We hope you can come a little early, or stay a little late, to explore the place we love and call home. Los Angeles is a city rich in incredible food, nature, art, and overall culture - and we hope this weekend will help you understand a little bit more about us and why California is so special to us.
HERE ARE A Few ideas on fun things to see and do, along with some of our favorite spots & STOPS, below.
Air Travel
We recommend flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR).
Ground Transportation
LA is not known for its public transportation, so we recommend using Uber or Lyft (or taxi) as your ground transportation where possible.
For larger parties or anyone extending their stay to explore more of the greater Los Angeles or Southern California area, it may make sense to rent a car either at the airport or at a more local branch. Please note that the hotel has an overnight valet fee for any vehicles ($70) that you may want to take into consideration.
Here’s more info on ground transportation from LAX, including how to get to the rideshare/taxi lot.
Accommodations
We have reserved a block of rooms at a discounted price at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for the nights of September 26th & 27th.
Schwartz/Rooney Wedding | Booking Link
(this link only works on computer web browsers and not smartphones!)
On the booking homepage, please make sure you are selecting SUNDAY 9/28 as your checkout date in order to include the wedding night in your booking. This box for this date is currently RED, but is able to be selected. You should be selecting check-in and check-out days, rather than the nights of stay (The link they generated does not make this very clear).
*Please note that you can only book FRIDAY 9/26 and SATURDAY 9/27 through this link, even though SUNDAY 9/28 is listed on the calendar.
If you would like to extend your stay further on either end of the weekend beyond these dates, please first book your reservation at the link provided for 9/26 and/or 9/27. Then, email Sheila Constantino at sconstantino@hollywoodroosevelt.com with your confirmation # and desired additional dates to stay, and the hotel events team will help extend your reservation with the discounted room block rates applied where applicable/available.
**BOOKING DEADLINE FOR THE ROOM BLOCK IS THURSDAY, SEPT 4th
**IF YOU DO NOT SEE ANY REMAINING ROOMS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK PRIOR TO THIS DATE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ALLISON/GINO WITH YOUR ROOM REQUEST AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET MORE ROOMS ADDED IF POSSIBLE.
Our Recommendations
-
Breakfast Burritos
We love Chicago food so much - but one thing that LA definitely does better is BREAKFAST BURRITOS! We challenge you to try as many as you can while you are here. It’s hard to go wrong, but here are a few top-tier favs. Also 10/10 for soaking up alcohol/hangover recovery!
COFAX (WEST HOLLYWOOD + CULVER CITY)
Allison's favGREAT WHITE (WEST HOLLYWOOD + VENICE + LARCHMONT + BRENTWOOD)
Gino's favHOLY GUACAMOLE (SANTA MONICA)
second for both due to it being on the wrong side of town - but, we miss it and think of it oftenJOANS ON THIRD (WEST HOLLYWOOD + STUDIO CITY)
-
Coffee & Breakfast
For the caffeine motivated, here are a few of our tried and true morning spots.
ALFRED (WEST HOLLYWOOD + EVERYWHERE )
With its original location on the legendary Melrose Place - Alfred is now a greater LA staple (and is even starting to creep outside the state!) Just make sure to invite Mike Rooney to come with you - he will happily be your shaman as you set out to experience your first famous Iced Vanilla Latte.ALANA'S COFFEE ROASTERS (WEST HOLLYWOOD + MAR VISTA)
Kenzo’s neighborhood coffee shop pick, thanks to their trustworthy supply of free dog treats.JOANS ON THIRD (WEST HOLLYWOOD + STUDIO CITY)
It has more than just breakfast burritos! Another iconic LA cafe/bakery with cute snacks and merchandise you’ll probably impulse buy while you’re waiting for your coffee. Allison’s first LA apartment was right behind the Third Street location!KINGS ROAD CAFÉ (WEST HOLLYWOOD)
Classic breakfast + strong coffee. What more could you ask for? -
Historic Sites
Not super activity heavy, but cool spots to explore leisurely with a morning or afternoon coffee.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame (HOLLYWOOD)
You’re staying right on it, so you can’t miss it! Along this walk you’ll find a handful of other iconic Hollywood spots you can explore, like the TCL Chinese Theater, The Dolby Theater, and Ovation (the shopping center attached to the Dolby - which houses one of Gino’s favorite burger joints in LA, The Win-dow.GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY (HOLLYWOOD / GRIFFITH PARK)
VENICE CANALS (VENICE)
GREYSTONE MANSION (BEVERLY HILLS)
HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY (HOLLYWOOD)
Yes, it’s a real cemetery, but just trust us - it’s a vibe. Peacocks roam the grounds and it’s the host of the famous Cinespia (outdoor summer movie screenings). -
Restaurants
One of the things we love most about this city is the never-ending list of rich cuisine and dining experiences across every part of the city. We could go on and on….(and clearly already do, it was so hard to truncate this list!)
