Destination focus • August 2017
LA: five reasons to visit now
The City of Angels offers year-round sunshine, cinematic landscapes and a California cool vibe, but they are not the only reasons why seasoned travellers flock to the shining star of the US West Coast. Thanks to a flourishing contemporary art scene, exciting culinary imports and colourful neighbourhoods, there is more to LA than meets the eye, says native Angeleno Krista Simmons
Culinary imports
Respected chefs and restaurateurs from around the country have come to recognise Los Angeles as ground zero for expansion, especially in burgeoning downtown LA. Newcomers to the neighbourhood later this year will include Daniel Humm and Will Guidara’s NoMad Los Angeles and San Francisco’s Tartine Manufactory. And at the City Market South, you’ll find a mix of locals and imports, such as modern Italian restaurant Rossoblu (pictured) and soon-to-open Slanted Door, helmed by top chef Charles Phan.
Contemporary culture fix
Last year’s opening of The Broad (pictured) was the talk of the modern art world, and there are more contemporary cultural coups for the city this year: The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles – the only kunsthalle, or non-collecting art museum, in Southern California – opens this autumn, while Guess co-founders Paul and Maurice Marciano’s Marciano Art Foundation features work by Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning and Cindy Sherman.
Neighbourhood watch
Los Angeles prides itself on its diverse ethnic neighbourhoods, being home to large populations of Koreans, Iranians and Filipinos, which not only results in a dynamic, culturally rich landscape, but also fantastic foodie offerings. Consider a culinary crawl through Koreatown and Tehrangeles, as well as tucking in at modern downtown Filipino spots such as Ricebar or Lasa (pictured).
Suite dreams
Top-notch accommodations are booming in the city, with more than 4,000 new hotel rooms set to become available by January 2018. There is something for every price range, from ultra-luxe Nobu Ryokan (pictured), which overlooks the Malibu coastline, to downtown’s Freehand Hotel, complete with design-forward, budget-friendly shared bunks as well as private rooms.
Go car-less
LA is known for its car culture, but there are plenty of ways to explore without a vehicle. Hop on a bike for CicLAvia (pictured), where the city closes down miles of streets for cyclists – the August event will take place in San Pedro. Or take advantage of bike share programmes and explore neighbourhoods such as Santa Monica or downtown LA without worrying about the city’s notorious traffic jams.
British Airways flies to LA from London Heathrow, including a service on the A380. Find out how many Avios you need to get there using the Avios calculator
This article has been tagged Destination, Travel Tips