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12 Best Places to Explore With Friends in LA

For most people, Fridays and the weekends are for going out with friends to have a good time after a long week of work. With Los Angeles being filled with so much fun things to do, it can almost feel difficult to narrow it down and decide what to do. Live music, chic brunch spots, rooftop bars, farmer’s markets… the options are endless! To save you some trouble, we found the 5 Best Places to Explore With Friends in LA. Have a fab time!

Westfield Century City

Coming in hot at the top of our list, Westfield Century City is the newest must-visit spot in LA to explore with friends! Complete with high-end restaurants like Javiers and Italian hot spots like Eataly, this is a great pick to hang out with friends. The space is walkable with tasty coffee shops, giant cinemas, and even a virtual reality experience available in the venue. Pop-ups are frequently buzzing in the central part of the open air mall and quick eats, a grocery store, and a slew of shopping spots stay open all day long. 

Planning out how you’ll spend the day here? Check out 7 Unique Things to do at Westfield Century City for a day full of excitement. 

Karaoke Bar

Sometimes we want to sing Taylor Swift with our friends without any concerns about being too loud. If that’s the case, find a karaoke bar and reserve your private room to sing your heart away. Most karaoke bars (which are also Insta-worthy) offer food, drinks (yes, cocktails!), and thousands of song options. Sing your heart out!

Brunch

Well here’s an obvious fan-favorite choice! We all knew that brunch was going to be on top of the list, and for good reason. Nothing screams a perfect weekend than going to brunch with friends and trying new, chic spots in LA (with tasty food, too!). For your next brunch date, try some of our LA Girl favorite hidden gems and trendy hotspots.

Rage Ground

Do you ever feel like you have too much anger in you? A hidden gem that a friend group can explore is Rage Ground. Rage Ground is a place where you can go and smash things. You will be given a bat and safety gear, then you can smash and break anything in front of you. If you’re adventurous and looking for a unique activity, here is one that everyone has to experience at least once (some people may need to go back!).

Rooftop Bars

Nothing is more special than hanging out with friends and enjoying the view of Los Angeles. If you want to enjoy some quality food, while having a nice cocktail, then rooftop bars are perfect. Rooftop Bars also have a nice relaxing vibe, which gives you the opportunity to meet new people.

The Original Farmers Market

Located on 3rd Street, The Original Farmers Market has a variety of restaurants and shops for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are craving American, French, Greek, or Mexican food, they definitely have a restaurant for you. They also have shops of beauty/personal care, clothing/accessories, flowers, housewares, jewelry, and more! The Original Farmers Market is a perfect Sunday afternoon hangout spot where you can catch up with friends, grab a bite to eat, and find your new favorite products. They are open from 10 AM – 9 PM every day, and it’s only a 5-minute walk to The Grove if you are craving some department store shopping afterwards.

The Grove

Speaking of the Grove, if you want to spend the whole day treating yourself to something more uppity, The Grove is the perfect place. When I say that they have it all, I mean they have it ALL. High-end restaurants, high-end shopping stores, events happening almost every week, and it’s one of the best places to walk around (tip: Instagramable photos.) Also, it’s a hot spot for celebrities, so you might find yourself in luck and catch a photo with one of your favorite stars.

Picnicking 

Something so simple but yet so exciting to do is picnicking around the Los Angeles area. One of our favorite spots to picnic is at the Will Rodgers Memorial Park across from the fabulous Beverly Hills Hotel (Fun Fact: We host our Monthly Meet Ups here). Bring some blankets, takeout, and enjoy the magical view of the greatest city ever. If you are looking for more unique places to picnic around LA, follow along here!

Museums

Museums are the best places to spend quality time with friends, family, and even younger siblings. The walk, scenery, inspiration, and the photos for the gram are just a few of the many reasons why you need to check out the museums in Los Angeles. Since there are close to 100 museums in LA, it’s likely you’ll find the perfect one that everyone will enjoy. Plus, did we mention it’s a great, low budget activity compared to some of the other activities in the area.

Bowling

A fun activity that doesn’t get talked about enough is bowling. It’s simple to play, and even if you are not good at bowling, most alleys have bumpers to help you out. There is no need to stress about eating beforehand because food and drinks are available when you bowl. Lastly, LA has a lot of vintages and chic bowling alleys that are 100% Insta-worthy, so check out the best bowling alleys for you.

LA Art District

From art complex, casual dining, to arcades, the LA Art District is one of the best places to spend as a group. One of their main attractions is The Hauser and Wirth where they hold multiple exhibitions from different artists. They also have a variety of options to eat such as restaurants, cafes, breweries, and more! If you are looking for a spot to hangout out, definitely check out the LA Art District.

Griffith Observatory

If you live or have been around in LA for a while, you have probably heard of Griffth Observatory. The best part is, you don’t have to be an astronomy-lover to have a good time. The Griffth Observatory creates this magical feeling through its exhibits and daily shows. Also, we highly recommend checking out the area and taking pictures at the spots where La La Land was filmed.