Travel Guide Los Angeles - The movie metropolis on the Pacific
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Travel Guide
Los Angeles
The movie metropolis on the Pacific
02 Quick view 05 Top 10 sights 11 Hotels
02 USA 07 Shopping in Los Angeles 12 Best of ...
03 Travel etiquette 08 Restaurants
04 Health 08 Nightlife
05 Phone calls & Internet 09 Calendar of events
© Thinkstock/iStock
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Travel Guide
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Quick view
Los Angeles: The movie metropolis on the Pacific
Known variously as the City of Angels, Tinsel Town and La-La Land, Los Angeles
is one of the world’s favourite cities thanks to its booming movie industry. Familiar
sights lurk around every corner, whether you’re on Sunset Boulevard, in Beverley
Hills or standing beneath the city’s iconic Hollywood sign.
Nevertheless, there are surprises to be had if you know where to look. Quaint
Pasadena bears a striking resemblance to Disney’s Main Street USA and
Glendale is home to some of the best shopping in the city, while further afield,
Ventura and Malibu are wonderful for nature lovers.
USA
General Information
Country overview
From its vast plains, snow-covered mountains, deep forests and strange rock
formations, to soaring skyscrapers and a thunderous cultural scene, the USA is a
collage of extremes. Nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of Manhattan’s
unforgettable skyline, your first ride in a yellow cab, the ubiquitous hamburger
joints, yawning expanses of prairie, the sweet strains of New Orleans jazz, or the
neon-lit excesses of Las Vegas.
Marvel at the thunderous spectacle of Niagara Falls in northern New York, or seek
an antidote to urban chaos amidst the flat farmland of the Midwest. Then there are
the black hills of South Dakota, the dramatic mountain and ocean landscape of
California’s Pacific Coast Highway and the world-famous Grand Canyon.
Geography
Covering a large part of the North American continent, the USA shares borders
with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The country has coasts on the
Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The
State of Alaska, in the northwest corner of the US, is not part of the continental US;
it is separated from the rest of the USA by Canada. Similarly, Hawaii is not part of
the “lower 48” states; it lies in the central Pacific Ocean.
The country’s dependent territories are offshore and have distinct geographies of
their own; the majority are islands.
The third-largest country in the world (after the Russian Federation and Canada),
the USA has an enormous diversity of geographical features, including mountains,
plains, and coastal zones. Though there are many cities that are densely
populated with more manmade features than natural ones, there are also vast rural
areas that are far more sparsely populated. The climate ranges from subtropical to
arctic, with a corresponding breadth of flora and fauna.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 319 millions (estimate 2018)
Capital: Washington, DC.
Language
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English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorities.
Currency
US Dollar (USD; symbol $) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $100, 50,
20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, though the $2 bill is rare and is not in high circulation. Coins are
in denominations of $1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs have two flat pins with or without a third round
grounding pin.
Public holidays
Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December
2021.
Note
States can recognize other days as state holidays that are not federal holidays.
2020
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Martin Luther King Day: 20 January 2020
President’s Day: 17 February 2020
Memorial Day: 25 May 2020
Independence Day: 3 and 4 July 2020
Labor Day: 7 September 2020
Columbus Day: 12 October 2020
Veterans Day: 11 November 2020
Thanksgiving Day: 26 November 2020
Christmas: 25 December 2020
2021
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2021
Martin Luther King Day: 18 January 2021
President’s Day: 15 February 2021
Memorial Day: 31 May 2021
Independence Day: 4 and 5 July 2021
Labor Day: 6 September 2021
Columbus Day: 11 October 2021
Veterans Day: 11 November 2021
Thanksgiving Day: 25 November 2021
Christmas: 25 December 2021
All information subject to change.
Travel etiquette
How to fit in
Social Conventions
Americans are renowned for their openness and friendliness to visitors. The wide
variety of national origins and the USA’s relatively short history has resulted in
numerous cultural and traditional customs living alongside each other. In large
cities, people of the same ethnic background often live within defined communities.
Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting in formal situations and in business
meetings. As long as the fundamental rules of courtesy are observed, there need
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be no fear of offending anyone of any background.
Gifts are appreciated if one is invited to a private home.
As a rule, dress is casual. High-end restaurants, hotels and clubs may require
more formal attire.
Smoking is increasingly unpopular in the US; it is essential to ask permission
before lighting up. Smoking is not allowed on city transport and restricted or
forbidden in public buildings in most states. There will be a posted notice where no
smoking is requested. An increasing number of states (including California and
New York) have banned smoking altogether in bars, restaurants and many public
places.
