The Resy Guide to Road Trips From Los Angeles
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There’s no better excuse to hit the road out than a long summer weekend. Fortunately, some of California’s best beach towns, wine country retreats, and desert playgrounds are all within a short drive from the City of Angels. Whether you’re after laid-back coastal vibes or a high-energy escape, here are three of our favorite road trip destinations and where to eat and drink along the way, naturally.
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Resy Road Trips
Heading up PCH to Santa Barbara
Less than two hours away from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara has always been an easy beachside escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. It has everything we have back home — mountains, scenic coastline views, cute shops — but at a much slower, relaxed pace, ideal for a long weekend trip. It’s also stacked with plenty of destination-worthy dining, whether that’s Michelin-starred restaurants or casual taquerias. If you’re driving up the iconic Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara from the westside, here’s where you should stop along the way.
Distance From City: 92 miles from Santa Monica
Where to Stay: Check out the dreamy El Encanto hotel, with hillside views, string lighting, and gorgeous gardens (the site of many a California wedding).
Stop #1: Breakfast at Beethoven Market: Begin your journey at this buzzy Mar Vista neighborhood favorite with dishes like cacio e pepe scrambled toast, or grab a breakfast sandwich to go if you’re in a hurry to hit the road. If not, enjoy breakfast on their sunny patio, with lush foliage and plenty of people watching.
Stop #2: Sandwiches at Casita Basquerita: As you cruise up PCH, take a break for one of the hottest new sandwich shops in Malibu. Inspired by Spain’s Basque country, this charming mini-mart does daily rotating sandwich drops (e.g. duck-fat roasted chicken with aioli; steak with Parmesan), along with Spanish pantry items and kitchenware. Pro tip: Get there when it opens at 11 a.m. to make sure you snag one of the drops.
Stop #3: Beach day at El Matador State Beach: Now that you’ve got provisions, spend a few sunny hours at one of the most gorgeous beaches Malibu has to offer. El Matador’s towering sea stacks, hidden coves, and rugged cliffs make it one of California’s most photogenic coastal stretches. Take in the ocean views before getting back on the road.
Stop #4: Drinks on the pier at Moby Dick Restaurant & Oyster Bar: Ideally you’ve rolled into town during golden hour, making a stop at this wharfside spot a must before dinner. Stop by any time on a weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. to take part in their oyster happy hour which features discounted wines, cocktails, and of course, seafood.
Stop #5: Dinner at Bistro Amasa. Located inside the historic Upham Hotel (built in 1871), this beautiful bistro is the ideal place to soak in history as you dine on Cal-Med inspired dishes from chef Julian Martinez, a French Laundry alum. Start with steak tartare and a martini and end with roasted chicken with vadouvan labneh, chile crunch, and a cucumber-mint salad.
More Highlights:
Check out Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria, which is the sibling to the Los Feliz original, if you want to take a break for oysters along the drive.
Pull up a seat at El Encanto restaurant at the hotel for Cal-Med fare that’s available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Merci Montecito is a chic Parisian cafe with a healthy-ish menu that also features vegan and gluten-free options for any time of day.
Down the Coast to San Diego
Los Angeles to San Diego is the perfect two-hour drive along the Pacific coast. A straight shot south along I-5, this route takes you through Orange County with an oceanview-packed journey southward to Oceanside and Carlsbad before reaching your final destination. And of course, there are plenty of great places to eat in both cities and along the way.
Distance From City: 132 miles from Downtown Los Angeles
Where to Stay: Check out the chic, maximalist decor and cool-kid vibes at Baby Grand Coronado.
Stop #1: Breakfast at Poppy + Rose: Known for its chicken and waffles, among other dishes, this Southern-inspired favorite is a must for getting your trip off to a running start. Go for classic biscuits and gravy and an avocado Benedict, or grab a steak breakfast burrito to go if you’re in a hurry to get the trip started.
Stop #2: Lunch at Merenda Wine Bar: Merenda’s Cal-Med menu is a perfect excuse to pull over for a break in Oceanside. Expect seasonal small plates like a golden beet salad and larger ones like fresh tagliatelle with tomato passata, ’nduja, butter, and basil. All of it pairs up perfectly with their orange wine flights or a Kalimotxo.
Stop #3: Visit the San Diego Botanic Garden: Stretch your legs with a stroll through 37 acres of lush gardens showcasing plants from around the world. From towering bamboo groves and subtropical forests to California native landscapes, the San Diego Botanic Garden is a nature-packed detour that’s ideal before a night in the city.
