Estelle

LA and Estelle. A city and woman that needs no introduction. In a city filled to the brim with things to do and places to see, it can be hard to know where to start. Grammy-award winning musician, Estelle, has adopted this sunny city as her home and shared with us her most favourite spots to help you navigate this maze of creativity and cool.

United States

Good weather is an added bonus to the otherwise kaleidoscopic, if not overwhelming, array of possibilities—culturally, architecturally, or gastronomically—that await you in this four-million-strong city. The possibilities are endless for those willing to peel back the layers of the city and allow its oddities, contradictions, and soul to guide them.

What's The Deal On

Intro

Cultural History 

The best grub is often tucked in the strip mall

Food & Drink

Unless you want the beach, avoid the westside

Hoods 

Airbnb’s are much more expensive than they used to be

Accomodation

Drugs

L.A. has public transport, but it’s patchy

Local Transport 

Being Queer in LA

Racism exists, but can operate in more subtle ways

Race

If travelling longer distances at night, stick to rideshare 

Solo Travel 

Big-city common sense is the name of the game

Safety 

“To Protect and to Serve” in theory but not in practise 

The Police

Etiquette and Cultural Values

Besides brief, historic uprisings, L.A. is mostly peaceful 

Political Situation 

Spots

The Best Places to Explore in Los Angeles

Guides

Local Guides From Our Community 

Watch

Explore Los Angeles

Features

Los Angeles 

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Healthy coffee shop in the heart of Leimert Park - the best place in Los Angeles to be.

Coffee Shop

Harun Coffee, Leimert Park

A little outside of the norm beach scope, but popular as its cleaner than Santa Monica.

Beach

Zuma Beach

Healthy vegan and non-vegan eats in South LA. Also, West Indian food and general fare.

Black-Owned

Cafe

Swift Cafe

Brunch on a Sunday with LEGENDARY DAMON - the perfect COVID compliant rooftop brunch. Gorgeous scenery, great music - good private vibe.

Rooftop

Cocktails

Harriet's Rooftop Bar

SHABBAAAA - the best monthly reggae party in LA. Period.

Reggae

Nightclub

Los Globos

Best day to go is on a Saturday morning 8-12pm. There are ALL kinds of fresh flowers at wholesale prices. Sort of an LA ritual when you get an apartment or house here; you buy your fresh flowers from the flower market.

Botanical

Flowers

Flower Market

LA Flower Market

Monthly HUGE vintage and new artisan market, in “Pasadena”; sort of a village Los Angeles to me.

Markets

Thrifting

Stadium

Rose Bowl Stadium

Compton born artist and producer Channel Tres  caught our attention last year with the drop of his self titled EP, an open invite into his culturally opulent world. In an era where so much of the music we consume sounds the same, the soulful depth of his voice mixed over Detroit and Chicago house influences, cuts through a sea of beige alternatives and serves much of the sauce for this summer’s playlist. Enjoy his guide to Los Angeles.

Some good Mexican food - burritos are what I get

I don’t skate anymore because I gotta look after my ankles - I dance now

This is another place, but near USC. They show a lot of great things here

All things shopping. I go to Goodwill most of the time, but if you're walking down here you'll see a bunch of stores

Similar Guides

Los Angeles with Channel Tres

Songstress Joyce Wrice credits travel and the work of the West Coast's Jazz and R&B veterans as her best forms of education. Joyce resides in LA, a place she nods to as a city of contrasts - “you can be at the beach, up in the snow/mountains, then hike at some cool forest like place”. Here are her best spots in the city.

One of my favorite Japanese/Korean restaurants located around Palms. Beef tongue, Thai glass noodle, daikon nori nori, shishito peppers, shumai, tom yum ramen and some hot sake will have you in your baaaaaaaaaag

This is a Nigerian restaurant in Inglewood! I really like their okra stew! It's so spicy. I would go here and make sure to have a couple hours to spare because sometimes it takes a while to get your food

This is a Thai restaurant in Gardena! I love savory and spicy burn-your-stomach type of food. Their tom yum soup is my favorite!