Health
Health
Main emergency number: 911
Food & Drink
Food in the US is safe to eat, and the conditions under which food is prepared and
served are regulated by city, state, and federal health and hygiene agencies. In
many jurisdictions, it is mandatory for restaurants to have a certificate of health or
hygiene, as well as the current grade they have been assigned, posted visibly.
Although America is famous for its fast food and obesity rates, the local and fresh
food movement is very popular in many areas, especially cities, making it easy to
eat healthy. A variety of options also makes it easy for people with special dietary
needs to find food that suits them, whether their needs are due to health reasons or
to religious requirements.
Tap water is considered safe to drink in the US and is often offered in restaurants
before bottled water. Bottled water is available throughout the country, however,
both in restaurants and shops, for those who prefer not to drink tap water.
Other Risks
The US is generally considered a safe destination for world visitors. Occasional
outbreaks of disease, such as West Nile Virus (a mosquito-borne illness) and
H1N1 have occurred in recent years, however. Frequent hand-washing and
general practices of good hygiene are encouraged to protect oneself against all
types of illness.
Another concern with regard to safety is the possibility of terrorist attacks such as
the one that occurred on September 11, 2001. City, state, and federal agencies
have stringent anti-terrorism practices in place, however, and direct threats are
infrequent.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Brath, William F.
Expresscare Medical Clinic
8930 S. Sepulveda Bl. S-200
Los Angeles
CA 90045
USA
Tel. +1-310-641-8111
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it
bear the cost of any treatment.
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Phone calls & Internet
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone/Mobile Telephone
Dialing Code: +1
Telephone
Public telephones have become a rarity, but can still be found here and there.
They take coins, telephone cards and credit cards. If you are planning to make
regular use of public phones, it’s best to purchase a prepaid calling card from one
of the many U.S. providers.
Mobile Telephone
Not all European cell phones work on the American network, since it requires a tri-
band or quad-band device. Full network coverage is not always assured outside
densely populated areas. Roaming charges are high here, so it is often cheaper to
buy a SIM card from a U.S. provider. Low-cost prepaid SIM cards for making calls
inside the country can be ordered online before you travel.
Internet
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using
unencrypted public Wi-Fi networks, it is not advisable to enter passwords, credit
card details or banking credentials. We recommend using VPN app or security
software to check Wi-Fi hotspots.
Top 10 sights
Top 10 sights in Los Angeles
TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of
Fame
Built in 1927 by the flamboyant Sid Grauman, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is the
most famous of LA’s art deco movie palaces and is home to the Hollywood Walk of
Fame which commemorates the biggest stars in La-La Land.
6925 Hollywood Boulevard www.chinesetheatres.com
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
Tel: +1 323 461 3331
Universal Studios
One of the world’s largest theme parks, Universal Studios boasts a mixture of hair-
raising rides, studio tours and a petting area featuring retired animal actors.
100 Universal City Plaza Opening times: Daily 1000-1800
Universal City, CA 91608
USA www.universalstudios.com
Tel: +49 800 864 8377
Griffith Observatory
Perched high above the city, close to the famous Hollywood sign, the art deco
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Griffith Observatory was renovated in 2006 and now boasts its own planetarium as
well as stunning views over Tinsel Town.
2800 East Observatory Road Opening times: Wed-Fri 1200-2200,
Los Angeles, CA 90027 Sat-Sun 1000-2200
USA
Tel: +1 213 473 0800 www.griffithobs.org
Getty Center
Housed in a vast futuristic-looking building, the Getty Center is home to one of the
world’s largest collection of photographs, as well as painting and sculpture from all
over the world.
1200 Getty Center Drive Opening times: Tues-Fri and Sun 1000-
Los Angeles, CA 90049 1730, Sat 1000-2100
USA
Tel: +1 310 440 7300 www.getty.edu
L.A. Zoo
Covering 133 hectares (328 acres), LA Zoo, and the adjoining botanical garden, is
one of LA’s most popular attractions, thanks to its coterie of rare animals, including
the mountain tapir, and multimillion-dollar elephant enclosure.
5333 Zoo Drive Opening times: Daily 1000-1700
Los Angeles, CA 90027
USA www.lazoo.org
Tel: +1 323 644 4200
The Autry
The Autry is home to the Museum of the American West, which charts the history of
the area and its people, including Native Americans. With more than 21,000
artefacts, the museum also has the largest collection of Indian art after the
Smithsonian.
