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48 hours in Los Angeles, fantasy city and symbol of the American dream

2022-01-20T06:13:17.174Z


CITY GUIDE – Los Angeles cultivates its Hollywood heritage through its museums, theaters, restaurants and hotels. Cosmopolitan by nature, the City of Angels seduces with its openness to the world and is at the forefront of new culinary trends. Our good addresses.


Born at the end of the 18th century in the Downtown district, in what was then called the Spanish village of El Pueblo, the City of Angels has gradually expanded and today has nearly 4 million inhabitants.

Organized between the East [Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Highland Park) and West (West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice and Santa Monica included (1)] neighborhoods with Downtown in the center; surrounded by mountains, beaches and planted with thousands of palm trees , Los Angeles is the most multifaceted city in the U.S. Provided you're a clever strategist (and avoid the endless traffic jams), LA has a crazy charm, proud of its past, rooted in the present and constantly on the move. towards the future.

To discover

  • Trips to the United States: tours, hotels and tailor-made stays from our partners

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The arrival

GETTING AROUND AND VISITING

From LAX airport, only about twenty minutes are needed to reach Downtown or Venice.

Count between 40 € and 50 €.

In addition to booking a rental vehicle, you can opt for Uber or Lyft, the two booking platforms operating in Los Angeles.

To access your reservation, you will first have to go to the Terminal reserved for VTCs, by taking a “LAXit” bus (free) located 10 minutes from the airport exit.

On site, a

Yellow Cab

taxi offer is also available and offers prices similar to VTCs.

To get around during your stay, renting a car is strongly recommended.

Uber and Lyft fares can vary from one to three times depending on the current schedule and traffic.

Los Angeles also has a metro (€1.50 per ticket) which serves only certain areas of the city, practical if you want to reach Downtown in Hollywood or Downtown in Culver City and Santa Monica… a mode of transport denigrated by the majority of the inhabitants and very time-consuming.

MORE INFORMATIONS

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board:

discoverlosangeles.com

What to do right now

THE EXHIBITION TO SEE

Black American Portraits

Portrait of a Sailor (Paul Cuffe?)

, United States, circa 1800, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Purchased with funds provided by Cecile Bartman. Museum Associates/LACMA

Under construction, the

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

(LACMA), whose new version (scheduled for 2024) has been entrusted to the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, offers to discover at the Resnick Pavilion, 140 works dedicated to the representation of Afro -Americans in the Art of the Past Two Centuries. From the 1876 snapshot of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass to the portrait of Martin Luther King by Edward Biberman, passing through Kamala Harris as seen by

queer

photographer Catherine Opie, the exhibition resonates with the history of the black question of yesterday and of 'today. Until April 17, 2022.

Black American Portraits

,

LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, West Hollywood.

Phone.

: + 1 323 857 6000. Open every day (except Wednesday) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday until 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Adult price: €17.70.

Tickets available exclusively online at lacma.org

GOOD TABLE

merois

Merois, the new table of star chef Wolfgang Puck.

Merois / Photo press

Inaugurated in June 2021, the new table of star chef Wolfgang Puck, already at the head of Spago and CUT (and a dozen other tables around the world), has settled on the rooftop of the very glamorous Pendry West Hollywood Hotel. Positioned in front of a splendid swimming pool, Merois offers a setting worthy of Hollywood with a stunning view of the city. The room topped with satin hangings reinterprets the decorations of traditional Chinese restaurants and the service excels in good manners. Under Franco-Californian-Asian influence, the menu compiles a few master Puck hits, such as Shanghai-style lobster (flavored with ginger, fried spinach and plum wine) or crispy lacquered duck. The talents of the French pastry chef, François Béhuet, deserve the sharing of a dessert. On the menu,around €70 (excluding drinks).

Merois, Pendry West Hollywood, 8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood.

Phone.

: +1 323 918 3410.

THE HOTEL IN VIEW

The Prospect Hollywood

You say retro?

In the rooms, the ceilings are painted with gold leaf, the floors flanked by leopard carpet, the walls covered with floral prints.

