are my top spots for dining, shopping, and my packing recommendations.

      I’ve always been the type of person who conducts extensive research prior to a trip—perhaps too much, to be honest. However, this thorough preparation enhances my travel experience since I arrive with a curated list of places to visit, allowing me to be more engaged when I’m there. This was particularly true for my recent month-long stay in Los Angeles.

      Given how vast and dispersed L.A. is, I approached my visit with over 500 saved spots (yes, I know) and recognized that I wouldn’t be able to visit them all. I also sought recommendations from my close friends who live there and from our Who What Wear editors based in L.A.—I wanted to discover their top choices—so I had plenty of places to choose from.

      Additionally, L.A. is very much shaped by its neighborhoods, influencing your activities while there. Since I was based in Silver Lake, most of my adventures took place on the East side. However, I still have much of the West side to explore, aside from a day I spent in Malibu at El Matador State Beach.

      While I didn’t manage to visit The Magic Castle, Tower Bar, or Wii Spa this time, I did enjoy time at the ocean, discovered new neighborhoods, took weekend trips to Laguna Beach and Lake Arrowhead, explored the Hollywood Reservoir, and wandered through the mansions of Beverly Hills. Below is an extensive list of my favorite spots for shopping and dining, along with packing suggestions.

      We all have our quirky pet peeves, and one of mine is walking into a random restaurant only to find it mediocre. I generally do my homework by checking recommendations from people I follow on TikTok, magazines, and Substacks I read, as well as insights from those whose opinions I value.

      As I mentioned earlier, being in Silver Lake, most of my recommendations lean towards the East side. If I had to highlight just a few standout restaurants from my culinary adventures, they would be Barra Santos, Greekman's, and Found Oyster, with the top dessert being the gelato from Bacio di Latte. My favorite matcha and coffee came from Rōk, and I was fortunate to be within walking distance of two famous L.A. breakfast spots (known for their long lines): Courage Bagels and Sqirl. The Win-Dow became my favorite late-night dessert destination for a salted caramel dipped cone, and Tacos Delta was conveniently located nearby for quick Mexican food. If you’re after the trendiest place in Silver Lake, Bar Secco is where the crowd spills onto the sidewalk. Plus, I made it a point to visit the Silver Lake Farmers Market every Saturday for tamales, onigiri, and fresh juice. The Hollywood Farmers Market is also fantastic if you’re in town on a Sunday.

      I spent considerable time in Los Feliz as well, where Wilde's, Little Dom's, La Pergoletta, All Time, and Best Fish Taco in Ensenada stood out. In Highland Park, I enjoyed Hermon's and Villas Tacos.

      With our offices located in West Hollywood, Pantry became my go-to lunch spot, where I first sampled Beverly Hills Juice. Across the city, I loved Sushi Gen, Pace, Saffy's, Bub & Grandma's, Wake & Late, Playita Mariscos, Handles Coffee, Holbox, and Jitlada.

      For a quintessential L.A. dinner perfect for celebrations or date night, Musso & Frank is the ultimate choice. For Chinese cuisine, I recommend Panda Inn—the original sit-down restaurant from which Panda Express was derived. And of course, an L.A. food list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Erewhon. I indulged in flourless chocolate cakes multiple times and tried a juice containing broccoli. Regrettably, I left without purchasing a $143 Erewhon-branded tote bag, but perhaps next time.

      If you have the opportunity to venture outside the city, Laguna Beach makes for a convenient day trip where I received excellent recommendations from our Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen. Search for the luxury hotel Montage in Maps for breathtaking views, stroll down to Treasure Island Beach, and dine at AhbA, Nick's (or South of Nick's), or Papa's Tacos. I also made a weekend getaway to Lake Arrowhead, where I visited Cedar Glen Malt Shop and Mandarin Garden if you find yourself there. Ojai or Cambria are additional recommendations for other options.

      I’ve saved even more places for my next visit: Anajak Thai, Badmaash, Bar Bestie, Bavel, Bestia, Cafe Stella, Cafe Triste, Casa Leo, Chainsaw Cafe, Dudley Market, Dunsmoor, Felix, Figaro Bistrot, Fosters Freeze, Genghis Cohen, Giorgio Baldi, Gjelina, Henrietta, Jones, Lolo Wine Bar, Marvin, Max & Helen's, Miya Miya Shawarma, RVR