From its humble beginnings as a toast and jam pop-up, Sqirl has amassed a cult following that stretches around the block every Saturday morning. The menu, scrawled daily on a chalkboard, strikes a perfect balance of healthy-ish fare. You could go for burnt brioche slathered with ricotta and homemade jams, a vegan sorrel-pesto rice bowl “farro fawcett” (made with whole-grain wheat and black-cardamom honey), or get simply get stuck in to enticing pastries that beckon from the countertop. We suggest going with friends, ordering as many dishes as possible and dividing your spoils. This isn’t your standard avo-on-toast spot, Sqirl’s surprisingly vast seasonal menu has impressed food critics like Jonathan Gold, who now has a sandwich – prosciutto and fennel on burnt baguette – named after him. Before you pick up the cheque, be sure to purchase a few jars of their famed jam to bring home; it’ll seriously up your PB and J game.

Ysabel is our pick for a boozy but glamorous afternoon affair. Great food, great atmosphere and good-looking people; it’s your quintessential upscale LA locale. This is one to book well in advance and with drinks at $18 a pop it definitely comes at a price – but one that’s worth it. Primarily a dinner destination, waiting lists for evening seats stretch weeks but lunch comes (a little) easier, and is definitely no second-rate option. Like any trendy LA spot worth its reputation, the open-air eatery on Fairfax is all but invisible from the street, ensuring only those in-the-know walk through its doors. Secure yourself a table on the patio to soak up that glorious Cali sunshine. Ysabel’s famed Mediterranean flavours also come in brunch form via dishes like spicy fried rice, peas, crispy shallots with thai basil and poached egg. Whatever you order, pair it with one of their cocktails; the Jane Doe with prickly-pear-infused vodka or the restaurant’s namesake with armagnac, aperol, lime, coconut and grapefruit juice are both serious contenders.

Occupying some prime real estate on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, this plant-based restaurant is pretty much a physical manifestation of the surrounding area’s vibe, one which has been dubbed “the coolest block in America”. Ironically named, The Butcher’s Daughter is ideally situated for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up in between taking on the shops. Bright and airy with greenery occupying every nook and cranny, interiors put a feminine spin on the classic butcher shop. The veggie-friendly menu also includes meaty classics like a BLT and deli-style reuben. Self-proclaimed wellness lattes are on offer, but the in-house juice bar speciality blends like the Waterflower (watermelon, fennel, cactus pear, honeydew, lime, lavender) and Honey Bee (grapefruit, turmeric root, yuzu, kumquat, honey bee pollen) are more enticing.

Appropriately sitting in the trendy area of WeHo is Spartina, a name that’s been out of business for near two decades only to be resuscitated into the hotspot it is today. The founder of the 1990s restaurant of the same name, Stephen Kalt, breathes new life into Spartina with a menu that puts a Californian spin on Italian classics. The dining area reflects a similarly cross-continental mix; chequered napkins and paper placemats against a hip aesthetic with a generous helping of greenery – a sort of Cal-Ital trattoria. The kitchen’s wood-fired pizzas are a great way to start lunch. If you’re ordering one for the table, we’re partial to the lamb sausage with pistachio. Then either move on to the short-rib tortellini with brown butter and sage, or the fontina frittata if you fancy something lighter. Bottomless mimosas are an available (and advisable) add-on.

Los Angeles is home to many storied buildings and République’s Spanish-style exterior is no different. Charlie Chaplin’s former office the building has taken on renewed significance as LA’s beloved Campanile restaurant and later as La Brea Bakery. With vaulted ceilings, green-tiled floors and archway walkthroughs, the charming building looks more like a French provincial village than LA. Taking cue from the building’s past life as a bakery, République fresh-baked bread and pastries have everything to do with its reputation – devouring the whole bread basket is strongly encouraged. For the main event, duck-liver mousse topped with pickled Asian pear is a heavenly way to start, the prairie pork chop and belly served in a cast-iron skillet is a strong follow up, and the lemon tart a perfect end.

"Sandy feet are always encouraged." We wouldn't expect anything less from the Aussie-cum-Californian owners of this LA health-food café. Although its overhanging lights, marble-topped wooden tables and exposed white-brick walls blend seamlessly into its Venice Beach surroundings, Great White still offers a little Australian edge - primarily in the form of coffee. Brewed with Aussie brand Vittoria, you can't get a better cup of joe anywhere else. For something less caffeinated opt for a glass of on-tap kombucha. Brave the crowds for a blue smoothie bowl or the mahi-mahi fish tacos, where queues are lengthy but move quickly. Grab a table that spills out onto the path (with views of the Venice sign). Alternatively, grab your food to go and head to the beach which is mere steps away.

Dishing up some the best pizza on the West Side, Milo & Olive is a Santa Monica staple. This sunny little nook and all-day eatery is a perfect drop by anytime of day, the menu moving expertly from breakfast to dinner. Come earlier and feast on brunch classics like their sinfully creamy polenta and poached eggs, served with bacon bits and baby greens – or for something more lunch adjacent, pizza is your go-to. The pizza here strikes that perfect balance of soft and doughy, while remaining crispy and thin in all the right places. Toppings are seasonally led and sourced from the farmers’ market. For something a little different, order the winter-citrus salad pizza with lettuce, avocado, toasted hazelnuts, feta and orange poppyseed vinaigrette. For something more traditional, the burrata, prosciutto and sea salt is a crowd-pleaser. Milo & Olive fills up quickly, especially at the weekend, so go a little earlier and snag a seat at one of the two marble communal tables that make up most of the restaurant, or a place at the bar in front of the open kitchen.

Is there any food as versatile as eggs? Filipino-American chef Alvin Cailan didn’t think so, and so Eggslut was born. Its beginnings as a LA food truck brought huge success (and crowds), leading to permanent locales all over Los Angeles. The menu describes itself as “a balance of comfort and innovation” and definitely delivers on both; your standard egg sandwich is enhanced with a gourmet twist – a perfectly browned brioche bun, with crispy bacon and fluffy eggs. Opt for something classic like the sausage, egg and cheese (complete with honey-mustard aioli) while the “Gaucho” with seared wagyu strip-steak, over-medium egg and chimichurri is a deliciously grown-up take on the cheeseburger. Although not a sandwich per se, the namesake “Slut” is iconic; coddled egg sits atop smooth potato puree, poached in a glass jar, topped with grey salt and chive and served with slices of baguette – eggy goodness at its most gooey.