What’s unique about Los Angeles?
The weather. You can go skiing and surfing in the same day in the month of December. The other thing I have observed and love about my city is that it’s full of people from all over the world chasing a dream. Be it the farmer coming here dreaming for a better life for his family or the midwestern girl waiting tables with Hollywood stars in her eyes. The amount of hope in the hearts of people here is incredible.
If money were no object, what would you do in Los Angeles?
First thing I would do is acquire Pool Circle seats at the Hollywood Bowl for the rest of my life. Secondly, I’d permanently check in to an ocean view suite at Shutters on The Beach. Third, I would eat sushi at Urasawa on a weekly basis.
Name five tourist spots in Los Angeles that are worth the effort.
1) The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades: An educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.
2) LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art): Holds more than 150000 works spanning the history of art from ancient times to the present.
3) Universal Studios VIP Experience: It’s the ultimate way to visit Universal Studios
4) The Griffith Observatory: An icon of Los Angeles, a national leader in public astronomy, a beloved civic gathering place, and one of southern California’s most popular attractions.
5) Live music: Check out the Hollywood Bowl in the summer. Also, The Fonda, The El Rey, The Wiltern, The Hotel Cafe, are all great venues.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
There are so many great places for food in LA, following are a few of my favorites:
1) The Dough Room: A neighborhood joint serving craft beers, artisanal wines, and rustic foods made from local seasonal ingredients drawing inspiration from across the Mediterranean region.
2) Red O: Mexican fare from award-winning Chef-Restaurateur Rick Bayless, the chef responsible for changing the image of Mexican food in America. The menu offers both authentic Mexican and lighter “California-style” dishes
3) Sotto: Regionally-inspired Southern Italian dishes, including fresh housemade pastas and Neapolitan pizza cooked in an artisan wood burning oven.
4) Picca: Serves modern Peruvian cuisine with a Japanese flair
5) Water Grill – Santa Monica: Hailed as “the best seafood in Southern California” by the internationally recognized Zagat Guide, Water Grill has consistently offered dazzling fish preparations of superior quality and freshness
6) Melisse: A two Michelin Star Award winning restaurant inspires all of the senses with its chic ambiance, superb, contemporary French cuisine and gracious service.
Who has the best happy hour?
Kay n Daves in Culver City. Great margaritas, dollar tacos and it’s 3 hours (4-7).
Where is the best shopping?
1) Robertson Blvd
2) Montana Avenue
3) Melrose Ave
4) Beverly Drive: There are so many stores that cover a few blocks radius making it possible to get a lot of shopping done. Think London High Street (without the convenience of the Tube).
Where do the locals hangout?
Los Angeles is massive and with everything so spread out it’s difficult to isolate one or two hangouts. Where Angelenos seem to come together are the hiking trails. Check out Runyon Canyon and the trail at Griffith Observatory. Another popular spot is Zuma Beach in Malibu.
Griffith Observatory
The Getty Villa
Antoi is one of a handful of people who lives in Los Angeles, who is actually from Los Angeles. She’s a luxury travel consultant at Gozette Bespoke Travel, a music enthusiast, a lover of the arts, who loves a good meal, a good scotch, and has a mild obsession with English Tailoring.
