These are the LA bakeries, doughnut shops, ice cream shops, and brunch spots that are perfect for exploring the city and trying some of the delicious food it has to offer.
Having traveled a fair amount, I’ve found that the best way to feel comfortable in a new place is to get some good food. This could mean the first meal you have as a family in a new house, when you discover a new restaurant that will become your go-to, or just that first night of vacation when you bite into that local delicacy and you can just feel the travel stress slipping away. When I moved to LA for college, I was very excited to explore all the food offerings in this massive city (as in, I’d spent years reading about all sorts of LA bakeries and was stoked to be in the same city), and through that make this massive city feel like my own.
In short, eating at these places will let you see different parts of LA, and eat some really good food along the way. So without further ado:
For ICE CREAM:
Salt and Straw
Best enjoyed after watching the sun set on the beach down the road, or on a hot day when you have visitors and want to impress them with some good LA eats after you walk around the exciting Venice.
Pro tip: come here with a hearty appetite. Salt and Straw is some of the greatest ice cream of my life, hands down. I’ve gone numerous times, and each time the flavors are always new, innovative and incredible. You’ll want a double scoop.
Little Damage
Best enjoyed after a couple hours perusing the shelves of books, art, and vinyls down the road at the Last Bookstore. LA bakeries can be as bodacious and decadent as the rest of the country, but this place strikes a happy balance between LA healthy/organic and plain old delicious.
Pro tip: this is a place to take those #basic pictures of you food in front of a neon sign. Everyone does it here, and it’s totally justified – when else are you going to get pitch black charcoal ice cream?
For DONUTS:
California Donuts
Best enjoyed at midnight, with hot chocolate, during finals week (or any other time when you need a break from real life and want to eat donuts at midnight). California Donuts‘ 24 hour open policy just supports that I’m not the only one who enjoys nighttime donuts.
Pro tip: take your donuts to go. This is a small place, with just a display case and a walk up window. You can’t sit inside anywhere. And besides, if you’re using their 24 hours to the fullest, you probably won’t want to eat outside in the dark anyways.
Voodoo Doughnut
Best enjoyed late at night or after you’ve slept in the morning after a long day.
Pro tip: get these after a trip to Universal Studios. They’re on the city walk there, and the morning after such an exciting day, you’ll be wanting some yummy breakfast to help get over the normalcy of the next day.
Dulce
Best enjoyed when you want a little something special for breakfast, or when you want a late night snack with your friends.
Pro tip: take your vegan friends. They have an excellent vegan donut selection that is, quite honestly, better than most place’s normal donuts. Also, get some tea. They’re very particular with their tea, and you can tell it’s a step above. 
For LA BAKERIES:
Momofuku
Best enjoyed on a spontaneous whim, when you decide your cookie cravings can’t be satisfied any other way.
Pro tip: Momofuku is opening up their official shop in late summer, but they’ve been doing promo throughout the city. They had cookie fairies roaming the streets of Venice and in Griffith Park, as well as numerous pop-up-shops and free Postmates deliveries. Follow their Instagram stories to stay up to date – you never know when your lucky day could be! And, you’ll want to be first to know when it finally opens. 
Dominique Ansel
Best enjoyed with a cup of coffee, before attending a James Corden taping, or after strolling around the Grove and the farmer’s market.
Pro tip: the bostack. Just get it. You have to try things other than the Cronut – they’re all amazing.
Milk Jar Cookies
Best enjoyed after a 13.1 mile run on the Santa Monica beaches. Or, when you just want a damn good cookie. These cookies rank on my top five list of cookies, competing for the top spot with bakeries like Momofuku and Levain.
Pro tip: plan to stay a while. They have a cute aesthetic, with nice plates and glasses and very good chocolate milk and coffee selection. A perfect place to spend an afternoon chatting with a friend and eating cookies. 
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Best enjoyed when you just really want something sweet. Sprinkles started in LA and is such an institution, you kind of just have to get a cupcake from them at some point.
Pro tip: the Sprinkles ATMs are a fun, novel way to do it if you’re getting a little tired of the cupcake trend.
For BRUNCH:
Great White Venice
Best enjoyed when you’re in Venice and need to catch up and fuel up before an exciting day of… going to more LA bakeries and eating even more. This was the best breakfast burrito of my life it’s not even a contest.
Pro tip: order a fancy latte. I got a charcoal latte, and a Molly got a match a latte. They really completed the meal, and come on, when else are you going to get a charcoal latte?
Sqirl
Best enjoyed for a treat-your-self meal… Extra nice if you’ve just finished your worst final and need a pick-me-up. It’s too expensive to be a regular dining option on a college budget, but it’s perfect for when you want to go somewhere nice.
Pro tip: come ready to eat. You’ll want to try everything on the menu. They’re known for their toast, but honestly, the cauliflower hash I had was one of the best egg dishes I’ve ever had, and the frozen cappuccino was notably delicious.
Eggslut
Best enjoyed when you’re feeling nostalgic on your last day in LA.
Pro tip: the location at Grand Central Market can get PACKED during weekends and peak hours. It’s easiest to go on a weekday for breakfast or early brunch.
