For California Seoul, head to Koreatown, where Art Deco buildings, palm trees, and low-rise strip malls line a grid of streets roughly one-third the size of Santa Monica.
In place of sunny awnings, signs in Korean β sometimes with English translations β mark the fronts of bakeries, beauty salons, bubble tea shops, clothing boutiques and Korean BBQ restaurants. The recent influx of chef-driven restaurants, boutique hotels and hidden nightspots has drawn a new wave of visitors. Moreover, a central location, between downtown LA and Hollywood, makes it easy to reach by metro or by car. The Hollywood Hills rooms overlook a sprawling metropolis backed by the legendary sign in the hills.
Inhibitions are best left with your shoes β at the doorβ before entering a world of soaking, steaming, and scrubbing. A minute full-body buff and aroma massage will not only leave you squeaky clean but as limber as a noodle. Other available treatments include acupressure, deep cleansing facials and Swedish massage. Afterwards, put on your spa-issued cotton outfit and head upstairs to the co-ed communal area, where spa goers lounge, socialise and watch TV on floor mats.
An adjoining cafe serves traditional Korean dishes such as kimchee fried rice, hot stone bibimbap and spicy tofu soup, or simply cool down with a mochi-topped shaved ice. Aritaum Buy top Korean beauty brands including Sulwhasoo, a high-performance line of skincare products infused with ginseng. Walk through the Normandie Hotel, past The Normandie Club, until you see a black door crowned with a little red light: this is the not-so-secret hidden entrance to The Walker Inn. Opened in spring of , the bar accommodates seven people at the sleek counter and 20 in the parlour-like lounge β all of whom come here for the artisanal cocktails.
Either choose from the classics, or opt for a themed option. Reservations are encouraged, but you can walk in, and with any luck, chance upon some seats. That said, wait times can be over an hour. And in another twist, the bar is only open from Wednesday to Sunday.
