Los Angeles can feel like a city of endless opportunity. But that incredible scale can sometimes mean that it’s not always easy to find what you’re looking for. Just ask any aspiring Hollywood star.
But whatever brings you to L.A., the one thing that you will want to seek out is some of the great food on offer. The city’s restaurants reflect the remarkable mix of cultures that you find here. And the sheer size of the place means that the choice of places to eat out is vast.
Every building is now obliged by law to make itself accessible to everyone, and so ramps and wider, more accessible entrances are a relatively common sight in Los Angeles. But we’ve certainly found that some places are a lot better than others. So, with that in mind, here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to the very best accessible restaurants in Los Angeles.
République
For a nicely Californian twist on traditional French food, look no further than République. Bright and airy with plenty of accessible tables, we love this place. The food, of course, is fantastic. Chef Walter Manzke describes it as ‘technique-driven French California cuisine’, but if that sounds a little clinical, then don’t worry.
This is delicious classic French food that is simply prepared with breathtaking precision, served in an equally classy environment. The building itself dates from the 20s and was built originally as an investment for Charlie Chaplin. Yes, that Charlie Chaplin: this is L.A., after all.
Best Girl
Best Girl describes itself as a neighbourhood bistro, but it feels like something far more ambitious than that. There’s the top class chef, Chef Michael Cimarusti, for a start, who has brought his attention to detail and high standards to this corner of Downtown Los Angeles.
There’s a big focus on seasonal food here and they keep the menu changing through the year, so it’s the kind of place that never feels tired. It’s one of those places that feels infused with Los Angeles’ culture and history, and it’s also very accessible. There’s an accessible entrance and a lift up to the mezzanine. Highly recommended.
Langers
Sometimes, you’ll find yourself out and about and just in need of something to keep you going. This is where a place like Langers really comes into its own. This delicatessen and restaurant has been going since the late ’40s and is a true L.A. institution.
No less than The New Yorker magazine itself claimed that Langers served ‘the best hot pastrami sandwich in the world’! It’s quite a claim, and one that we’re sure that a few other US deli’s (not least in New York!) might want to contest. But the fact is that Langers is legendary, its pastrami is mind-blowing, and this is a must-visit on your next trip to Los Angeles. It’s also fully accessible.
The Original Pantry Cafe
While we’re at it, we have to also recommend the Original Pantry Cafe. It’s another Los Angeles icon, and one that’s been around since 1924. This is the place to go for a classic diner experience – we’re talking big servings of traditional American dishes, served just the way they always have been for the last 95 years.
This is a special place – recently named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument – and it’s well worth a visit. Don’t expect haute cuisine, but it’s accessible to all, and you’re always guaranteed a warm welcome. Incredibly, it’s also open seven days a week, 24-hours a day!
Bestia
From a couple of old-timers to a relative newcomer now – Bestia is one of the most talked about restaurants in the city and well worth checking out if you can. This is great Italian food, with an emphasis on quality ingredients and a hand-on approach. Despite its urban surroundings, Bestia’s food has a rustic feel and you can feel the love that the owners Menashe and Gergish have for their creations.
This is a modern building with good access but be warned that this is also a place with a great reputation – so it’s sure to be busy.
A quick final word about driving in Los Angeles. If you are heading to any of these restaurants for a meal, then parking can be tricky, especially in Downtown. However, over 200 of the city’s buses and trains are accessible, and for more information it’s worth checking out the dedicated accessibility page here.
Another option is hiring a cab or a service like Lyft Assist, which makes it easy to book a ride in an accessible car to your destination. Find out more here.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847
