“The two girls grew up by the sea and knew it to be a paradise, a place better than any other garden in the world,” Eve Babitz famously wrote in her 1979 novel. Sex and anger. What paradise was she talking about? Her beloved Los Angeles, of course.
Los Angeles may have changed a lot since her time, but the city’s Edenic nature seems to flourish throughout the seasons, just like Eden itself. Easy access to spectacular nature and farm-fresh cuisine will nourish the city’s Edenic nature, along with a never-ending fountain of innovative fitness classes, spa treatments, and every beauty, pampering, biohacking, and anti-aging ritual mankind could dream of. Here, health is a way of life, something to be pursued fervently, seriously, and with a total lack of irony. Skeptics, stay on the East Coast. For the rest of us, here’s a quick primer on how to get the best angelic glow in the City of Angels.
Where to sleep
Insiders like clean beauty guru to the stars, Natasha Glasgow, have long been fans of #IYKYK retreats hosted by Ayurvedic Panchakarma expert Martha Soffer at her home. Luckily, Soffer is an Ayurvedic chef and herbal rasayani, currently based at the Kelly Wearstler-designed Santa Monica Proper HotelIn a venue with a size of 3,000 square feet Surya Spaready to pamper you with a super menu of Ayurvedic treats, from targeted massages to craniosacral therapy and yoni steam (yes, that steam made infamous by Goop).
Surya Spa.
On the other side of town Sunset Tower Hotelis the epitome of vintage Hollywood glamour, and with its vibrant pool scene, elegant tower bar and glittering clientele, it’s always a good idea. Getting pampered like Garbo is a health pursuit in itself, but the 7,000-square-foot gym, which was once John Wayne’s apartment, definitely helps, too. And the celebrity beautician Joanna Vargas While her eponymous spa is no longer here, the new location is just a three-minute drive away (or, in New York style, a ten-minute walk.) Another off-campus field trip worth considering: Paused West Hollywoodfamous for its infrared sauna and cold water baths.
A place to get nutrition
An all-vegan restaurant in West Hollywood led by James Beard Award semi-finalist and chef Shenali Freeman of Cadence in New York. Ubuntu They serve delicious twists on traditional dishes like jackfruit from Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana and across West Africa. YassaCurry arancini made with jollof rice, Suya Made with seitan instead of beef, All of these, including the charred okra salad, are paired with wines from black-owned wineries.
In Venice, right under the iconic sign Great White Sharkis as close to the platonic ideal of a California eatery as you can get: Think wood-fired pizzas, gourmet burritos, and smoothie bowls made to be savored on an al fresco patio while surrounded by a lush, ethereal-chic crowd wearing flowing floral dresses from local brands like Doen, Christy Dawn, and Staud.
It’s a good idea to book a table in advance at two-star Michelin chef Jordan Kahn’s restaurant. Meteorahis Hollywood restaurant is centered around primal cuisine. That means he’s committed to creating avant-garde gastronomy using ancient techniques and open flames. A popular dish is Job’s Tears Risotto with lightly smoked sheep’s cheese, serrano chiles, and crushed macambo beans, served in an ethereal, forest-like setting. menuBut this is La La Land, so just accept it.
Facial location
that Biological ResearchA-list celebrities like Emma Watson and Nicole Kidman, as well as nearly every magazine editor in the world, terms of service This explains why the brand chose Los Angeles as its first US flagship store. Ambassador(That’s what the brand’s stores are called.) Your customized facial starts with an evaluation by Biologique’s Signature Skin Instant Lab, which uses five diagnostic markers, from hydration to elasticity to pigmentation, to determine the best plan for you. Pro tip: Before your treatment, grab a facial at your local skincare store. Creation Juicery Cold Press Detox. Venice be carefulAt Spa The Biggest Attraction is the extensive menu of facials, expertly curated by co-owner Tess Adams, that include microcurrent and stem cell treatments, microdermabrasion, LED therapy, microneedling, and Reiki and breathwork.