4700 Western Heritage Way Opening times: Tues-Fri 1000-1600,
Los Angeles, CA 90027 Sat-Sun1000-1700
USA
Tel: +1 323 667 2000 www.theautry.org
Disneyland
The first, and some say best, of the six Disney resorts, Disneyland includes eight
themed ‘lands’, including Main Street USA, Tomorrowland and Frontierland, each
of which contains rides and attractions of varying speed.
1313 Disneyland Drive Opening times: Daily 0800-0000
Anaheim, CA 92802
USA disneyland.disney.go.com
Tel: +1 714 781 4565
Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical
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Gardens
The former home of railroad tycoon Henry E Huntington is packed with art,
antiques and rare books, as well as works by Gainsborough and Lawrence.
Outside is an 81-hectare (200-acre) botanical garden, including the stunning
‘Garden of Flowing Fragrance’.
1151 Oxford Road Opening times: Mon and Wed-Fri 1200-
San Marino, CA 91108 1630, Sat-Sun 1030-1630
USA
Tel: +1 626 405 2100 www.huntington.org
Grammy Museum at LA Live
Part of the L.A. Live entertainment complex, the Grammy Museum is dedicated to
all things musical and includes a fascinating exhibition on the technology of
recording.
800 West Olympic Boulevard Opening times: Mon-Fri 1130-1930,
Los Angeles, CA 90015 Sat-Sun 1000-1930
USA
Tel: +1 213 765 6800 www.grammymuseum.org
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Housed inside an Arata Isozaki-designed red sandstone building, MOCA is home
to one of the finest collections of 20th-century art in America, including works by
artists of the calibre of Mondrian and Rothko.
250 South Grand Avenue Opening times: Mon and Fri 1100-1700,
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tues and Thurs 1100-2000, Sat-Sun
USA 1100-1800
Tel: +1 213 626 6222
www.moca.org
Shopping in Los Angeles
Shopping in Los Angeles
Key Areas
Los Angeles is heaven for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, with upmarket
streets such as Rodeo Drive and Melrose Avenue attracting big-name designer
brands and the celebrity browsers to match. Elsewhere, La Brea and La Cienega
are good for an interior design fix, while for handmade crafts and quirky souvenirs,
Pasedena is your best bet. Santa Monica is good for international and high-street
shopping.
Markets
West Hollywood’s farmer’s market has been selling fresh produce since 1934,
while Pasadena’s weekly market is worth visiting for the Mexican food alone.
Shopping Centres
The Beverley Center is the place to go for upmarket fashion, while Glendale’s
Americana has a good mix of high- and low-end brands.
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Restaurants
Restaurants in Los Angeles
There’s no shortage of choice in LA, which along with traditional eateries offering
American classics,boasts some of the best Asian restaurants in the USA as well as
superlative Mexican fare.
Urasawa
Hideously expensive but very tasty sushi in a slick restaurant popular with the
celeb set.
2185 North Rodeo Drive Price: Expensive
Beverly Hills
Los Angeles, CA 90210
USA
Spago
Set around an airy courtyard, Spago boasts an eclectic menu and a vast 30,000-
bottle wine cellar.
176 North Canon Drive Price: Expensive
Beverly Hills
Loa Angeles, CA 90210
USA
Tavern
Offering A-list food on a D-list budget, Tavern is popular with stars and locals alike.
11648 San Vicente Boulevard Price: Moderate
Los Angeles, CA 90049
USA
Horse Thief BBQ
Rib-sticking Americana done extremely well – pulled pork is the house special.
324 South Hill Street Price: Moderate
Los Angeles, CA 90013
USA
Red O
Mexican food as eaten by President Obama and whipped by chef Rick Bayless.
8155 Melrose Avenue Price: Cheap
Los Angeles, CA 90046
USA
Nightlife
Nightlife in Los Angeles
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Sunset Boulevard is still home to some of LA’s most famous clubs but Long Beach,
Santa Monica and Pasadena all have plenty for would-be party animals to enjoy.
The Viper Room
One of LA’s most infamous bars, The Viper Room remains a hipster hotspot. Iggy
Pop, Johnny Cash and Placebo are just a few artists who have played here.
8852 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
Los Angeles, CA 90069
USA
The Edison
Set in a converted power plant, this industrial chic lounge is one of LA’s hippest
hangouts.
108 West 2nd Street 101
Los Angeles, CA 90012
USA
Avalon
An LA institution that has been entertaining clubbers since the 1960s.
