There’s enough to do out here to fill 300 pages—but here are our top three picks in a few categories.
To Eat.
-
Cocina Vino (fka The Kitchen)
Our all time favorite brunch spot in LA. Never a line. Always a smiling face. Many a cute dog. If you want to know what a Sunday morning looks like in the Bechtle/Evans household…. well here you go. Highly recommend a walk around by Echo Park Lake after you dine.
-
Delia's Restaurant
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Delia and her family for many years! Not only does she have the best breakfast burrito in town (we’re also partial to the machaca), her and her family are a community cornerstone and have one of the most delightful garden retreats in town!
-
Belle's
We rarely venture more than 100 feet away from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, but even if we could travel millions of miles away we would always return to Belles for the bagels, latkes, melty tuna melts, and best fried pickles in all the land. Try and spot a special Bob Baker cameo on the photo wall….
To Do.
-
Vidiots
It’s magical. It’s movies. It’s analog photo booth and a zillion rows of DVDs all available to rent. There’s nowhere else we’d rather be on a Friday (or Saturday, or Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday….) night than in this once-vaudeville theatre turned state of the art movie house and film archive.
-
Hollyhock House
All of our LA dreams came true when we were invited in the midst of the pandemic to co-program with the Hollyhock House (a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece and the only UNESCO heritage site in LA). We still think it has one of the best views of the city, and highly recommend a tour if it lines up!
-
Museum of Jurassic Technology
The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles, California is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic. Just go see for yourself one of our favorite places (that just so happens to have the best people in LA working there too).
To Drink.
-
Galco's Soda Pop Stop
A one-of-a-kind legendary Highland Park shop with over 500 sodas from around the world. From rose water pop to classic root beer, it’s a fizzy wonderland where everyone can find a favorite. We’ve spent many a summer afternoon wandering the aisles here.
-
Idle Hour
Did you really even come to LA if you didn’t check out some programmatic architecture? One of our favorite bars, beautifully and lovingly preserved by Bobby Green and his team. Enjoy a cocktail or four, or a fantastic weekend brunch, inside of a giant old wooden barrel.
-
Beer & Pinball at Walt's
We guess this could also go under “to eat” but Walt’s is so much more than that. It’s our midday best hot dog in town, our evening drinks with friends, and an aggressive pinball match with enemies. From birthdays to weddings to all in between… if we weren’t at our wedding we’d be here.