• Categories
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hot Tips
    • Inspiration
    • Itineraries
    • Must-Haves
    • News
    • Our L.A.
    • Planning
    • Unique Stays
  • Home
  • VLOGS
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Support Our Work!
Travel Matters
  • Itineraries

2 Day Los Angeles Itinerary As Recommended By Locals

February 24, 2021 9
downtown Los Angeles at night

Forget about the tourist-y stuff like the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, or Universal Studios. After living in Los Angeles for decades, we’ve put together an awesome 48-hour Los Angeles itinerary for anyone who is looking for an insider’s take on the matter. Of course, this was not easy to boil down as such, given that A.) L.A. is MASSIVE, and B.) we’ve adopted so many favorite things about this town over the years, that it’s impossible to cover them in just 48 hours. This particular itinerary is heavily influenced by Andie’s favorite things to do, if she was to have to smoosh them into said 48 hours.

Day 1

Hiking In The Hollywood Hills

an aerial view of Runyon Canyon hiking trails in Los Angeles

Photo by Lisha Riabinina on Unsplash

This is an “either/or” hiking situation – either a Runyon Canyon hike, or a hike all the way up to the Hollywood Sign. The “or” depends on how ambitious you’re feeling, so we’re giving you those two options from which to choose your own adventure. The Hollywood Sign option is way more of an ass-kicker and takes more time, but has major payoffs: the ultimate up-close front view of the sign, and probably the most mind-blowing, iconic view of all of Los Angeles… from above and behind the sign – which is as close as you can get to it, BTW. Check out our  post  “The Best Way To Get The Best Views Of The Hollywood Sign” for deets on how-to!

The Runyon Canyon option will be more of a locals vibe, which ironically is where you’re likely to have more potential for celeb-in-the-wild sightings, if you’re into that kind of thing. The views are also beautiful and you’ll still get your steps in, just with more energy to spare in the end. Neither of these hikes will disappoint.

We recommend an early a.m. hike to beat the heat and leave time to get down on some brunch.

Brunch At Homegirl Cafe

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by homegirl_cafe (@homegirl_cafe_official)

Homegirl is the cafe at Homeboy Industries, one of our favorite L.A. non-profits. Located downtown, they do incredible work for the community and we can’t sing their praises enough. Homegirl Cafe also happens to have our favorite coffee in L.A. It’s got just the right touch of what seems like magical spices (cinnamon), along with a hint of orange. You can see bits of orange peel in their bags of coffee when you buy one. And trust us, you’re gonna buy one after you taste it at brunch. Unique, and surprisingly delicious! As is the case for everything on their menu. If we’ve only got 48 hours in town, we’re hitting Homegirl for brunch! 

Since we’re keepin’ it on the locals tip, we’re not gonna send you from the Hollywood Hills to DTLA for brunch, and then send you to a completely different area of town. Locals wouldn’t do it, so you shouldn’t either! Explore the downtown area for the day – maybe shopping for some deals in Santee Alley? – and then take some time to get ready for the evening out. 

Dinner At Bottega Louie

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bottega Louie (@bottegalouie)

 

macarons at Bottega Louie

©Stephen Mills

Bottega Louie is a restaurant, bar, gourmet market, patisserie, and cafe all in one big, open, yet smartly defined space. We can’t describe what it is about their Italian food that makes it so much better than other restaurants, but it just is. Dishes you’ve had elsewhere, are far better here. A really cool, kinda loud, and bustling atmosphere keeps the vibe exciting. Be prepared for a wait, as they don’t take reservations. 

Hot Tip: do not leave Bottega Louie without grabbing a bag of their super colorful and uniquely flavored macarons, whether you just had desert or not!

Entertainment At The Grammy Museum 

Stephen & Andie with Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire

©Andie Mills

We absolutely love catching events here. Just around the way from Staples Center is the Grammy Museum. In the evenings, they host awesome events with artists from all genres of music, old and new. Tickets sell out very quickly after a monthly schedule is announced, as the capacity is only around 200. Definitely plan in advance! They do “storyteller” type semi-acoustic mini-concerts, or private screenings of documentaries, etc., and many of the performances are followed by Q&As with the artists. And they’ll usually pair the event with the opening of the exhibit that will remain on display for the month, so you can walk around after and check it out and sometimes even meet the artists out in the museum (like the time we met Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire!).

