How to Spend Your Sunday in Los Angeles

Now that the school year has ended, I’ve been thrust into the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work grind. I can now confirm that there is absolutely nothing fun about it. After sitting at a desk all week and barely keeping myself awake with (subpar) coffee, there is nothing better than using the weekend to unwind and enjoy Southern California in all its beauty.

Some people classify Sunday as a lazy day where you should lounge around and do just about nothing. If I am describing your weekend routine, in my opinion, you are doing something wrong. Don’t waste your Sunday! Rather than bringing out your inner-sloth, rejuvenate yourself by ending your week on a high note. Los Angeles is the perfect metropolis to satisfy your every whim.

If you live in California, a Sunday in Los Angeles will be the best decision that you’ve made all week. I promise. If you’re like me, you love to be active and engage in some sort of physical activity. Lucky for us, Los Angeles is one of the best places to enjoy nature, while still getting your workout in. Since Los Angeles has an overwhelming amount of activities on offer, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite activities for a Sunday in Los Angeles to make your life easier (and your Sunday in Los Angeles more enjoyable)!

Option 1: Surf’s up

In case you haven’t heard, Southern California has some of the best beaches in the world. If I were you, I’d take full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the ocean and sunshine. Whether you’re a professional surfer or barely learning how to stand up on a surfboard, I have you covered. Venice Beach is a great place for people of all skill levels; most Angelenos prefer to stay away from this tourist-heavy destination, but in reality, it is a great place to surf and enjoy the beach. Plus, you’ll witness some of the weirdest people you could ever imagine. The waves here are known to be consistently mild, allowing surfers of all skill levels to come enjoy some fun under the sun. In Venice Beach, the surfing is good and the people watching is even better!

Option 2: Take a hike

Serving as the backdrop for all of Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountain range offers panoramic views stretching from the Hollywood Hills to the Pacific. Two of the best places to see these views are Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park. Runyon Canyon is located at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains, settled into the northern part of Hollywood; here you have three different trails based on difficulty that all exhibit breathtaking views of Los Angeles. Griffith Park is the more well-known option, as it is home to Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theatre, and of course, the infamous Hollywood sign. Although you’re bound to run into more people around here, it remains an ideal destination when it comes to outdoor activities and Los Angeles scenery.

Option 3: Go for a ride

If you’re not really into the beach (then you’re crazy!), and if hiking is too much of a strain on your body, then your best bet is to go for a leisurely bike ride along the Pacific Coast. If you want to enjoy the ocean view for the entire duration of your ride, Marvin Braude Bike Trail, also known as The Strand, will be ideal for you. If you’d like to have a little more variety in scenery, the Ballona Creek Bike Path will fulfill your desire as it winds from inland wetlands right up to the coast.

Sunday in Los Angeles: Brunch

By the time you’re finished with all the physical activity, I’m sure you’ll be exhausted and seeking delicious food to satisfy your foodie tastebuds. The next stop for your Sunday in Los Angeles must be a restaurant for brunch. No questions asked. If it’s Sunday in Los Angeles, then it’s also obligatory Sunday brunch day in Los Angeles. The two go hand in hand. There are infinite restaurants in Los Angeles, but to me, there is one that has exactly the right vibe for Sunday brunch: Osteria La Buca.

According to its website, Osteria La Buca is a restaurant that strives to perfect the simple and minimalist Italian, country cuisine. The restaurant is determined to use ingredients as healthy and as fresh as possible; the produce comes from the local farmer’s market and the pasta is made in-house every day. Brunch here is an absolute treat.

Maddy and I came in and got straight to business with a polenta-ricotta skillet cake as our appetizer. The contrast of the sweet polenta and savory ricotta was a match made in heaven. After the warm-up, we decided to each get our own meal, but of course, we ended up sharing. Sundays give me the green light to eat as I please, so I made sure to get something extra greasy. I succeeded by picking the Pressed Porchetta Sandwich, accompanied by a smoky poblano sauce and balanced out with some fresh greens in an olive oil dressing. Maddy chose what I wanted from the beginning, but in order to get a more varied taste of brunch, I resisted from ordering the same plate as her.

