When you're fighting over which town is tops, you've got to have something to back up your claims.

To round up the best of the best on each coast, we asked the coolest locals we know for their picks.

Get eating, start drinking, and take each city by storm.
LA NY

Hotel

LA NY

They might be places to hang your hat for a night, or to go full star and set up shop for years. In either case, LA and New York have you covered with some of the sweetest suites in the world.

The Chateau

The best address in town to both live fast and die young. Turndown service optional.

Carlyle

The Carnegie Hall of jazz. And the world's only concert venue where Mick Jagger is your upstairs neighbor.

Freehand

Next time you swing through town, share a room with four, six or eight or your closest friends.

The Jane

Thirty years ago, RuPaul lived in the hotel's tower and the party hasn't stopped since.

The Ace

The DJ in the lobby is your first clue that this place is designed for more than just sleeping. Keep your Do Not Disturb sign close at hand.

Public

The name is no mistake. This is the best place in the city to find your place in the public eye.

Los Angeles

The Chateau

The best address in town to both live fast and die young. Turndown service optional.

Freehand

Next time you swing through town, share a room with four, six or eight or your closest friends.

The Ace

The DJ in the lobby is your first clue that this place is designed for more than just sleeping. Keep your Do Not Disturb sign close at hand.

New York

Carlyle

The Carnegie Hall of jazz. And the world's only concert venue where Mick Jagger is your upstairs neighbor.

The Jane

Thirty years ago, RuPaul lived in the hotel's tower and the party hasn't stopped since.

Public

The name is no mistake. This is the best place in the city to find your place in the public eye.

Food

LA NY

Even in the most bitter of rivalries, food has the power to bring us together. Once we stop fighting over where to eat.

El Coyote

Have tacos and margaritas with the ghosts from one of Hollywood's darkest hours.

Indochine

Spend a night out in the jungle and rub shoulders with the greats.

Escuela Taqueria

You can't mess around if you're serving tacos to Angelenos. So it's doubly impressive the city has embraced this taqueria as one of its best.

Donna

Beautiful people, beautiful problems, beautiful Brooklyn. The coolest tacos on the original other side of town.

N/Naka

Hand over your credit card and let the chef decide what you want. You have until the end of the month to start regretting the damage.

Minetta Tavern

Checkboard floors, white tableclothes, and the best fucking hamburger you will ever have in your life.

Los Angeles

El Coyote

Have tacos and margaritas with the ghosts from one of Hollywood's darkest hours.

Escuela Taqueria

You can't mess around if you're serving tacos to Angelenos. So it's doubly impressive the city has embraced this taqueria as one of its best.

N/Naka

Hand over your credit card and let the chef decide what you want. You have until the end of the month to start regretting the damage.

New York

Indochine

Spend a night out in the jungle and rub shoulders with the greats.

Donna

Beautiful people, beautiful problems, beautiful Brooklyn. The coolest tacos on the original other side of town.

Minetta Tavern

Checkboard floors, white tableclothes, and the best fucking hamburger you will ever have in your life.

Bar

LA NY

Hiro Clark was born after dark, so we know a thing or two about where to find a drink. Throw down with the best for a night to remember, or forget.

Tower Bar

See, be seen, seal the deal. Get the right seat here and you know you've made it.

The Campbell Apartment

The only bar in New York fit for a railroad baron. Black tie optional. We say wear a tee shirt.

Tonga Hut

Tiki chic on the other side of the hill. Mai tai, your tai, our tai.

Lucy's

Come pay tribute to the queen. Over 70 and going strong, there is only one Lucy at Lucy's.

Bar Stella

Craft cocktails with the creative class. Party until tomorrow with tomorrow's stars.

Rose Bar

Decorated with Warhols on the wall and (if you stay late enough) an heiress or two on the floor.

Los Angeles

Tower Bar

See, be seen, seal the deal. Get the right seat here and you know you've made it.

Tonga Hut

Tiki chic on the other side of the hill. Mai tai, your tai, our tai.

Bar Stella

Craft cocktails with the creative class. Party until tomorrow with tomorrow's stars.

New York

The Campbell Apartment

The only bar in New York fit for a railroad baron. Black tie optional. We say wear a tee shirt.