Day 2

Brunch At Blu Jam Cafe

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by blujamcafe (@blujamcafe)

Located in Hollywood is Blu Jam Cafe. It’s a chill, go-to brunch and lunch spot for friends, family, and schmoozer-meetups alike. The menu is extensive, with plenty of health-conscious options if that’s your jam (hehe… see what we did there? ?) and the portions are generous. It has a great atmosphere, and an ample patio to take in the beautiful SoCal weather. Expect a bit of a wait to be seated as it’s a very popular hang, but you won’t be rushed out the door once you’re in, so take your time. 

Dinner At Pace

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pace Restaurant (@pacerestaurant)

Pronounced “pah-che” – the Italian word for “peace”. We hesitated to even mention this place, as it’s hidden in plain sight and an insider-secret, even to many locals. Heck, we didn’t even discover it until just a few years ago! Hands down, it’s our favorite restaurant in town. Nestled in the belly of Laurel Canyon and literally beneath the Country Store, Pace is this wonderful farm-to-table Italian restaurant. It’s on the pricey side, and worth every cent. The ambience is the best. Not stupid-fancy, but extremely charming and cozy, and filled with Boho charm. Semi-dark and mysterious, the walls are tastefully lined with images of rockstars and celebs from Laurel Canyon’s heyday, like Jim Morrison and Joni Mitchell. You’ll probably walk past some celebs and not even notice them – just like a real local! The service is perfect and the staff is friendly and ridiculously attentive, but without being overbearing. The food is simply unbelievable, as are the smells filling the restaurant inside as well as the lovely wrap-around patio. 

Morrison Hotel Gallery At The Sunset Marquis

Another fave hang of ours is any exhibit opening at the Morrison Hotel Gallery, which is inside and off the lobby of the Sunset Marquis Hotel.

a woman looks at photographs on exhibit at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in Los Angeles

©Andie Mills

Hot Tip: sign up for their mailing list so you know what’s coming down the pike in advance.

Famed rock photographer Henry Diltz owns the gallery. You’ve seen his work, and you’ll most likely see him hanging out at the openings and chatting inside Bar 1200, directly across the lobby from the gallery. There’s usually live piano music inside 1200, and if you see Henry in there, offer to buy him a drink – he loves to chat! The photography also spills out into the lobby, carrying the theme throughout the hotel. Hors d’oeuvres are usually served outside at the vibe-y patio/pool area, where there’s another bar and great people-watching, too. Live music performances and movies (projected onto a wall) frequently accompany the exhibit openings, too!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunset Marquis Hotel (@sunsetmarquis)

Hot Tip #2: stay close to the patio bar to be among the first to snag fresh hors d’oeuvres as they come out of the nearby kitchen. You’re welcome!


Well, that was a quick couple of days! There’s so much about this city that we love and want to share with you that we could go on forever. Fortunately for you this was only a 48-hour Los Angeles itinerary, so you won’t have to endure that. But we will continue to have lots of L.A.-related posts here, as no matter how far we might travel, it’s always our home. Are you planning to visit L.A.? Have some questions? Check out this post for a more in-depth look at Los Angeles from our locals’ perspective, or ask away in the comments. We’d love to chat and help in any way we can!

And if you’re looking for more itineraries, we’ve got you covered:

  • Lapland
  • Tokyo
  • London

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
9 Comments
Tags:CaliforniacitiesHollywoodlocal perspectivesLos AngelesnatureNorth AmericaplanningUnited States
Previous Post 11 Must-Try Foods In Japan (That Aren’t Sushi)
Next PostHow To Hike To The Hollywood Sign

You Might Also Like

The atrium inside the Biltmore Estate and one of the gardens full of colorful blooms

A Perfect Day In Downtown Asheville, NC

February 16, 2021
huskies mushing through snow from the perspective of the sled they are pulling

7 Day Finland Itinerary: Top Things To Do In Lapland

March 15, 2021
Westminster, Big Ben, and Westminster Bridge from across the River Thames in London, England

How To Spend An Exciting 48 Hours In London

March 13, 2021

9 Comments

  1. Dog Friendly Things To Do In Los Angeles says:
    March 25, 2021 at 11:08 pm Reply

    […] 48 Hours In L.A.: The Perfect Los Angeles Itinerary […]

  2. London Walking Tours: Our Favorite Way To See The City says:
    March 26, 2021 at 2:13 pm Reply

    […] Los Angeles […]

