Q1 25 RECAP
seafood spots, wine bars, desert romps (aka same same but different)
hey — coming to you with a snapshot of all the fun things i got into/ate these past few months. from the hellscape that was January, between the political drama (that is never ending) + the fires that ripped through LA (there’s still things you can do!), to February bringing a little reprieve (still too cold imo) + some birthday fun (aka i get to choose the restaurants+activities for the month — no complaining!), followed by some travels to the east coast in March to FL for my sis-in-law’s gorg wedding + a mini moment in Brooklyn with the boujee crew. a lot of fun was had, but happy to say good riddance to winter + welcome the breath of fresh air/abundance of flowers that is spring! let’s get into it…
NEW(ISH TO ME) RESTAURANTS/BARS/BITES
Fishing with Dynamite (Manhattan Beach): lively oyster bar with mixture of old school + new school seafood dishes; been wanting to try this for a while — lived up to the hype! and made me a believer of clam chowder. impeccable service, too
Loreto (Frogtown): holy shit mariscos. the tostada la joaquin is legit life changing // coupled with a pre- or post-dinner drink at the buzzy Justine’s Wine Bar
Joe Jost’s (Long Beach): open since 1924, this is the oldest bar in Long Beach — and is a VIBE. any place with schooners + wood paneled walls is a win for me
Pita Bu (Malibu): the slogan says it all “where Tel Aviv meets the Bu”. perfect marriage of Mediterranean x Cali cuisine — think fresh fish tacos on pita “tortilla”. a must visit to support the local Malibu community after the fires!
Cara Cara at Downtown LA Proper Hotel (DTLA): pleasantly surprised by how good the food was here considering it’s a hotel rooftop (no shade to my clients!); not surprised by the Kelly Wearstler killer design + epic views (+ company ;)
Rye Goods (Laguna Beach): idk how i just discovered this spot. cutest bakery for organic sourdough treats + brekkie/sandwiches/vino. new fav
Arc butcher & baker (Newport): went into this not expecting much, but was truly blown away by the epic portions — great steak sandwich. big Newport fan
Avra (Beverly Hills): ladies who lunch ~Miami mami style~ for refined Greek with a great prix fixe option
La Copine (Flamingo Heights): best restaurant in the area - amazing vibes, even better food; that whipped ricotta figs + toast gives Five Leaves vibes
Rolo’s (NYC, Ridgewood): a SCENE. bar+grill focused on cooking over a wood fire
Riggin’s Crabhouse (South Florida): love finding new spots near my in-laws — new go-to for fresh seafood + clambakes + stone crabs in a no-frills spot (so FL)
The Rooftop Lounge at La Casa del Camino (Laguna): was hesitant to check this out at first, but you really can’t beat the amazing ocean views from this rooftop bar
Sonoratown (Long Beach): LA classic for tacos with flour tortillas now has a location in DTLB — the chicken chivichanga + chicken/poblano caramelo are everything
Speak Cheezy (Long Beach): sourdough pizza, say no more
wine time
Baby Battista/nico’s (Atwater Village): wine shop upstairs, wine bar + music venue downstairs that’s A VIBE. v Brooklyn energy — i would live here if i could
Good Clean Fun (DTLA): basically the spot for good wine in DTLA - the name says it all
Mas o Menos (Joshua Tree): chicest spot in the desert for cocktails + wine
Plus de Vin (Brooklyn): sweet, chic little spot
Malibu Wines & Beer Garden (San Fernando Valley): absolutely magical outdoor spot in the Valley
Zebulon (Atwater Village): an epic bar with a massive backyard that’s a cross between SF’s Zeitgeist + Williamsburg’s Union Pool; danced ourselves clean to 00s hip hop + 90s dance/club hits on one of my fav nights in LA (Mazal dinner > Baby Battista wine bar > Zebulon beer/dance)
Ambitious Ales + Thunderbolt Pizza (Long Beach): great craft brewery + pizza combo in Bixby Knolls
Brooklyn haunts: Gottscheer Hall (a 100-year-old German spot in Ridgewood) brought me back to Brooklyn circa 2012; sang our hearts out during karaoke in leopard print digs at Golide’s; ended at Greenpoint’s The Palace — always end up at a Palace (shout out to Tally’s The Palace Saloon)
(MY) CLASSIC RESTAURANTS/BARS/BITES
Dudley Market (Venice): ended up here on a Sat in January…sad reason why we were able to get in primetime with no res, but happy to support local businesses! the stiped bass crudo was insane, and the Dudley burger is always a good idea
Mazal (Lincoln Heights): one of a kind spots! serving some of the best Israeli-inspired veg bites in LA (the US?!) w nat/organic wine options. can never not get the bourekas + the charred broccoli (1 per person…trust!)
