Los Angeles is a city known for outstanding Chinese food, but luckily for tourists unable to make the drive to the San Gabriel Valley, there’s Din Tai Fung in Glendale, a mecca for those juicy pork dumplings, sauteed rice cakes, and other Chinese classics.

Griffith Park is one of the country’s largest urban parks, with miles of hiking and biking trails and open parkland to enjoy. Millions flock to the green space surrounding the Observatory, and then make a run for the cozy confines of Trails Cafe to refuel with simple fare afterwards.

Hollywood icon Musso & Frank’s is still one of the best places in the city for sidling up to the bar and confidently ordering a martini. It helps that the martini is damn good, and the people watching is even better.

Dominique Ansel is a certified international phenomenon, opening bakeries across the globe that play to hours-long lines. Now he’s turned to the savory side with 189, his beautiful upstairs restaurant at The Grove. Forget the location and long lines, this is a sit-down restaurant that takes reservations and serves elevated French food with a thoughtfulness not commonly associated with a shopping development.

The Original Farmer’s Market is a classic tourist destination and while many of the stalls feature solid fare, this busy Brazilian barbecue might be the best of the bunch. Load up the plate with vegetables and salad before picking out freshly sliced Brazilian grilled meats.

Most LA tourists are going to hit Beverly Hills at some point in their trip, and while there are a ton of traps that serve middling but expensive fare, The Grill on the Alley has a gorgeous dining room and standout service in a rather hidden space. Order some grilled steaks and finish the meal with the excellent key lime pie.

For those in the mood for Italian fare while visiting Mid-Wilshire’s Museum Row, head to Drago Ristorante at the Petersen Automotive Museum. A collaboration between Drago brothers Celestino, Calogero, Tanino, and Giacomino, the eponymously named restaurant serves up dependable pastas, pizzas, and larger proteins like steaks and pork chops for lunch and dinner.

Now that the Coles versus Philippe’s debate as to the true progenitor of the French dip sandwich has been put to rest, there’s no better time to visit the 1908 institution that invented the jus-soaked specialty.

Perched 71 floors above Downtown LA in the US Bank Tower is a restaurant with 360-degree views. It’s no wonder tourists come to take in unbeatable vistas of the city, with beautifully plated dishes that live up to the ambiance.

Grand Central Market wouldn’t be complete without the winding line for Eggslut. Arrive early or head in late (and avoid weekends altogether) for one of the best morning sandwiches anywhere.

This Santa Monica institution keeps getting better and better. Snag a seat on the idyllic patio and settle in for quintessential California cuisine done well. There are oysters and locally-made bread to start, and hearty things like hand-made pastas and a roasted chicken to share. A walk along the shore makes for the perfect post-dinner plan.