  3. Best Way To Get The Best View Of The Hollywood Sign says:
    March 26, 2021 at 4:38 pm Reply

    […] 48 Hours In L.A.: The Perfect Los Angeles Itinerary […]

  4. Finland Itinerary: The Perfect 7 Days In Lapland says:
    March 26, 2021 at 7:13 pm Reply

    […] Los Angeles […]

  5. Romantic Getaways and Experiences says:
    March 27, 2021 at 3:26 pm Reply

    […] Our Perfect 48 Hours In L.A. […]

  6. Your Guide To Los Angeles From A Local Perspective says:
    March 27, 2021 at 10:20 pm Reply

    […] in the same day – will only lead to disappointment. If you’re looking for the perfect Los Angeles itinerary, check out […]

  7. 48 Hours In London: The Perfect London Itinerary says:
    March 28, 2021 at 1:59 am Reply

    […] Los Angeles […]

  8. Best Things To Do In Chattanooga, TN says:
    March 29, 2021 at 12:45 pm Reply

    […] Los Angeles […]

  9. What To Do In Charleston, South Carolina says:
    December 10, 2021 at 9:08 pm Reply

    […] Los Angeles […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

Get Our Weekly Newsletter

We'll send you all of the inside scoop: where we are, what we're working on, and our latest posts and vlogs!

We're all about sharing the love and knowledge when it comes to travel, but we respect your privacy and we'll never share your info.

This Week’s Vlog
Popular Posts
  • Southwest Airlines Announces Wanna Get Away Plus™
  • A Unique Snorkeling Excursion In The U.S. Virgin Islands
  • ​​​​​​What To Bring (and NOT Bring) On An Alaska Cruise
  • Motown Records: a Must-See For Music Lovers!
  • First-Time Cruisers Dos and Don’ts

Find Us On Instagram!

stephenandandie

TRAVEL, FOOD, CULTURE, CLIMATE
📍 North Carolina
⬇️ YouTube: THANK YOU for getting us to 1,000 subs!

Stephen & Andie | Travel Stuff
⁠What do 80s music, the Caribbean, and our YouTu ⁠What do 80s music, the Caribbean, and our YouTube channel have in common? It's @The80sCruise! 🎶🛳 ⁠
Swipe 👉 for a RAD preview!⁠
⁠
In our 🤘NEW VLOG🤘we take a totally radical voyage on @RoyalCaribbean Mariner of the Seas. ⁠14 concerts – including Stephen getting back to work drumming again! – theme parties & contests, spontaneous musician jams, and the complete 80s transformation of the ship transported us back in time for a whole week of retro fun! ⁠
⁠
🔗 in bio for the video!⁠ ⁠
⁠
1) Most guests had full-on 80s costumes. We didn't, but we did pack a few "essentials," like Andie's classic MTV tee and some cheap neon colored shades.⁠
⁠
2) How fun is this action figure packaging??? I had to hop in to channel teen-me's inner pro wrestling fan. This was one of the many 80s themed photo opps around the ship. ⁠
⁠
3) Speaking of photo opps, Andie's totally rockin' this graffiti corner in the ship's promenade 😍, which was renamed "the 80s Block" for the week! She was like a kid in a candy store and I'm not sure if I've ever seen her have so much fun!⁠
⁠
4) Who rocked harder – me or the ship? Duh – the ship! My gigs were during the first few days, when we had some pretty rough seas. Playing drums while literally rockin' & rollin' was a whole new (and fun!) experience.⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
#royalcaribbean #marineroftheseas #OnlyOnThe80sCruise #80scruise #the80scruise #caribbeancruise #80smusic #travelmatters #cruisetravel #cruiselife #drummerlife
We felt like kids again! 🧒⁠ It's been a minut We felt like kids again! 🧒⁠
It's been a minute since our last vlog, but we're back with a BANGER! We're spending a day at sea enjoying all the fun activities on our cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: from the waterslide to the Flowrider, the Sky Pad to our favorite spot for drinks. ⁠
⁠
→ 🔗 in bio, of course! ←⁠
⁠
This is the first in our Caribbean cruise series with a twist - it's 80s themed! Join us in the coming weeks to go back to the 80s, take a food tour of the cruise ship, and see what we get into in our stops in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. ⁠
⁠
•⁠
•⁠
•⁠
⁠
#RoyalCarribean #MarinerOfTheSeas #CaribbeanCruise #the80sCruise #cruisetravel #cruiselife
it’s National Puppy Day! This is from a couple o it’s National Puppy Day! This is from a couple of years ago, when we took a mini road trip to see the super bloom in Southern California. Unfortunately Luddy (the red dog) doesn’t travel well anymore, so we let them both chill at home when. we go out. But we really miss road trips with the fur-babies!
With you, even Las Vegas can be as romantic as Par With you, even Las Vegas can be as romantic as Paris. 😘
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠

