Weekender: Los Angeles

Photograph by Elizabeth Daniels (Goldie’s)

Secret Garden

Set in the former home of the Chado Tea House, Goldie’s serves up modern California cuisine in a nature-inspired setting. The space, designed by the Australian restaurateur Nick Mathers, features an entire wall of logs, as well as wooden center-island shelving inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s midcentury design work. Most impressive, however, is the inviting garden patio at the front of the restaurant, which is dominated by a gorgeous wall of succulents.

8422 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, 323-677-2470, goldiesla.com.

Photographs by DYLAN + JENI (Palihouse)

Old-World Luxury

Built into a 1927 Mediterranean Revival that was once a hotel of its own, the 38-room Palihouse Santa Monica is both traditional and completely novel. Formerly the Embassy Hotel Apartments—home to wealthy wanderers for nearly nine decades—the spot was deemed a Santa Monica historic landmark in 2001. Led by CEO Avi Brosh, the Pali- house team has updated the suite-style accommodations with vintage details like wing chairs and Chesterfield sofas, as well as 40-inch flat-screen TVs, mounted antlers above the beds, and eclectic patterned wallpapers. The carefully maintained Revival architecture of the building evokes the past lifestyles of the rich and famous, but with all the comforts—and funky design touches—of a modern luxury hotel.

1001 Third St., Santa Monica, 310-394-1279, palihousesantamonica.com. 

Photograph by Brian Forrest (Hammer Museum)

Shades of Brilliance

Drawing on her Ukrainian heritage and popular culture, artist Maya Hayuk (a MassArt grad) makes neon-bright psychedelic murals. For this exhibition at UCLA, Hayuk used acrylic and spray paint to create a single massive piece, titled Heavy Trails, on three walls in the Hammer Museum’s lobby.

Runs until 1/26, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 310-443-7000, hammer.ucla.edu.

EXHIBITS

“Werner Herzog: Hearsay of the Soul”

The famed film director presents his first video art installation: etchings of landscapes, accompanied by music from Ernst Reijseger, at the Getty Center.

Runs until 1/19, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, 310-440-7330, getty.edu. 

“The Power of Photography: National Geographic 125 Years”

In celebration of National Geographic’s 125th anniversary, more than 500 images will be presented in a rotating digital presentation at the Annenberg Space for Photography.

Runs until 4/27, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, 213-403-3000, annenbergspaceforphotography.org.

“Sam Francis: Five Decades of Abstract Expressionism from California Collections”

California painter Sam Francis traveled up and down the coast creating bold paintings. This Pasadena Museum of California Art exhibition highlights his work from the ’40s through the ’90s.

Runs until 1/5, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena, 626-568-3665, pmcaonline.org. 

HOTELS

The Line

Opening in December, this boutique hotel in Koreatown features 388 industrial-style rooms with whimsical accents, as well as a new restaurant headed by chef Roy Choi.

3515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 213-381-7411, thelinehotel.com.

The Moment

Guests here enjoy a complimentary bicycle for the duration of their stay, as well as a terrific view of Sunset Strip from the hotel’s roof-deck bar.

7370 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 323-822-5030, themomenthotel.com.

The Redbury

This quirky spot offers 57 theatrical, vintage-furnished guest flats decked out with photographs of Hollywood legends.

1717 Vine St., Los Angeles, 323-962-1717, theredbury.com.

RESTAURANTS

Alma

Locally sourced dishes from chef Ari Taymor are the draw at Alma, named 2013’s best new restaurant in America by Bon Appétit.

952 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, 213-244-1422, alma-la.com.

Night + Market

Located behind a curtain inside Talesai restaurant, this Sunset Strip hot spot serves up authentic Thai street food.

9041 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-275-9724, thenightmarket.blogspot.com.

Bäco Mercat

The signature dish at this acclaimed eatery in the historical Old Bank district is a cross between a Mediterranean flatbread and a Mexican taco. The rotating cocktail menu also brings crowds.

408 S. Main St., Los Angeles, 213-687-8808, bacomercat.com.