An Instagrammer’s Guide to LA

An Instagrammer’s Guide to LA

Although I travel often, most people are surprised to learn that this was my first time visiting a state other than New York. Despite spending 5 days in LA, which seems like a good chunk of time, I still feel like I have so much to see! Unlike New York, Toronto, or most cities in Europe, LA is spread out and basically has no public transportation system. If you visit, make sure you rent a car, or have a friend that can drive you around. Ubers can get very expensive unless you’re staying within your neighbourhood.

Before I get into my guide, I will say that there is more to LA than eating and drinking coffee. It has a robust nightlife, but being the grandma I am, I wasn’t interested in this aspect. I did go out on my first night to the Shangri-La for sunset, but that’s as wild as it got. There is so much to see and do that I plan on returning back to LA to see the Big Sur. So without further ado, here is an Instagrammer’s guide to LA:

Where to eat
Au FudgeSuper cute interior and killer avocado toast. Oh and it’s owned by Jessica Biel.

GjelinaThis Venice hotspot always has a lineup. If you don’t have a reservation, make sure you go early. Get the pizza and fries.

The Hart and the HunterAnother great spot for avocado toast. They also have a solid latte.

Malibu FarmI was staying in Santa Monica, so my friends decided to take me to Malibu one morning for lunch. The drive is breathtaking, I highly suggest you do it even if you’re not particularly hungry. Malibu Farm is situated right on the pier, and the view is absolutely unbeatable.

Sidecar DoughnutsGreat donuts and great coffee!

Ostrich FarmLocated in Echo Park, Ostrich Farm is a must-visit brunch spot. Everything we had was delicious, but the cinnamon bun french toast was a game changer.

Salt & StrawYour hunt for great ice cream is over. Every flavour is to die for!

Where to caffeinate
Blue Bottle Coffee
They have several locations and serve solid coffee. I went to the Venice location with a box of Blue Star donuts, something I highly recommend.

VerveVerve has several locations, but it’s a must-visit in terms of cafes.

Alfred’s Tea RoomYou cannot search ‘Instagrammable cafes in LA’ and not stumble upon Alfred’s Tea Room. I got the boba rose tea and though a little sweet, it was delicious.

Dinosaur CoffeeA really cute spot in Silver Lake.

Carrera CafeMonochromatic interior, gluten free doughnuts, and custom latte art? How can one possibly resist?

WoodcatWe happened to go here by chance while waiting for Ostrich Farm to open for brunch. The coffee was stellar.

The AssemblyI loved the friendly, warm vibe of this place. Not to mention the coffee was fantastic and the interior was on point.

Demitasse: My second favourite hot chocolate in the world after Angelina in Paris.

What to do
I stayed with my friend in Santa Monica, so that is mainly where I spent my time. Catch the sunset at the Shangri-La, which also offers a great view of the Santa Monica pier.

Walk around Melrose Place, where you will surely stumble upon Isabel Marant‘s beautiful store.

Get an ice cream from Salt & Straw and walk around Larchmont Village where you’ll find cute houses like this.

Take a walk down Abbott Kinney and hop in and out of the gorgeous boutiques.

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29 Comments

  1. Britta
    March 31, 2017 / 5:35 pm

    Omg!! This post is making me sooooo hungry 😋😋 everything looks so lovely and delicious!

  2. March 31, 2017 / 7:22 pm

    ‘Instagrammable cafes in LA’- I’m so out of it, I didn’t know that’s how you younguns roll. Well this is my first Instagram guide of a city and I loooved it. Looks like you did a lot in 5 days, but then you’re a pro at that innit. Have a lovely weekend hon. X

  3. miri
    March 31, 2017 / 11:19 pm

    Hi Siffat, your guide is amazing! I would love to try Gjelina and Verve. They look like amazing places. I hope we will make it to LA soon.
    X
    Miri

    http://currentlywearing.com

  4. April 1, 2017 / 5:06 pm

    Jessica Biel owns a restaurant?! How awesome! Looks like LA is just as amazing as it sounds 🙂

    Blessings,
    Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.com

  5. April 2, 2017 / 6:16 pm

    Such a lovely guide to LA, would love to visit! Also, enjoyed looking at all these stunning images 😉
    Nati xx
    http://www.simplyartdicted.com

  6. April 3, 2017 / 5:30 am

    Oh my goodness! So many instagram-worthy places! I’ve never been to LA but it’s definitely in my bucketlist. It seems like it has the laidback beach vibe that I just love so much! I think it’s a gorgeous place… And wow at the food! I am drooling over here.

    – Gretch of GG Memochou

  7. April 3, 2017 / 7:37 am

    omg I live in LA and this guide was even really helpful for me. Some of these places I havent even heard of and they look fantastic!

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

  8. April 3, 2017 / 1:10 pm

    Such a well thought out post, great inspo! Can’t wait to check out the places when i visit again.

    -Elefv
    http://www.elefv.com/

  9. April 3, 2017 / 1:51 pm

    OMG all of the food places look so good !!! I also liked the food & coffee scene in LA the most – we went to Alfred’s and some other places as well 🙂

    xxx
    Tina

    http://www.styleappetite.com

  10. April 3, 2017 / 1:57 pm

    This is such a great post filled with so many places!! It’s been a few years since I’ve been to LA and this is really making me wanna go explore again. Thank you so much for sharing!!

    Ciara
    http://www.ciarasalloum.com

  11. April 3, 2017 / 4:51 pm

    I am literally salivating right now. All the food looks so delish and the composition of your pics are on point as usual. It shows you had a fantastic time! I also like the approach of the post, focusing on the daytime activities, as I am also too old for party >.<

    Have a great week, Siffat 🙂

    Saida | She talks Glam

  12. April 3, 2017 / 5:13 pm

    I’ve been to LA several times but never to these spots. Thanks for the tips!

    ANOUK

  13. April 3, 2017 / 6:42 pm

    Omg! Everything looks incredibly delicious! I’ve never been to LA before, let alone Cali, so I’ve definitely bookmarked this page for future reference, I want to visit them all, haha. Thanks for sharing and I hope you’re having a great start to your week so far, girlie!

    XO,

    Jalisa
    http://www.thestylecontour.com

  14. April 3, 2017 / 8:51 pm

    So many beautiful places, the food and coffee look sooo good! 🙂 xx

  15. April 3, 2017 / 10:39 pm

    Well, I’ve now got all my avocado toast spots covered! I’ve only been to San Fran since my friend lives there so the LA area is on my list still.

    -M

    Violet Roots || Instagram

  16. Tamara
    April 4, 2017 / 5:02 am

    I love the pizza at Gjellina. And Salt & Straw is like my home aways from home, that place is soo good! I hope you’re enjoying Honolulu!

    XoXo,

    Tamara – LoveofMode.com

  17. April 5, 2017 / 2:21 am

    This is such a spot on post, Siffat! Even as an LA-resident, there are a few places on this list that I don’t normally frequent. I’ve got to check them out again for some Instagram-worthy shots!

  18. April 5, 2017 / 5:56 pm

    Wow,this post is amazing :)))

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