In a couple weeks, I'll be flying in from Cabo around 2:40PM and have a layover until my next flight at 9:45PM. Surely 7 hours is enough time to catch an Uber from LAX to Monkish Brewing and Smog City for a couple drinks and make it back and through security in time, right? Or maybe make it from LAX to Beachwood BBQ and back? Any local insight on the area is very much appreciated!
You might be pushing it with Beachwood. El Segundo Brewing is your safest bet as you can avoid freeway backups and just take side streets to and from - it's basically 3 miles from LAX. Another option is Firestone Propagator ... less than 5 miles and always has great Firestone offerings on tap and to go. But for the "biggest bang for your buck", Monkish/Smog City since they are walking distance from each other and takes about 30 minutes to get there.
Last summer flying out of LAX on a weekday late morning, traffic right around the airport was terrible, added about 30 minutes to the trip. Keep that in mind when you come back. Where are you staying in Cabo? Been there many a time.
The worst thing going for LAX right now is traffic, traffic and more traffic. Century is so fuk'd up right now. I'll get back when I got some time. Busy at the moment.
What terminal are you flying into? Airline? If your at T4-T8 you have access to each terminal without having to go outside of security. Just letting you know that you can find some decent craft inside the terminals these days. But if you want the real deal then I think you should'nt have any problems venturing off into the unknown. But I wouldn't go any farther than Monk(ish) area. Yes you got Smog right around the corner. You might even get lucky at Monks if they got one of their can releases that day. No food at Monks and Smog. Maybe food trucks? Phantom Carriage might even be doable. The problem with Beachwood LB is again....traffic on the 405 that time of the day. I like El Segundo Brewing Co over Monks. So I would do ESBC and Three Weavers if you want to try something else. Maybe not as well known as Monks and Smog. But still damn good. Plus ESBC is releasing their first 6pk bottles of Mayberry and Citra this weekend. At ESBC you got food choices in the area. Unless you like the airport food. Given that you land at 240, you might be delayed? So expect to get out of the LAX area by 330-4. And your flight leaves at 945pm. So I would be back and through TSA no later than 830. So that gives you 4 hours Into The Great Wide Open. 30 minutes to Monks area and 30-45 minutes back to LAX. Now your down to about 3 hours of drinking and chilling. Still plenty of time. If we had a proper public transportation here at the airport it would be much easier. I've flown into OHara for the day and spent 8-10 hours in Chicago and had plenty of time to get back for my flight back to LAX. And had some Goose IPA (meh) inside the terminal. San Fran too. Spent the day drinking and was still pretty f'd up on my flight back. I felt bad for the 2 people sitting to the left and right of me. Any more questions let me know. Cheers.
Plane ticket says I'm flying into Terminal B... Maybe it should say Terminal 2? I'm flying American Airlines, if that provides any clarity. Thanks for the insight! I'll plan to make the trek to Monkish and Smog City, but I'll keep ESBC and Three Weavers in mind should my flight into LAX get delayed.
Depending on how much time you want to spend at those place you could do several. I'd plan on 3 of your 7 hours to be at the airport (1 getting out and 2 getting back in) monkish is a 30 minute(ish) drive so there is another hour. I think you could easily do monkish/smog and then stop at esbc on the way back with whatever left over time.
Terminal B is the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Odds are, you are going to get delayed. LAX completely SUCKS right now with construction and moving terminals. 2:40 on a weekday, you wont be through customs until at least 3:20 or 3:30 (I'm assuming coming from Cabo, you'll have to go through customs, even if you are taking another plane to home in Penn). Is it a Mon-Fri that you are here, or a Sat or Sun? That would make a big difference getting to the South Bay or Long Beach compared to the other way. ESBC and Three Weavers are close regardless, and Rock N Brews is right across the street from ESBC and they usually have a good selection of beers on and (surprisingly) good bar food. If its a weekend, its a bit easier to get down to LB at that time. Weekday, forget it. Traffic is miserable going 405 South at that point. Just stay local.
Stick to local breweries within a 10 mile radius. The later in the day the worse it'll get for you to be ready to fly out. Like @dcgunman said, by time you get out of customs you'll be cutting it close. Try these places outside of lax: El segundo brewery Three weavers Brewport taphouse (next to esbc) Rock n brews (across from esbc) Firestone Venice Rob rubens brewing
What day are you flying in? Weekday or weekend? Seven hours, eh? Enough time for Monkish/Smog City? 405 says, "hold my beer, watch this". I feel like we should make a meme for every time someone asks about getting around LA. In all actuality, your flight won't be to the gate until 3-3:30 PM (on a good day), 45 minutes in customs, 15 minutes to get your bag and get to the curb, another 15 just to get out of LAX and get pointed in the right direction. That leaves you 5 hours, if all goes well, until your flight leaves. Stay close to the airport, you don't want to explain to the people who care about you that missed your flight because you went to a brewery. But then again, Monkish is a damn good pour and quite possibly might be worth it.
Haha oh man, this totally reminded me of this: http://www.theonion.com/article/dad-suggests-arriving-at-airport-14-hours-early-29662
