We tapped our friend Fonz De Leon—natural wine & spirits buyer at Lincoln Fine Wines of Los Angeles California—for his guide to the neighborhood spots around the sprawling city of angels (his hometown!). Below are a few of his favorites to bookmark for your next trip to LA.
WHERE TO EAT
Rasarumah
Malaysian-inspired. So f**king good. Still new, but they went 5 for 5 on the dishes we ordered. The wine selection was solid. Even though I brought my own bottle, I still grabbed a glass from them. The bergedil with that red sauce? Crazy good. And the gado gado salad was top tier. We ended the night with the wagyu beef cheek! man, talk about a food coma in Full effect.
Dudley Market
Right off the beach in Venice, tucked away, but once you find it, you would love it.. One of the best burgers in LA (we can argue about it later). The atmosphere is fun, the wine selection is solid, and the crudo is on point. The Peruvian scallops is a must order. And don’t sleep on the chili flake fries, trust me.
WHERE TO BUY BOTTLES TO GO
Lincoln Fine Wines
Honestly, not just because I work here, but probably the best bottle shop in LA. Since I do work here, I take pride in curating the selection, bringing in small producers with stories behind their wines. And if you come in while I’m there, I’ll help you find a bottle you’ll love. Whether you’re into natural wines or more traditional, classic styles, we got it all.
Open Market
Kinda slept on and lowkey hidden in K-Town. Small selection, but it’s well-curated. Bonus: grab one of their sandwich of the day specials while you’re there.
Flask & Field
Located at The Row in DTLA. Mariam, the owner, is the best, and her wine selection is solid. This is actually where I first got introduced to Martha Stoumen wines back when I worked here.
The Heights Deli & Bottle Shop
Hidden gem in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The wine and beer selection is too good to sleep on. Grab a sandwich, post up on the patio, and enjoy the whole experience.
WHERE TO SHOP
For this one ima give some shoutout to some brands I love to wear.
• @vnty.ag by the homies @antnoir & @prerollg
• Bricks and Wood by the homie @kaceylynch
• @apt.4b by the homie @thefatherofmoon
THINGS TO DO
I love going to wine bars / events so here’s some of my favorites to go to.
Off the Record, Vinel experience & Bottle Share
I love creating experiences that bring people together through wine, music, and conversation. I host a bottle share series where people pull up with a bottle they love and connect over what’s in the glass. I also curate Off the Record, a wine flight takeover that pairs natural wines with vinyl DJ sets, alongside my guy @clearlyitslike. And with Vinel, I host wine and music education events where I break down wine in a way that feels familiar, using music, flavors, and culture to make learning feel like you’re just hanging out.
West Side - @offhandwinebar
If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. From the owners Dizz, Teron and justine to the wines to the DJs who spin (including me every third Friday, (shameless plug), this place is it. Shoutout to VinylVineyard too, they play vinyl every Saturday night. You just gotta pull up and experience it.
Downtown LA - @get_kippered
One of my favorite wine bars downtown. Lydia, the owner, is amazing. I always feel welcome here—even on a solo wine mission just to vibe and enjoy a glass. I used to live and work downtown, so it’s always cool to go back and see familiar faces. Great wine list, fire tinned fish and cheese selection too.
