Los Angeles

“Miracle Mile” is the stretch of real estate on Wilshire Boulevard between La Brea and Fairfax Avenues. Once a snappy, Art Deco-influenced shopping destination, this area has become a bit scruffy with age. You can still see the Art Deco, but now Miracle Mile draws traffic for its Museum Row, including the La Brea Tar Pits, the Peterson Automotive Museum, and the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Check out the LA County Museum of Art, recently renovated and expanded and now officially a world-class attraction.

Landmarks

• A+D Museum • 6032 Wilshire Blvd
323-932-9393
All things architecture—check it out here.

• La Brea Tar Pits • Wilshire Blvd & S Curson Ave
323-934-7243
It’s just a big pool of tar, yet it continues to fascinate us.

• LACMA West • 6067 Wilshire Blvd
323-933-4510
This Art Deco building used to be home to the May Co. Department Store.

• Los Angeles County Museum of Art •
5905 Wilshire Blvd
323-857-6000
From King Tut to Jasper Johns, this museum covers it all.

• Lula Washington Dance Theatre • 5041 W Pico Blvd
323-292-5852
Renowned African-American dance company with classes and residencies.

• Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits •
5801 Wilshire Blvd
323-934-7243
Don’t miss the La Brea Woman exhibit.

• Petersen Automotive Museum • 6060 Wilshire Blvd
323-930-2277
Like you don’t see enough cars in LA. Mediocre.

• Zimmer Children’s Museum • 6505 Wilshire Blvd
323-761-8984
Learning place for kids to explore.

Nightlife

• The Joint • 8771 W Pico Blvd
310-275-2619
Former Jazz club, new renovation hosts wide array of music and scenesters.

• Little Bar • 757 S LaBrea Ave
323-937-9210
Beer and wine only at this friendly BYO food spot.

• The Mint • 6010 W Pico Blvd
323-954-9400
Casual acoustic venue with smokin’ sound system.

• Tom Bergin’s • 840 S Fairfax Ave
323-936-7151
Guinness and fifty years of paper shamrocks.

Restaurants

• Black Dog Coffee • 5657 Wilshire Blvd
323-933-1976 • $
Friendly and tasty. Breakfast, lunch, coffee, dog biscuits.

• Caffe Latte • 6254 Wilshire Blvd
323-936-5213 • $$
California-style coffee and breakfast shop.

• Crazy Fish • 9105 W Olympic Blvd
310-550-8547 • $$$
Insanely popular sushi joint.

• Fu’s Palace • 8751 W Pico Blvd
310-271-7887 • $
Crispy, spicy, sweet, and sour aromatic shrimp.

• Kate Mantilini • 9101 Wilshire Blvd
310-278-3699 • $$$
Boxing-themed upscale bistro with knockout desserts.

• Lucy’s • 1373 S La Brea Ave
323-938-4337 • $
A 24-hour tacos, chili dogs, burgers and anything else bad for you.

• Luna Park • 672 S La Brea Ave
323-934-2110 • $$$
Cocktails, tasty food, lively scene. LA outpost of San Francisco original.

• Merkato • 1036 S Fairfax Ave
323-935-1775 • $
Eat with your hands at this Ethiopian joint.

• Natalee Thai • 998 S Robertson Blvd
310-855-9380 • $$
Popular Thai food.

• Nyala Ethiopian Cuisine • 1076 S Fairfax Ave
323-936-5918 • $$
Ethiopian serving unbeatable vegetarian $5.95 lunch buffet.

• Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine • 1047 S Fairfax Ave
323-937-8401 • $
Most vegan restaurant in Little Ethiopia.

• Red Medicine • 8400 Wilshire Blvd
323-651-5500 • $$$$
They have a restaurant “manifesto,” but it shouldn’t deter you.

• Rosalind’s • 1044 S Fairfax Ave
323-936-2486 • $$
Local favorite, Ethiopian.

• Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles •
5006 W Pico Blvd
323-934-4405 • $$
Cheap Southern soul food chain.

• Tagine • 132 N Robertson Blvd
310-360-7535 • $$$
An eating experience with set menus of small plates.

• Versailles • 1415 S La Cienega Blvd
310-289-0392 • $$
The LA institution’s garlicy Cuban grub will stay with you.

• Wi Jammin • 5103 W Pico Blvd
323-965-9809 • $
A tiny hole-in-the-wall Caribbean restaurant where the local hairdressers hang out.

We hesitate to tell you this, because we don’t want to see it overrun, but Saturday night trivia at the bring-your-own-food Little Bar is a nearly perfect way to spend a weekend evening. Where should that BYOF come from? Versailles has crazy good garlic chicken. Not feeling trivia? Look to The Mint for a night of music or comedy.

Shopping

• 99 Cents Only Store • 6121 Wilshire Blvd
323-939-9991
99-cent cell phone charger or a half gallon of soy milk.

• Ace Gallery • 5514 Wilshire Blvd
323-935-4411
Established in 1940, this up and down gallery showcases mostly local Los Angeles artists.

• Albertson Chapel • 5318 Wilshire Blvd
323-937-4919
Wanna get married NOW? Civil and Catholic services available.

• City Spa • 5325 W Pico Blvd
323-933-5954
Body wraps, massages, and steam rooms galore.

• Feldmar Watch Co. • 9000 W Pico Blvd
310-274-8016
From Timex to Rolex, they’ve got it all.

• Hansen’s Cakes • 1072 S Fairfax Ave
323-936-4332
Wedding cake central and imaginative birthday creations.

• It’s a Wrap • 1164 S Robertson Blvd
310-246-9727
Clothes previously worn by your favorite TV stars.

• Marinello School of Beauty • 6111 Wilshire Blvd
323-938-2005
A full-service beauty school with facials at half the going rate.

• Pearl Art and Craft Supplies •
1250 S La Cienega Blvd
310-854-4900
Art supplies for everyone from the career artist to the scrapbook hobbyist.

• Tom Bergin’s • 840 S Fairfax Ave
323-936-7151
Guinness and fifty years of paper shamrocks.