The Founder’s Guide to L.A.
We’ve compiled a bunch of hot spots and insider tips on navigating Los Angeles as a founder. Read on for some great L.A. resources for entrepreneurs.
Keertana Anandraj is a part-time freelance writer and full-time sustainability analyst. Before Justworks, she began her freelance career writing for The Financial Diet and Career Contessa. She currently resides in New York City.
If you’re an entrepreneur, there are few places that rival L.A. as the perfect place to launch your company. A bustling city filled with creativity and innovation, L.A. is known for making dreams come true.
But working in a new city is no easy feat — not to mention starting a business. So that’s where we come in. We’ve made it easier than ever for you to pack your bags, hit the road, and trek through the City of Angels. Read on for the hidden gems and unexpected resources that’ll help new founders hustling in L.A.
A quick note: Things move pretty quickly in L.A. (almost as quickly as they do in NYC). With this in mind, some of these hidden gems and resources may disappear or not be relevant in a few months. When possible, check with the business or location to verify what you’re looking for is still available.
Free (or Worth-the-cost) WiFi
As an entrepreneur, access to free WiFi is essential. But depending on the city you’re in, it can be tough to find a good spot to work that also has a strong signal. L.A. has you covered, though, with a number of spots where you can work:
Enjoy working outdoors? Check out The Grove, an outdoor shopping center in West Hollywood with free WiFi throughout the property. If you’d like a view of the Hollywood Sign, try Griffith Observatory (there’s WiFi outside). If the beach is more your taste, visit the Annenberg Community Beach House, which is a public space that offers free WiFI, among many other amenities. If true green space is more up your alley, L.A. Parks also provide a few maps for select locations around the city if you want to peruse further.
Love the coffee shop vibe? Visit Coffee Commissary if you work well to the beat of loud-ish music, or Coffee Connection, which has a jungle-like atmosphere. Cafecito Organico offers WIFI in an outdoor setting, and Stories Books & Cafe and Bricks & Scones are good for the traditional coffee shop vibe. Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen offers a ton of comfy nooks to settle into, and Sip & Sonder has a ton of space to spread out in and get work done. The renowned, environmentally friendly Los Angeles Convention Center also has two cafés that offer free WiFi.
Like the quiet of a library or museum? The Los Angeles County Libraries offer a quiet setting for deep work along with their free WiFi (which is actually accessible from most location’s parking lot, if you’d rather sit in your car). The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has free WiFi, along with the J. Paul Getty Museum — but note that, while the WiFi is strong, cell service can be spotty there.
Nothing else cutting it? Hotels like the Freehand, Hotel Figueroa, and InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown offer free WiFi and low-key atmosphere. You can also try locating other hotspots around L.A. using this interactive map.
Co-working Spaces for Every Mood
In a spread-out city like Los Angeles, it can be tough to zero in on a dedicated workspace. Luckily, L.A. has no shortage of co-working spaces — and there’s one to suit just about any founder’s style.
For a creative space, look no further than Procolo.Co and The Muse Rooms. These offer more boutique spaces that speak to your inner artist and the social butterflies. The Metaphor Club is another spot to check out. Fun fact: it opened as a lounge for Black writers!
For a modern atmosphere, consider CTRL Collective located in downtown L.A. It’s got a sleek atmosphere and a variety of membership options. Similar spots include Industrious and BLANKSPACES (which is beach-side).
For a range of amenities, consider Cross Campus. This is one of the largest co-working offices in L.A. and offers every amenity you could want, from conference rooms to private offices to event spaces. Second Home Hollywood offers similar amenities (including childcare), and while it’s not a traditional co-working space, Platform has a lot of space and amenities to offer.
For no-nonsense working, there’s always WeWork. You can also check out the spaces offered by Regus and Premier Workspaces for space without all the frills.
Break a Cali-style Sweat
Californians are known for their health-conscious ways, so you can expect some quality workout options while you’re in L.A. Check out these tried-and-true options, some of which are pretty unique to the City of Angels.
Love classes? Pharos Athletic Club offers more than 125 classes each week, and BRICK offers multiple crossfit classes every day (plus a turf area, climbing wall, and custom-built rigs and platforms). EōS Fitness has a wide range of classes (including water fitness, dance fitness, and cycling), and Go Surf LA has paddleboard yoga classes (really!).
In a hurry? Catch a quick 30-minute (or less!) class via Platefit (featuring medical-grade equipment) or Sweat City Fitness (with an optional bonus 30 minutes of cardio). If you’re a climber, get elevated at Rockreation, and Bolder Fitness offers the basics to get your sweat on.
Prefer to do your own thing? Easton Gym Co. has a history of providing stellar service in addition to all their amenities, and Equinox has all the luxe amenities to soothe your muscles. FunXional Fitness offers the full-service experience, and Iron LA has a great private studio.
Want an L.A. experience? Barry’s Hollywood is the spot where entertainment professionals go, and the trainers here definitely push you to be your best self. Heimat is a members-only spot, but a membership gets you Technogym cardio machines, a full-service spa, a coworking space, and a panoramic rooftop pool — not to mention the plant-focused restaurant Mother Tongue. For something truly wild, visit The Aerial House, which focuses on “circus arts” that include aerial, hammock, and silk suspension.