1735 Vine Street
Hollywood
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
The Colony
A super-hip lounge bar with a huge central pool and great cocktails.
1743 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
Polo Lounge
A movie regular, the lavish Polo Lounge has hosted everyone from Marlene
Dietrich to Mia Farrow.
9641 Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
CA 90210
USA
Calendar of events
Calendar of events
Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rosebowl
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Floral processions, marching bands and American Football celebrate the New
Year in grand style on January 1 (unless it falls on a Sunday, in which case it’s
January 2). The world famous rose parade, which began in 1890, draws crowds of
up to a million people and takes place in the streets of old town Pasadena and
beyond. Find a spot on the roadside or book grandstand seats (early) in advance
for the best view.
January 1, 2020
Venue: Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena
Annual Golden Dragon Parade
This celebration of Chinese New Year has taken place in LA for over 100 years.
Colourful floats, firecrackers and marching bands parade through Chinatown
making for a popular family day out. The lion and dragon dancers are a highlight of
this festival, which attracts celebrity grand marshals each year, who have included
Bruce Lee, Lindsay Wagner and Playboy King Hugh Hefner.
February 1, 2020
Venue: Chinatown
The Academy Awards
The Academy Awards are the biggest event of the entertainment year and they
take place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. If you’re not a celebrity, you can’t
get inside, but thousands of people queue up to watch the movie stars walk the red
carpet in stunning designer gowns.
February 9, 2020
Venue: Kodak Theatre
LA Times Book Festival
This two day literary fest, one of the largest in the US, was previously housed at
the UCLA campus in swish Westwood, and has decamped to USC in Downtown
LA. It hosts a raft of writers giving seminars and talks, as well as poetry readings,
and it promotes storytelling and reading for all ages as well as presenting a range
of new work. The festival attracts some 140,000 book lovers each year.
April 18 -19, 2020
Venue: USC campus, Downtown LA
Toyota Grand Prix
Formula One takes to the city streets of Long Beach in this three day festival of
speed. For over 35 years, the streets of the city have been turned into a race track
and there’s a plethora of sideshows to please motor racing fans of all ages. A kids
zone offers youngsters a chance to try out mini electric cars and big kids can ogle
at some of the meanest machines on the racing circuit.
April 17 - 19, 2020
Venue: Long Beach
LA Pride
Events taking place over an early June weekend include the centrepiece Gay
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Pride parade which attracts some 400,000 spectators and many other events
including a festival of live music and comedy, visual arts, poetry, a fun run and get
togethers in the park, all taking place in the West Hollywood area. LA Pride
celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender arts and culture.
June 12 - 14, 2020
Venue: West Hollywood (parade)
Los Angeles County Fair
This month long cornucopia of fun is the biggest county fair in the US. It features
amusement rides, a carnival, concerts, crafts and farm animals, horse races,
games, and a variety of deep fried foods, the like of which have to be seen to be
believed. The concert series attracts major names old and new – past years have
featured One Republic, LeAnn Rimes, The Beach Boys, The Average White Band
and Styx.
September 2020
Venue: Pomona Fairgrounds
Halloween
Halloween is a huge holiday celebration in the U.S. and LA has plenty of tricks and
treats to scare the pants off you. Among the biggest is Universal Studios’s annual
Halloween Horror Nights which is screamingly good fun and runs throughout
October, as does the Knotts Berry Farm’s Scary Farm Haunt. In Griffith Park, check
out the Haunted Hayride, a spooky east coast tradition that’s now making its mark
on the west coast. Book early for all events.
October 31, 2020
Venue: Various
Hollywood Christmas Parade
This modest (by US standards) procession of floats, cars, marching bands and
minor celebrities that dates back to the 1920s, almost got the chop a couple of
years back but has bounced back. There’s free kerbside standing or you can buy
grandstand tickets for a birds eye view. The parade passes along part of
Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard past many of the legendary buildings of Old
Hollywood. It takes place at night so wrap up as it can be chilly.
December 2020
Venue: Hollywood
Hotels
Hotels in Los Angeles
From the Hollywood Roosevelt to Chateau Marmont, LA’s hotels are almost as
famous as its celebrity inhabitants.Nevertheless, unearthing a quiet boutique hotel
or charming budget sleeping spot isn’t difficult to do.
L’Ermitage
A glamorous sleeping spot in an even more glamorous location.
9291 Burton Way Category: Expensive
Beverly Hills
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Los Angeles, CA 90210
USA
Shutters on the Beach
A block from the famous Santa Monica pier, the hotel boasts airy seaside chic
décor.
