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Locals in Los Angeles

Stir Crazy, Insomnia, Bourgeois Pig — long time residents of Los Angeles may instantly recognize these names, but tourists may have a hard time placing them.  They’re a few neighborhood coffee shops spread out over Hollywood, Los Feliz and Los Angeles, but you might easily pass them or others by.  Most of the time, travelers want to see the basic attractions of the city — Universal Studios, The Queen Mary, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Griffiths Park Observatory, The Getty Museum, to name a few — but sometimes, back at the hostel or the best Los Angeles hotel one can find, after a day of hardened touristry (as it were), one may wish to relax like the locals.  But where do they go in town?

Clearly, a number of people can be found in traditional name brand coffee shops, the type advertised with the symbol of a green circle around a lady in a starred crown or of white, cursive script about a dark brown tea leaf, just like anywhere else in the country.  But a few places remain where hard-core regulars sit at their keyboards and monitors, plugged into ample outlets, working away either on homework or the next best American screenplay.  Here, you might find these tireless souls at either Stir Crazy or Insomnia (whose storefront, I’m told, appears as an exterior on a popular daytime soap opera); the latter coffee shop is open late, sometimes as late as one in the morning.  In either case, you’ll find good coffee and a mostly quiet atmosphere in which to work.  The Bourgeois Pig serves as more of a social place; expect more talking here, although there will be plenty of studying and working as well.

For food, some locals will find themselves at traditional Los Angeles haunts, such as El Coyote, a Mexican restaurant established over 70 years ago, and Pink’s, a hamburger and chili hot dog place so popular you may be waiting in line for hours.  But there’s also places like The Newsroom, which focuses on healthier food, on Robertson; it’s a nice less costly alternative to The Ivy across the street.  There are also numerous places to eat on Melrose, such as the Vienna Cafe, which has terrific omelettes and pretzel bread.

Los Angeles is a place that takes a long time to get to know.  Even after fifteen years of living there, residents can still turn a corner and find some place new that is interesting, so don’t be afraid to explore, too.  You’ll find a perfect restaurant or coffee shop for your own particular taste.

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