The LA Series: West Hollywood

There is something about summer; the sea breeze running through my hair, the sun on my back, my feet in the sand. None of this I could find in London which remains cold, wet and depressing until the final week of August so after hearing of work opportunities in the land of smoothie bowls and yoga, I took the first plane out to Los Angeles.

Whilst living out of coffee shops and spin classes for over a month, I realized how much easier it would have been If I had been given a guide of these places. So, I decided to compile one myself. Here is the first of my four LA day diaries, starting with West Hollywood, aka, Weho. 

The slightly less ostentatious, vegan cousin of Beverly Hills can be marked by two predominant features: fresh pressed juice bars and the population of Alo Yoga collection-wearing millennials. However, beneath the swarms of influencers and SoulCycle devotees is a neighbourhood rich with culture (and a million and one places to get açaí bowls).

7 AM

I started the morning with a sweaty forty-five-minute climb at Rise Nation. A newer addition to the LA fitness scene, it is quickly garnering a devoted fan base, including Jennifer Aniston. After recovering from a combination of sore muscles and vertigo, I towelled off and headed out to breakfast to make up the lost calories.

8:30 AM

I beat the crowds by arriving soon after the doors opened at Republique. With dark wooden interiors, ornamented tiled floors, and lines of chocolate and banana brioche tempting me as I entered, it wasn’t too hard to imagine that I was actually lounging in the courtyard of a Marrakech hotel.

With such an ambitious breakfast menu ranging from kimchi fried rice with beef short ribs and soft farm eggs to classic French toast with Vermont maple syrup, you would think there was vast room for error. However, with the exception of making us order all variants of the croissant, co-owner Margarita Manzke can seemingly do no wrong. Make sure you try the Shakshouka: a delectable combination of Brussel sprouts, stewed tomato, bell pepper, za’atar, yoghurt, fried egg and freshly baked baguette. And, if Middle Eastern food isn’t your morning vibe, try the pupusa: an experimental Mexican breakfast of squash blossoms, mushrooms, avocado, black beans, Oaxacan cheese and fried egg.

11 AM

Once I got my head over how good breakfast was, I perfected my Instagram story filter for it and headed to Melrose Avenue for a walk around some of LA’s most coveted shops. This month, Glossier has taken over a temporary space on the famous road, stocked with its classic products and some ones I have never seen online. Given the cultish status of the brand, the pop-up shop fills up pretty quickly, so be sure to get there with time to spare.

If Glossier and the plethora of shops out of most people’s price range don’t fulfil your shopping needs, re-caffeinate yourself at Alfred’s Coffee shop (one of the only LA coffee shops with oat milk) or their recently opened tea room across the street. Its pink walls adorned with kitsch quotes are enough of a reason to go, even if a hot drink isn’t your cup of tea.

2 PM

I found my way to Third Street for lunch at the stereotypical LA’s Joan’s on Third. A hub for the beautiful, the famous and those trying too hard to be both, Joan’s is as good for the people watching as it is for the food. The salad bowls are by far the best tasting and the best value on the menu. I always go for the butter lettuce salad with feta, dried cranberries and grilled chicken.

For those braving a juice cleanse or simply craving a smoothie bowl, Kreation Juice is only a few doors down from Joan’s. With an iPad menu of hundreds of smoothies, shakes, bowls and elixir shots, the flower covered café makes eating healthy a little easier.

4 PM

I spent the rest of my afternoon browsing the designer boutiques along Third Street, taking my sweet time window shopping at Annie Bing (the queen of modernist chic) before traversing one or two streets to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Walking around David Hockey’s current exhibition and sitting in the museum park behind was just the breather I needed. However, if museums just aren’t your thing and you’d rather continue shopping, take a quick Uber to Fairfax and browse hundreds of streetwear stores. Disclaimer: I would avoid Supreme unless you enjoy two-hour lines with teenage boys who like to pretend they skate.

8 PM

Oh dinner, the final meal of the day…how sad! To get over the heartbreak of leaving Weho, I headed to Gracias Madre, and wiped away my tears away to prepare for the most delicious plant-based meal of your life. From burnt Brussel sprouts with walnut pesto to the best tacos in the area, the team behind the vegan Mexican restaurant have found the winning formula to make you forget you ever even liked meat. With a great outdoor patio and an even better tequila list, there is no better place to eat your night away.

12 AM

Drank too many tequila shots to call it a night at the restaurant? Move the party to Nightingale, a club that promises a night filled with remixes of your favourite hits and a great bar. The only downside is the pricey cover and drinks, but if you have any cash left to spare at the end of your day, this is definitely the place to spend it.

By Sophia Parvizi-Wayne

Duke Student, leader of national campaign on mental health, Cross Country All-ACC, fashion alchemist, Huffington Post writer, and all-around world-runnerI would love to hear your favorite places in Los Angeles to add to these guides! Please feel free to dm me on insta sophiapw_runs or email me at sophiapw97@gmail.com, as I would love to know what you guys like!