1 Pico Boulevard Category: Moderate
Santa Monica
Los Angeles, CA 90405
USA
Best of ...
... Raw Food Restaurants
© PR
Everybody has tried raw food on some occasion – maybe sashimi at a Japanese
restaurant, a portion of steak tartar at a French restaurant or just an apple in
between. In California, people take their food more seriously: There, switching to a
mainly vegan raw food diet is all the rage – with stars, not just health fanatics.
According to them, all restaurant kitchens should soon stop using their cookers.
Today every good restaurant has a few raw food dishes on its menu.Real fans
insist that no ingredient should be heated to more than 118 degrees Fahrenheit
– that’s about 48 degrees Celsius. Only then can they be certain that the important
enzymes and full nutritional value of foods are preserved. If what they say is true,
the results are fantastic: Your skin is supposed to look younger and fresher, the risk
of developing certain forms of cancer is lower, and physical fitness and intelligence
get a boost.
Café Gratitude
Raw or cooked? Matthew Engelhart, chef of the popular raw food restaurant Café
Gratitude in Los Angeles, keeps his cool when this debate gets going. He shares
the opinion of self-help guru Deepak Chopra: The fact that both sides argue fiercely
only means “that it is about a very important issue.” And he has the appropriate
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breakfast dish for congenial guests on the menu, his “I Am Great” buckwheat
granola in almond milk.
639 N Larchmont Boulevard cafegratitude.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90004
United States
Tel. +1-323/580 63 83
Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
Starting with the logo on this charming café’s website, you will be reminded of the
Californian hippie and flower power movement. Here, close to the beach, you can
enjoy a wide range of food, from the vegan warm chili love soup to veggie burgers.
And if you wish, you can even have healthy food delivered to your door once a
week by ordering “The Box.”
2301 Main Street euphorialovesrawvolution.com/
Santa Monica, CA 90405
United States
Tel. +1-310/392 95 01
Inn of the Seventh Ray
Beware, this place serves cooked food and meat in addition to the small selection
of real raw food dishes on its menu. But its idyllic garden and oodles of hippy
charm easily make up for that. So maybe it’s the place to get your first taste of the
raw food scene – but it´s definitely not for confirmed “rawvolutionists.”
128 Old Topanga Canyon Road www.innoftheseventhray.com/
Topanga, CA 90290
United States
Tel. +1-310/455 13 11
The Springs
Opened by Michale Falso in 2014, this restaurant serves 100 % organic, raw and
vegan fare, none of which is heated to more than 118° Fahrenheit (= 47.78°
Celsius). The bar serves organic wine and beer at lunch and dinnertime.
608 Mateo Street thespringsla.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90021
United States
Tel. +1 213/223 62 26
Real Raw Live
The specialties here are fresh organic juices, raw smoothies, frozen yoghurts and
fat-burning lemonades.
5913 Franklin Avenue www.realrawlive.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90028
United States
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Tel. +1 323/461 45 45
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar
The EMC Seafood & Raw Bar opened its doors in Koreatown in 2013 and soon
became a popular place for fresh seafood. The oysters and tiered platters of
seafood variations are the top sellers here. Behind the bar, there’s a team of
dedicated “mixologists” just waiting to serve you.
3500 W 6th St #101 www.emcseafood.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90010
United States
Tel. +1 213/351 99 88
LifeFood Organic
Here you can create you own fruit smoothie from a selection of 26 main ingredients
and around 40 extras for the final touch. The menu includes a huge variety of
salads and sandwiches, but also burgers, pizzas, taquitos, burritos and wraps.
1507 N Cahuenga Boulevard lifefoodorganic.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90028
United States
Tel. +1 323/466 09 27
Flore Vegan Cuisine
A vegan restaurant with a deli counter, this place stocks a small range of raw food
salads plus lots of cold-pressed juices, smoothies and shakes.
3818 Sunset Boulevard florevegan.com/
Los Angeles, CA 90026
United States
Tel. +1 323/953 06 11
Grassroots Alchemy
Grassroots Alchemy sees itself as “The New World Social Lounge” and believes
that healing foods bring health, happiness and longevity. The meals to be found in
the Raw Living Foods section of the menu include Yin Yang Zucchini Pasta, The
Caliente Raw Tacos and Thai Wrap.
8500 Melrose Ave Suite 106 www.grassrootsalchemy.com/
West Hollywood, CA 90069
United States
Tel. +1 424/30 20 47
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