These love to pretend that they live in one of the world's toughest urban jungles, beset by warring gangs and malevolent Nature, when, in reality, the biggest danger they face is that the person behind the counter at Starbucks might mis-hear their order for a double tall, decaf, non-fat latte with a vanilla shot and make their coffee with full-fat milk by mistake.

ECONOMIST: California life: City of frauds | The

If you still have room, finish the meal with an espresso shot from Spring for Coffee or try the Bourbon Pig, a bacon fat-washed bourbon cocktail from the Back Bar.

BBC: In LA, five eateries, one stop

For the past five years, business investment has shot up at an average of 10% a year in real terms, as fat profits and easy finance have encouraged firms furiously to retool and expand.

ECONOMIST: No longer boom, but not yet doom