Get the Best Out of Low Season in LA
07/03/2019
Get The Best Out of Low Season in LA
Not too sweaty, and free of the tourist swarms, mild but sunny March is Tinseltown’s best-kept secret. Here’s how to get the best out of ‘low season’ in LA.
Hop on the funicular to hill-perched The Getty for a wander through its clipped gardens, stagger bright-white archi, and history-spanning art collection from marble-ous Greek statues to Renaissance manuscripts to Van Gogh portraits. The unfettered 360-degree city and sea views from this glorious vantage point are arguably the best in La La Land.
Culture box ticked, it’s time to get the breeze in your barnet. Hop in your wheels and zap across the freeway to join the iconic, curve-hugging Mulholland Drive, boasting mile-upon-mile of stunning vistas (both north towards Studio City, and south across Downtown), plus tantalising peeks at some of LA’s most exclusive pads. Our favourite pause-for-pics is the Hollywood Bowl Overlook – normally a stop-off on the tourist trail, it’s relatively crowd-free in March, leaving you plenty of photo-ops of the Bowl, Griffith Park & Observatory and the iconic Hollywood sign.
You must be famished! Beeline for the semi-alfresco locally provenanced Farmers Market, at Third and Fairfax. Operating since 1934, it’s packed with aisles of gourmet grocers and restaurant-quality food stands, selling everything from crepes to tacos to Texas barbecue. There’s seating inside and out, so take your pick.
Now, head north on Fairfax, where fabulous shopportunity awaits on the world-famous Melrose Avenue. First up, cult fashion brand Reformation sees salvaged fabrics reborn as modern everyday wear – RiRi and TayTay are fans, and so are we. For more retro retail, shimmy onwards to Decades, and bag yourself a mint-condish, red carpet-worthy gown. Secreted away on Melrose Place is Olsen twin emporium The Row for classic neutral investment pieces.
You might want to nip back to The Peninsula for an outfit change before donning your best poker face to get through the door of hotter-than-hot Catch LA. Once inside, you’ll be rewarded with even more stunning outlooks over the Hollywood Hills, and – hype aside – shockingly good seafood and on-trend vegan fare.
The Getty / 1200 Getty Center Dr / +1 310 440 7300 / 10am-5.30pm Tue-Sun, 10am-9pm Sat / getty.edu
Farmers Market / 6333 W 3rd St / +1 323 933 9211 / 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm Sat, 10am-7pm Sun / farmersmarketla.com
Decades / 8214 Melrose Ave / +1 323 655 1960 / 11am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun / decadesinc.com
Reformation / 8253 Melrose Ave / +1 323 852 0005 / 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun / thereformation.com
The Row / 8440 Melrose Pl / +1 310 853 1900 / 10am-6pm Mon-Sat / therow.com
Catch LA / 8715 Melrose Ave / +1 323 347 6060 / brunch Sat-Sun, dinner daily / catchla.com
Not too sweaty, and free of the tourist swarms, mild but sunny March is Tinseltown’s best-kept secret. Here’s how to get the best out of ‘low season’ in LA.
Hop on the funicular to hill-perched The Getty for a wander through its clipped gardens, stagger bright-white archi, and history-spanning art collection from marble-ous Greek statues to Renaissance manuscripts to Van Gogh portraits. The unfettered 360-degree city and sea views from this glorious vantage point are arguably the best in La La Land.
Culture box ticked, it’s time to get the breeze in your barnet. Hop in your wheels and zap across the freeway to join the iconic, curve-hugging Mulholland Drive, boasting mile-upon-mile of stunning vistas (both north towards Studio City, and south across Downtown), plus tantalising peeks at some of LA’s most exclusive pads. Our favourite pause-for-pics is the Hollywood Bowl Overlook – normally a stop-off on the tourist trail, it’s relatively crowd-free in March, leaving you plenty of photo-ops of the Bowl, Griffith Park & Observatory and the iconic Hollywood sign.
You must be famished! Beeline for the semi-alfresco locally provenanced Farmers Market, at Third and Fairfax. Operating since 1934, it’s packed with aisles of gourmet grocers and restaurant-quality food stands, selling everything from crepes to tacos to Texas barbecue. There’s seating inside and out, so take your pick.
Now, head north on Fairfax, where fabulous shopportunity awaits on the world-famous Melrose Avenue. First up, cult fashion brand Reformation sees salvaged fabrics reborn as modern everyday wear – RiRi and TayTay are fans, and so are we. For more retro retail, shimmy onwards to Decades, and bag yourself a mint-condish, red carpet-worthy gown. Secreted away on Melrose Place is Olsen twin emporium The Row for classic neutral investment pieces.
You might want to nip back to The Peninsula for an outfit change before donning your best poker face to get through the door of hotter-than-hot Catch LA. Once inside, you’ll be rewarded with even more stunning outlooks over the Hollywood Hills, and – hype aside – shockingly good seafood and on-trend vegan fare.
The Getty / 1200 Getty Center Dr / +1 310 440 7300 / 10am-5.30pm Tue-Sun, 10am-9pm Sat / getty.edu
Farmers Market / 6333 W 3rd St / +1 323 933 9211 / 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm Sat, 10am-7pm Sun / farmersmarketla.com
Decades / 8214 Melrose Ave / +1 323 655 1960 / 11am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun / decadesinc.com
Reformation / 8253 Melrose Ave / +1 323 852 0005 / 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun / thereformation.com
The Row / 8440 Melrose Pl / +1 310 853 1900 / 10am-6pm Mon-Sat / therow.com
Catch LA / 8715 Melrose Ave / +1 323 347 6060 / brunch Sat-Sun, dinner daily / catchla.com