We’ve covered Santa Monica, Venice – basically all of Los Angeles’ “westside” but today we present to you the most underrated, non-touristy part of Los Angeles that you must visit immediately: Brentwood. The food scene is packed with locals favorites, the shopping is curated to perfection & you can always find somewhere to relax, workout or explore within the 90049.
WHERE TO EAT:
Pizzana: If you’ve been following PLSR since we relocated to LA then you know Pizanna is one of our favorite spots in the city. Their cacio e pepe & tarfuto (truffle) pizza are beyond delicious!
Sugarfish: A LA institution with a few locations in LA, we highly recommend visiting their Brentwood location to avoid the hour long wait the other locations typically have. Order the “Trust-Me” package to receive a sampling of all the best sushi they have to offer. Their bay scallop roll is our absolute favorite!
Jon & Vinny’s: Where to begin with Jon & Vinny’s… It’s easily the best Italian restaurant in all of Brentwood, maybe even all of LA. You must try the: cacio e pepe, gem lettuce salad, white lightening pizza, spicy fusilli (which you’ve probably seen all over your IG), & shells & cheese. Don’t forget to get rainbow cookies at the end of your meal. YUM!
Alfred’s: This iconic coffee shop finally made its way over to Brentwood a few years back & more recently they opened an Alfred’s Tea Room next door as well. If you’re not a coffee person, we highly recommend the Chaga Chip from their tea room – it’s beyond delicious!
Nagao Sushi: Easily one of the most underrated spots in all of Brentwood, we cannot get enough of Nagao Sushi. They have some of the most delicious & creative rolls plus they’re willing to do any/all substitutions which is essential in a city where half the population can’t eat gluten, dairy, soy, etc…
Farmshop: Located inside the Brentwood Country Mart, we love everything Farmshop has to offer. Stay for a sit down meal inside or grab some of their breads & meats to have a picnic at the tables outdoors. They even have a giant section of curated snacks, jams, coffees, & more to shop!
Amici: If you want a little piece of Italy, with really big portions, without traveling overseas, Amici is your spot. You must, must, must order their cacio e pepe & the gemelli pasta with spicy tomato cream sauce (it’s not on the menu but holy moly it’s delicious).
Pressed Juicery: Pressed is LA’s most infamous juice shop that has alllll the healthy goodies. Their juices & shots not only are extremely healthy but they somehow manage to make them taste delicious. Most importantly though is their Freeze which is essentially a healthy fro-yo made without dairy entirely. Our favorite is the chocolate freeze with chocolate chips. YUM.
Katsuya: An LA staple, this hot spot is known for it’s trendy vibes & delicious food. If you want to do it right, order the following: popcorn rock shrimp, baked crab hand rolls, spicy tuna crispy rice, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, miso marinated black cod, & seaweed salad.
Some other places we love in Brentwood are: A Votre Sante, Joe & Juice, Tavern, Lemonade, & SusieCakes.
WHERE TO SHOP:
Brentwood Country Mart: The adorable country mart is not only home to some of the best shopping in all of LA (think Goop, Jenni Kayne, Sugar Paper, Intermix, etc.) but some of the best food as well (Farmshop, Reddi Chick, Sweet Rose, etc.). It’s a great place to grab lunch & spend an afternoon given the outdoor design & LA’s incredible year-round weather.
Ron Herman: This iconic Los Angeles shop has a few locations but their Brentwood is the most low-key of all. It’s location on the main strip of stores & restaurants in Brentwood, San Vicente Blvd. allows for a great day of shopping & exploring.
WHERE TO RELAX:
Cote Shop: Maybe it’s just us but typically getting a manicure is anything but relaxing. People gossiping all around you, poking at your hands with random tools, & and 45 minutes without access to your phone? A millennials true nightmare. Yet our entire experience at Cote Shop was beyond peaceful & nearly had us falling asleep in the chair… It was that relaxing. Don’t even get us started on the crystal pedicure – they say the crystals have the healing power but we swear the employees at Cote Shop do. Aside from the most relaxing, enjoyable, tru spa-like experience, Cote Shop is the cutest salon! They have the best selection of non-toxic colors & tons of goodies to shop after your appointment (it’s such a great place to buy a gift!). Speaking of non-toxic, all their formula from lotion to polish are totally clean & safe for use on your body (can you believe most salon polishes aren’t?). They even do the most incredible collagen mask for your hands & feet to leave them super soft, help your nails grow, & keep your skin glowing. Laura & Yari are our absolute favorites but we’re confident all the employees at Cote Shop are just as fun, kind & talented as the two of them.
Farmers Market: The Brentwood Farmer’s Market is easily our favorite in all of LA (Hollywood being a close second). It’s incredibly peaceful & is walking distance from a ton of cute parks, coffee shops, restaurants, & our favorite Cote Shop (see above). They have incredibly fresh produce, the best fresh squeezed orange juice & tons of other homemade goodies. Our absolute favorite vendor is Dave’s Gourmet Korean Food. You must try their tempha & miso dressing – our two favorites we stock up on weekly. Be prepared to bring a bit of cash with you as most vendors don’t accept credit cards (Dave’s included).
WHERE TO SWEAT:
Body by Simone: There’s a reason every instructor here has a literal 8 pack & it’s because these classes are one of the best workouts ever! Plus, they’re SO fun. If you like to dance or listen to upbeat music, you’ll LOVE the BBS dance cardio classes.
Tracy Anderson: If it’s good enough for GP, it’s good enough for anyone, right? These workouts leave you toned & energized making them the perfect early morning class to kickstart your day.
Sauna Bar: Easily our favorite place to unwind in Brentwood is Sauna Bar. Not only will you find yourself wildly relaxed by all the services they offer (think lymphatic massage & red light sauna) but you’ll work up a sweat too without having to do ANY cardio. Win, win! The staff at Sauna bar is incredibly knowledgable about holistic health & how to be heal yourself whether it’s putting your mind at ease or a physical injury. It’s a must visit while you’re in LA.
Some other workouts we love in Brentwood are: Erika Bloom Pilates & BoxNBurn.
WHERE TO EXPLORE:
The Getty: Aside from having some of the most incredible artwork in the world, The Getty offers some of the best views in all of Los Angeles. On a clear day you can see the ocean & downtown LA (on opposite sides of the city!) from The Getty’s stunning gardens. Pro tip: bring a book to read while lounging on their massive lawn after exploring the giant museum.
Mandeville Canyon: See the stunning homes of Brentwood while taking a stroll through this hilly canyon. The views & homes are equally as incredible to see!