Felix (Venice)
If you know anything about us, you know we love Evan Funke and anything he creates. Especially when that “anything” is handmade pasta and the fluffiest focaccia. For what it’s worth, Felix is one of our favorite restaurants not just in LA, but anywhere.
*Reservations open at midnight a week in advance on Open Table and go fast!
Honorable mention goes to its closer counterparts (just as popular/worthy!):
Funke (Beverly Hills)
Walk-in rooftop available for apps and drinks when it’s not being rented out privately by Rhode or 818……
&
Mother Wolf (Hollywood)
Rome-based cuisine in an old newspaper building.Night + Market (West Hollywood)
Casual and vibey Thai restaurant and wine bar! They have a Michael Jordan wingspan poster in their dining room. Our neighborhood spot! But beware of the spice levels!El Coyote (Mid-City)
As pictured in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Sharon Tate’s last meal was here! Good food, even better Margaritas.Grandmaster Recorders (Hollywood)
A former recording studio in the heart of Hollywood turned restaurant and rooftop bar. Be sure to peep 71 Studio inside for a glimpse into the building’s past!Nobu (Malibu)
While there are other Nobu locations around the city and the country - this is a dining experience that is unmatched…it’s really, really tough to beat eating incredible sushi seaside. Reservations open 30 days in advance at 10a PT, phone only. If Malibu is too far (we get it!!) - Chef Nobu’s Beverly Hills restaurant,Matsuhisa (the predecessor to Nobu) is another amazing choice.Musso & Frank Grill (Hollywood)
The oldest steakhouse in Hollywood. Famous for their very strong and cold martinis.Laurel Hardware (West Hollywood)
Another one of our favorite repurposed buildings in the area, this California cuisine-based restaurant has given new life to the old hardware store of the same name.Elephante (Santa Monica)
A great open-air and ocean view-option for any time of day (breakfast, lunch, & dinner). No matter what meal, get the whipped eggplant - and you’ll be dreaming of it for years to come. -
Bars / Drinks
SOMETHING FOR WHATEVER MOOD OR HOWEVER YOU’RE DRESSED.
Barney’s Beanery (West Hollywood. There are others, but this rec is specific to this location)
An LA staple sports/dive bar, with classic bar food (they are also famous for their chili?). Keep your eyes peeled - it’s definitely a local watering hole that famous faces consider local too.All Seasons Brewery (Mid-City)
What was once an old Firestone Tire Shop is now one of our favorite summer Fridays stops to kick off the weekend, complete with ski-ball and a taco truck inside.Sunset Tower Hotel (West Hollywood)
If you’re looking for some classier cocktails, the Sunset Tower’s Tower Bar is one of deux-moi’s most talked about spots (for good reason). Reservation needed for the restaurant, but usually pretty easy to walk into if you are just looking to experience a drink at the bar.Chateau Marmont (West Hollywood)
Looking to level up your bougie game even more from Tower Bar? Look no further.
One of the most historic and prolific hotels in Los Angeles (and, dare I say, the world?) - you’ll need to call or email to make a reservation here, even for drinks.
No phones/photos allowed.The Abbey (West Hollywood)
aka - The Pink Pony Club. This is it.SUR / Tom Tom (West Hollywood)
For all our Bravo peeps - down the block to the left of the Abbey is SUR, and down the block to the right (around the corner) is Tom Tom. On your way to SUR, you’ll pass the newest addition to the Vanderpump hospitality family, Something About Her. On your way to Tom Tom, you’ll also pass the corpse of PUMP (RIP) - but luckily you’ll still see some old signage and Pumptinis once you get there. -
Misc LA Things
Lest you forget where we’re at!
Erewhon
IYKYK. Smoothies and sushi bars.In N Out
Pro tips: animal style is the way to go, and you’re better off going inside than waiting in a car.The Grove
Glorified outdoor shopping mall and the original LA farmers market.
For the Swifties out there, the Eras Tour movie premiere was here.
Truly, it’s a fun little classic LA place to walk around - and the food stands/restaurants in the Farmers Mkt are awesome.Hikes
So many to choose from! The closest two are Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Sign Hike (we recommend Ubering to the trailheads as parking in the area is often difficult)Music Venues
If you have any extra nights in town, would highly recommend trying to catch a show at any of the numerous small, intimate, and iconic venues that are responsible for debuts and launches of some of the biggest artists around:
The Troubadour, The Roxy, The Hotel Cafe….. And, while The Hollywood Bowl or The Greek are by no means small & intimate - they are definitely iconic.Studio Tours
Warner Bros, Paramount, andSony all offer standalone studio tours daily. Universalalso has a tour attraction, but you must be in the theme park to access.