Insiders

An Insider’s Guide to LA: TV Savant, Jocelyn Freid

By Abby Sandman

Jocelyn Freid is a TV-making veteran, having worked for studios and networks including CBS Paramount and Warner Brothers on a wide range of drama and comedy projects—and, most recently, as executive producer on the first four seasons of hit Netflix show Virgin River. An LA native, she offers an inside look at the City of Flowers and Sunshine, including her go to restaurants for any occasion, her favorite hikes and museums, and much more (including the film studio she finds the most aesthetic).

Jocelyn’s Morning Rituals

“Usually, I'll get a quick breakfast, and then go for a hike or play pickleball.”

Quick Bite in Beverly Hills: “Go Greek Yogurt—they bring the yogurt in from Greece, and you can also get it frozen yogurt style”

Quick Bite in Malibu: “Sunlife Organics, for an acai bowl”

Sit-down Breakfast: “Malibu Farm Cafe, right on the boardwalk”

Into the woods...

Hidden Gem: “Coldwater Canyon Park Hike”

Quick Hike (Around One Hour): “Tree People Hike (the back way)”

First Time Visitor: “Griffith Park, to see the Hollywood sign (short route or long route)”

Most Adventurous Hike

“Off Bonsall Drive is the Zuma Canyon Trailhead, and from there, you can do multiple hikes (or mountain biking) with ocean views, plus horseback riding.”

JOCELYN’S FAVORITE ACTIVITIES

Museums, Gardens & More

Favorite Museum for Repeat Visits: “Everyone knows the J. Paul Getty Center—which I enjoy—but I like going downtown to the Broad because they always have amazing visiting exhibits in addition to their standing collection. You can make day of it by grabbing a bite at Central Market (lots of different food stands), then go to Disney Hall or Ahmanson Theater to see a musical or play.”

A Dose of Nature: “For gardens, I love Huntington Gardens and Descanso Gardens—if you want to be outside in nature, these are beautiful.”

Favorite Neighborhood to Wander: “I love Malibu—you can walk the beach, the stores, the restaurants, there’s hiking, meditation at the Mindry…”

Fun Activity for First-Time Visitors: “Stand-up paddleboarding in the ocean or Marina del Rey”

Most Aesthetic Film Studio to Visit: “I think one of the prettiest lots is still the Paramount Lot—it’s very reminiscent of old school Hollywood.”

Favorite Wellness Ritual

“There’s this new place called Artha in Studio City (also in West Hollywood). It’s a yoga, soundbath and meditation place, but it also has cryotherapy, flotation tanks, infrared sauna and other treatments. You can either be a monthly member or get day passes for the treatments for very reasonable prices.”

JOCELYN’S DINING GUIDE

Dishing on the Restaurants

“I will go to Saltie Girl for brunch, lunch or dinner.”

dimly lit atmospheric table by the window

Brunch: “Great White”

New Go-to: “Saltie Girl on Sunset Boulevard—I will go for lunch, brunch or dinner. They have hands down the best lobster hot roll you’ve had in your life.”

Where would you take a visitor from out of town? “Saltie Girl, for sure; Boa Steakhouse, because they have a beautiful patio, the food is always delicious and table-side Cesar is back; Craig’s, if you want an LA scene; and Mother Wolf has quickly become popular and is known for its pizza oven.”

For Drinks: “The Tower Bar is a great place for dinner or a drink. It’s definitely a ‘who you know’ place. Cipriani just opened with a jazz club room. Wally’s in Santa Monica is a fun place to go with friends or for ‘date night.’”

For Ice Cream: “Salt & Straw”

Sushi Spots

“For three miles, from Sherman Oaks to Studio City, is what we call ‘Sushi Row.’ These are my favorites:”

The Originals: “Katsu-ya, Asanebo and Kiwami”

The Newcomers: “Yume Sushi Bar, which has lots of variety and great neighborhood vibes, and Akira, which no one really knows about yet, but it's authentic with ten little tables and a sushi bar”

Favorite Shops

“I love Bleu Clothing—the owner Gabrielle has such style and makes it so easy if you're looking for a special occasion or just want to refresh your closet. She carries both young designers and well-known ones. A lot of celebrities and TV and film costumers go here to shop.
Habit in Studio City, a cute little place with great casual travel clothes and comfy shoes
Fred Segal— an icon on Melrose before it relocated to Sunset Boulevard, Fred Segal has now opened on Montana Ave. It fits perfectly on this street with other specialty boutiques, outdoor cafés, restaurants like Forma, R&D Kitchen and Divine Vintage, plus it’s not far from the beach.

JOCELYN’S PICKS

Where to Stay

“If you want exclusive beach, Malibu Beach Inn is the place, but in town, the 1 Hotel in Hollywood is the new hot spot. If you want to stay in Santa Monica, I would say Shutters on the Beach, Casa del Mar or Santa Monica Proper.”

Malibu Beach Inn

David Geffen's recently refreshed Malibu property is all about the privilege of staying right on Carbon Beach. Read Indagare's review.

Shutters on the Beach

Shutters on the Beach sports an easy, Vineyard-Nantucket style. The comfortable lobby is the kind of place where you can have a tête-à-tête or, with sand still in your flip-flops, relax with potato chips and a glass of Champagne. The guest rooms and suites feature hardwood floors, Oriental rugs and four-poster beds.

Casa del Mar

Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar, managed by the same family, are located side by side along a choice stretch of Santa Monica State Beach. The historic Santa Monica Pier, with an arcade and a 1916 carousel by master amusement-ride builder Charles I.D. Looff, is only a short walk away. Guests have signing privileges at both hotels and can use both pools.

The more opulent, Renaissance Revival–style Casa del Mar was built in 1926 as a grand beach club and hotel but was converted into a military hotel during World War II, then put to various uses until it reopened as a hotel, in 1999. The large lobby maintains its '20s look, featuring leather club chairs and an inviting bar, and the small pool on the fifth-floor terrace offers a panoramic ocean view. The 145 rooms and suites, all of which were updated in 2016, are comfortable, with a sense of place and ocean-inspired accents, and the ocean-view rooms are particularly impressive. Catch, the hotel restaurant and NYC transport, offers fresh seafood and a sushi bar. The small, attractive spa, with sea-grass walls and chintz-covered chairs, offers treatments that use products by Dr. Howard Murad, who runs the Murad Medical Spa, in nearby El Segundo.

Looking forward to...

“There’s a new area opening this summer or fall called Cross Creek Ranch Malibu that is going to be a game changer. It will have a bunch of new restaurants, casual food stalls, plus retail and a gym and wellness center—but most of the tenants are keeping quiet right now.”

Published onFebruary 16, 2024