Kind of a fun one for the evening. We all have that place we love that is honestly better when nobody knows about it, and half of you probably have one you are already mad got discovered.
So which is it for you. The restaurant, the bar, the view, the little corner of the city you would happily keep quiet about if it were still yours to keep quiet.
I will go first below.
Niko's Red Tacos on Sepulveda before the lines got long. Still my spot, the birria is the real thing, but I remember when you walked right up. Atwater in general I would gatekeep if I could, the whole small-town-feel thing dies the second everyone finds out. Too late for both, so here we are telling strangers on a forum.
Marshall Canyon for hiking!! Quiet, shaded, dog-friendly, and it is out past the usual crowds so it never feels packed. I always feel a little protective posting it lol but honestly it is far enough that it will probably stay chill.
The little jazz nights that pop up around Venice and Abbot Kinney, the ones that are not on any big calendar. When it is thirty people in a room it is magic.
The second a place blows up on TikTok the line is out the door and the vibe is gone. So yeah, gatekeeping those forever, sorry not sorry.
Tacos La Cuevita at 8th and Grand, so good and still not overrun the way some DTLA spots got!! I already feel the sadness of it getting popular. And Florentin for dancing downtown, I keep telling people and then regretting it because I want the floor to stay uncrowded, ha.
Mine is a quiet dinner at the Polo Lounge on an off night, when it is calm and you can actually hear yourself and the service is unhurried. It is hardly a secret, but the version of it I love only exists when it is not busy.
For something lower key, Little Dom's in Los Feliz on a weeknight, before the weekend crowd takes over. That is the one I would genuinely rather keep to myself and my girls.
Surly Goat on a slow night. I already told the internet years ago so the gatekeeping ship sailed, but a quiet weeknight there with a good beer is still one of the better simple pleasures in this city. Honestly the real gatekeep is just going places on off nights. Same spot, half the crowd.
Probably Irish Times in Palms. Super cute, dive bar, but already getting too crowded. I love that place whenever I visit L.A..
Hahaha I wish I could share that secret place, but I can’t. Not joking, maybe another time.
The Club Bar in Beverly Hills. Love that place. But like my best friend said: “If you don't enjoy drinking and people watching here.. there is no hope for you.“
The cocktails are really amazing and the service always on point. I also love the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel too, but not really a secret anymore.
Bar Ninteteen 12 was the real gem. Same hotel, opposite half. I had the best nights over there and it wasn’t too crowded. I never understood why they closed that place. I never understood why they didn’t put anything new there afterwards.
Just check out some of the old pictures.
I feel like not enough people knew about it. That was by far the most iconic place. Way better than the Polo Lounge or any other hotel bar.
I feel that one. 
Venice has that special kind of magic.