Los Angeles, California, USA downtown cityscape at sunny day
Welcome to Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles has yet to lose its lustre. To this day it remains a bustling powerhouse in the West Coast. An economic hub, a major center for creatives, and a bustling tech center all rolled into one. Los Angeles is the complete package.
Scroll down to learn more about Los Angeles →
The location
Nestled on a desert basin, the city of Los Angeles is mostly flat and, in some sections, hilly. The city is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountain range, while the Santa Monica Mountains bisect it into two parts. Rivers flow throughout, and coastal LA is bounded by the Pacific Ocean.
The city of angels
Los Angeles has a long history that spans hundreds of years. Before the Spanish came, the area (mostly by the coast) was inhabited by the Chumash and Tongva tribes. It was only in the 16th century it was claimed by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo for the Spanish empire.
Two centuries after it was claimed, a group called Los Pobladores established a pueblo, which is now the oldest part of Los Angeles. This pueblo is where the city got its name: The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels. In the 19th century, the pueblo was controlled by the Mexicans until it was taken as a result of the Mexican American War.
Railroads were completed and soon after, Los Angeles saw massive progress. People came to live and work here, neighborhoods were established, and businesses boomed. Hollywood came to be, and cultural diversity became the norm. It’s been a while, but Los Angeles has yet to stop growing and shows no signs of stopping.
The real estate market
Diversity in Los Angeles isn’t limited to its cultural and ethnic makeup. It extends even to the offerings available in the housing market. On one hand, there are modest single-family homes and apartments, and on the other are expansive estates in exclusive and gated communities.
The best way to explore real estate options in Los Angeles is to do it by neighborhood and community. Here are some of the districts and incorporated communities in the city:
- Bel Air in the Westside, which is considered as one of the most exclusive and wealthiest places to live in Los Angeles.
- Holmby Hills, also in the Westside and a part of the Platinum Triangle.
- Westwood, where the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is located. The demographic here is young and diverse.
- Pacific Palisades by the coast, known for its waterfront and water-view properties, ranging from estates to condos and apartments.
- Venice, a vibrant neighborhood by the beach, known for its recreation and entertainment options, as well as the famous Venice Beach.
- Brentwood near Bel Air and Beverly Hills. It is also part of Westside Los Angeles.
Los Angeles real estate is also known for having some of the most architecturally diverse and exciting homes in the country. Your options range from Spanish Colonial homes to cutting-edge contemporary residences.
The Los Angeles lifestyle
Dining in Los Angeles
- Bestia in the Arts District is famed for their seasonal menu that draws inspiration from different Italian culinary traditions.
- Republique specializes in modern French cuisine. Patrons also keep coming back for their artisan, house-made ice cream and baked goods.
- LASA brings contemporary Filipino cooking to the forefront of Los Angeles’ culinary scene. No wonder it was named 2018’s Food & Wine Restaurant of the Year.
- Langer’s Deli is an LA institution. Open since 1947, you can get the world’s best pastrami as well as the original #19 sandwich in this humble diner.
- Bavel is another must-try restaurant in the Arts District, this time concentrating on Middle Eastern cuisine.
Shopping in Los Angeles
Listing down all of the shops to check out would take more than a day. For the best shopping in Los Angeles, head to these places: the Arts District for culture-related retail therapy, Atwater Village for vintage finds, DTLA for a wide range of options, Eagle Rock for curiosities, Hollywood for clothing to fine art, and Venice for local goods you can’t find anywhere else.
Schools in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is ripe with educational opportunities for those who are interested. Public schools in the city are managed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Private school options also abound.
Most of all, Los Angeles offers different choices when it comes to higher learning. Aside from UCLA, there’s California State University, with another campus in Northridge. There are private colleges as well, such as University of Southern California, American Film Institute Conservatory, and American Jewish University.
Live in Los Angeles
Find luxury homes for sale in Los Angeles with me, Florence Mattar. Contact me today at 310.927.2777 or estates(at)FlorenceMattar(dotted)com.
-
Los Angeles Best Beaches
Living in Los Angeles is amazing, not least of all because of the wonderful beaches. Outside of just the clear water and stunning sand, the beaches in LA are packed with the culture and soul of Southern California as a whole. What makes the beaches some of the best places to visit in Los Angeles are all the amenities, including skateparks, piers, bars, amusements, and more. If you’re looking for some of the best things to do in LA then check out our list of Los Angeles best beaches.
-
Restaurants for Upscale Dining in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the kind of place you go to live a life of luxury, no matter the cost. That means having to spend a few hundred dollars on dinner too. It’s all worth it though, as LA is the place to be to find the best food around. You’ll enjoy some of the finest food and wine money can buy in the big city. Here are some of the best restaurants for upscale dining in Los Angeles.