This museum is in mid city. It has movie nights in their purple garden and a beautiful bookstore with vinyl, clothing, and candles. You can also just hang out in the garden to read, write, listen to music etc.

This is a really good breakfast, lunch, dinner soul food restaurant in Inglewood and they play great r&b!! I love their pork chops and free mimosas on Sunday I believe ;) Get there early because it gets pretty crowded

Delicious egg bread french toast! Beautiful memorabilia. This space used to be the spot many artists, poets, and black panther party members gathered at to hold open mics at in the 1960s

Joyce Wrice's Guide to LA

Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Niia shares her side to LA in a curated guide of her favourite spots to hit up.

"The creative scene in LA is kind of whatever you want to make it! There are so many sub genres throughout the city. Currently I feel the music world is split into virtual world and real world. Recording Sessions are over zoom now and concerts are canceled or online. Regardless the creatives will always find a way to create and I’m grateful for it. My favourite neighbourhood is Silverlake. It's where I currently live. I love it because I can walk around (a rarity in LA), there are lots of creatives, and a good Italian restaurant. Got to have my Italian food!"

My favourite late-night chic cocktail spot. Sometimes I'll get up and sing a song if I'm drunk enough.

A secret, tiny restaurant that reminds me of NYC. Best breakfast ever

My go-to Italian spot. You sit outside and feel like you're in Italy.

Understated jazz club where you'll often catch insane musicians.

I highly encourage getting stoned and seeing this strange and amazing museum.

Arguably the most iconic music and movie store ever.

Explore LA With Niia

Running in Los Angeles is a lot different than I think most people expect, especially if they’re coming from somewhere like New York. LA is sprawling. Oftentimes you’re driving to go run which may seem crazy to most. It’s not as hectic. For the most part there’s not something “interesting and cool hidden around every corner.” It gives you a chance to zone out on your run, to focus on your run. That’s why I think it’s great.

Elysian Park and Griffith Park are easy spots to get your quick dose of nature. But if you’re really looking to get out, a few miles up into the Santa Monica mountains will give you endless trails to run on. 

Tip: Wherever you are staying, make sure to explore the neighborhood. Take a walk on foot or go for a quick jog - it’s a great way to get a sense of your surroundings and also to find your next lunch/dinner spot!

First time in LA don’t forget to also go eat Korean food in Koreatown!

6th st in Koreatown gets so busy with the nightlife and endless restaurants. I love running down 6th and seeing all the chaos that comes with everyone having a good night out on the town.

For a mellow neighbourhood run, I enjoy running through Hancock Park which neighbours Koreatown. I love looking at the architecture of the houses there.

Stop by for some cold brew at the local coffee shop, Document coffee.

My favourite route is definitely running down Wilshire Blvd heading west. It’s a straight shot that leads to Santa Monica. I enjoy all the stop lights for the quick breaks to catch your breath during your long run :) 


We meet here a lot during marathon training. Starting from the most northern spot of the parking lot, we run south through Santa Monica, Venice and Playa del Rey and back up with the Pacific Ocean right by our side. It’s about 16 miles but there’s ways to extend it to 22. No lights and we end up with a good time at the beach.

Downtown Los Angeles is always fun to run through. We don’t go there often. Maybe to a restaurant or bar but we’re in and out. You often don’t get to wander and look around so it’s always refreshing run our route runs through it.

In the mornings when we do our big group runs, we’ll sometimes run down Vermont leaving Koreatown and pass a whole block of street vendors that take up the whole sidewalk. There’s probably like 20 tents packed with people. It’s the only place that can match our energy that early in the morning. We always run alongside them and exchange good mornings and buenos dias back and forth.

Easy loops around the reservoir ending with some coffee and food in Silverlake is always a good time. It’s also a good ten miler from Koreatown with a loop around the reservoir.

Nike has always been a great partner with us early on. 3107 Pico is home to the original Nike store. Eventually, it became a printing/copy shop but with some work, it fell back into the hands of Nike. A place with a lot of history. Always good to run out of here and make some more.

LA with Estelle