LA oppos - what to do with one Saturday night?

"MUSASHI66" (musashi66)
04/03/2019 at 11:46 • Filed to: None

On Friday, I’ll arrive to LA around 9pm. My hotel is at the intersection of i 405 and i 90 . I’ll probably have a late dinner and go to bed.

Saturday morning , I am heading to the event at i405 and i10. I should be done at 5pm. What do I do and see for the rest of the night? Does it make sense to Uber to Santa Monica Pier, walk around there, and then walk all the way to Venice Beach, maybe find a spot to eat somewhere along the way? When I am done, I can grab another Uber back to the hotel.

I thought about Peterson, Museum, but it closes at 6pm.

This is my first time in LA ignoring previous LAX layovers. Realistically , I only have maybe 6-7 hours maximum, from Saturday at 5pm until I have to hit the sack.

Also, should I look for good sea food (I had the best clam chowder a few weeks ago in San Francisco), or look for a hole in the wall taco join with good al pastor?

I’m open to any idea!

DISCUSSION (19)

For Sweden > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 12:22

Tired: Going to beaches north of LAX

Wired: Going to beaches south of LAX

MUSASHI66 > For Sweden
04/03/2019 at 12:29

I’m not 100% sure I follow. Tired in what sense?

South of LAX doesn’t make a ton of sense based on where I will be located.

For Sweden > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 12:30

The beaches north of LAX are worse

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 12:33

If you arent planning to rent a car and go driving to places, your plan of going to santa monica and taking a nice walk and including food someplace is not a bad idea. I quite like the West side near the water anyways, while it’s super touristy, it is still a nice spot to be at. It reminds me of home growing up on the Jersey Shore, although a little more urbanized of course. Further to the South you have beach towns that are much more reminiscent and I enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere of those areas. But yeah for your purposes if you like the beach, your plan is solid.

My bet would definitely be on Mexican food although in general you have decent options for everything in the area. Will be a bit pricey but that is also systemic to LA anyways. You could also check out Turo and go for a cruise down the PCH to Malibu. Catch a sunset and grab a bite to eat at Neptunes Net if you want seafood. Theres definitely enough time for it since you are close by and if the weather is nice that’s definitely a good choice. Plenty of cars on there with 100 mile limits that are never enough for me but are decently priced under $100 for the day.

MUSASHI66 > For Sweden
04/03/2019 at 12:37

Good to know. I just won’ t have time for anything like that. All I need is a bit of walking, bit of sightseeing and dinner and drinks.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 12:49

One of my favorite restaurants is near where you are staying. Its a small (tiny) pizza and wine bar owned by Italians. It’s not “authentic LA”, but it is damn good. I would say fish tacos or something like that if you want a style of food you cannot get many other places. I know a few great taco/Mexican places, but none are near where you’ll be so I can ’t help there.

I’m south of the airport, so I don’t know many places up there, but ubering to Santa Monica / Venice, would be a decent thing to do. You should get the sunset if we do not have a marine layer (usually ok this time of year)

There are a few cool bars I know about in Venice and plenty of good places to eat.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > For Sweden
04/03/2019 at 12:49

Shhhhh, keep all the tourists up in Santa Monica ;)

MUSASHI66 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/03/2019 at 13:34

I’ll have to stick with Santa Monica, Venice beach and Marina del Rey. My schedule won’t allow Turo - I’ll be done at 5pm, and I have to be in bed by midnight at the latest, as I have another day of working on Sunday.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 13:38

Well, there is enough time if you were motivated enough. Turo LAX lot is right near your hotel anyways. I would probably rent the Civic Type R on there in that situation! Although a convertible would also be pretty nice for that. But yeah either way, you cant go wrong with a nice stroll on the waterfront there. Regardless of where you go, itll be a little bit crowded but its manageable.

