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Published Wed, 22 Jul 2020
California Travel Guide

Silver Lake Reservoir.

Griffith Park Hiking trail

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

Luna Shadows (photo by Larsen Sotelo)

Luna Shadows (photo by Larsen Sotelo)

The Silver Lake Pool and Inn

The Silver Lake Pool and Inn

Alisa Xayalith shares with us her favourite places and spaces in California.

Where are your top places to go?

The Silver Lake Reservoir  
Perfect place to go for a walk and clear your mind. I have a few friends who live on the reservoir, so we often meet or I wave to them at a distance. Ginger loves it when I take her for walks around the reservoir too. 

Griffith Park Hiking trail
Sometimes being in the city can feel overwhelming and getting up early to hike through these rolling hills on a dirt trail can help. I’ve spent so many mornings doing this trail through some of the toughest periods of my life over the last few years. If I didn’t feel like it, I would have friends who would drag me out of my house and into the fresh air. 

Joshua Tree
Folly is a beautiful place to stay that blends its indoor and outdoor living. I’m yet to visit there but I have friends who have raved about their stay here and is highly recommended. Driving to Joshua Tree is a lovely day trip but even better if you can stay for a few days.  

Palm Springs
It’s a quintessential place to visit in California. Cocktails and reading a book poolside. Lazy mornings and balmy evenings. I’m sensing a theme with these places I've listed. I guess living in Los Angeles can be very busy and one can find themselves constantly on a grind. Finishing projects, starting new ones, dreaming up ideas to only do this all over again. Luna Shadows is a long time collaborator and friend, watch as she has chronicled these desert dreams in her own world here. 

The Silver Lake Pool and Inn
East side LA gets it first hotel and it is gorgeous. When The Naked and Famous released our single ‘Bury Us’ a few friends of mine took me here to celebrate. This place feels like a little oasis in the city and conveniently close to where I live. They have a pretty active calendar with themed events for a bit of fun. It’s also dog friendly - I can picture Ginger and I hanging poolside. 

What are your top coffee spots?

Commissary (Hollywood)
Pollen Cafe (Echo Park)
Blue Bottle (Echo Park)
La Colombe (Frogtown location)
Alfred Cafe (Silver Lake)
La Mill Cafe (Silver Lake)
Broome Street General Store (Silver Lake)
All Time (Los Feliz)
Woodcat Coffee (Echo Park)
Dinette (Echo Park)

What are your top things to see?

The Broad Museum
MOCA
Natural History Museum
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
The Getty Museum
Hollywood Farmers Market on Sundays
The Arclight Theatre in Hollywood
Echo Park Lake for a picnic or to ride around on the Swan pedal boats. 
Karaoke in Koreatown 
Highland Park bowl for pizza and bowling.

What are your top places to eat?

SILVER LAKE
Bowery Bungalow
Pho Cafe (hole in the wall Vietnamese)
MH ZH (Israeli Food)
Blairs (Italian)
Speranza (Italian)
Night Song Market (Thai)
Pine and Crane

LOS FELIZ
Fred 62 Diner
Honey Bee Burger (Vegan Burgers)

ARTS DISTRICT DOWNTOWN
Bestia
Guerilla Tacos - Downtown

CHINA TOWN
Burger Lords - (they do my favourite vegan burger)
Plum Tree Inn

DOWNTOWN
Grand Central Market - 
Ramenhood (best vegan ramen)
Sticky Rice (thai street food)

HOLLYWOOD
Cafe 101 Diner in Hollywood

ATWATER VILLAGE
Dune - they do my favourite falafel sandwich Proof Cafe and Bakery

VIRGIL VILLAGE
Sqirl Cafe

Where are your favourite places to grab a drink?

Happy hour at L&E Oyster Bar (Silver Lake)
Apoteke (Downtown)
Silver Lake Wine Tastings on Mondays and Thursdays
Kettle Black (Silver Lake)

Silver Lake Reservoir.

Griffith Park Hiking trail

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

Luna Shadows (photo by Larsen Sotelo)

Luna Shadows (photo by Larsen Sotelo)

The Silver Lake Pool and Inn

The Silver Lake Pool and Inn