Being a student at UCLA means more than just studying at libraries and attending classes everyday. One of the greatest perks is exploring the surroundings of UCLA – the cross section of Westwood, Brentwood and Sawtelle. As Bruins, it would be such a waste of your tuition and time to be limited by remaining on campus grounds. Nested in the heart of Los Angeles, UCLA’s location is ideal for romanticizing college and bringing students endless opportunities to try new food places and go on random side quests with friends.
One of the closest places to explore is Westwood. Just a short walking-distance from campus lies iconic restaurants like In-N-Out, a staple for Californians, and cafes like Elysee Bakery & Cafe, known for their European-style desserts and drinks, as well as Le Phant Milk Tea Co, famous for their Double Matcha Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Many students are found studying in these cafes, whether its during the weekdays or weekends. Westwood also houses small shops that students can visit to get a breather from classes: Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters and 2nd Street are often filled with students in the late afternoon. Furthermore Westwood has 99 Ranch Market, a grocery store for all types of Asian foods and snacks. If my friends or I ever feel tired from the repetitive dining hall foods, we take occasional grocery runs to 99 Ranch Market for Asian meals.
Aside from Westwood, Brentwood lies just a short 10-minute car ride away from UCLA, providing students with a more quiet, polished atmosphere to grab a meal or study. Brentwood is known for its laid-back sophisticated ambience as well as its restaurants and cafes. Some of my favorite restaurants include Jon & Vinny’s and Ospi, both recognized for their bustling atmospheres and their Italian sauces on their pastas. Brentwood also has a lot of small cafes like La La Land, Malou Coffee, Coral Tree Cafe, Bonsai Coffee & Bar and PopUp Bagels. When students grow tired of their routine studying in tiny, classic dorms or libraries, many resort to these cafes for a change of scenery to study with their friends and grab a meal.
Apart from Westwood and Brentwood, Sawtelle is another popular nearby getaway among UCLA students. Famous for Japanese cuisine style restaurants serving curry, udon, sushi and ramen, Sawtelle has streets lined with restaurants and dessert shops. Even after chaotic study sessions, Sawtelle is a great place to relax with friends while being cost-efficient since it is so close by, and can even be accessed by bus. Many student picks include Marugame Udon, Tatsu Ramen, Sun Nong Dan, Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles and CoCo Ichibanya Curry House. There are also delicious dessert shops like Millet Crepe, 7 Miles Tea, Lab, Bacio di Latte and MeloMelo. Every time I’ve visited Sawtelle with friends, we always run into other people we know, showing just how popular these areas are. Aside from these popular places, you can be adventurous by exploring nearby shops or new restaurants.
All in all, what makes UCLA so valuable is not just the prestigious academics, but also the campus’ surroundings. College can easily become very stressful and chaotic. We are all young adults navigating our lives, so it’s important to have resources around you to destress and unwind when needed. Exploring nearby places like Westwood, Brentwood and Sawtelle allows Bruins to step back and balance their academic and social life. As students, it’s not always possible to take hour-long drives to decompress, so it’s important to utilize our LA surroundings as much as we can. By taking advantage of our neighborhood, Bruins can maximize their privilege of attending college at the heart of LA, and build both a richer and more memorable college experience.