Stop #4: Drinks at Carlo: This IYKYK cocktail bar located behind the wine wall at Italian restaurant Cardellino, is a speakeasy-type destination for inventive cocktails in a sexy, low-lit space. The mythology-themed menu features drinks like the Adonis (sweet vermouth, fino sherry, and orange bitters) and the Achilles’ Heel (aged genever, Thai tea, walnut, biscotti and coconut with cold foam).
Stop #5: Dinner at Sushi Tadokoro: You’re on vacation, so a splurge-worthy, edomae-style omakase should not be out of the question. This intimate 10-seat sushi counter meal starts at $165 a person for 15 sushi courses, and the price tag is worth it for one of San Diego’s most quintessential dining experiences.
More Highlights:
Check out the vibey, New Mexico-inspired interiors at Wolf in the Woods wine bar in Mission Hills.
Stop by buzzy North Park restaurant Tribute Pizza for the best wood-fired pies in town.
Located inside a mid century-inspired hotel, poolside restaurant Ponyboy at The Pearl Hotel draws its cues from Midwest menus of the 1960s, with items like a take on Wisconsin ButtaBurger, a veggie spin on a sloppy joe, and Jidori chicken Kiev.
Through the Desert to Las Vegas
Sure, you can fly to Vegas in under an hour, but then you’d miss out on one of the West’s most quintessential road trips. The drive from Los Angeles offers everything from classic Route 66 pit stops and quirky roadside attractions to desert scenery that changes by the mile. Better yet, having a car gives you the freedom to explore beyond the Strip, whether that’s discovering neighborhood cocktail bars, immersive art experiences, or some of the city’s best off-the-beaten-path restaurants.
Distance From City: 273 miles from Silver Lake
Where to Stay: In Vegas, there’s nothing like a shiny new hotel, and Fontainebleau Las Vegas delivers on every level, including plenty of stellar dining options.
Stop #1: Breakfast at Sqirl: Start your trip at Jessica Koslow’s quirky Virgil Village icon, which redefined breakfast in L.A. Order a matcha and the famous crispy rice salad or grab a laminated pastry before you hit the road.
Stop #2: Lunch at Tita’s Burger Den: Tucked along old Route 66 in the tiny desert town of Yermo, the site of the original Del Taco is now a kitschy burger joint worth stopping for. Expect juicy, made-to-order burgers, carne asada fries, and hard-shell “Del tacos” served with small-town hospitality — an ideal refueling stop.
Stop #3: Visit Meow Wolf Vegas: One part haunted house, one part immersive art installation, the trippy Meow Wolf Vegas is a must-visit if you’re looking for something fun to do off the Strip that’s not a club or a casino. Enter through a refrigerator door inside the surrealist art exhibit Omega Mart, and let the adventure begin.
Stop #4: Drinks at Golden Tiki: While you’re off the Strip, geek out on all the classic drink options at this retro-inspired tiki dive, including Painkillers, mai tais, and an old-school Dole Whip soft serve (with optional rum floater). Stop by for the daily 4 to 7 p.m. happy hour, which features $9 specialty cocktails and food specials.
Stop #5: Dinner at Gymkhana: The two-Michelin-starred London restaurant made its U.S. debut inside ARIA Resort & Casino late last year, bringing with it dishes like tandoori masala lamb chops, wild tiger prawns, and richly layered curries. The lavish dining room evokes the elegance of historic Indian members’ clubs — the perfect vibe for your first meal in Vegas.
More Highlights:
At your hotel, check out the theatrical dim sum at the cheekily named Washing Potato.
Hit up Cantina Contramar for tacos and ceviches from acclaimed chef Gabriela Cámara.
Off premises, make sure to visit the new Caribbean steakhouse Maroon, from lauded chef Kwame Onwuachi.
Restaurants Worth More Than a Detour
These are standout spots worthy of planning an entire road trip around, in our humble opinion.
Rory’s Place
Ojai, Calif.
Hippie-chic Ojai has become a culinary destination of late and we especially love the wood-fired fare at Rory’s, which is known for plates like zucchini tonnato, charred hanger steak, and its killer raw bar.
Chez Panisse
Berkeley, Calif.
The iconic Chez Panisse in Berkeley is certainly worth a drive as the arguable birthplace of California cuisine thanks to pioneering chef Alice Waters.
Omakase by Gino
Santa Ana, Calif.
Find Michelin-recommended, top-tier sushi here from chef Gino Choi.
Fable & Spirit
Newport Beach, Calif.
Darren and Jean Coyle have found a truly novel interpretation of Irish cooking at this Michelin-recommended restaurant where you’ll find Guinness brown bread next to cold-smoked yellowtail, beet agnolotti, and, yes, fish and chips.
Dija Mara
Oceanside, Calif.
It’s a Michelin-recommended, Balinese-inspired restaurant and wine bar where you can feast on everything from gado gado and beef rendang to mie goreng and grilled roti.
