Photo courtesy of Lucia

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 19, 2026

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.

Resy Presents
An Appetite for Adventure

Saturday Dinner to Sunday Brunch

Photo by Kort Havens, courtesy of Bar Etoile

Bar Etoile Melrose Hill

Chic Modern Bistro Fare

Teleport to a modern Paris bistro by way of Western Avenue at one of Melrose Hill’s hippest restaurants. Chef Travis Hayden’s knowledge of French cuisine is très évident in dishes like a pitch-perfect rotisserie chicken, trout rillettes, and his signature Caesar beef tartare. The stylish spot, outfitted with shiny lacquer-finished banquettes, is brought to you by the team behind natural wine mecca Domaine L.A., and accordingly, the wine list knocks it out of the park, with 200+ bottles to choose from. The U-shaped bar is also the perfect spot for a single and mingle evening or a prime people watching perch for fly-on-the-wall visitors (you know who you are).

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Seco Silverlake Silver Lake

Silver Lake Nightcap

Keep the good times flowing by visiting this Sunset Junction hotspot for a bubbly nightcap. From the same team as Mexico City-originated sushi destination Santo just next door, Seco draws from both European cafe culture and Mexican hospitality to create a vibe that’s wholly L.A. The cozy, Art Deco-inspired space offers a warm backdrop for an eclectic small-plates menu (everything from hamachi crudo to an endive Caesar), plus a large slate of natural wines. An immediate hit with locals, join the cool-kid crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk late into the night.

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Doto Silver Lake

A Very Cali Brunch

Close out your whirlwind weekend in L.A. with a visit to this tranquil Virgil Village gem, which has a menu that reads like a greatest hit compilation of all your favorite restaurants, with a Japanese slant. Order everything from baked eggs and merguez to a perfect California breakfast burrito to karaage fried chicken and waffles served with orange-chili maple syrup. And if you’re feeling more of a lunch-y vibe, try their excellent Comte burger or fish tempura tacos. Take it all in on their outdoor patio with stunning hillside views and don’t forget the salted caramel ice cream with furikake for dessert.

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Thunderbolt Historic Filipinotown

A Final (Fancy) Cocktail

At the intersection of Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown you’ll also find the unexpected convergence of craft cocktails and Southern food at this buzzing east side destination. Most of the drinks here are true originals, like the P-Town Boxing Club (coconut-washed rye, pandan, bitters) with a few modified classics like the Lychee Daiquiri as well. No wonder it’s currently in the top of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Toast to a perfect 72 hours in L.A. with a stiff cocktail (or mocktail) here before you head off to the airport.

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