Washrooms in LA

To any visitors, I shall impart my accumulated knowledge of washroom hunting. While for us men – despite that “the world is our urinal” – some delicate situations require the usage of designated facilities and hopefully this post will allow relief anytime you desire.

Some may regard this topic as odd, as clean washrooms are abundant in many cities. However, this city has few clean public washrooms and most establishments are unwilling to share this scarce resource. We all hear natures’ call and when she screams, there is nothing more annoying than getting denied entry to the throne.

First tip: Don’t ask permission! While this may seem rude to Canadians, why bother chancing a denial of entry? Act as it’s your right as a citizen of a democratic country, to freely use any washroom at any time. If needed, ask “Where are the restrooms?” rather than “May I use the washroom?”. Note that Americans say restroom rather than washroom. Saying “washroom” instantly signals tourist and could potentially confuse the other party.

When seeking guaranteed quick relief, pick an upscale but busy restaurant. This gives you a comfortable and clean place of business with very little negotiating and waiting. Be careful in picking too high-end as tipping the washroom guy is never fun. During peak hours, you can usually just walk right into the washrooms, especially if many people are waiting for a table. The hostess will likely think you are waiting with the crowd. Off peak hours, requires a bit of negotiating, but the easiest is saying you are meeting a party and walk in. If she looks the name up, act confused and say you need to double check the name but you need the washroom first.

Hotel washrooms are another excellent choice and being a guest is not required. They are usually located in the hotel lobby and have zero wait times. The nicer the hotel, the better appointed washrooms – the sky is the limit here. Personally, I always pick the nicest hotel around. Walking in and asking will almost always do the trick. On occasion, you may find the hotel washrooms require a guest key card to gain entry. Do not fret! Almost all hotels have attached restaurants and bars that open late. Using these facilities require very little effort.

Using other washrooms requires a lot more waiting, negotiating or buying. Most Starbucks washrooms require a key and almost always require a wait. Gas station and fast food washrooms are typically disgusting. Other stores indicate “customers only” and require purchasing something you don’t need or want. Using these tips will let you get relief like a rock star.