All the hottest new experiences in LA

We don’t want to overstate this, but the city of angels is going off right now.
And it’s tourism offering is growing by the day. In this handy guide, we bring you the best new places to shop, eat, stay and soak up cultural experiences so you can do LA like a local.
Shop ’till you drop
ROW DTLA (Arts District) – Originally a major hub for the distribution of produce across the region, stretching back as early as 1923, the space is undergoing historically sensitive renovations and its buildings are being thoughtfully repurposed into creative offices, retail, restaurants, and galleries.
While nearly 50 retail, restaurant, and creative office leases have been signed, when completed, ROW DTLA will include over 100 of the most progressive shops and restaurants from across the city and world—a new centre, uniting food, fashion, creativity and innovation.
AT MATEO (Arts District) – The opening of a USD $32.5 million open-air retail hub has transformed five large warehouses occupying a huge block at the corner of Mateo and Palmetto into a shopping hotspot.
AT MATEO has been designed to become the epicentre of social activity for neighbourhood, and is open from breakfast to nightcap, seven days a week. Open now.
Beverly Center (Westside) – The Beverly Center has unveiled a massive USD $500 million renovation plan, aiming to draw more shoppers with increased food offerings and improved open-air designs.
The new design will feature a continuous ribbon of skylights to bring more natural light to the eight-story mall’s interior.
In addition to great retail, an estimated ten dining destinations will be developed, including two by Michelin starred, James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Mina. Renovation to be completed by holiday 2018.
Oceanwide Plaza (Downtown) – Oceanwide Plaza will introduce globally inspired sophistication to Downtown Los Angeles, featuring the new Park Hyatt Los Angeles, a collection of residential offerings and an open-air retail destination.
The retail and dining collection at Oceanwide Plaza will offer a selection of shops and restaurants, a 50-foot open-air galleria and a third-floor deck overlooking the Staples Center and L.A. Live. Completion of Oceanwide Plaza is expected by the fourth quarter of 2018.
Hottest new hotels
La Peer (West Hollywood) – Opened in January 2018, La Peer Hotel features 105 guest rooms and suites, a rooftop event space, poolside fitness centre and more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining and lounge spaces. In addition, the property’s pool – while in the centre of the bustling city – is an escape in and of itself accented by lush landscaping and handcrafted lanterns hanging from above that set the tone for an urban retreat.
NoMad Hotel (Downtown) – Sydell Group opened the Los Angeles outpost of New York’s NoMad Hotel in January 2018. The NoMad is redeveloped out of Downtown’s Giannini Place, which was built in 1923 as the headquarters for Bank of Italy (which became Bank of America).
The 12-story hotel has about 250 rooms as well as a rooftop pool. L.A. is the first city where three Sydell Group brands are represented.
The Godfrey Hotel (Hollywood) – The 60,000-square-feet Godfrey hotel will be a high-end boutique hotel that addresses the lifestyle of the contemporary jet-setting professional.
The project features amenities that will allow travellers to conduct business both locally and remotely, while enjoying the unique room and food experiences that the Godfrey brand has become known for in Chicago and Boston. The property is slated to open in 2018.
Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel (Downtown) – Proper Hospitality, the new brand headed by former Viceroy Hotels Chief Brad Korzen, is slated to debut its first Los Angeles hotel (joining their residential project, Hollywood Proper Residences) with a Downtown L.A. property located at the site of the former Case Hotel. The 13-story property, which was built in 1924, will have 148 rooms and plans to open in late 2018.
Tommie Hotel (Hollywood) – With lush greenspace and an array of communal amenities, this new Tommie Hotel is designed to entice the young professional crowd going out in Hollywood to stay for the night or weekend. The Tommie Hotel Los Angeles sits at the intersection of Wilcox and Selma Avenues in Hollywood, adjacent to an existing Mama Shelter hotel. The property is slated to open 2020.
Park Hyatt/Oceanwide Plaza (Downtown) – Oceanwide Plaza, the mixed-use project that will be built adjacent to STAPLES Centre and L.A. LIVE, will include L.A.’s first hotel under the Park Hyatt luxury badge. Slated to open in early 2019, the Park Hyatt Los Angeles will have 184 rooms, including 34 suites.
Where to eat
Petit Trois (Sherman Oaks) – Opened at the end of April, this new Valley destination is adorned with pastel banquettes, a marble bar, curved ceilings and tall front windows.
This restaurant is chef Ludo’s largest restaurant to date and he plans on executing some French finery not previously seen in his restaurants. Diners can expect daily service from breakfast through dinner.
