Denise runs a PR agency, has a young son, walks two dogs before most people are awake, and has been in Los Angeles long enough to have strong opinions about every neighborhood she passes through. She’s also the kind of person who plans her day around the coffee shop she wants to try. This makes her a useful person to know in a city where the difference between a good day and a wasted one is almost entirely about where you decide to go.
What she wants visitors to understand about LA is that it resists being summarized: “It’s made up of so many pockets, and each one has its own gems.”
People tend to stay in their neighborhoods and miss everything else (and not for nothing—the traffic is no joke). Her shortlist of places worth crossing town for: paletas from Viva Cafe, a family-owned Oaxacan spot in Koreatown; one-of-a-kind finds at Surf Canyon in Malibu; coffee and community at BLVD MRKT in Montebello; croissants at Artisanal Goods by CAR in Pasadena; sushi at Taihei in Monterey Park.
None of these are in the same zip code, and that’s the point. Read on for her insider’s guide to Los Angeles.
Start slow, then go
For Denise, the ideal morning isn’t rushed: Getting her son ready, walking the dogs, and then a pilates class before the day picks up speed. “It helps me feel grounded before the day picks up,” she says.
A good day in LA requires two things: good food and time outside. “We’re spoiled with the weather in LA, so it feels wrong not to take advantage of it.” She seeks out nature when she can. The Arboretum, the Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens—all feature genuine greenery that breaks up the sunshine and pavement.
On traffic, her answer is the one every Angeleno gives: do your best to plan around it. Group things by area. If you’re on the Westside, stay on the Westside. Find the coffee shop, take the calls, get the meal. “A good podcast for the drive always helps, too.” And if you get stuck: “I haven’t been to a movie theater in a while, but that also feels like a fun way to pass the time and let traffic die down.” A very LA solution to a very LA problem.
Marina del Rey, and the case for staying close
Denise has spent time working closely with the Marina del Rey tourism board and has an insider’s read on why it works as a staycation. “It has its own personality,” she says, “and even though it’s in LA and close to major attractions, it still feels like you’re away on vacation.”
There’s the water: sailing, dining, biking along the shoreline. But also the slower pace, the boat parade in the winter, the outdoor summer concerts. In many ways, it’s a neighborhood that behaves like a destination.
For her own reset, she likes to stack activities. Start with a pottery class at Bitter Root Pottery Aqueous overlooking the water, followed by a facial at The Things We Do, acupuncture at Golden Folk Wellness, or a spa day at the Sisley Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey. When she needs to move her body, it’s pilates at Made by Solace, a hike at Griffith Park, or a kickboxing session at Classic Kickboxing.
What makes her fall back in love with the city, over and over, is the entertainment. Not the industry, but the rich calendar of events: outdoor movies, concerts, the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek Theatre. Every summer KCRW throws events across the city’s neighborhoods, and her favorite is the one in Chinatown. Good music, good food, good energy. Afterwards, General Lee’s or Melody Bar. That’s a Los Angeles evening done right.
Denise’s picks: Top ResortPass properties in Los Angeles
For the waterfront reset: The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey
The closest Ritz-Carlton to the water in the US, sitting right on one of the world’s largest recreational marinas. The heated saltwater pool has private cabanas and daybeds with marina views; Cast and Plow serves locally sourced food and cocktails marina-side. Then there’s the Sisley Spa, Denise’s personal go-to, with results-driven treatments in a waterfront setting that makes it easy to forget you’re still in the city. Bicycle rentals are available if you’d rather earn the pool time first.
For a Sunset Strip afternoon: The West Hollywood EDITION
Perched above Sunset Boulevard where West Hollywood meets Beverly Hills, the EDITION’s rooftop pool is one of the better views you can buy in LA for the afternoon. Lush botanicals, bespoke wooden loungers, panoramic city and hills views, crafted cocktails, and the Ardor restaurant below serving California cuisine from locally sourced ingredients. The kind of place that looks exactly as good in person as it does in photos.
For a proper Beverly Hills day: Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
On Doheny Drive, beneath the palms, the Four Seasons rooftop saline pool is framed by lush gardens and views of the city that feel quietly cinematic. Private cabanas come with dedicated attendants, craft cocktails, and gourmet bites on demand. The spa is steps away when the afternoon calls for something more. An unhurried, full-service day in one of LA’s most coveted addresses.
