One of the best perks of living in Downtown LA are the gorgeous rooftop pools; places of wonder that you can both swim in and soak up the rays while taking in some breathtaking views. But which are the best rooftop pools in DTLA? We went out and found them!

No list of the best rooftop pools in Downtown LA would be complete with The Standard Downtown LA. Located at 550 South Flower, this pool has been voted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the Top 10 hotel pools in the world! Not bad, right? So what do you get there? Oh, only the most amazing views. And summer pool parties. And vibrating water-bed pods. And DJs. And a rooftop beer garden. Why are you still reading this and not actually there?

Another amazing rooftop pool in Downtown LA is the The Ritz-Carlton  with their stunning (and heated) pool. Whether you’re swimming laps or just splashing around the views are stunning! Stunning!!! The lounge chairs are beautifully and comfortably cushioned and your day there will be a hoot. You also have the option of hitting up both Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 restaurant as well as the Ritz-Carlton Spa. Good times!

Then there’s  Kimpton’s Hotel Wilshire– another of the best rooftop pools in Downtown LA. It comes with private cabanas as well as, for those nights, cozy fire-pits and of course, there’s the view. The view! You won’t be able to stop taking pictures so make sure your smart phone is water proof. You can also get pictures of the Hollywood sign which casts its eye down on you. They also have a great wifi which you can easily access by the pool. You’ll love it!

Have you visited the Ace Hotel DTLA? As the last on our list of the best rooftop pools in Downtown LA, you might want to! This pool also comes with great views and you can enjoy them while supping cocktails you can buy at the rooftop bar. The ambience here is definitely focused on all things modern and you can expect DJ events as well as the occasional pool party. People watching is on fleek here.

So many rooftop pools in Downtown LA – and so little time! So get out there and don’t forget your sun tan lotion and a towel.  A towel is just about the massively useful thing any interstellar Hitchhiker can carry!

This month’s South Park spotlight on the best Coffee shop falls on… Philz!

They serve up some great tasting coffee here but just as compelling is the company’s story. Phil Jaber – the Phil in Philz – took off on a quest 25 years ago to make the best cup of coffee ever. That mission took him literally all over the world where he visited thousands of coffee shops and ultimately put together his own unique blends. We love Philz and are sure you will too!

Let’s take a look for ourselves!

Cheers to Friday and the promise of a great weekend. #philzcoffee #mintmojito #friyay Thanks for capturing the moment: @luxkong

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Apr 14, 2017 at 11:08am PDT

Can anyone say mint mojito? Boy, Philz Coffee sure can!

It's official, Spring is here! Grab your baseball cap and cup of love, #springisintheair. #PhilzCoffee (📸: @nimaethap )

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Mar 20, 2017 at 8:52am PDT

Everyone loves a cup of Philz.

Forget your lunch? Need an afternoon pick-me-up? We've got you covered. Try our Philz Bagel with tomato, cucumber and your choice of hummus or cream cheese. #PhilzCoffee #philzfood

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Feb 8, 2017 at 2:20pm PST

They’re not just drinks. Check out Philz Bagel with tomato, cucumber and your choice of hummus or cream cheese. You can even top it in hot sauce if so inclined. These are coming soon to the LA Philz.

It's the last Friday of the year, so make it a good one! Grab a friend and enjoy a cup together. #coffeedate #friyay #dogdays (📸: @rennie_thedoodette)

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Dec 30, 2016 at 11:15am PST

We felt we needed to say it again. Everyone loves a cup of Philz.

Meet Jaedon, who's been bettering days at Philz since 2009. “One day, a guy called to me from inside a little shop and asked if I wanted to try a new drink. He made a Jacob's Wonderbar Philz Way. That young man was Jacob himself. After that, I went into the shop almost every day. The coffee and people were great, and I wanted a piece of happy. Soon after, I was hired. I’d leave work with my face hurting because I would smile so much. Philz gave me purpose and, in a way, saved my life. I began to believe that integrity existed in this world. That’s why I hold so fiercely to our culture. Without it, we're just another coffee shop.” ​#GreatPlaceToWork #PhilzCoffee #Coffee

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Oct 11, 2016 at 10:32am PDT

The peeps who work there are so friendly!

School is now in session! Whether it's recipes or equations we're here to fuel your learning. #LifeAtPhilz #BackToSchool #Coffee

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Aug 31, 2016 at 10:20am PDT

School is now in session!

