Sarah Newcomb and Heidi Nicolle escaped the brutal New England winters eight years ago when they decided to move to Los Angeles for good from a small town in New Hampshire. They fell in love with the city and all that it has to offer upon arriving.
Image courtesy of @lovelustla
“Los Angeles is a very unique and special city that’s different from anywhere else in the country,” Newcomb and Nicolle told Citizine. “It has this sort of magical sexy allure to it, in part because of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, but also because of the abundant and vastly different neighborhoods that make up LA as a whole. It’s a total mix of mountains, beaches, hip health-conscious restaurants, endless shopping, art exhibits and no shortage of nightlife.”
The pair decided to start sharing their favorite hotels, bars, restaurants, salons, and more on their blog, LoveLustLA. They narrowed down their top picks for Citizine. Here we go:
Alfred Coffee
Beverly Grove, $$
LoveLust: But first coffee, as the saying goes! And the saying couldn't be more true; Sarah MUST have her coffee before talkie in the morning — non-negotiable. So, before we attempt to get any work done, coffee it is. We love the hip, boutique coffee house flare Alfred Coffee & Tea offers and the quality of their brews. Heidi takes a chai soy latte and Sarah a triple-shot almond milk latte. On Sundays, the Melrose Place farmers market sets up right outside [Alfred’s] Melrose location (which can cause the line to wrap out the door, but it's worth the wait). We love grabbing lattes and then strolling through the farmers market, grabbing fresh produce and flowers for the week ahead.
Y7 Studio
Beverly Grove, $$$
LL: Once the caffeine kicks in we'd continue our stroll down Melrose until we hit Y7 yoga. Because we gotta get the booties tight and our minds zen (which can be difficult for two geminis with constantly buzzing minds) Y7 yoga is flat out dope. We found this studio through Sarah's obsession with heated workouts, and [struggle] to find the perfect yoga studio. There's inspiring graffiti on the wall lining the hallway leading into the studio, which you can add to on your way out if you feel so inclined after the zen sesh. The classes are 60 minutes, candle lit, and led by inspiring instructors with carefully curated playlists from your favorite hip-hop artists along with some other soul-empowering music in the mix, all among an infrared heated studio. Infrared is the best and has so many benefits we love from the inside out, including detoxification and skin purification — talk about a one-two punch.
Kreation Organic Kafe
West Hollywood, $$
LL: Next, we'd power up post-workout at our favorite pressed juice and smoothie spot, Kreation, at their West Hollywood location. Heidi loves the "Slim Master" that is a mix of lemon, water, maple syrup, and cayenne. Sarah's favorite juice is the "Serenity," which mixes apple, lemon, and ginger. We also love their smoothies and special wellness shots. Sarah swears by the (shot) and Heid loves the (skin shot).
Olive & June
Beverly Hills, $$
LL: Off to manis and pedis at Olive & June in Beverly Hills! With stylish decor, teas available to purchase and some of the best nail art around, we add this location to our LustList!
Skin Laundry
Santa Monica and West Hollywood, $$
LL: Time for a quick laser and light facial! Quick and easy with no downtime, and your first one is free! Make sure to get the neck and chest add-on for the full glowing experience! With many locations to choose from, including Santa Monica and Weho, it’s on our LustList!
Runyon Canyon Park
Hollywood Hills West, Free
LL: Now, for an afternoon hike. Don’t forget to bring a lock and key (check out our blog review on this famous love lock wall).
Drybar
Beverly Grove, $$
LL: Time to get ready for the evening! We would scoot our buns over to a Drybar to get fresh blowouts. Or if we're lazy, we'd use our @beglammednow for on-demand at-home blowouts.
Gracias Madre
West Hollywood, $$
LL: Next is Happy Hour! This hotspot is located on the edge of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and has killer happy hour margaritas, which makes us extra happy! They also have a fun signature cocktail complete with a marijuana leaf design for the cannabis-appreciating crowd. [The restaurant] is vegan — just so all you meat-lovers know (we found out when we tried to order chicken tacos for the first time), but their twist on Mexican food is delicious, and a must for those that are dairy intolerant! We'd order the nachos; we love the nachos. And since their cheese is vegan, we can indulge guilt-free.
Catch LA
West Hollywood, $$$
LL: Another one of our faves. We love the hip, trendy vibe and the romantic decor. Upon entering, you breeze through these gorgeous outdoor rooftop gardens that immediately set the mood. On top of the insta-post worthy locations peppered throughout, the food is amazing (we particularly love the fresh sushi) and they serve a signature "All that Glitters" drink which comes complete with Catch LA flask! All around classy and sassy, this place.
The Bungalow
Santa Monica, $$
LL: Ahhh, the Bungalow. This dreamy watering hole is located beachside in Santa Monica hidden amidst the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, and one of the first spots we went out to together (and immediately fell in love with)! The scene here is equal parts sexy and cozy. It's the perfect spot to catch the sunset and then warm up by one of the indoor fireplaces or outdoor fire pits (hey, it DOES get chilly in Los Angeles, believe it or not). They also have games scattered throughout, like a pool table for those that like to stay busy while sipping on a classic cocktail.
Petit Ermitage
West Hollywood, $$$
LoveLust: While waiting for dinner at one of our favorite private roof decks at Petit Ermitage, we cozy up to the fireplaces and engage in meaningful conversations or grab a blanket and lay by the pool with the lights from the hills sparkling in our handcrafted cocktails. [This place] is all things magical: the craft cocktails are killer, and the ambiance is whimsical chic. Is that a thing? Whimsical chic? Actually that kind of describes us too here at LoveLustLA; "Whimsical Chic." Friday nights are the best because they have this super seductive burlesque show. Time for dinner at the rooftop garden that tickles our taste buds and strikes our fancy! If you’re a meat-lover like Heidi, then the bone marrow is a must try!
Warwick
Hollywood, $$$
LL: Time to give our red bottoms a little workout tearing up the dance floor or stage at Warwick. A table on the stage is the best way to go so you have the best views in the club.
Chateau Marmont
Hollywood Hills West, $$$
LL: After our perfect LA day, we would grab a two-bedroom poolside bungalow at Chateau Marmont, so we each have our our bedroom, but only a quick flight of stairs away from each other with all the amenities of home we may just move in!
Alfred Coffee courtesy of @puravidabracelets
Y7 Studio courtesy of @ajloveyoga
Kreation Organic Kafe courtesy of @torrsim
Olive & June courtesy of @shutthekaleup
Skin Laundry courtesy of @orchidsandpeonies
Runyon Canyon Park courtesy of @kristinakgrande
Drybar courtesy of @elissastaal
Gracias Madre courtesy of @gmweho
Image courtesy of Catch LA
Image courtesy of The Bungalow
Petit Ermitage courtesy of @lovelustla
Image courtesy of Warwick
Chateau Marmont courtesy of @timbryan
Image courtesy of @lovelustla
Header image courtesy of @lovelustla
