Brentwood is where Los Angeles goes to decompress.

The sun feels different here – dancing through the white rafters and bouncing across boutique windows at Brentwood Country Mart. The scent of freshly-baked bagels drifts along San Vicente Boulevard as a shoe-wearing goldendoodle trots past smoothie shops.

Nobody looks rushed in Brentwood. In a city known for relentless traffic and shifting trends, this neighborhood provides a contrasting calmness.

One of LA’s infamous “Three Historic B’s,” alongside Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, the area is residential, wellness-oriented and unmistakably Westside. Tree-lined streets separate multi-million-dollar homes as residents don an unofficial uniform of elevated athleisure – sleek sneakers and totes from Erewhon.

Like many affluent LA neighborhoods, though, its upscale image has been tied to exclusivity. The area developed throughout the 20th century as an upper-income enclave, gaining a reputation for being insulated and expensive. Conversations around wealth, race and housing inequality are impossible to fully separate from the neighborhood’s identity. For students, especially, the cost difference is noticeable. Boutique fitness classes and valet-heavy restaurants are woven into everyday life.

And yet, for UCLA students, Brentwood remains one of the most physically accessible neighborhoods for an afternoon escape, with its close proximity to campus making it easy to reach despite its high prices.

Getting to Brentwood is fairly straightforward. The Santa Monica Big Blue Bus runs directly to the neighborhood from UCLA, with a convenient stop near Gayley Avenue and Strathmore Drive for students on the Hill. The Big Blue Bus Route 18 goes from UCLA to Marina del Rey and operates daily, typically running every half an hour. The bus ride to Brentwood takes about 10 to 20 minutes. Walking is also possible and takes about an hour from campus.

After arriving in Brentwood, the itinerary is largely about settling into the neighborhood’s unhurried rhythm.

[Related: Restaurant review: PopUp Bagels brings delicious schmears, ‘rip-and-dip’ bagels to Brentwood]

Anna Kim, a third-year political science student, said the relaxed neighborhood also has culinary appeal. She added that the proximity to UCLA and the extended hours of the cafes – which also offer outdoor seating – encourage her to venture outside of Westwood.

“It’s super close by,” Kim said. “It’s good to study. There’s PopUp (Bagels), Mendocino (Farms), Jon & Vinny’s – everything’s right here.”

Kim said she and her friends decided to visit PopUp Bagels before heading to Malou Coffee. The trio gathered outside the specialty cafe as they delicately assembled charm bracelets. A sea of beads gathered on the surface of the wooden tables as their vanilla and matcha lattes sweat onto the wooden tables. In Brentwood, sitting at aesthetically pleasing cafes – such as Malou Coffee, La La Land or Alfred Coffee – is leisurely and feels cinematic.

For students seeking a casual bite, PopUp Bagels is a popular spot. A few blocks down, the newly opened Neighborly – a multi-restaurant food hall and marketplace – has bustling outdoor tables. Flour Pizzeria & Cafe is a budget-friendly option, with pizza slices starting at $4.50.

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Echoing Brentwood’s unofficial wellness ethos, Wilson Pinto – one of the managers and partners at Flour Pizzeria & Cafe – said the business underscores the importance fresh ingredients and the role of food can play in uniting the community. He added that the neighborhood’s ease, accessibility and variety make it especially appealing for students.

“We’re trying to build in our company, to have this neighborhood-feel pizzeria where everybody knows your name,” Pinto said. “We were really looking to source a location that had this walkability and density of people, so we chose Brentwood.”

Brentwood is best explored slowly. On Sundays, the Brentwood Farmers Market offers fresh flowers, local produce and baked goods. The Getty Museum is another easygoing activity for those seeking architecture, gardens and postcard-destined panoramic views.

For many, the allure of Brentwood also lies in its abundance of sweets. From Bacio di Latte to SusieCakes, the neighborhood has no shortage of indulgent escapes.

The Brentwood Country Mart also houses Sweet Rose Creamery, a small-batch ice cream shop included on Eater LA’s list of best ice cream shops in the city.

Hadley Mathews, one of the shift leads at Sweet Rose Creamery, said the ingredients are made in-house or locally sourced. Mathews added that the Brentwood community – with generations of families returning across decades – is what makes the neighborhood special.

Brentwood is a version of LA that provides comfort when students need a break – a return to a time of nostalgia where ice cream is always the solution. Although the neighborhood is expensive, with planning it is still possible to enjoy the city’s best without breaking the bank. A bus ride, a farmers market stroll and an afternoon away from campus can be a simple escape.

“Explore around – Westwood and Brentwood, the neighboring communities,” Mathews said. “It’s LA, there are so many great places to go, so it’s really important to take advantage of that.”