Shopping spots
yes, I have Erewhon $19 smoothies are also popular. Starting this summer, the 10-store LA grocer will be selling Anthony Willems’ wildly popular Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie (for those of you who don’t know, he’s the self-described medical psychic who started the celery juice craze). Until then, you’ll have to make do with Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glazed Skin Smoothie, which is loaded with strawberries, collagen, and sea moss, or Gisele Bundchen’s Gisele Berry Boost, which is made with coconut milk, coconut meat, acai, banana, dates, lucuma, vanilla collagen, plant protein, almond butter, and black elderberry syrup. Want to shop for produce like a pro? Chefs have… Santa Monica Farmers Market Wednesday is a family-run Rainbow Acres Natural Foods It’s an old but nice store. Angelina Jolie was recently spotted walking around the store.
Gisele at Erewhon in January.
For non-food items, Detox MarketLocated next door to Beverly Hills Juice, it offers a curated selection of toxin-free skincare, makeup, hair, body, and wellness products. “We only include less than 1% of the brands we review,” says founder Romain Gaillard. So which brands? Odacite, Vintner’s Daughter, RMS Beauty, Josh Rosewood, the list goes on and on. Another jewel box of no-compromise beauty and wellness products. Violet Gray This Melrose Place boutique is known for launching brands like Eighth Day, Augustinus Bader, and Perfumehead, and has an exclusive deal with Victoria Beckham Beauty. Don’t miss the sexual wellness section, where items like Smile Maker and Kiki de Montparnasse are artfully displayed like cases for diamond rings.
And in the lush orchards and gardens of the LA hills, Flamingo Estateis Richard Christiansen’s private home and home to his lifestyle brand, where he makes and bottles his cult-favorite Roma Heirloom Tomato candles, $80 spicy strawberry snacks, and $250 jars of honey from hives installed with permission in celebrity gardens (collaborators include Tiffany Haddish, Julianne Moore, and LeBron James). We can’t help but wonder if all of this is what Meghan Markle had on her American Riviera Orchard mood board.
Where to heal
“Dr. Ellie Byun “Ellie’s facials are a little secret dream come true, as they expertly combine reflexology, acupuncture and state-of-the-art body transformation machines,” says jewelry designer Jen Meyer. “Ellie’s facial potions and products are sure to blow your mind – it’s truly where relaxation meets transformation. Ellie’s holistic approach will leave you glowing and relaxed – it’s a must-experience!” From her Sherman Oaks practice, where she blends ancient Korean medicine with modern insights, Dr. Byun counts a devoted clientele that includes Lady Gaga and Jennifer Aniston.
chef Anne Thornton I trust the healing sessions Ritmos SagradosFounded by Esmeralda Rose Ely, who draws from her African and Kalinago-Taino-Arawak lineages, she weaves ancestral wisdom into her services, which include medicine houses, limpias (ancient spiritual healing practices), and monthly flower essence soaks aligned with the lunar cycle. “I incorporate herbal rose, dreamweaver, and other plants into my daily practice and diet to create the best healing and highest vibrational foods possible,” says Thornton.
Where you sweat
Many Los Angeles residents will tell you they like to get some Vitamin D while exercising. In this city, hiking trails trump treadmills, and West Hollywood’s Runyon Canyon still tops the list, especially in terms of views (and celebrity sightings). If you want something even more #IYKYK, head to Franklin Canyon, which straddles Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley, and hike the 2.5-mile Chaparral Trail that circles Heavenly Pond and is surrounded by alpine-style lakes. In other words, perfect conditions for forest bathing. And what’s widely considered the best workout in the city is West Hollywood’s Carrie’s Pilates Plus A calorie-burning, high-intensity signature class that combines strength training, cardio and Pilates.
A place to look back
Allow at least a full day for sightseeing Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens This 1911 Beaux Arts mansion in Pasadena, where Ralph Lauren held his first West Coast fashion show last year, features works by Mary Cassatt, Edward Hopper and more. The estate’s 120-acre botanical gardens will transport you to a place straight out of a Maurice Sendak story, and a stroll through the Japanese garden might inspire you to the art of bonsai.
And don’t miss it Getty CenterDesigned by Richard Meier, this milky travertine fortress sits atop the city and is worth the visit for the views alone, but the art, of course, is also worth a visit: after browsing the vast collection of European paintings, drawings and sculptures, head to the 134,000-square-foot central garden, designed by California artist Robert Irwin, for a meditative moment in the floating azalea labyrinth.