Partido (Highland Park) – Newcomer to the ever-changing Highland Park neighbourhood is Partido, a French/Filipino weekend pop-up from Chef Lynne Tolentino and a trio of developers from CODA Equities.
Before Partido, Tolentino was with Superba Food & Bread, as the chef de cuisine. Prior to that, she spent time in the kitchens of Providence and Patina. The pop-up will eventually become a diner-only eatery with a full bar.
Oriel (Chinatown) – As Far East Plaza in Chinatown continues to evolve, so do the tenants. The latest opening is Oriel, a French-style bistro offering classics (cheese and charcuterie boards, frisee salads, croque monsieurs, etc.) a low-lit ambiance and hard to find wines.
The new spot comes from Dustin Lancaster, who’s responsible for stylish places like Bar Covell and Augustine and was designed by Sally Breer, L.A.-based designer responsible for Hotel Covell in Los Feliz and many others.
Nightshade (Arts District) – After years of anticipation, star chef Mei Lin, is ready to reveal her next project this summer: Nightshade, an expansive space in the Arts District that will feature a pan-Asian menu infused with modern touches and California sensibilities.
Jon & Vinny (Brentwood) – Jon & Vinny’s, the casual Italian spot on Fairfax, will be adding a second location to the westside neighbourhood of Brentwood, with plans to bring the same big plates of meatballs and pizza.
Likely opening of the restaurant is expected sometime in the late summer or fall 2018 at the earliest.
Soak up some culture
The Wende Museum (Culver City) – Socialist Flower Power: Soviet Hippie Culture is devoted to a world that few people know existed and that many find hard to believe did exist: the world of the Soviet hippie movement.
Soviet hippies were part of the global counterculture of the 1960s and 70s: In collaboration with the Archive of Modern Conflict and Dr. Juliane Furst of the University of Bristol (UK), the Wende Museum has acquired the personal archives of several prominent Soviet hippies, which include photos, clothing and memorabilia that would otherwise have been lost forever.
The exhibition will be the first time any of these items have been shown to the public. The exhibition will be available May 20 – August 26, 2018.
Autry Museum of the American West (Griffith Park) – Things You Know But Cannot Explain represents Bartow’s first major retrospective and contribution to the substantial growing body of scholarship on contemporary Native artists. Bartow (Mad River Band Wiyot) established his art career in the 1980s, following service in Vietnam and a period of recovery from PTSD and alcoholism.
His work consists of large-scale paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures that often feature haunting combinations of animal and human forms and are often both deeply personal and culturally relevant.
This exhibition speaks directly to the personal and cultural aspects of traditional Native art with Bartow’s oeuvre while demonstrating his close engagement with the work of 20th-century masters including Francis Bacon, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The exhibition will be on display from May 6 – January 6, 2019.
California Science Center (Downtown) – A new chapter of ancient Egyptian history is being unearthed to the world with the debut of KING TUT: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, an extraordinary and exclusive exhibition celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of his tomb.
Presented by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, Exhibitions International, IMG and the California Science Center, the new immersive exhibition will display more than 150 real artefacts from Tutankhamun’s (also known as King Tut) tomb.
On display from March 24 – January 2019 will be many items the Boy King himself used in life and in death, including: golden jewellery, elaborate carvings, sculptures, and ritual antiquities.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino) – Out of the Woods, a travelling exhibition of original botanical artworks organised by The New York Botanical Garden and the American Society of Botanical Artists is on display from May 19 – August 27, 2018.
It spotlights one of the planet’s most important and beautiful resources – trees – as cultivated by botanical gardens and arboreta. The exhibition highlights the role public gardens play in engaging visitors with trees and their ecological and utilitarian roles, and underscores the conservation, research, and scholarship being undertaken by these institutions.
From more than 200 submitted entries, 43 artworks were selected for the exhibition, featuring images of trees from small county arboreta alongside those from some of the world’s most renowned botanical gardens, including The Huntington.
Academy Museum (Mid-City) – Get ready for more cinematic brilliance – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is building the world’s leading movie museum in the heart of Los Angeles.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the six story Academy Museum will contain state-of-the-art galleries, exhibition spaces, movie theatres, educational areas, and special event spaces. The museum is planned to open in 2019.
Latest News

