24 hours in los angeles

“LA IS HUUUUUGE”, I remember texting a friend of mine the first time I got to los angeles. the city of angels is indeed very sprawled out and it will probably take you 40 minutes to 1 hour - on a good day - to get anywhere. literally. at first glance, one might be tempted to think that LA lacks substance. but now I finally understand why so many people I know in the US moved west and it’s not just because of its sunny skies: LA is vibrant.

disclaimer: this is not a guide to LA - there’s still so much I want to explore - but this is almost everything I did on my last visit.

since opening in late october, telegram room has been popping out on my feed every now and then, so as soon as I landed at lax, I knew exactly where I was heading to. the 1500-square-foot space features both indoor and outdoor seating and trust me you’re going to love the wood decor and casual vibe of the place as much as you will love the food. I ordered “the all day” - soft scrambled eggs, avocado, salad and a toast - and a freshly squeezed orange juice and it was exactly what I was craving: a simple, hearty meal, yet full of flavor.

there are plenty of hike trails to chose from in LA but if you’re on a tight schedule, runyon canyon might be the obvious choice because of its prime location. tucked right in the middle of hollywood, close to the walk of fame and with views of the famous hollywood sign, runyon canyon is what I would rate as a beginners level hike and a perfect way to start or end your day. the views from atop are killer.

david kordansky’s 20,000 square-foot art gallery is really a beautiful space, inside and out. the venue is indeed so ample that that are no distractions when contemplating a painting or an art installation. if you’re lucky to be in town, make sure to check the current exhibitions: “bruts” curated by rashid johnson, “intlombe” by simphiwe mbunyuza and “saturn comes again” by william e. jones.

I’m cheating with this one because the store has just opened but it’s on top of my wishlist and I’ve been to pretty much every kith store in the US, including the two other locations in LA (the one in beverly hills and the one in west hollywood). located just off the pacific coast highway and near malibu state lagoon beach, the store features outdoor seating, a treats corner (obviously) and the coolest drops and collaborations. and since you’re in malibu, no better place to catch the sunset. pink skies are really a thing.

just like cafe telegrama, linden is one of those places that I found on instagram while scrolling down on my feed and immediately add it to my LA album. the black-owned restaurant offers a curated menu that highlights african-american, caribbean and jewish cuisines and heritage in a elegant ambiance. I had the for goodness steak but my friend had one of the stellar dishes - the wagyu pie - and absolutely loved it. right after dinner, we headed to the bar next door dot - owned by the same team - and sipped some cocktails until late hours.

located in the heart of koreatown, right between hollywood and downtown, this boutique hotel has been my go-to choice whenever I go to LA. not only the location is super convenient, I also find the average price for a night quite reasonable for LA standards, and the atmosphere is cool and young. my advice? spend a little extra cash and book a room with views over the hollywood hills - you can even spot the hollywood sign - you won’t regret it.

cátia santos reis "the world is yours but greece is mine” could be her mantra as cátia santos reis is yet to find a greek island she hasn’t fallen in love with. in the meantime, she keeps traveling the world. for CINCO editorial, the 34 year-old, will share her favorite things to do, visit and eat in every destination.