Photo: Via Los Angeles Athletic Club
L.A. Athletic Club
This downtown space boasts squash courts and the most beautiful 25-yard lap pool in all of L.A. (they keep it at 82 degrees!). If you're looking to shake things up, those are certainly two workouts you don't find everywhere!
Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 West 7th Street (Near South Hill Street); 213-625-2211.
Crunch
Perched atop Sunset, Crunch really offers one of the best bangs for your buck. They've recently had their own makeover, and it's looking squeaky clean! The best part? Here's just a small sampling of their eclectic classes: What You Knead, Pound, Cardio Tai Box, Lower Body Glide, Beach Body, Hip Hop, Funk, Afro-Brazilian Dance.
Easton
This incognito mini-gym on Beverly is the workout haven for scenesters who prefer not to be seen in their sweats. And you know it's gotta be legit if founder Harvey Easton was the original celebrity trainer for Old Hollywood giants like Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, and Kirk Douglas.
Easton Gym, Easton Gym, 8053 Beverly Boulevard (Near North Crescent Heights Boulevard); 323-651-3636.
Equinox
Quite the opposite of the last gym, Equinox is where you'll find the city's movers and shakers looking to meet and greet while they tread that mill. Better pack your perfect little lululemon ensemble for this Weho hotspot; you may just score a buff date! (Sidenote: Grace Lazenby's Rockin' Model Workout is the best thing to hit the studio since Jazzercise!).
Equinox, 8590 West Sunset Boulevard (Near Sunset Plaza Drive); 310-659-3620.
Spectrum
Not many people know about this Palisades gym, but almost every machine overlooks the sparkling Pacific, taking the edge off of that faux-mountain you're climbing on the elliptical! It's a hop, skip, and a jump off PCH for any of you SM, Brentwood, and Venice dwellers. Another beautiful aspect: You won't have to wait a year for equipment like you would at so many other spots. Oh, and their smoothies are delicious, too!
Spectrum Club Palisades, 17383 Sunset Boulevard (Near Castellammare Drive); 310-459-2582.
Café Gratitude
Everything from this vegan eatery on Larchmont comes from its own organic farm, and the menu is deceivingly healthy. How does a veggie burger with spicy cashew mustard and coconut "bacon" sound? Mmm.
Café Gratitude, 639 North Larchmont Boulevard (Near Melrose Avenue); 323-580-6383.
M Café
Health-conscious celebs like Jessica Alba and Jake Gyllenhaal like to nosh at this macrobiotic Melrose outpost. Our fave is the kale with spicy peanut dressing (yes, we actually enjoy this kale!).
M Café, 7119 Melrose Avenue (Near La Brea Avenue); 323-525-0588.
A Votre Sante
Some Brentwood folks eat every meal at this quaint Country Mart resto (Kate Hudson sightings are frequent). The wraps are unbeatable, and you can always wash it down with a Pressed Juicery treat from across the courtyard!
A Votre Sante, 13018 San Vicente Boulevard (At South 26th Street); 310-451-1813.
Co-Opportunity
This grocery store is owned by the local Santa Monica community, and boasts the freshest selection of produce on the west side. Even the flooring and lighting is eco-friendly and energy efficient!
Co-Opportunity, 1525 Broadway Street (Near 16th Street); 310-451-8902.
Erewhon
You can get everything from Rose Hip oil for your visage (highly recommended, btw) to tofu dogs, at this mid-city market! There's ready-to-eat hot dishes for the girl on-the-go, and they almost boast one of our favorite "Energy Elixirs" in town.
Erewhon, 7660 Beverly Boulevard (At North Fairfax Avenue); 323-937-0777.
Flore Vegan Cuisine
How do Blueberry Buckwheat Bliss pancakes sound for brunch? Upon first bite you'll find that this Silver Lake spot makes the most out of every ingredient.
Flore Vegan Cuisine, 3818 West Sunset Boulevard (Near Hyperion Avenue); 323-953-0611.
Earth Bar
This is your one-stop nutrition spot. Packed with supplements, protein powders, probiotics, and super foods, wellness can be won in one fell swoop!
Kinara
Located in the heart of WeHo is an oasis of a spa offering every treatment under the sun — and we've never met better-trained aestheticians or masseuses. Hint: Try the Bamboo Fusion massage.
Exhale
This place has the detox-retox-retreat combo down pat. Get world-class yoga instruction, grab a massage, then hit Fig for some scrumptious food (and drink). You can even check in to the Fairmont afterward if you're feeling too relaxed (or tipsy, ha!) to drive.
Exhale Mind Body Spa at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, 101 Wilshire Boulevard (Near Ocean Avenue); 310-319-3193.
The Beverly Wilshire Spa
Whenever we make a trip to this famous Beverly Hills hotel, first we grab fries and wine at Cut, then we head upstairs for a massage and nap in their trippy constellation-style steam room.
Spa at Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard (Near North Beverly Drive); 310-275-5200.
LeSpa
Our new top aesthetician sets up shop here every few months, and we recently got a chance to check the place out. It's over 5,000 square feet of relaxation stations, and you won't want to leave the Serenity lounge (the co-ed sauna's pretty sexy, too).
LeSpa by Sofitel, 8555 Beverly Boulevard (On the corner La Cienega); 310-228-6777.