The Prospect Hollywood/Press Photo

A good distance from Hollywood Boulevard, this hotel can be discovered through a small door, a rock replica of London houses.

A building from the 1940s converted into a boutique-motel, the Prospect has regained its aura since the talented Mr Martyn Lawrence Bullard fell in love with the place, playing on his audacity and a welcome touch of extravagance in this favorite district of stars, which welcomed among others, Marlene Dietrich and James Dean.

Inspired by the

Golden Age

of Hollywood, the interior designer has covered the lobby and lounge reserved for breakfast with a black and white marble floor, fitted with velvet banquettes and palm trees in gilded brass.

In the 24 rooms, the ceilings are painted with gold leaf, the floors flanked by leopard carpet, the walls covered with floral prints.

All are dressed in Art Deco furniture and trinkets and equipped with a minibar with crystal bottles and scotch glasses.

The patio and its garden by the fireplace offer a moment of absolute relaxation.

Double room from €300 per night.

The Prospect Hollywood, 1850 North Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood.

Phone.

+1 310 299 5222.

DAY 1: WALKING IN DOWNTOWN AND THE ARTS DISTRICT

Morning

The Eastern Columbia Building and its turquoise blue ceramic facade, whose top-floor penthouse had actor Johnny Depp as a tenant. Adobe Stock

Neighborhood often badly considered, because of its confusing promiscuity with the homeless district of Skid Row, Downtown nevertheless reserves its share of treasures to explore, as well as the

Broadway Theater District

which, along South Broadway, has 12 cinemas legendary, all built between 1910 and 1930. Some in poor condition, others preciously preserved like the United Artists Theater affiliated with the Ace Hotel, or converted into shopping places like the edifying

Apple Tower Theater

boutique , where scenes from the films

Fight Club

and

Mulholland Drive were filmed

, or the Urban Outfitters brand housed in the former Rialto Theater.

The area is also full of beautiful Art Deco buildings.

We start with the

James Oviatt Building

(617 S. Olive St), a jewel of the late 1920s designed by renowned Hollywood tailor James Oviatt, and continue to the

Eastern Columbia Building

(849 S. Broadway) and its turquoise blue ceramic facade, whose top-floor penthouse had actor Johnny Depp as a famous tenant.

Lunch break

The Belcampo Meat Co butcher shop and restaurant in Grand Central Market.

Eric Martin / Le Figaro Magazine

Founded in 1917, the popular

Grand Central Market

, which once housed the offices of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, today brings together around fifty kitchen stalls distilling specialties from all over the world. Choose from

:

pupusas from Sarita's Pupuseria

, tortillas topped with cheese, corn and stew, American donuts from Donut Man, an LA institution, or scrambled egg sandwiches from Egg Slut (dishes from €10). Popular address in Downtown, posted in front of the NoMad Hotel,

Bottega Louie

, makes the chic alternative.

After a closure of a year and a half linked to the health crisis, the establishment reopened in November 2021. A restaurant that looks like a tea room, always charming, often noisy, where you can come and taste avocado-toast, croque madame, pizzas, macaroons and divine chocolate éclairs (dishes between €15 and €40).

Afternoon

Downtown Art District where art galleries, lofts and artist studios have taken up residence.

Eric Martin / Le Figaro Magazine

By Uber, you reach the

neighboring Arts District

, a former industrial district now converted into an upscale residential area, where art galleries, lofts and artists' studios have taken up residence.

Along 3rd Street, you have to stop at

Salt and Straw

, a famous ice cream parlor where you can taste a cone flavored with lavender and honey or pear and blue cheese, and go to the

Hauser & Wirth

art center .

Downtown Art District.

Hauser & Wirth international art gallery.

Eric Martin / Le Figaro Magazine

Occupying an old mill, the site opens its galleries of modern and contemporary art free to the public, has a bookstore of fine books, a craft shop and a restaurant,

Manuela

, where you can come and share beer and Americanos at the counter ( cocktails from €13.5).

You can continue the visit by going to

Dover Street Market

, temple of international fashion, and end with a shopping session at

Row DTLA

.

