February 27, 2013

Best of Downtown

Chad and I have been talking about moving back to Laguna Beach (my hometown) soon. Shocking, I know. Knowing that our move is imminent, I've been visiting my favorite places. While on my quest to enjoy the best of downtown, I thought I'd share with you my best list!

Best Hangout : The Standard
With everything from a ping pong playing venue to a biergarten, there's no better place to have a mini vacation downtown. My favorite part about the standard is of course the rooftop pool. Open all day to the public, there's no better place to enjoy the wonderful view and soak up the sun.

Best Sushi : Sugar Fish
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Trust me is one of three choices on the pre-fixe menu and trust me, it is the best sushi I have ever had. It's simple and fresh and so, so good.

Best Bar : Pattern Bar
It's chic, it's fun. the cocktails are delicious, the food is scrumptious, the crowd is cool, and the owner is super nice. Enough said. 

Best Park : Elysian
The views, the hikes, the parks, the vastness, this park wins for so many reasons. I think Patrick agrees! 

Best View : Perch
Overlooking Pershing Square, Perch has the best view of the downtown skyline. I must add that they also have delicious food and drinks. 

Best Cocktails : Coco Laurent
The drinks from Coco Laurent taste so delicious. While I love a simple cocktail that I can recreate at home, CoCo offers one of a kind awe inspiring cocktails. I've tried three or four, and even a few off the menu. All of them are fantastic. 

Best Food : Blue Cow Kitchen
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The food at Blue Cow is some of the best I've ever had. I crave everything from the salads to the french fries to the sandwiches on a daily basis. I could seriously eat here everyday. It's fresh, clean eating that is so scrumptious. To boot, it has a great dining experience. 

Best Breakfast : Panini Cafe
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Just a few blocks from our loft, Chad and I love to spend Saturday morning sipping coffee and ordering our favorite egg dish at Panini Cafe. With an extensive menu, the food is great, the prices are fair, and they have a wonderful patio where Patrick can enjoy the morning with us (it's the little things).

Best Building : The Eastern Building
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From the impeccably decorated lobby, to the stunning rooftop pool, all topped off with the most amazing art deco architecture, The Eastern Columbia never ceases to amaze me. Everytime I walk by I think, how is this building real? It truly is a sight to see -- a beacon of the city. 

Best Dessert : Bottega Louie
Bottega Louie is by far the hottest place to eat, drink and be merry downtown. Unfortunately, the space is too loud to actually have a conversation and the wait time for dinner is usually over an hour. Even still, from the decor to the packaging... absolutely everything in this restaurant is so beautiful! The desserts are not only pieces of art, but they are such a tasty treat. My favorite are the Eclairs and the Macarons! 

Best Venue : The Orpheum 
Sorry, L.A. Live, but not only is the Orpheum a gorgeous theatre with history and character, but it's small enough to remain intimate. There's really no bad seat in the house. 

Honorable mentions go to Cana Rum Bar and Las Perlas. Both are amazing locations to enjoy a cocktail with friends or that special someone. 

If you haven't checked out any of the above mentioned places and you spend a lot of time downtown, get to it! I will definitely be missing these spots when we are no longer living downtown. Did I miss any categories? Still so much to explore! xo



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