This past weekend, I decided not to let COVID get the best of my birthday by enjoying a weekend full of socially distanced activities with friends. From a staycation at a new hotel on the west side of LA, a socially distanced hike and tour of the Saddle Rock Ranch winery in Malibu, to discovering new restaurants around LA with newly created outdoor dining experiences, it was definitely a weekend to remember!

Where We Stayed

Hotel June

The Hotel June is a sister property to the proper Hotel. I’d describe it as the millennial and budget-friendly version of the Proper Hotel. The same emphasis on design with a more affordable price tag. With two restaurants and a picturesque pool area, there’s little need to even leave the hotel.

*COVID Notes: When it comes to safety and COVID-19 precautions, the hotel takes each guest’s temperature upon arrival, before entering the lobby and also leaves 24 hours between the bookings of each room. Masks were required in all areas and both the restaurant and pool areas had distanced seating.

Since I was staying with friends we booked the 2 bedroom apt suite which was separated by a foyer area. One room had two queen beds, while the other had one king bed. To be honest, the room design was very minimal and left a little more to be desired, for my taste, but overall we enjoyed our stay.

What We Did

Malibu Wine Hike at Saddle Rock Ranch in Malibu, California.

Visiting the Saddle Rock Ranch winery had been on my So-Cal bucket list for a while and what better way to experience it, than with 5 of my close friends! Our visit included a two-hour hike touring the vineyards and grounds of Saddle Rock Ranch, which covered the history of the ranch and winery, fun facts about the wine, and a visit with the wildlife living at the ranch( including the infamous Jeffrey the giraffe), and some refreshing frosé pops! In light of the pandemic, we weren’t able to enjoy the wine during the hike, but we were able to taste the grapes and take our bottles of wine to go at the end of the tour. From the scenic views to catching up with friends while discovering new wine facts, this was definitely the highlight of my weekend.

Relaxed by the pool

The pool is lined with neutral-toned cabanas and perfectly shaded palm trees, making it the perfect socially-distant outdoor destination for fun in the sun. Their friendly wait staff is ready to serve refreshing cocktails from the Caravan Swim Club, the outdoor bar and restaurant. The pool at Hotel June is the perfect place to relax.

Where We Dined

Hatchet Hall

12517 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

I love discovering new restaurants in LA and Hatchet Hall is my favorite post-quarantine discovery, thus far! With a newly transformed outdoor dining area, Hatchet Hall serves wood-fired, southern-inspired dishes, with an emphasis on sourcing ingredients from local farms.

Table Favorites: Smoked Chicken Wings, the Hanger Steak, the Yeast Rolls, and the Fried Green Tomatoes. Hatchet Hall is also known for their low country boil on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 pm-3 pm.

Caravan Swim Club @ Hotel June

8639 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

The Hotel June’s 2-story poolside restaurant, Caravan Swim Club, specializes in Baja-inspired seasonal dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and small-batch tequilas.

Table favorites: The June Chopped Salad, Chips and Guacamole, the Squash Blossom Quesadilla, and the Rose Darling cocktail.

Alta Adams

5359 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016

Saving the best for last, I ended the weekend by having my official birthday dinner at Alta. Located in Los Angeles’ historic West Adams neighborhood, Alta Adams serves farm-to-table southern-inspired comfort food. Their outdoor patio creates the perfect ambiance for catching up with friends under twinkle lights, surrounded by greenery covered walls and candlelit sconces.

Table Favorites: Oxtails and Rice, Alta Fried Chicken with Fresno Hot Sauce, Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese, and Cornbread with Honey Butter.

Overall this weekend was a birthday wish come true and made me realize just how much I missed my friends! I also realized just how much there still is to do, even during a pandemic, without having to travel too far outside of my own backyard!