Farmers' market (an LA-style version of Rungis) and home to the workshops of the late American Apparel label, the site has around twenty fashion and design boutiques.

For the experience, go there preferably on Sundays for Smorgasburg, an open-air market that brings together the famous food trucks of Los Angeles.

Evening

On the edge of Downtown, the

Chinatown

district

is a benchmark for cocktail bars.

Inspired by old apothecary decors,

Apotheke

in a white coat serves potions with medicinal herbs to savor around a game of billiards (cocktails from €14).

Another option from Sunday to Wednesday evening, accompanies the moment of tasting with extra jazzy notes.

DAY 2: SANTA MONICA: BEACH AND CHILL

Morning

Ideal for a stroll on the ocean, Santa Monica cultivates a chic and

healthy

lifestyle

typical of California.

Adobe Stock

Ideal for a stroll on the ocean,

Santa Monica

cultivates a chic and

healthy

lifestyle

typical of California.

To realize this, a morning jog or walk on the beach is from the

Annenberg Community Beach House

, a 1920s residence, built by American newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst for his mistress, the actress Marion Davies, and whose fabulous swimming pool is worth swimming on summer days.

We then reach the

Ocean Avenue

cornice

, in the company of a panoply of joggers and cyclists, all recalling the very special attention that the

Angelenos

lend themselves to their form.

The more adventurous can learn to surf, the edge of the beach has several suitable schools.

A good breakfast -- pancakes,

huevos rancheros

, eggs Benedict with detox juice and the

Los Angeles Times

-- is had at

Coast

, the beach cafe and bar

at the atmospheric

Shutters on the Beach

hotel. elegant, with a hint of Ralph Lauren at heart (dishes between €22 and 33) or at the

Urth Caffé Santa Monica

, renowned for its Breakfast burrito (dishes between €8 and 15).

Lunch break

A perfect example of the cultural blending dear to

Angelenos , the new

Interstellar

café

(dishes between €20 and €30) combines Korean and Californian influences like the

Bulgogi Burger

, one of the house specialties cooked in marinated soy sauce.

A Santa Monica institution, the

Blue Plate Taco

has a large terrace with a view of the Pacific, and serves its tacos with all the sauces (lobster, fish or vegetarian), the menu even includes two recipes for Médor (dishes between 13 and 28 €)!

Afternoon

Bergamot Station, a former train station converted into warehouses with around ten contemporary art galleries.

Bergamot Station / Photo press

You can then go up Olympic Boulevard by bike or dare to travel by metro (much safer here than elsewhere) and stop at

Bergamot Station

, a former train station converted into warehouses where a dozen contemporary art galleries are held . The XII Gallery founded by Valerie-Anne Giscard d'Estaing (also present in New York and Shanghai), is remarkable for its photography exhibitions (it notably exhibited Willy Ronis), the Rose Gallery and the William Tuner Gallery deserve, they also, a pass. To relax, take a break at the nearby

Water Garden

, introduce yourself to the rules of

cornehole

, a distant version of American petanque with sandbags, listen to an improvised jazz concert, warm up arounda campfire

design

, and bumping into the neighborhood's tech generation, with Amazon, CBS, and Oracle all having offices here.

Dinner and evening

At the Birdie G's restaurant, chef Jeremy Fox's signature dessert: rose petal cake.

Jeremy Fox/Press Photo

To understand the virtues and good taste of Californian cuisine, you have to book at the

Birdie G's

restaurant

, the table of the charismatic chef Jeremy Fox (also at the head of Tallula's and Rustic Canyon).

A champion of plant-based cuisine, the chef transforms a simple carrot salad into a pictorial work and delights with his prodigious dessert: the rose petal cake.

The final toast of the weekend is at

Calabra

Restaurant

, perched on the rooftop of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, with champagne, California rosé and cocktails to order.

Address Book

RESTAURANTS, CAFÉ, ICE CREAM

The Manuela restaurant in the Hauser & Wirth International Art Gallery.

Eric Martin / Le Figaro Magazine

American Beauty, 425 Rose Avenue, Venice.

Phone.

: +1 310 412 0075.

Apotheke, 1746 N Spring St, Los Angeles (Chinatown).