Lucy's

Come pay tribute to the queen. Over 70 and going strong, there is only one Lucy at Lucy's.

Rose Bar

Decorated with Warhols on the wall and (if you stay late enough) an heiress or two on the floor.

Beach

LA NY

When you're living coast to coast it's only natural that the beach is your top priority. Atlantic, Pacific, mythic.

El Matador

Living on the edge at the foot of the cliffs. Twenty minutes from the West Side and a world away.

The Rockaways

Where the city meets the surf. Bonus: everyday is taco day.

Venice

The Venice of the West, better than the rest. The place to skate by when the surf's up.

Coney Island

The home of the hot dog. The world of the Wonder Wheel. The birthplace of the boardwalk.

Black's Beach

Sun's out. Clothes optional. No rules at the edge of California.

Gunnison

Catch the ferry from Manhattan to another world. Warning: beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers.

Los Angeles

El Matador

Living on the edge at the foot of the cliffs. Twenty minutes from the West Side and a world away.

Venice

The Venice of the West, better than the rest. The place to skate by when the surf's up.

Black's Beach

Sun's out. Clothes optional. No rules at the edge of California.

New York

The Rockaways

Where the city meets the surf. Bonus: everyday is taco day.

Coney Island

The home of the hot dog. The world of the Wonder Wheel. The birthplace of the boardwalk.

Gunnison

Catch the ferry from Manhattan to another world. Warning: beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers.

Hang Spot

LA NY

In Los Angeles, hanging out is practically the official sport. In New York, you've got to take a break once in a while to stay sane. Here are our picks for the best spots on both sides of the divide.

Griffith Park

The place to dance among the stars as La-La Land shines below.

Domino Park

The sweetest place to spend a day in Williamsburg. Relax and see what the Domino effect is all about.

Runyon Canyon

Leave your shirt at the bottom and make a mad dash for the top.

Christopher St. Pier

New York City nightlife was born down by the river. Meet us at the piers.

The Ramble

Come for the nature, stay for all the new friends you'll make.

Los Angeles

Griffith Park

The place to dance among the stars as La-La Land shines below.

Runyon Canyon

Leave your shirt at the bottom and make a mad dash for the top.

New York

Domino Park

The sweetest place to spend a day in Williamsburg. Relax and see what the Domino effect is all about.

Christopher St. Pier

New York City nightlife was born down by the river. Meet us at the piers.

The Ramble

Come for the nature, stay for all the new friends you'll make.

Event

LA NY

Two cities, one common passion: making the scene. Because you can sleep when you're dead. Or even worse: move somewhere else.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Spread out for a picnic with some of the greats. Permanent visits reserved for legends only.

Pinball Arcade at Sunshine Laundromat

If you're not drinking beer and playing pinball while doing laundry, why bother doing it at all?

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Succumb to the siren call and make a fin-footed friend at this epicenter of weird.

Los Angeles

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Spread out for a picnic with some of the greats. Permanent visits reserved for legends only.

New York

Pinball Arcade at Sunshine Laundromat

If you're not drinking beer and playing pinball while doing laundry, why bother doing it at all?

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Succumb to the siren call and make a fin-footed friend at this epicenter of weird.

Coffee

LA NY

You can debate food, hotels or bars, but one arguement is more important than all the others: where to get the best cup of coffee. We've got your covered when it comes to the life and death issues.

Alfred

But first, coffee. And maybe second, third and fourth, too.

Sweatshop Coffee Brooklyn

Our favorite spot for a flat white and a long hang session. Set your clock to Brooklyn time and let the hours slip by.

101 Coffee Shop

Stone walls. Brown leather. Black, black coffee. It doesn't get more classic than this café cum film set.

Devocion Coffee Williamsburg

Simple single origins under the skylight. Come by for your dose of caffeine and Vitamin D.

Los Angeles

Alfred

But first, coffee. And maybe second, third and fourth, too.

101 Coffee Shop

Stone walls. Brown leather. Black, black coffee. It doesn't get more classic than this café cum film set.

New York

Sweatshop Coffee Brooklyn

Our favorite spot for a flat white and a long hang session. Set your clock to Brooklyn time and let the hours slip by.

Devocion Coffee Williamsburg

Simple single origins under the skylight. Come by for your dose of caffeine and Vitamin D.