I could get used to this Beverly Hills morning routine: Sun salutation on the rooftop of the Montage, a few laps in the pool and a healthy and tasty breakfast at
Georgie.
One of the reasons why I spend my summer holidays in California rather than on the Med: you don't have to rise at 6AM, Teutonic style, to put towels and magazines on your lounger.
Tile detail.
Today I went for the
Protein Power smoothie: Banana, Almond Milk, Flax Seed, Peanut Butter, Honey. Mmmhhhh.
The Avocado Tartine was delicious...
... as was the caramelized French Toast.
How to work on your tan, Beverly Hills style.
On the way to Geoffrey's Malibu we stopped at Mrs JohnRain's favourite shop outside Rodeo Drive, Vitamin Shoppe. Thank God our 96 kgs per person baggage allowance was already maxed out with her bags and shoes, otherwise she would have bought a few of those industrial-size jars, as she had looked at my biceps and concluded I could use them.
My other go-to place in Malibu: Geoffrey's
Lobster salad and crab cakes to start...
...followed by some scallops and a burger.
Warm apple pie to finish.
Another enjoyable meal, with everything except the fries being delicious.
It's always difficult to part with such a view.
We drove from Malibu to Downtown LA where I was keen on visiting The Broad, a museum I hadn't seen yet as it opened in September of 2015.
This is as close as Mrs JohnRain will ever come to dishes.
The architects of the museum, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, did a good job in creating an interesting building with a quirky twist, but IMO they didn't even come close to the level of the master himself, Frank Gehry, who designed neighbouring Disney Concert Hall.
No contemporary American art collection is complete without Jeff Koons...
...and Jasper Johns.
Considering a career as an artist? Read this first.
View from the Broad of Disney Concert Hall...
... one of the most stunning buildings in LA.
On our way back home we stopped at Griffith Observatory to take in the views...
...then via Mulholland Drive back to the Montage...
...and finally to the last destination of the day, the mandatory pit stop at this (in)famous joint.
Conclusion: The Montage is a great hotel and all, but it would be so much better if its fitness center closed at 6PM instead of being open 24hrs.
Up Next: Santa Monica & Ivy at the Shore