Phone.

: +1 323 844 0717.

Bottega Louie, 700 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles (Downtown).

Phone.

: +1 213 802 1470.

Birdie G's, 2421 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 310 3616.

Blue Plate Taco, 1515 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 458 2985.

Calabra, at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, 700 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 424 390 0737.

Coast, at Shutters on the Beach, 1 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 587 1707.

Grand Central Market, 317 South Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown).

Phone.

: +1 213 687 4247.

Interstellar, 109 Broadway, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 310 8820.

Manuela, 907 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles (Arts District).

Phone.

: +1 323 849 0480.

Salt and Straw, 829 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles (Arts District).

Phone.

: +1 213 988 7070.

The Varnish, 118 East 6th Street, Los Angeles (Downtown).

Phone.

: +1 213 265 7089.

Urth Caffè Santa Monica, 2327 Main Street, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 314 7040.

SHOPPING

Before being an Apple store, the Tower Theater was used as a setting in several films including

Last Action Hero

,

Fight Club

,

Mulholland Drive

and

Transformers

.

Apple Tower Theater/Press Photo

Apple Tower Theater, 802 South Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown).

Phone.

: +1 213 655 1200.

Dover Street Market, 608 Imperial Street, Los Angeles (Arts District).

Phone.

: +1 310 427 7610.

Row DTLA, 777 South Aldama Street, Los Angeles (Arts District).

Phone.

: +1 213 988 8890.

TO DO

In the heart of the Arts District, the Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery covers more than 10,000 square meters.

NICHOLAS MAGGIO / Madame Figaro

Annenberg Community Beach, 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica.

Phone.

: +1 310 458 4904.

Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica.

Hauser & Wirth, 901 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles (Arts District).

Phone.

: +1 213 943 1620.

LA Louver, 45 North Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, Venice.

Phone.

: +1 310 822 4955.

To read

Los Angeles Louis Vuitton City Guide

, Louis Vuitton editions (320 pages, €30.) New edition 2021.

OR SLEEP ?

Downtown Proper Hotel

Housed in a reimagined historic building dating back to 1926, Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel, Member Design Hotels, is in the heart of Los Angeles' Downtown South Park neighborhood.

Downtown Proper Hotel / Photo press

Establishment Design Hotels (Marriott) and the latest nugget of interior designer Kelly Wearstler, this hotel and former private club, hides behind its Art Deco facade 15 floors and 148 rooms with decor combining Mexican and vintage influences.

Spectacular, the hotel offers 2 original and huge suites, including the "Basket Court Suite" with a chic basketball hoop, and the second with a swimming pool.

Book at the rooftop restaurant, Cara Cara, a table with a view, and good Mediterranean dishes by chef Suzanne Goin.

From €330 per night in a double room.

Downtown Proper Hotel, 1100 South Broadway, Los Angeles (Downtown).

Phone.

: +1 213 806 1010.

Nobu Ryokan Malibu

Overlooking the Pacific, Nobu Ryokan Malibu is a 16-room, adults-only hotel that pays homage to the traditional Japanese ryokan.

Nobu Ryokan Malibu/Press Photo

In Malibu, the Nobu Ryokan is the hotel most courted by celebrities in search of anonymity – singer Kanye West has made it his nest – and couples who have come to celebrate a sweet night of love.

Literally set on the beach, the 16 suites imagined by the architects of Studio PCH take up the design of ryokans, these traditional Japanese inns, and add sophistication and comfort.

The height of the Californian dream, the "Rock'n'roll" Suite offers a place facing the ocean, a terrace with lounges, a Japanese outdoor bath, and all the latest technologies: automatic toilets, hidden TV screen in the ceiling, shelf to direct the lighting… From 1500 € per night all the same.

Nobu Ryokan Malibu, 22752 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.

Read alsoThe Sunset Tower hotel in Los Angeles, the expert opinion of

Le Figaro

Read alsoHotel Le Palihotel Culver City in Los Angeles, the expert opinion of

Figaro

(1) Santa Monica is administratively a municipality, just like Los Angeles.

It is commonly considered a neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-01-20

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