WATCH: The Travel Weekly Wrap | 14 February 2025
Feel like your story should have got a run in our new video wrap? We'll be the judge of that, thanks.

Entire Travel Soirée puts the spotlight on niche travel
Niche travel is one of the hot topics at the moment, so we couldn't pass up the chance to learn more with Entire.

Happy Valentines! Jetstar launches 8 hour flash sale
Chocolate is nice, but a trip away is a lot better! You'll be in your partner's good books for months.

Chick-In, now open! KFC launches its own airline
We wonder if they are going to have a detailed plan, or, if they are just going to...WING IT!!

Travelport introduces Finnair NDC content and servicing solutions
The national carrier of the happiest country on earth knows a thing or two about NDC, just ask the team at Travelport.

Turkish Airlines confirms daily flights between Sydney-Istanbul
Ok Melbourne, you may have got in first, but Sydney is set to be the lead gateway between the two cities. Score: 1-1.

CATO opens nominations for International Women’s Day lunch ticket giveaway
With one of the Queens of last year's Olympic Games already announced, we know it's going to be one hell of a day!

Boutique luxury hotel opens in Redfern’s Wunderlich Lane
Looking at the rooftop pool, this hotel looks like its situated deep in a Thai forest rather than the concrete jungle.

Croatia Airlines unveils new and restored routes to Milan, Prague, Madrid, Bucharest and Hamburg
When routes were scrapped early in the pandemic, no one would have thought it would be five years until they returned!

Salamander Voyages launches slow sailing itinerary in Türkiye
Okay everyone, time to sing - 'We are sailing, we are sailing, we are sailing...slowly...'

EXCLUSIVE: Emirates’ Captain Emily Sidoti on why gender disparity in aviation comes down to education
Emily is challenging stereotypes and inspiring a younger generation of women to earn their stripes.

Tura Turizm joins World Travel & Trade Council to promote tourism in Türkiye
Should we wind up on a famil in Türkiye, we're making sure to get on one of the famed hot air balloons tours!

Can you guess the world’s top spa destination?
If they ever need anyone to come and try the facilities for them, we are free most weekdays and weekends.

Qatar Airways wins big at Cellars in the Sky Awards
They say you feel the effect of alcohol faster in the sky... Only one way to find out.

Klook hosts inaugural Partner Awards with Tourism Australia’s Pip Harrison as special guest
As Pip said, when people come to Australia they do so for the experiences not their hotel's sheet thread count.

APT Travel Group launches early release of 2026 Canada and Alaska Holidays
For anyone with clients craving an icy getaway, APT is serving up some steals right now.

Film, photography and so much more to explore this year in Berlin
Often known for its grungy aesthetics, or perhaps a currywurst stall, there's so much more on offer this year in Berlin.

TravelManagers welcomes two new directors to HOTA Board
We wish Narendra and Judith the best of luck in trying to remember the rest of the Boards' names.

Tauck celebrates 100 years of hosting travellers around the globe
Tauck would only ever celebrate its 100th birthday in pure style - and Italy is just that!

Travelglobe unveils exclusive food tour with MasterChef’s Kirsten Tibballs
Fancy brushing up on your skills making delicious chocolate and pastry-based treats? Meet us on this tour!

Fiji Airways to bring South Australians closer to paradise with third weekly flight from Adelaide in April
South Australians might say they're already in Paradise, but how can they be sure without checking Fiji out?

Bookings for Vanuatu surge with Aussies ready to support earthquake-struck tourism hotspot
In times like those Vanuatu is surfacing from, the tourism dollar goes a long way and Aussies aren't holding back.

Bullo River Station shares its first ever sustainability report
If you would like to be inspired to be a little more green, then check out what Bullo River Station is up to.

‘Fortune favours the bold’: luxury brand leader Anna Burgdorf departs Flight Centre after 6 years
Time for a pop quiz - who first came up with above quote? Was it A) Virgil B) Shakespeare or C) Aristotle?

Cruise Guru unveils Channel Nine show featuring Ponant, Viking, NCL and more
A little offended that we weren't invited on as the 'Cruise Guru' ourselves, but we'll be tuning in regardless.

Explore Worldwide gives agents a chance to win an exclusive Sri Lanka famil
It's like finding a ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! And the prize is even better than unlimited sweets.

Heathrow Airport to upgrade operations as part of multi-billion-pound cash injection
We're usually a bit scared of injections, however a 'cash injection' is one we would welcome with both arms (literally).

Club Med announces Manveer Ramdhian as new MICE manager in Pacific
Rest-assured, being a MICE manager has nothing to do with our furry little friends.

Sydney Airport welcomes daily flights from Hong Kong Airlines
To top it all off, it looks like the representatives scored a cracker of a day for the celebratory photo!

Collette’s Karen Deveson on what Aussies really want from luxury
For Aussies, we're a little bit more laid back when it comes to luxury. No gold-plated cars for us, thanks!

Intrepid Travel partners with Helloworld Travel for exclusive food tour with Luke Nguyen
Vietnamese is one of our favourite cuisines, so we're headed to the Bánh mì shop for lunch in celebration.

Quark Expeditions opens its Antarctic 2026/27 season
You'd have to be Quarking mad to not have a trip like this on your bucket list.

Federal government to purchase REX Airlines if no buyers arise, Albanese says
News that is sure to ruffle some feathers in the offices of competing airlines this morning, but we're all for it!

Topdeck discounts select 2025-26 trips with up to $1,000 off
Knowing my Gen Z sister, that $1,000 saved would be headed straight to the shopping fund.

Windstar Cruises unveils ‘Basil + Bamboo’ on Star Seeker yacht
Don't worry, we're talking about a restaurant here, not the materials used to build the stunning yacht.

Captain Cook Cruises celebrates 55 years of excellence on the water in the habour city
With a view like Sydney Harbour as your office this would be a hard job to leave.