Ammatoli (Long Beach): first brunch experience from James Beard nominated chef spot for all things Levantine — the hola shwarma (Mexican x Middle Eastern combo) was insanity
Mariscos Jalisco (Boyle Heights): a true eastside treat of crispy shrimp tacos, fried golden brown + packed with fresh, juicy seafood
Tabula Rasa (Los Feliz): another wine bar i would live at if i lived on the eastside
Alder & Sage (Long Beach): the cutest most perfect brunch spot; the vibrant magenta turkish eggs + burgie slap
Grnd Sqrl (Joshua Tree): prob one of my fav burgies; the perfect brew + beer combo after a long/glorious day of hiking in J Tree
Republique (Mid-Wilshire): came on a national holiday and felt like something was off — not as good as i remembered, but will give another shot / amazing space
you can always catch me at Buvon’s or Baby Gee’s in Long Beach with a nice glass of low intervention wine
LOTS OF DOING + TRAVELS
HIKES: didn’t get to hike as much as we wanted, but ended up checking out some new trails: Point Dume in Malibu (perfect NYD activity, pre-fires), Laurel/Laguna Canyon Trail in Laguna Beach (our new home) and Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park (bday hike!)
Malibu on New Year’s Day; so happy we got to soak in a visit before everything happened with the fires
Laguna Beach: shared our love for Laguna with MIL/Shari
Joshua Tree for my birthday + cabin fever in Idyllwild for a much needed trip with the Bad Mitzvah crew
Boynton Beach/Del Rey for my sis-in-laws gorgeous wedding
Brooklyn to visit the girlies for Darkside the band’s return from the ashes (didn’t disappoint)
Jamie XX — feels like his new album has been the backdrop of 2025 and i don’t hate it
Wine tasting deep dive at Buvon’s Wine Bar exploring my new fav French region, Jura, with the very special Domaine de Saint-Pierre — my kind of class
Long Beach Flea Market: rivals Rose Bowl flea (albeit without that epic backdrop) with so many vendors for vintage clothing, home goods, furniture, antiques + more in our backyard!
RANDOM TIDBITS
Radio Bakery (Brooklyn, Prospect Heights): so jealous that the popular Greenpoint bakery is now slinging pastries in Prospect Heights, my old hood! lines are supposedly around the block, but always worth it
Due Fiori (Long Beach): can’t wait to check out the new whimsical casual Cali x Italian spot from Baby Gee crew
Alisa wine + friends (Venice): Greek flavors, a curated wine selection, and a warm, inviting atmosphere on Abbot Kinney
lots of new hotel crushes, from The Six Bells Inn (from Audrey Gelman, formerly The Wing) opening later this year in Hudson Valley, to the creative fever dream that is the Coral Sands Inn & Cottages on Harbour Island in the Bahamas
Los Angeles is having a New York moment, and i don’t hate it:
Miznon (DTLA): a Mediterranean street food chain from Tel Aviv with their first US location in Chelsea Market, is opening in Grand Central Market, for signature pitas stuffed with inventive fillings
Levain (Venice): big gooey cookies now available on Abbot Kinney..dangerous
H&H Bagels (Santa Monica): the LA bagel discourse continues
PopUp Bagels opening 25 (!!!!) locations across LA, OC + San Diego
Magie: a charming wine bar in Miami’s hottest new hood, Little River, just opened a second location in my old stomping grounds, Coconut Grove with “serve yourself” wines, focusing on low intervention varietals from Spain + Portugal <3
great breakdown on how tariffs will effect your drink tab from Ari Bendersky
people are going apeshit over Trader Joe’s mini totes…feels like people just like lines at this point because are they even that cute?
34 hikes that have reopened after the historic + devastating LA fires (yay!), while the Pacific Coast Highway in Palisades burn area could reopen to public by the end of May
Q2 should bring lots of fun, from our long-awaited honeymoon to Japan (after so much Japlan-ing) to hopefully some more hikes + travels around Cali. more to come, but lmk in the comments what lists/guides you would want to see next so i can move it up on my list ;) xx
