WALKING DISTANCE FROM HOTEL (GOOD FOR LUNCH BREAKS & DINNER)
The area around the conference hotel has many good options within walking distance for breakfast, lunch, coffee, drinks, and dinner. Some offer an online order option on their websites for to-go orders or to avoid long waits during peak hours (like lunch).
APOLLO LANDING PLAZA (Named for the region’s history of aerospace research that included work on the Apollo Project). LOCATED across the street from the Westdrift, on the corner of Rosecrans and Market Place/Apollo Street (5-minute walk):
Tender Greens: Many delicious healthy options (salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls) made to order. Meat, vegetarian, vegan options. Highly recommended for casual lunch or dinner.
Philz Coffee: Excellent California coffee chain with some light food options (protein bowls, pastries). Delicious mixed coffee drinks and unique selection of flavors. No indoor seating but they have a popular outdoor patio.
Shake Shack: Popular New York hamburger chain. (At the risk of appearing territorial we humbly suggest conference participants try to sample the local cult hamburger at In-N-Out Burger – see “Los Angeles Specialties” below – in order to enjoy the full Los Angeles experience. Unfortunately, the closest In-N-Out is more than 2 miles away.)
Pier 76 Fish Grill: Casual seafood restaurant, order at the counter (grilled fish, tacos, sandwiches, poke). Relatively inexpensive and healthy options.
BRISTOL FARMS PLAZA. LOCATED DIRECTLY EAST OF THE WESTDRIFT HOTEL
Bristol Farms Grocery Store & Deli: An upscale grocery store with a café and deli counter that offers soups, salads, sandwiches, various roast meats, and prepared foods. A three-minute walk from the conference hotel. Turn right at the fountain immediately after exiting the Westdrift (do not go all the way to Rosecrans Avenue), walk a short distance and you will see Bristol Farms in the next parking lot on the right.
Also in this shopping center are a number of fast and casual lunch spots (pizza, teriyaki-sushi, Middle Eastern, Mexican, smoothies), an Italian restaurant, Johnny Rockets diner, and Houston’s Steakhouse.
THE POINT OUTDOOR PLAZA: on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda (a 10 minute walk to the west in the direction of the beach)
A good variety of casual restaurants (including Mexican, Italian, vegetarian and vegan, sushi, hamburgers) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. Nice outdoor seating for day or night meals. Highly recommended: Superba Food and Bread (breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks) and Mendocino Farms (gourmet sandwiches and salads). For a quintessential So Cal experience try Pressed Juicery for a tasty “Freeze” (dairy-free soft serve), a cold-pressed juice, or even a Cleanse, if that seems appropriate!
OTHER
Trader Joe’s: Very good grocery store, much more affordable than Bristol Farms. Wide selection of healthy prepared salads and wraps, produce, snacks, beer, wine, spirits. Good for budget-friendly meals and supplies. 10-minute walk.
There is a dine-in movie theater, the ArcLight Beach Cities Cinema, located across the street (1000 feet I.e. 300 meters) from the hotel. The theater shows first-run movies, offers reserve seating, an on-site café and bar (beer, wine, cocktails), and 15 different theater rooms.
DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN BEACH (2.5 miles to the west)
The downtown area of Manhattan Beach is accessible by a flat 2.5-mile walk or bike ride. The beautiful beach and its iconic pier are adjacent to the commercial district, and both are good spots for picnics or for simply enjoying views of the ocean, surfers, sunsets, and even dolphins and whales. Manhattan Beach has many boutiques, restaurants, and bars. A few restaurants that we can recommend:
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos: It may not look promising but this is a great place for fish tacos. Budget friendly. Order to go and walk around the corner to enjoy them on the beach or the pier.
Andrew’s Cheese Shop: Cheese and charcuterie. Sandwiches available to take out for a picnic at the nearby beach and pier.
Lemonade: Casual place, a few blocks from the beach and pier. Excellent variety of healthy salads, sandwiches, and baked goods. Good for meat eaters, vegetarians/vegans, gluten-free diets. Delicious lemonades!
Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya: Helmed by Master sushi chef Kastuya Uechi. Very popular spot for bento boxes, sushi, noodle soup. Expect a wait at dinner time.
Simmzy’s: Casual gastropub, good for California pub food, a glass of wine, craft beers.
Manhattan Beach Post (also called “M.B. Post”): Hip flagship restaurant by acclaimed Michelin-starred chef David LeFevre. Great for drinks, tasty small plates and people-watching. Lively in the evenings, so those looking for a spot for conversation may wish to find another place for dinner.
LOS ANGELES SPECIALTIES (not walking distance)
Those who wish to explore Los Angeles will find many good restaurant neighborhoods a reasonable drive away in downtown Manhattan Beach, Venice (Abbot Kinney Boulevard), and Culver City (Culver Blvd. near Washington and also the Helms Bakery District). Los Angeles is a stellar restaurant town. Foodies willing to drive (or, recommended, use Uber, Lyft, or a taxi) may find useful the list of Top 101 Los Angeles Restaurants by Pulitzer-prize winning food critic, the late Jonathan Gold: http://ballots.latimes.com/lists/101-best-restaurants-jonathan-gold/ Note: M.B. Post in Manhattan Beach comes in at a strong #84!
Recommended:
Tacos. Any taco truck with a line probably has tasty and affordable Mexican food.
In-N-Out Burger: Classic Southern California hamburger chain, with a cult following and a “secret menu” (that you can Google). Animal Style is strongly recommended. Multiple locations. Very budget friendly.
The Ivy: In keeping with the NCFS 2018 conference theme you may actually see celebrities and paparazzi at the original location on Robertson Boulevard! Be prepared for a wait and for pricy but good food in a beautiful floral setting. Best for lunch on a sunny day. Enjoy a glass of champagne while you wait and sit outside to see and be seen.
Any restaurant by James Beard chef Suzanne Goin, especially A.O.C. and Lucques. Excellent French-California small and large plates and wine selection.
Spago: Wolfgang Puck’s original California cuisine restaurant in Beverly Hills. A splurge, but the food and comfortable/elegant dining experience are still tops.