MUSASHI66 > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/03/2019 at 13:39

Thin crust pizza? I am spoiled with good pizza - I know a chef from Milano and I frequent his restaurants in Denver, so I am picky :D

We have really good tacos in Denver, but my best ones were in Cabo San Lucas and in Las Vegas. I’m always on a hunt for a good al pastor, and if I can find a fish taco as good as I had in Cabo, I’d be in heaven.

I think I’ll Uber to Santa Monica, walk around, and then walk to Venice. I’ll see a bunch of touristy stuff, and probably find a cool bar in Venice to finish the night before Uber back to the hotel.

Any cool bars with a view in Venice I should go to?

MUSASHI66 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/03/2019 at 13:41

See, I arrive at Friday at 9pm, then I am busy all day Saturday and all day Sunday and I have to rush back to the airport from the event on Sunday. In theory if I wanted to deal with parking and paying for Friday, Saturday and Sunday Turo, just to have 5-6 hours of mostly night time driving on Saturday, it would be an option, but I hate being rushed. I’ll do a proper vacation some other time.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 13:47

Oh no, I was just talking about renting on Saturday and returning same day. Like literally just for the one drive up the PCH and back. And if you got ambitious a bit more around for fun. You’d run out of mileage before time surely anyways which is always my issue with those cars. It’s priced well for exactly your scenario haha. I would definitely not bother if you had to deal with parking or any of that junk.

MUSASHI66 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/03/2019 at 13:57

Next time :)

I think Santa Monica and Venice Beach stroll will have to do.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 14:01

Yeah, it is thin crust, neapolitan (?) style. What are his restaurants in Denver? I’m there about 6 times a year (family) and actually going this weekend. I’ll be sure to check one out.

I like Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice. Not as over the top as The Green Russell in DT Denver, but they have a good selection of nice liquor. There is also a place called “ The Lincoln” that was pretty neat.

If you are more into a club scene, there are a few places I’ve been in that area but all seemed kind of generic. I hear good things about The Bungalow in Santa Monica but I’ve personally never been. I get the impression it’s a little to o westside/bro fratty for my tastes.

If you are more into brews: Barney’s beanery has a huge selection (kinda divey, at least the one by me), Stout burgers I remember having a few that were good , Dude’s brewing (their main brewery is by me but they have a tasting room in Santa Monica), The Firestone tasting room in Venice, Wurstkuche in Venice, and I’m sure there are others.

MUSASHI66 > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/03/2019 at 14:16

Awesome, thank you!!

The restaurants here are Vero for pizza, and Il Posto for good contemporary Italian . No meatballs or lasagna if that is what you are after.

What is the name of your italian place in LA?

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 14:42

Awesome, thanks! One of these times I’m in Denver, I’ll make a post and see if anyone wants to go to a C&C or something.

The place in LA is called “South End”. http://www.southendla.com/

It’s not an Italian restaurant, mostly a pizza and wine bar owned by two Italian brothers. If you go, make a reservation. It is “cozy”. When I’ve been sat at the bar, I’ve always made conversation with my neighbor haha. I always get the Onion and Brie tart to start and then whatever pie sounds good. The wine list seems like it’s missing about half on their site.

MUSASHI66 > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/03/2019 at 14:57

That’s one thing I miss about Italy... bottle costs as much as a glass in states. And by bottle I mean a real, 1L bottle.

Thanks for the info!

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > MUSASHI66
04/03/2019 at 16:21

I-90 is at the opposite end of the country from Los Angeles. Though I’m not from that part of the city, it’s probably called “The 90” locally.

Tacos should be good at small taquerias in the South Los Angeles region of town, just keep your head on a swivel. They should be around/north of Slauson to the east of where you’re staying (particularly east of the 405) . Technically the best zone in the greater area for Mexican food is the Downey-Norwalk-Whittier region, but that’s a bit of a trip from where you’re staying.

Alternatively, hunt down a Kogi truck. Worth the effort, IMHO.

MUSASHI66 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/03/2019 at 17:17

This is a short work trip and I have to stick to the general area. Maybe next time.

I googled Kogi trucks - definitely have to look for one. Thanks!