Venice attracts a mixed crowd; and this café, which arrived on Abbot Kinney long before most of its neighbours, is no exception. Affluent home-owners mix with starving artists;...

Located in a seen-better-days strip mall, Alegria transcends its unbecoming location and drab interior with some lively and agreeably messy Mexican food. The dinners are good,...

Over at West LA's Apple Pan, diners ring a U-shaped counter to inhale burgers slathered with hickory sauce. However, the burgers aren't anything to write home about. For a more...

Despite the name, this Chinatown spot serves more than just noodles: the house speciality is the spicy, slightly sour soup called sinigang, and the kitchen is also known for...

The name of this cheap but very cheerful hostel is slightly naughty, since it's not in West Hollywood at all. Still, the location is nonetheless excellent: close to both WeHo...

The name of this cheap but very cheerful hostel is slightly naughty, since it's not in West Hollywood at all. Still, the location is nonetheless excellent: close to both WeHo...

This unpretentious hotel underwent decorative renovations recently. Although it's still modestly furnished, it offers something most other Santa Monica hotels don't: free...

For a full education in the range of Thai sweets, visit this bakery.

The dim-lit Bourgeois Pig lives on a stretch of Franklin Avenue in Hollywood that's particularly hip right now, thanks in no small part to the presence nearby of the Upright...

Buster's only adds to the quaint aura of charming South Pasadena. The menu includes everything from simple drip coffees to elaborate sundaes (made with LA's favourite ice...

Cacao is all tiki, all the time. OK, so there's also some UFO paraphernalia, but it's mostly an island-themed spot. Plain old coffee is available; however, the proprietors have...

After a long run as a budget beach hostel, the pink Cadillac has been transformed into a boutique hotel by a new team. All the rooms, the lobby and the lounge have been...

This much-cherished Cuban café in Silver Lake offers coffee, extra-sweet pastries and lovely empanadas (meat pies). With its cosy and earnest Cuban American vibe, it's a...

This fairly basic and unpretentious little café can get lost amid the flash and glitz of the luxury emporiums around it. However, if you're looking for a cheap pick-me-up after...