There are times when one has to make a mad rush through LA’s restaurants in just a day. Whether it’s a long layover or a quick work trip or friends visiting from town who need to get a glimpse of the city’s wonderful dining scene, this guide is here to help. Eater already published a helpful article on how to eat through LA’s Eastside, so this guide is here to help for anyone staying around Venice, Santa Monica, or even Beverly Hills.

Just a note for all the neighborhood and city boundary mavens out there: LA is a massive metropolis, much larger in geographical size than Chicago, New York, or San Francisco. That means trying to cover the entire city in one day isn’t just impractical, it’s often impossible because of car traffic. That means Eater has decided to split the city into a western and eastern half, with La Brea Avenue as an unofficial dividing line. It’s a rough look on an amoeba of a city that defies clear geological boundaries. So without further adieu, a handy guide to eating through LA’s Westside in one day.

8 a.m. Breakfast at Gjusta in Venice

There’s something so quintessential about the experience at Gjusta, with its confusing, almost hostile ordering situation and rather lovely interior. It’s like a supermarket counter on steroids. Everything here is made on location, from the bread to the cured fish. It’s a study in high quality food with all the attention to detail on the smallest things. The menu might look and feel simple, but everything on it is about as good as one could want. That means everything from excellent pastries and breakfast sandwiches to a really great grain bowl. Arrive early and all those Venice denizens won’t be up yet. Gjusta. 320 Sunset Avenue, Venice, CA

9 a.m. coffee at Menotti’s in Venice

Just a fifteen minute walk away is another slice of Venice life: The Boardwalk. It’s a bit of a tourist hellhole but thankfully there’s one of LA’s best coffee bars just a few steps from the sand. Pick up a wonderfully pulled shot of espresso, then grab a cup of drip coffee and waltz over to the beach for a peaceful morning by the water. The people watching on the sidewalk is the other half of the entertainment. Menotti’s. 56 Windward Avenue, Venice, CA

12 p.m. Pasta Lunch at Uovo in Santa Monica

People think Angelenos are averse to heavy food, especially carbs, but Uovo is the perfect counterexample. There’s a certain level of obsession behind the truly Italian pasta here, from the noodles and ravioli, all handmade and prepared in Italy, then flown to LA weekly. The balance of the sauces and the near-perfect execution. Uovo is exactly what the best pasta in Italy might taste like, but in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. Order the tonnarelli arrabiata, one of the late critic Jonathan Gold’s favorite dishes, plus a bowl of tortellini in brodo or the ragu bolognese. The prices here are shockingly reasonable for the quality, because plates like this often go for $25 plus in another restaurants. Uovo. 1320 2nd St Ste A, Santa Monica, CA

3 p.m. snack at The Apple Pan

One of the most classic burger spots in LA, this longtime diner is a like a time capsule to the 1950s in LA. Founded in 1947, this family-run restaurant only takes cash and has a tiny menu of burgers, pies, and sandwiches. The service is brisk, sometimes even brusque, but that’s part of the charm. Order a smoky hickory burger with a thick slice of cheddar cheese, wash it down with some bottled root beer, and finish with a slice of banana cream pie. Is this quite the hefty snack? Yes, but eating through LA in one day was never going to be easy. The Apple Pan. 10801 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

6 p.m. drinks at Roger Room

It’s getting close to the evening and one requires a well-shaken cocktail before a later supper. LA’s full of excellent places for cocktails, but one of the better finds is this whimsically designed, circus-themed bar along La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Grove. The drinks are really good, but not necessarily pretentious. They’re good enough to appeal to cocktail mavens, but approachable enough for the libation neophyte. Try the Scarlett Aperol Fizz for a nice creamy but slightly bitter aperitif or dive in with an Old Sport, mixing gin, black tea liqueur, and cucumber juice. Order at the bar and soak in the cool kid Hollywood scene. Roger Room. 370 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

8:30 p.m. Dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills

Ever heard of Wolfgang Puck? The guy with the supermarket soup also happens to run one of LA’s most iconic and hallowed restaurants called Spago in Beverly Hills. It’s where A-Listers nosh with well heeled tourists and talent agents trying to score their next deal. But it’s also for anyone who wants a taste of modern Los Angeles dining, where chef Tetsu Yahagi melds Japanese and Italian flavors with pristine produce and masterful techniques. The service has impeccable, European sense refinement that sometimes feels a touch snobby. But hey, it’s Beverly Hills, so dress the part and accept the environment. Oh, and that Wolfgang Puck guy is here many nights of the week, touching tables and managing his flagship restaurant like the boss that he is. Spago. 176 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

1 a.m. Tacos at Tamix

This isn’t technically the Westside as it’s just east of La Brea Boulevard. It’s more Mid-City. But Tamix does have multiple locations, including another spot in Palms on the corner of Venice and Sepulveda. Take either location and order up some of LA’s best tacos al pastor, a local specialty that takes heavily marinated pork and cooks it on a spit. They’re topped with a slice of pineapple for a sweet bite. Make sure to dress each taco gently with salsa, onions, and cilantro (or pico de gallo), because tacos should never be naked. Tacos Tamix. 2402 West Pico Boulevard. Los Angeles, CA