Rachael King
Los Angeles, California
Perch
Rooftop bar + truffle fries = I'm sold. The Staff at Perch is super accommodating, but be sure to make a reservation as it gets busy. The views are exactly as lovely as you'd hope (one of the benefits of DTLA), and it's a classy joint. (Want the same view but a little less classy – in a good way? Hit the Standard's rooftop nearby.)
Casita del Campo
An oldie but a goodie! The fact that this restaurant/bar is somewhat hidden only adds to its charming allure, and truly makes you feel like you're entering a completely different time/place. This spot's enchiladas are probably some of the best in the city, and the inexpensive margaritas are so strong that you'll probably end up attending one of the drag shows at the Cavern Club, which is located right below Casita del Campo. One can never go wrong with enchiladas and drag queens.
Cha Cha Lounge
Colorful, vibrant, and just a little bit obnoxious, this dimly-lit bar is quintessential Silver Lake. Cha Cha Lounge has an incredible energy that is palpable as soon as you walk in, and is likely what draws in the masses of young people who love it so much (if not its energy, most certainly its strong and reasonably-priced drinks).
The Escondite
I would come here for the names of the menu items alone! It's such a fun, whimsical place, plus totally dog-friendly. Their burgers are so creative with toppings like hash brown patties, Slim Jim bites, and mac and cheese. The "Sandos" aren't messing around, either – I'm partial to The Trainwreck, stacked with pepperoni, pickles, and hot peppers. This is a comfort foodie's paradise!
Find a tour guide! Ideally, several. LA is really hard to get to know on your own, and unlike New York or other walkable cities, its hidden gems are much harder to discover. But people who live here love showing you the secret treasures they’ve found around the city; just ask and all will be revealed. (Otherwise, it’ll take you years to figure out how wonderful this place really is.)
My company, Pod People, is a hybrid podcast production company and staffing agency for audio professionals. Basically, we make podcasts. We’ve built a community of the world’s best independent audio folks (producers, editors, engineers, sound designers, composers, etc.). We know each of their skill sets personally, as well as where they’re located, what their rates are, and who’s available when, so that we can match them to the perfect project.
I was so reluctant to move to Los Angeles. I moved down from SF, and folks up there have a real complex about LA; they had me convinced it was an ugly city with no culture and a bunch of showbiz-obsessed social climbers. But from the moment I got here, I absolutely fell in love with it. LA is beautiful, it’s vibrant, there is SO much to do, and it’s full of fascinating, super creative people. You never know what someone is going to say when you ask what they do. I’ve met an artist who makes gorgeous (expensive!) headpieces for Kesha and other performers, a bartender who taught English Lit at a Buddhist temple, and someone designing VR to help amputees and folks needing physical therapy recover more quickly.