Best Spots To Get Picnic Food In Los Angeles

Living in Los Angeles affords residents and guests to be outdoors nearly every day of the year. From concerts at famed venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and Greek Theater, to weekend trips to the beach or even a fun afternoon at the park, enjoying a leisurely al fresco meal is a luxury we Angelenos love. Here are 10 picnic basket-filling spots in Los Angeles, from gourmet markets and take-away counters, that make planning your picnic a fun and delicious affair.

Lemonade
9001 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 247-2500
www.lemonadela.com

With many locations in the LA area, Lemonade is known for their fresh and unique salads and seasonal menu. Any of their locations offer a mouthwatering list of sandwiches, salads, and packable main dishes like lamb meatballs, jerk chicken, or tuna and avocado poke. Or, go simple with the conveniently packaged $12 Lemonade lunchbox, which includes a sandwich, marketplace salad, and cookie. The heart and soul of Lemonade is their marketplace where they sell lots of travel-friendly items and some of the fan favorites include their pineapple chicken with green beans, coconut, jalapeño and jerk dressing. On the vegetarian side, their roasted broccoli with ricotta salata and champagne vinaigrette has been on the menu since they opened in 2008. For a sandwich to go, the roasted turkey BLT is a big hit.

Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 624-2378
www.grandcentralmarket.com

Grand Central Market is the mecca of picnic essentials, with vendors selling everything you need for a phenomenal feast. From fresh fruit and cheese to baguettes and bubbly, you'll have your bases covered. Before you head out with your date to the beach/park make sure to stop by the District Market, a great fresh produce pit-stop, then swing by DTLA Cheese to pick up the perfect spread with a selection of cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, crackers, jams, jellies, olives, marcona almonds, pickles and more. To top it all off, make sure to go to Courage & Craft for a bottle of rosé or a six-pack of your favorite hop-loaded IPA. Looking for great smoked salmon, bagels, and other deli sandwiches? Wexler's Deli is one of the hottest spots in the city.

Joan's On Third
8350 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-2285
www.joansonthird.com

Step into Joan's On Third and you'll soon realize why it's a great place to get food for a picnic. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice a great cheese counter where you can choose terrific options, or head over to the deli counter on the left side and pick up sides ranging from meats, vegetables, desserts, and sides. The food here is one-of-a-kind and has become an L.A. staple that Angelenos can't live without. It can get a bit expensive, but the food, including their sandwiches are great for a night out at the Hollywood Bowl, or a picnic at Griffith Park.

Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave.
Los Angeles, 90024
(310) 552-1080
www.clementineonline.com

Clementine has been serving breakfast and lunch to Angelenos with an ever changing menu using the best seasonal ingredients found at the local farmer's market. In addition to the daily fare, there is a bustling catering department that produces special menus throughout the year, including their picnic menu. Packed up for easy transport and service, the items in the menu are designed with eating alfresco in mind. From the BYO Picnic, where you make a selection from the main entrees and have a choice of two salad accompaniments, to the Lovely Cheese Plate or the Grand Aioli featuring an array of summer market vegetables served with a zesty aioli, guests will have a grand picnic with items from Clementine. You can even choose from a large selection of vegan and gluten-free items.

Julienne
2649 Mission St.
San Marino 91108
(626) 441-2290
www.juliennetogo.com

Located on a tree-lined street in the quiet town of San Marino, Julienne has been offering gracious and award winning hospitality for over 30 years. Open for sit down service for breakfast and lunch, and with an adjoining gourmet market and gift store, Julienne is perfect for an elegant sit-down meal as well as a delicious picnic menu. Serving family style platters of entrées like thinly slice filet of beef to red onion crusted salmon, or side dishes like grilled asparagus and Caprese salad with fresh basil, they are ideal for sharing on a picnic date. While there, pick up a bottle of wine from a selection carefully curated by the owner or a dessert like the ricotta cream cheese tart with a chocolate almond crust.

The Deli at Little Dom's
2128 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 661-0055
www.littledoms.com

Located next door to Little Dom's, The Deli at Little Dom's evokes the aesthetic of old school Italian delis. The interior features a small espresso bar-style counter for noshing, a restored antique deli case, a pressed tin ceiling and green-and-white checkerboard floors. Chef Brandon Boudet's menu features classic deli sandwiches, salads and other daily specials made with ingredients from the Hollywood Farmers Market that are perfect for any mid-day picnic. The Deli also offers a display case of sweets and desserts courtesy of Pastry Chef Ann Kirk. Convenient online ordering is available on Little Dom's website as well.

Pitchoun! Bakery & Café  
545 S Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 689-3240
www.pitchounbakery.com

Perfect for a French-themed picnic, Pitchoun! offers a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, sweets and homemade breads, all of which are made from scratch daily. The cozy café, fine French bakery and pastry shop serves items made from scratch daily on-site and some of their easy and popular items to take on the go include the pan bagnat and verrines. Picnic goers are also able to choose from a variety of fresh artisan bread and home-made pastries and cakes, along with an array of healthy salads, sandwiches and soups.

FOOD LAB
7253 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 851-7120
www.foodlab-la.com

West Hollywood's Food Lab is a gourmet organic market and cafe focusing on a Middle-Europa cuisine, with influences from Austria, Germany, France, Turkey, Greece and Italy. Each FOOD LAB picnic box ($20) includes a sandwich of your choice, a vegan salad, a daily side salad of your choice, a cookie by Deluscious Cookies, a bottle of water, a stick of gum, salt and pepper, served with biodegradable eat ware and a biodegradable container. Visit their store or order online to skip the line when planning your next picnic outing.

The Albright
258 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-9683
www.thealbright.com

The Albright's picnic baskets are a convenient, delicious and hassle-free addition to any outdoor dining experience. Choose from two delicious menus, Harvest Picnic and Pier Provisions Basket, featuring classic favorites like BLTs and corn on the cob, to brown rice bowls and a citrus kale salad. Both options come complete with dessert, a special add-on menu for the kids and include a festive Mexican blanket, Govino stemware, and bamboo cutlery. The Albright also offers plenty of grab-n-go options from the restaurant menu, like their nationally renowned New England Style Lobster Roll or their fan-favorite, Pier Club Sandwich.

Thyme Café & Market
1630 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-8800
www.thymecafeandmarket.com

Thyme Café & Market, a gourmet marketplace in Santa Monica, is the perfect place to pick up everything you could possibly need for a picnic. Offering a large selection of fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches, artisanal cheese and crackers, delicious pastries, hand crafted beers and unique wines, you'll have everything you need to plan for any type of picnic. You can design your own boxed lunch or choose from their picnic menu, which can be packaged in a custom carrier box with utensils, napkins, and salt and pepper, online.