City of Angels – State of Escape

Sunshine, optimism and American hustle. Welcome to Los Angeles, California.

Bandy around the words 'sprawl', 'freeway' and 'traffic', and you're probably referring to an experience in LA, the second most populous city in the US. Despite its polarising character, or lack thereof in more downcast critiques, at its heart and around every corner Los Angeles is truly a shining light for art, innovation, creativity and architecture. Explore the City of Angels with Rachel, State of Escape's Digital and Creative Content Manager.

STAY

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, Soho Warehouse is a place for creative thinkers to meet, work, stay and relax. Featuring an all-year-round heated rooftop pool, the club spans seven storeys, with a gym and rooftop restaurant with views of the city. The hotel puts a major emphasis on the art displayed, with pieces from names like Fairey, Brian Bress, and more.

SEE & DO

Griffith Observatory is an LA icon nestled on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.

LACMA, West Hollywood

Los Angeles County Museum of Art in West Hollywood is located near the historic La Brea tar pits, and describes itself as an "encyclopedic museum." Opened in 1965, Today LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection that includes over 120,000 objects dating from antiquity to the present, encompassing the geographic world and nearly the entire history of art. Spend a few hours or easily spend the whole day here, letting your curiosity lead the way.

Venice Beach

If you need to stretch your legs after a long flight, Venice is a great place to get moving. Surfers gather around the Venice Breakwater while bodybuilders flock to the open-air gym on Muscle Beach. Take a walk around the canals, people watch on the boardwalk and get some retail therapy along Abbot Kinney.

EAT

In the heart of Koreatown and located in the LINE hotel is hidden restaurant OPENAIRE, featuring a menu by Two Michelin-starred chef, Josiah Citrin. Showcasing a pitched glass roof and indoor jungle, this space boasts a conservatory feel next to the LINE’s rooftop pool. A special mention: the Alfred Coffee shop in the hotel lobby, for coffee to make you feel at home.

Great White, Venice

If you’re looking for an Australian breakfast fix, visit Great White restaurant for the iconic scrambled eggs and ricotta pancakes. For an evening option, visit their full-service restaurant counterpart, Gran Blanco (Great White in Spanish), conveniently located across the road for dinner and cocktails.