Most people treat Sundays in Los Angeles like a chore list wrapped in anxiety. You wake up early, panic about Monday morning emails, and waste hours stuck on the 405 trying to find brunch. That is no way to live.
Actor Abigail Spencer knows how to do a weekend right. Her ideal Los Angeles Sunday strips away the frantic industry hustle and replaces it with movement, neighborhood coffee runs, and grounding evening rituals. If you want to actually enjoy your weekend instead of surviving it, you need to copy her playbook.
Start with a Proper Morning Routine
Forget sleeping until noon if you want a real weekend reset. Spencer kicks off her day with morning movement, walking the trails of Griffith Park before the afternoon heat sets in. Griffith Park gives you miles of dirt tracks, sweeping basin views, and a total escape from city noise without needing to drive out to Malibu.
After your hike, you need caffeine. Skip the generic chains and head straight for a local favorite. Spencer swears by grabbing an iced coffee to go—specifically a macadamia almond milk iced cappuccino from spots like Go Get Em Tiger. If you drink your coffee hot, you are doing it wrong according to her iced-only rule.
Hit the Neighborhood Spots Around Noon
By midday, slow down and support local food culture. Skip the tourist traps on Hollywood Boulevard and head toward indie neighborhood staples like All Time for lunch. Los Angeles thrives on hyper-local spots where neighborhood regulars actually outnumber out-of-towners.
The secret to a great Sunday is avoiding the gridlock. Pick one neighborhood—like Los Feliz, Silver Lake, or Echo Park—and stay there. Walking between coffee shops, independent bookstores, and local boutiques beats driving across town any day of the week.
Ground Yourself Before Monday Hits
The biggest mistake people make on Sunday is letting the evening slip into pre-work dread. You need a hard boundary. Spencer winds down her weekends with a sound bath, letting crystal bowls and gongs clear out the mental clutter before the work week begins.
If a sound bath isn't your vibe, find your own version of a hard reset. Take an evening stroll, do an hour of restorative Pilates, or turn off your phone by eight o'clock. Los Angeles rewards people who know how to unplug. Stop treating your Sundays like a race to the finish line and start treating them like your sanctuary.