Set the Scene for a Phenomenal Meeting
Whether you’re meeting a client, convincing an investor, or celebrating a big win with your team, L.A. has plenty of dining options to choose from. Check out this wide selection of winners vetted by locals.
For wining and dining a potential customer, Grandmaster Recorders is a win on the visual and culinary fronts. CUT features Wolfgang Puck’s talents, and American Beauty offers hundreds of wine selections to go with your steak. Bring them to Ixlb Dimsum Eats, one of Hollywood’s go-to Chinese restaurants. Or consider Catch, a lush restaurant serving beautiful food within beautiful digs.
For meeting an angel investor, check out BOA Steakhouse which has a menu of premium cuts of meat and seafood. The Little Door, a French restaurant in West Hollywood, is another great option for a cozy, intimate meal with delicious food and wine. And don’t pass up the old-school atmosphere (and great Italian) Mother Wolf. If you want a trendier spot in the Arts District, check out Bestia.
For the Hollywood experience, head on over to Jones (they’ve been serving Italian to the stars for over 30 years), Musso & Frank Grill (offering continental fare since 1919), The Kettle (a classic, long-standing diner and South Bay institution), or Casa Vega for a potential star sighting while you nosh on some old-school Mexican.
For celebrating with your team, try the iconic Clark Street Diner, or Belles Beach House, a tropical spot can accommodate groups. If you want a more casual venue for the group, The 3rd Stop and Electric Owl have winning menus (and great drinks if you want to keep the celebration going).
For something private, check out Genghis Cohen for New York-style Chinese food, Mes Amis via the Thompson Hollywood for glitz and glamour, asterid (which is inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall!), or Horses, Hollywood’s hottest spot — it’s said to be easier to snag private dining than it is a regular table.
Happy Hour Spots You’ll Leave Happy
Thirsty? You’re not the only one. L.A.’s full of folks in need of an adult beverage, so you’re in great company. Check out these watering holes for a great deal on a thirst-quenching cocktail (or three).
Want to hit up an L.A. hot spot? Birds & Bees is a speakeasy with some of the most unique cocktails in the city, and The Misfit gives classic old-Hollywood vibes. You can also check out The Friend, which opens later than most, and turns into a dance party in the late hours.
Prefer a classic dive bar? Tiki-Ti offers strong drinks and stellar atmosphere, along with HMS Bounty, which gives super 60’s vibes. The Living Room is great if you’re in South L.A., and Cozy Inn’s got a jukebox so you can build your own soundtrack for your dive bar activities.
Need some bites with your booze? The Den on Sunset offers 5 hours of happy hour, with an extensive food menu, and Honor Bar has an eclectic selection of nibbles to cure your food cravings. The Library Bar has themed cocktails, plus a bunch of globally inspired food items, and Moo’s Craft Barbecue will have you drooling over the food more than the drinks.
Wanna feel like a kid again? The Spare Room offers vintage bowling lanes to go with your cocktails, and The Brickyard Pub has pool tables, dart boards, a photobooth (!) and more. Button Mash boasts video games and one-on-one activities like skeeball, and Hamburger Mary’s offers bingo with their booze (plus a ton of local drag talent).
Places to Cry
Dreams come true in L.A., yes, but the City of Angels can also deal some pretty tough blows. For those days when you’re feeling down in the dumps, these spots will provide some cover so you can let those tears fall in peace.
For the welcoming arms of nature, visit Will Rodgers State Park (where you can find some horses to console you), hop on the swan boats in Echo Park Lake, or check out Vista Hermosa Natural Park that’s filled with meadows to cry in, oaks to cry under, and Mediterranean foliage to give you pause for reflection. The UCLA Sculpture Garden also provides beauty to lose yourself in, plus plenty of nooks to hide your tear-streaked face.
For surroundings that match your mood, check out the Los Angeles River near Red Car River Park or Sunnynook River Park — apparently it’s the saddest stretch of this once-strongly flowing river. In the evenings, Santa Monica Beach also provides a more melancholy vibe, so bring a blanket, a beverage, and get ready to bawl. You can also try Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Forest Lawn in Glendale for some somber locales.
For privacy in public, the movies couldn’t be more perfect. At the New Beverly Cinema, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the restored El Capitan Theatre, you can enjoy the cornerstone of Hollywood while releasing the floodworks. If there’s a sad movie playing, even better.
For the perfect rooftop, check out The Americana at Brand’s rooftop parking lot. It’s not a secret by any means, but it offers a great spot to let it all out and then some.
For the real Los Angeles experience, your car is the place to be. Locals default to crying in the privacy of their vehicles on the 101, so when in Hollywood…
Are you still with us? If so, we hope some of these suggestions work out for you — we’ll be coming out with even more, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, check out our other resources for founders via the Resource Center, the MWBE Resources page, and the For Founders, By Founders experience. And if you want help running your business with more confidence, get started today!
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