Step inside our Roasting Facility: A little bit of waiting goes a long way. 😍☕️ #philzcoffee #oakland

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Jun 1, 2016 at 11:14am PDT

Here’s a sneak peek inside their roasting facility. And not an oompah loompah in sight!

Last but not least for 2015: Come celebrate our soft opening at 300 Folsom St in San Francisco on 12/15! Party starts at 11AM. Details are in the link in our profile. #sf #coffeetime #partytime

A post shared by Philz Coffee (@philzcoffee) on Dec 11, 2015 at 4:30pm PST

Philz Coffee – we salute you!!

So if you’re looking to try a new place filled with good coffee and great eats, you should definitely check out Philz Coffee – you won’t be disappointed!

Lunch. It’s easily one of the most important decisions of the day (aside from Breakfast, Brunch and Dinner) – but where are the best ones in City West hiding? We decided to head out and hit as many as we could so we could bring the best back to you – so here we are with today’s blog The Best Lunch Spots In City West!

Kicking off our blog on the best lunch spots in City West, we love, loved, loved Republique – and we’re fairly sure you will too! It’s a mix of café, bakery and bar and open in the mornings and evenings but are closed most afternoons between 3-5:30pm. We sampled the ricotta toast and the mushroom toast and wow. The same wow goes for their Chia Seed pussing, Shakshouka and Strawberry Tres Leches Café.

Next up on our blog of the best lunch spots in City West is the Rustiq Table over on 2280 S. Figueroa. The menu here is light and healthy, made up as it is of fresh ingredients. We sampled the turkey sandwich – perfectly toasted bread and a robust tomato chutney – and the ahi tuna sandwich which was just amazing. The tuna was seared to perfection and came topped with creamy wasabi slaw on a brioche bun. They also have baked goods (the bread pudding is phenomenal).

Rounding off our list of the best lunch spots in City West is Pasta Sisters . Cozy is the name of the game here, with an ambience that reeks of home (in the best possible way). We sampled the pasta (delicious), the gnocchi (wonderful) and the Tagliatelle with Arabiatta (mouth-poppingly good!). Oh, and a shout out to the bread there – amazing.

Wherever you go for the best lunch spot in City West, be sure to check out any of the above places because we’re sure you’ll love each and every one as much as we do.

Who doesn’t love their mom (hands down in the back; this clearly ISN’T for you)!!! With Mother’s Day around the corner – that’s Sunday May 14th, fact fans – we thought it best to look into what upcoming Mother’s Day events are taking place around Downtown LA so you’re not left scrambling for something to do at the last minute.

First up, you might wanna check out Nerano. The Beverly Hills restaurant is offering a beautiful array of Italian dishes on Mother’s Day. Executive Chef Michele Lisi will be serving up specialty appetizers like their Vellutata di Pomodoro, a chilled heirloom tomato and basil soup with bread tuile, as well as a house-made Pappardelle all’Astice with Maine lobster, English peas, and cherry tomatoes. For main courses, the restaurant will be serving a sea bream filet with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, fava beans and potato ragu, a USDA prime filet mignon with roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled white asparagus and chanterelle mushrooms. All guests over 21 will receive a complimentary blood orange mimosa.

Is Mom an anglophile? Then check out The Pikey on Sunset. On tap is a spring-focused menu for Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner. Daytime specials include homemade coffee and cream doughnuts, a rhubarb and blood orange pavlova, ricotta and prosciutto tarts, a tasty ramp and morel mushroom omelet with fontina cheese as well as a lobster and spinach benedict on a cheddar biscuit. Not enough? In addition, Chef Johnson’s signature brunch menu will include a brioche French toast with seasonal fruit, house-cured Steelhead salmon with scrambled eggs, a full English breakfast with fried eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, roasted tomatoes and mushroom with grilled toast and much more. Like Nerano’s, for Mother’s Day, all guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with brunch, and all day bottomless bloody mary or mimosas are available for $15.

Or maybe Mom prefers Mexican food. Well how about you hit up Broken Spanish at 1050 S. Flower St? In honor of mom this year, Broken Spanish will open its doors for a special brunch! Located in the heart of downtown L.A., Chef Ray Garcia will serve up brunch from 11am to 2:30pm with highlights like tres leches French toast, chicharron con huevos and other modern Mexican brunch specialties.

Wherever you decide to take Mom, have a great time and tell her we wish her a very happy Mother’s Day!!