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My grandfather, my dadâs dad, was living in Marina del Rey when I was in high school, and when I stayed with him weâd wake up and walk the few blocks down Pacific to Washington to grab the paper and a coffee. Across from the Cowâs End Cafe was an intriguing looking tan building hosting a bar that had its name spelled across the top in a bambooed-out font. When I was visiting from college, I finally ventured into Hinano Cafe, and found whatâs certainly the best bar in Venice, maybe in the world. The mugs and pitchers are frozen cold, the Pacifico never runs out and the popcornâs free. The best part of Hinano is the cheeseburger, still just $7.50, smothered in Tapatio and accompanied by a handful of whole fresh hot peppers and a gratis bag of chips, dealerâs choice. Itâs my last stop before heading to LAX, to go home.
Jan 20, 2022
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One of the best burgers in the city. My order is the fancy burger. You can enjoy it right in LA's Chinatown or take it to-go and eat it nearby at LA historic park and enjoy the LA skyline view (-: don't forget your picnic blanket!
Aug 6, 2024
It's in the Fairfax.
A legendary LA thing since 1931.
I've long since lost count of how many visits at all times of day/night.
LFG.
Aug 6, 2024
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Lucky enough to live around the corner from this legendary spot. It was set to close in 2019, but for reasons I have yet to discover, remains open. You simply cannot beat a plate of tried and true huevos rancheros for under $10 in this city. One of the waiters reminds me of my papa.
Feb 17, 2024
Top Recs from @nate-freeman
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I kinda like a bar where they push a particular martini on you. At Dukes, Alessandro finishes it with a twist, and staunch gibson guys play along because Alessando said so, and because the lemons are from the Amalfi coast. At the Grill, the martinis are pre-batchedâquite the scandal, until it arrives and, well, itâs an extremely cold and big pre-batched martini. At Raoulâs, Franko always says to get it with Plymouth, always stirred, and he also has a great story about trying to outrun a guy trying to break into his apartment in the East Village in the 80s, definitely ask Franko about that. But I somewhat recently found out that the best martini is Monkey 47, dry, up with olives.
Jan 20, 2022
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I was walking to Chris Sharpâs fantastic Mexico City gallery Lulu in April 2021 when I came across a bar wall-to-wall devoted to the series Gossip Girl, which ran on the CW from 2007 to 2012. This was surprising, to say the least. Here, in the suburban sprawl south of Roma, all of a sudden thereâs an obsessive shrine to a show that has nothing whatsoever to do with Mexico City, an otherwise unremarkable watering hole inexplicably plastered with images of Blair, Serena, Nate, Chuck and Dan. âYOU KNOW YOU LOVE ME XOXOâ is written on the walls and the mirrors. On Gossip Girl, Lily van der Woodsen has hanging in her apartment an Elmgreen & Dragset work related to their installation Prada Marfaâlo and behold, this insane CDMX establishment has a copy of that exact work hanging framed on the wall. The whole thing had me convinced I was having some kind of a psychotic episode, especially after no one believed me when I told them about it later on during Friday lunch at Contramar. But actually the place has a pretty legit Instagram presence, so I guess itâs real. Itâs called Serenna, spelled like that. Just incredible.
Jan 20, 2022
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Itâs not a club, itâs a gallery, an ever-surprising life-affirming gallery in a tiny apartment in Chinatown run by Tony Cox, the artist and former professional skateboarder. I canât tell you the address or the apartment number, but ask around.
Jan 20, 2022