Photo by Shelby Moore, courtesy of La Dolce Vita

How to Spend a Perfect 72 Hours Eating Your Way Through L.A.

By Kelly Dobkin, an L.A.-based writer and editor. She has contributed to Bon Appétit, Michelin, and the Los Angeles Times, and is a former editor at Thrillist, Zagat, and Eater. She’s also a culinary school grad and recovering waitress.

Updated: May 20, 2025

Clocking in at just over 500 square miles, a city as sprawling and diverse as Los Angeles can hardly be summed up in just one visit. It’s a mecca for food lovers — where you’ll find everything from regional Mexican fare to killer Korean BBQ to Thai delicacies to some of the best sushi you’ll ever eat (and that’s just scratching the surface). But it’s also a cultural destination, home to countless museums, historic theaters, and legendary comedy and sports venues.

Not to mention (duh), it’s gorgeous here; with 75 miles of sunny coastline, year-round perfect weather, rolling hills and mountains, and so much more. While you can’t do it all in one shot, if you happen to find yourself here over a long weekend (say 3-4 days), we’ve put together some of the best meals to help you make the most of your short time in the City of Angels.

Any Angeleno you plan to visit will immediately ask you what neighborhood you’re staying in, and for good reason. Rush-hour traffic (and, well, traffic in general) can make a few miles feel like a few years worth of commuting. So, strategically, we’ve put together a guide that moves from west to east, keeping you close to LAX for the first 24 hours and allowing for a weekday beach day — less traffic, just trust us. (And we didn’t even include that most hallowed L.A. tradition: an immediate post-arrival stop at the In-N-Out Burger that’s adjacent to LAX grounds.)

When the weekend kicks into full gear, you’ll head east to take in tacos, downtown skylines, scenic hikes, and maybe even a cocktail or two. And if you need even more inspo, our Resy Hit List always has more of what’s essential around town.

Here’s everywhere you need to eat, drink, and see in 72 hours in Los Angeles.

Kelly Dobkin is an L.A.-based writer/editor and former New Yorker. She has contributed to Bon Appétit, Grub Street, Michelin, Here Magazine, and is a former editor at Thrillist, Zagat, and Eater. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Resy, too.

Resy Presents
An Appetite for Adventure

Friday Dinner to Saturday Lunch

Veal parm for two, if you’re willing to share.
All photos by Shelby Moore, courtesy of La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita- LA Beverly Hills

Tableside Theatrics in Beverly Hills

For a dose of old Hollywood glamour, head to La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills, from the same duo behind Fairfax’s Genghis Cohen. Once a destination for Italian-American fare for ’60s-era celebrity regulars like Don Rickles and Frank Sinatra (Sinatra’s booth even has a commemorative plaque), the classic restaurant was revamped and revived by Marc Rose and Med Abrous in 2023. Order up teaming plates of bone-in veal Parm, a tableside Caesar salad (finished with a theatrical giant pepper grinder), or spaghetti and meatballs. You’ll likely be rubbing shoulders with some familiar faces as you toast with espresso martinis.

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Botanica Restaurant Silver Lake

Botanica interior. — Photo courtesy of Botanica

The Quintessence of Cal-Med

Head east on Saturday morning for a full day of eating and exploring. The Silver Lake staple from food writers Heather Sperling and Emily Fiffer is a destination for healthyish Cal-Med fare that’s ideal for brunch. Their charming outdoor patio adorned with plants and string lights is the perfect boho-chic backdrop for plates of Turkish eggs, shakshuka, mezze, and harissa carrot dip. When you’re done, you can take a nice long walk around the nearby Silver Lake Reservoir and/or stop into some of the charming boutiques along Silver Lake Blvd.

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Boyle Heights Taco Crawl Boyle Heights

The seafood tacos and tostadas at Mariscos Jaliscos are among L.A.’s iconic dishes.
Photo by Kelly Dobkin

University of Tacos

No trip to L.A. would be complete without sampling some of the finest tacos the city has to offer — and there are hundreds to choose from. The best place to do so is Boyle Heights’ Taco Row located along Olympic Blvd. which is lined with both street carts and shops serving up regional Mexican specialities. Start off at the legendary Mariscos Jalisco for their famous taco de camaron served in a crispy tortilla with avocado and tangy tomato salsa. Next, don’t miss the queso tacos at Tacos Y Birria La Unica. Handmade tortillas are dipped in beef fat and then seared on the plancha, filled with cheese, beef birria, chopped cilantro and onions, and meant to dip in warm beef birria consomme for a perfect savory bite. If you’ve got any room left, stop by Burritos La Palma for a taste of their famous Zacatecan burritos (go for the chicken tinga or chicharron). When you’re done, grab some flour tortillas for the road from their house brand Tortillas Mejorado or some premade frozen burritos to take home with you as a souvenir.