The Best Places to Eat Outside and Watch The L.A. Marathon

This Sunday at 7:20 a.m., a large group of fairly healthy people will begin running from Dodger Stadium to the beach. We here at Squid Ink are supportive of exercise, but in as much as we like to observe it while sitting down with a beverage and a plate of food (see: March Madness). Fortunately, this year's marathon route happens to go past quite a few cafés and restaurants with outdoor seating, and we've whittled the list down down to the best of the best. So get up early, stretch properly, then plant yourself in one of these chairs and watch other people sweat.

LA Marathon Flickr Pool

The LA Marathon

The Griddle Café: What better way to watch the marathon than over a stack of pancakes our own Mr. Gold described as "...so large that it looks like a movie prop, like three large pizzas piled on top of one another and smothered in powdered sugar..."? Well, things in the universe must eventually balance out. Thus, when so many calories will be evaporating around you into thin air, it is your responsibility to consume as many as possible, ideally, in pancake form.
The Griddle Café: 7916 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 874-0377.
Opens at 8 AM

Intelligentsia: If a 400-pound brick of sugar and flour isn't what you're looking for in the morning, maybe a croissant and a really nice cup of coffee will do the trick. Intelligentsia cooks up some of the best brew in the city, so even if you show up a little late and can't grab an outside table, you can always get your caffeine to-go and stand on the street.
Intelligentsia: 3922 West Sunset Boulevard, Silverlake, (323) 663-6173‎.
Opens at 6 AM

Casbah Café: The other option, just a stone's throw away from Intelligentsia, is Casbah Café. The coffee may not be as heralded, but there are more food options and, in case it appeals to you, some Moroccan decor. It's also the perfect opportunity to embrace the hipster equivalent of being a gladiatorial spectator in ancient Rome: sipping an Americana in Silverlake and eating a strawberry tart while watching lesser mortals exert themselves.
Casbah Café: 3900 Sunset Blvd., Silverlake, (323) 664-7000.
Opens at 6:30 AM