Thessa Diadem's Los Angeles City Guide

Learn more about the 2021 class of Food & Wine Best New Chefs.

Best Cuppa

"I love the Stockholm Fog, a mix of mocha and chai, at my favorite coffee shop, The Boy & The Bear in Culver City. You can get it hot or cold, but the move is to get it with an extra shot of espresso!"

Carb City

"Andy Kadin of Bub and Grandma's Bread makes the best loaves in Los Angeles. My freezer was stocked with his incredible sesame sourdough loaf when quarantine started."

Best Brunch

"I love to brunch at Destroyer. I'm obsessed with the bowl of fresh blueberries with black currants, lime, and elderflower. The beef tartare and mushroom-Gruyère croissant are also unmissable."

The Dinner Move

"Head with friends you adore to Chi Spacca. Start with the affettati misti and the anchovies and butter. Get the roasted cauliflower, the prawns, and the porterhouse, plus a bottle of red. End the night with gelato."

Wine Time

"Vinovore features women winemakers from all over the world. The bottles all have hand-written labels listing the name of the winemaker, grape varietal, and fun descriptions of the wine's flavor profile."

Destination Cheese

"The cheese course from Scratch | Bar & Kitchen's tasting menu is a pat of triple-crème cheese ice cream with a slice of toasted brioche. It bridges to the dessert course perfectly."

Sip Back & Relax

"Oriel in Chinatown is one of my favorite wine bars. It has a list of exceptional wines and food to match. Get the cheese-and-charcuterie board, escargot, and the duck in a jar to enjoy with your wine."

Grocery List

"I'm inspired by Mercado Benito Juarez, Silom Supermarket, Galleria Market, 99 Ranch, A&S Market, and India Food Mart, just to name a few. The Silver Lake Farmers Market is sweet—good for a quick haul."

Go-To Cocktail

"Aperitivo is an Italian tradition I enjoyed very much while spending some time in Punta Ala, Italy; that's where I fell in love with spritz cocktails. I also love gin, so I was ecstatic when our head bartender at All Day Baby, Jorge Figueroa, created a spin on a spritz with saffron infused gin, lemon, sumac syrup, and meyer lemon vodka."

Fresh Air

"When I can spare a very early morning to myself, I go to Griffith Park Trails. Start the hike at 6 a.m., and by the time you reach the highest point of the hike, you will see the sunrise at an incredible view. For a nice relaxing beach day, I drive south to Malaga Cove for some ocean and sun."

Goofy Gifts

"Pygmy Hippo Shoppe is a whimsical little shop in Fairfax that has the most incredibly curated vintage curios and unique gifts that are fun, quirky, and humorous."

Get Cultured

"If you like contemporary art, head to The Broad Museum. There, you can find the works of Basquiat, Warhol, and Twombly, to name a few. The Visitors installation by Ragnar Kjartansson is my personal favorite. Admission is free, and you can reserve tickets in advance."