Where Zack Fox finds creative spark in Los Angeles

Los Angeles shows off its obvious pleasures right away — the beaches, the sunshine, the Hollywood of it all. But it’s so much more than that. In a city that sprawls across 469 square miles, the good stuff isn’t clustered around one downtown area or a single main drag — it’s scattered everywhere, beckoning you to go look for it. The payoff of scratching beneath the surface (and braving the traffic) is a version of the city that’s entirely your own. It’s a familiar kind of reward for anyone who’d rather build their own thing than follow the crowd.

For this guide, we asked Zack Fox — comedian, actor, musician, and DJ who landed in the city from Atlanta 10 years ago — about the spots that make up his LA. From a Venezuelan café perfect for lingering to a hotel that serves as a spawn point for a night out, these are the places Zack says you’d be remiss to miss.

LA grabbed me on my very first trip. I came out from Atlanta for the first time in 2016 and just fell in love — the pace felt similar to home, but with this go-getter energy humming underneath the slowed-down, relaxed vibe. Then I got to write on and act in Flying Lotus’s 2017 film, Kuso, and being on a set for the first time — hanging by the craft table, riding to the trailers and back — got me hooked on this whole mode of existence. 

Real Angelenos are the coolest, most down-to-earth people, with this wealth of knowledge and lore to share. This is the city I fell for, and it’s the one I keep finding when I follow my own compass. The best collaborations here come from people I feel genuinely sparked by, just from hanging out. So much creativity is in these connections, and a lot of my best projects and ideas start by just having fun around the city and staying out way too late.

Two Hommés

902 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood

Part of me wants to keep this one a secret, but a spot this good deserves all the attention and success. Two Hommés is a perfect fusion restaurant. I had catfish with jollof and now my life is ruined; I don’t want just soul food or just West African food anymore, I want them smashed together. It never feels forced — like Warhol and Basquiat on the same canvas. And it’s sexy. This is the spot for a birthday dinner or celebrating a promotion.

Chainsaw Cafe

5022 Melrose Ave., Melrose Hill

A Venezuelan spot with little chairs on the sidewalk so you can just rot and talk to your friends. I like places in LA that feel unintentional, like outdoor seating that isn’t “officially” outdoor seating. Everything on the menu is good, but if I had to choose, I’d say get the pork collar milanesa that’s covered in a tamarind barbecue sauce. And grab a cafe quesillo (latte made with homemade flan syrup) to sip on when you head to the next rec on the list. 

David Zwirner

606 N. Western Ave., Melrose Hill

This gallery is right around the corner from Chainsaw, and is a perfect spot to walk around and look at some art after eating. They do rotating exhibits — Josef Albers did a cool show there recently, and Magdalena Suarez Frimkess had an installment featuring traditional ceramics painted with comic book characters. 

Brother Brother

5561 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams

My Mid-City clothing shop of choice, which recently moved into a bigger brick-and-mortar. They have a nice rotating stock of Japanese workwear — brands like Engineered Garments, South2West8, Needles — plus their own stuff. I'm not really interested in “going shopping.” I just want a place where I can hang out with people who have good conversations and good pieces. Brother Brother is run by co-owner and co-founder Gary Indjian, who’s a sweetheart.

Nappily Naturals & Apothecary

4342 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park

A staple where I get my black soap, shampoo, essential oils, incense, snacks. But beyond the products, you walk in and feel at home. Growing up in Atlanta, we had places like Nappily Naturals in most neighborhoods. In LA, you have to do your due diligence to find spots like this. They center Black health and wellness culture and do the real deal with no bells and whistles.

Harun Coffee

4336 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 

Harun is Chace Infinite’s coffee shop, and is one of the sickest hangouts in LA right now. Go behind a bookcase and there’s a carpeted room with sculptures by Black artists, light fixtures from a Black glassblower, and a DJ booth that sits above the room. They host a ton of events there, like World Cup watch parties, artist talks, and listening lounges. The bang bang for me right now: Nappily Naturals, then Harun, then home with my soap.

Cara Hotel

1730 N. Western Ave., Los Feliz

This is where I gravitate when I don’t know where to have people pull up. Beautiful Spanish-Moroccan vibe, sexy lighting in the bar, and an outdoor area with salsa on Wednesdays, a fire pit, and massive couches. It’s a spawn point for your friends — you didn’t organize the hangout, but people start populating because everyone’s texting a friend of a friend. It’s like a safe point in a video game: we rest here, people show up, we figure out the night from there.

Sana’a Cafe

6290 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

If you don’t drink, late-night cafés become a massive thing. Sana’a is a Yemeni café that sits dead center in Hollywood, but the pastries are incredible and it almost feels like an aquarium — closed off from the chaos but you can see it right outside the window. It’s a perfect spot to just sip away and passively people-watch — and they stay open until 1 a.m. Saturday, 11 p.m. Sunday, and midnight every other day of the week.

Warehouse raves

Scattered around Los Angeles

If you want to dance in LA, skip the clubs — you have to go to the warehouses. Collectives like Into the Woods, Hood Rave, No Nonsense Records, and RE/FORM LA have a real command on the scene — I saw Jeff Mills for $20 through RE/FORM. Follow these collectives on Instagram to find the best shows. The warehouse is going to stink, and you’re not going to know exactly where you are because it’s so late at night, but you’re going to dance. That’s all that matters.

Hear from other founders, builders, and creatives about the places that inspire them: Austin | Mexico City | Melbourne | Tulsa | Connecticut to Rhode Island