Culver City

Sit at the bar or on the patio, and order one of an encyclopedia’s worth of craft beers. (Skip the cocktails.) Order the Office Burger, complete with bacon, caramelized onions, gruyere, and blue cheese (no substitutions allowed), with just about any sides—everything’s good. There's another Father's Office location in Santa Monica; the menus are the same but the vibes are completely different.

Stanley’s is half wine shop, half bar. It’s a chill spot to grab an afternoon glass of pinot, and the scene gets lively as the evening rolls on—mostly small groups gathered around tables, never too crowded. If you taste something you like, take a bottle home. And if you’re just stopping into the shop for a hostess gift, the staff is a huge help for picking out something great.

The vibe at Bar Bohemien is very low-key—good for not-so-wild nights where you’re catching up with a friend or meeting a date. They have a very limited food menu, but you’re welcome to bring food up from the stalls downstairs in Citizen Public Market.

The back of the Hatchet Hall houses a second, separate bar deemed Old Man Bar—it looks as brooding as you'd expect, but it's also beautiful, and it serves up noteworthy serious cocktails.

Super Domestic makes great coffee and breakfast. The space doubles as a bike shop.

These guys make the best bread in Culver City, and you should definitely grab a loaf to take home. The toasts and pizzas are also worth the trip. You can take bread-baking classes here, too.

This Indian grocery has an excellent hot foods counter, and it’s our go-to for takeout when we’re in the area.

Village Well has a strong book assortment and good coffee. It’s also a great place to hang out or get some work done—there’s wifi and well-placed electrical outlets, if you need them.

A steakhouse with a storied past, Dear John’s originally opened in the ’60s, becoming a haunt for old Hollywood actors (Frank Sinatra was a fan) and entertainment executives from the nearby studios. A few decades in the place fell on hard times and was turned into a bar called Lucky’s—until 2019, when Hans Röckenwagner (a longtime LA chef) and Josiah Citrin (the chef-restaurateur behind Mélisse) decided to bring it back to life. They signed a lease for only two years—the building is being razed for a new development in April 2021—and unfortunately, the pandemic has cut into most of it. But you can still get your fix of fillet via takeout: They offer a classic steak dinner complete with broccolini, buttery mashed potatoes, and tiramisu, or you can order à la carte.

This open environment gives kids ample space to do what kids do best: romp around. Wild Child is an environment where both kids and parents can enjoy spending time. Filled with ropes, ladders, rockers, and balance beams, the space is well lit, full of light wood and natural elements—a set of hanging bars made from tree limbs, for example. But the game changer here is the way the incredible staff engages the kids in play. Wild Child is currently offering private and small group classes (ten kids, max) at the gym, plus a stellar selection of virtual courses to help them get the zoomies out at home. If you do choose to enroll your child in a class, note that only one parent is permitted in the space per child and all adults must wear face coverings. All CDC guidelines are strictly adhered to.