North Hollywood previously fell under the purview of Mission San Fernando Rey de España and became private farms after San Fernando Farm Homestead Association and Isaac Lankershim purchased the land. The area was rebranded as North Hollywood in 1927 in a marketing push to capitalize on rising Hollywood glamour. Since then, the city has become more residential. After the launch of the Red Line in 2000 and the opening of the connecting Orange Line in 2005, the city centered more on the NoHo Arts District, which has seen a restaurant boom. North Hollywood also houses L.A.’s unofficial second Thai Town near Wat Thai Temple, a community center for Thai-Americans. Discover five of North Hollywood’s best dishes across nearly six square miles.

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Los Angeles has no shortage of restaurants for al fresco dining—from hotels to rooftops, oceanfront and urban sidewalk cafes. Here are 11 ground floor restaurants, from cozy to casual chic and fine dining, with very special - and mostly hidden - open-air patios.

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The laid-back, sunny and healthy lifestyle of Australia blends perfectly with Los Angeles, so it only makes sense that Aussie-inspired cafes - mostly serving all-day “brekkie” and lunch menus - is now trending. And there are more on the way, like Roo Coffee from Brisbane ex-pats, Elyse Goyen and Tom and Kate O’Connor.

Coffee isn’t just a drink in Australia, it’s a culture. From meticulous preparation by highly-trained baristas to the manner it is consumed, Aussies enjoy their espresso-based drinks like the flat white and long black while sitting in a casual café. Accompaniments often include pastries, savory pies, egg sandwiches, grilled cheese, healthful bowls of grains or oats—or variations of "toast," including the ubiquitous avocado version that originated in Melbourne. And of course there's Vegemite, a salty spread made from brewer’s yeast that's also indigenous to the "Land Down Under.” There are also sweet specialties like Lamington (chocolate-covered sponge cake rolled in coconut), Tim Tam (two malted biscuits covered in chocolate and filled with cream), and Anzac biscuits made with oatmeal. Check out these eleven L.A. cafes that combine the coastal influences of California and Australia for a sampling of the best coffee and food for a relaxing time-out in your day.

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There’s nothing like adding a little texture to your cup of tea, thanks to a good helping of slightly sweet and gummy tapiocas. While it may not be appropriate to call them “boba” in the tea drink’s native Taiwan due to its translation, that’s predominantly how it’s referred to here in the U.S. Enjoy this Taiwanese treat by pulling each pearl through the oversized straw inserted into every cup.

The chewy treats at the bottom are like a little snack that comes with your drink. The tea shops with the best boba soak their tapiocas every few hours so that they achieve just the right texture - a good gummy bite without any sogginess. Fortunately for L.A., top notch tea shops have recently opened throughout the city, so there are plenty of places where you can quench your thirst with this fun, caffeinated cocktail of whimsy.

If you're wondering where the closest boba near you might be, here’s our list of some great boba tea houses in the L.A. area you can check out.

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