I consider myself somewhat of a pizza connoisseur, and Osteria La Buca might have just perfected the brunch pizza. Their Neighborhood Pizza has such an inviting connotation, and for good reason; this pie is the ultimate brunch creation as it is served with rich guajillo sauce, fruity taleggio cheese, aged pancetta, pickled pearl onions, and finally a poached egg for a touch of breakfast. My mouth still waters at the thought of this wonderful concoction.

Like I said, there are so many places that you could enjoy Sunday brunch, but Osteria La Buca’s rich yet simple menu and stylish ambience wins every single time.

After brunch, I’m sure that you’ll be stuffed, but make sure to save a little bit of room in your stomach for the deliciousness that’s to come!

Sunday in Los Angeles: Browse one of LA’s many farmer’s markets!

The best option is to now walk off your meal. Undoubtedly, the best place to do so on a Sunday in Los Angeles is at the Melrose Place Farmer’s Market! Just as Sunday in Los Angeles screams out for brunch, it also implies that it’s time for a bit of indulgence; it’s been a long week of work and you deserve every bit of your Sunday in Los Angeles. At the Melrose Place Farmer’s Market, whether you want fresh fruit, smoothies, ice cream, a taste of some Asian or Mexican street food, or some baked goods, you’re bound to find something to satisfy you. Even if you’re not looking to eat anymore, you’ll be impressed by the plethora of organic, local products California is known for, and by the laidback, friendly attitudes of each and every local you’ll encounter there.

Sunday in Los Angeles: A dose of culture

For me, Sunday is a day to give in to my wants and interests. So to follow my trend here, I suggest that you pay a visit to the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. With a collection of over 44,000 pieces from ancient Greek/Roman times, you’ll gain invaluable knowledge about the early eras of modernity. There is nothing better than finding yourself engulfed by ancient history and one of the most gorgeous beach views in Southern California at the same time. The Villa itself is also a sight to behold; it was designed to mimic ancient architecture, boasting many luxurious courtyards, fountains, and pools. When it comes to ancient Western art, this museum is known as one of the best in the Western Hemisphere. The only catch is that the Getty Villa closes at 5 p.m., so plan accordingly if you want enough time to see everything!

Source: Bobak Ha’Eri (no changes made to photo)

Sunday in Los Angeles: Dinner time

By now, you should be ready to eat again. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll be complaining about how you’re starving to death. As a great Sunday in Los Angeles nears an end, it’s only fitting to eat a delicious dinner as the grand finale! After some careful research, and by research I mean watching my favorite Youtube channels (Munchies and Hypebeast), we decided to have an Indian-Canadian feast. Sound weird? Well, let me finish. Badmaash is a millennial haven with its modern decor and contemporary, blended cuisine. Two brothers from Toronto decided to mix their Canadian upbringing with their Indian background to create a badass gastropub that focuses on both influences. Again, our mouths watered as we waited for our meals to arrive. To us, food is the key to happiness. The more, the better. And with this profound philosophy of ours in mind, of course, we ordered three dishes. First off we absolutely had to order the Chicken Tikka Poutine since it is the most popular dish. And much to our delight, out came a beautiful mound of fries seasoned in masala, topped off by Canadian cheese curds and tandoori chicken tikka. This was followed by a more traditional Indian flavor, Classic Butter Chicken, accompanied by some freshly baked naan. Finally, we topped our Indian-Canadian meal off with another Badmaash bestseller: the Spiced Lamb Burger. There are no words to describe how delicious our meal was. So please, just take my word for it, and treat yourself.

P.S. To further convince you, here is a video collaboration between Badmaash and Hypebeast!

So your stomach’s stuffed with joy and it’s Sunday night. You’ve enjoyed a day full of fun in the Southern California sun and you better acquainted yourself with Los Angeles. Go get some sleep, you deserve it!