#TravelMatters #valentinesday2022 #lasvegas #parislasvegas #travelvloggers
🎲 Viva Las VINTAGE Vegas! 🎲⁠ What do the S 🎲 Viva Las VINTAGE Vegas! 🎲⁠
What do the Strip’s oldest hotel, Vegas’ oldest bar, a boneyard of old neon signs, and “old blue eyes,” Frank Sinatra have in common? OUR NEW VLOG, that’s what!⁠
⁠
In our last video we took you for a walk LIVE on the Vegas Strip. Today, we’re exploring Vintage Vegas, with a stay at The Flamingo – the oldest still-operating hotel and casino on The Las Vegas Strip – and visits to Las Vegas’ oldest freestanding bar, a museum dedicated to Sin City’s classic neon signs, and a very special dessert in one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite spots! ⁠
⁠
At the hotel, we give you a taste of The Habitat – complete with a pelican and several flamingos – as well as a tour of our standard room with a fantastic Strip view. From our window we looked down at The Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, The Forum, The Linq Zipline platform, The Mirage, and even a snow-capped mountain just outside of the city! Then we wander north and off of the Strip to see some of Vegas’ history, ending the day with a fantastic dessert show, with our backsides seated right where The Chairman himself sat on several occasions! ⁠
⁠
Thank you so much to this week’s coffee sponsor: @MagentaOtter Travels! Dara, this buzz is for you! ❤️

→ 🔗 IN BIO for all the action! 

.
.
.
#lasvegas #vegas #travelvlog #lasvegasstrip #vintagevegas #youtubevideo
Ready to roar in 2022. 🐯 Wishing you health, pr Ready to roar in 2022. 🐯
Wishing you health, prosperity, and happiness in the Lunar New Year! 
.
.
.
#yearofthetiger #lunarnewyear #lunarnewyear2022 #chinesenewyear #chinesenewyear2022
What’s better than a day at The Biltmore? One wh What’s better than a day at The Biltmore? One where you get to visit the estate AND see the Van Gogh Alive immersive show! 👨🏼‍🎨⁠
⁠
In this week’s vlog, we spend the day exploring the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. We came for the Van Gogh Alive immersive experience, but first we got to tour the property – including the gardens and greenhouse – and take an audio tour of America’s Largest Home. If you’re looking for things to do and see in Asheville, The Biltmore is an experience you won’t soon forget. ⁠
⁠
Hit that → 🔗 in bio! ←⁠
⁠
✦ PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG: ⁠
⁠
@biltmoreestate⁠
⁠
@grande_experiences⁠
⁠
@visitasheville⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠

#travelvlog #traveltuesday #Biltmore #VanGoghAlive #AshevilleNC
Raise your hand in the comments if you've done gra Raise your hand in the comments if you've done graffiti/street art! 🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♀️We had WAY too much fun with spray paint in Atlanta!⁠
⁠

In this week’s video we spend the day exploring the eastern part of Atlanta, where we learn about (and get to try our hands at) graffiti and street art, eat soul food, get the perfect view of Atlanta’s skyline, stroll around Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park – including Ebenezer Baptist Church and MLK’s birth house – and explore Little Five Points, Inman Park, Krog Street Market, and part of the Atlanta Beltline.⁠
⁠
Hit the 🔗 in bio to see our “masterpiece.” 🎨 😜⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
⁠
#atlanta #travelvlog #littlefivepoints #graffiticlass
What was your funniest moment of 2021? It was such What was your funniest moment of 2021? It was such an unpredictable year, but we had a blast laughing at ourselves and experiencing some amazing “firsts.” They’re all in our latest vlog, along with even more of our favorite bloopers. 

🔗 in bio to check it out!

.
.
.

#TravelTuesday #bestof2021 #2021yearinreview #travelvloggers
Follow on Instagram
©2022 Travel Matters by Stephen & Andie