It’s commonly understood that the best way to explore a new place is to go straight to the locals. Each week in the Urbanist, we take that wisdom one step further by seeking out not just locals but local experts — those who are especially well versed in their cities’ newest and most noteworthy scenes — to give us insider recommendations. This week, we asked fashion designer Zoe Latta, co-founder of Eckhaus Latta, for her picks in California’s largest city.
“I relocated to Los Angeles in my late 20s, and it felt so foreign to me even though I grew up in Northern California. Every time I found myself having a quintessential L.A. experience, like taking your dog to Lake Hollywood Park, where you can see the Hollywood sign, or sneaking into the pool at Chateau Marmont, I realized there were so many more to be had. I don’t think people understand the scale of Los Angeles. It’s massive, and in that massiveness you can have anything. You can have a cosmopolitan experience and basically any cuisine you desire. You have access to beautiful beaches, amazing museums, hiking trails, restaurants, performances, and events, but there’s no way you’ll do what you want to do here in a day or two. The beach is not part of everyday life here unless you’re situated on the west side (or near it). I get most excited here when I am localized in a neighborhood. Pick an area and really devour it.”
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Hotels
“I just worked on a project with the Proper Hotel (700 Wilshire Blvd.; 310-620-9990) in Santa Monica, and it’s gorgeous — I love how attentive it is to interior design and its lack of uniformity. Kelly Wearstler designed the interiors, and they’re full of earthy tones and different textures. It’s huge — 271 rooms and suites — and you can rent bikes at the hotel valet and take a five-or-so-minute ride to the beach. We did the uniforms for Onda, the restaurant there that Gabriela Cámara (Contramar in Mexico City) and Jessica Koslow (Sqirl in L.A.) collaborated on. I’m excited that Sqirl is a part of this; its food deserves a sit-down, being-waited-on experience. Onda’s food is a really beautiful marriage of the two chefs: halibut tartare with trout roe and jicama, smoked-trout tostadas that have the umami of pulled pork, a whole fish breaded with tapioca balls then fried — mind-blowing.”