Paul W. Downs Shares His Ideal Sunday in L.A.

The 'Hacks' co-creator and star reveals his favorite spots for coffee, pastries, antiques, and family time.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:53am

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a coffee cup, croissant, and book, rendered in a bold, neon color palette that captures the energy and creativity of a Sunday well-spent in L.A.A vibrant pop art interpretation of the quintessential Sunday activities that make up Paul W. Downs' ideal day in Los Angeles.Pasadena Today

Paul W. Downs, the co-creator and star of the HBO comedy 'Hacks', shares how he would spend his perfect Sunday in Los Angeles. From sleeping in late and making coffee with his 4-year-old son, to indulging in the best chocolate croissants at a Pasadena cafe, browsing for antiques, and gathering with the 'Hacks' cast for a pool party, Downs describes a leisurely day filled with his favorite local spots and quality time with family.

Why it matters

As the co-creator of a popular show set in Los Angeles, Downs' insights into his ideal Sunday routine offer a glimpse into the lifestyle and local haunts of entertainment industry creatives living in the city. His mix of family time, food, and leisure activities also reflects how many Angelenos aim to balance work and personal life on the weekends.

The details

Downs' perfect Sunday starts with a late morning coffee made with his young son, followed by a drive to Pasadena for what he considers the best chocolate croissants in the world at a cafe called CAR. From there, the family heads to the antique shop T.L. Gurley, which was used as a filming location for 'Hacks'. After browsing for treasures, they grab sandwiches at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese and browse the shelves at the local bookstore Chevalier's Books. The afternoon is spent poolside, often with fellow 'Hacks' cast and crew members joining in the family fun. For dinner, Downs and his wife either order pizza from Grá in Echo Park or dine at the Los Feliz restaurant All Time. The evening wraps up with the couple watching a thriller or espionage film they've been meaning to see, before an early bedtime.

  • Downs aims to sleep in until 10 a.m., though his 4-year-old son usually wakes him up earlier.
  • The family heads to Pasadena around 11 a.m. to get chocolate croissants at CAR.
  • They visit the antique shop T.L. Gurley in Pasadena around 11:45 a.m.
  • Lunch at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese is around 1:30 p.m.
  • The family pool party lasts from around 2:30 p.m. until the evening.

The players

Paul W. Downs

The co-creator and star of the HBO comedy 'Hacks', who lives in Los Feliz with his wife and young son.

Lucia Aniello

Downs' wife, who is also a co-creator and co-showrunner of 'Hacks'.

Jen Statsky

Downs' friend and co-creator/co-showrunner of 'Hacks'.

Hannah

A cast member from 'Hacks' who sometimes joins the Downs family for their weekend pool parties.

Mark Indelicato

Another 'Hacks' cast member who occasionally visits the Downs family on Sundays.

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What they’re saying

“I love Los Feliz because it's a real neighborhood with restaurants and bars, but also feels close to nature with Griffith Park.”

— Paul W. Downs

“I'm doing Verve Coffee that I'm grinding there, and then I'm brewing four cups because I need my coffee.”

— Paul W. Downs

“We're ordering three [chocolate croissants]. We're not doubling up.”

— Paul W. Downs

What’s next

With the fifth and final season of 'Hacks' now premiered, fans can look forward to seeing more of Paul W. Downs and the rest of the cast and crew in future projects.

The takeaway

Paul W. Downs' ideal Sunday in Los Angeles reflects the lifestyle of many entertainment industry creatives - a mix of local food and shopping, quality time with family, and casual gatherings with colleagues. His routine highlights the unique charms of neighborhoods like Los Feliz and Pasadena, as well as the importance of work-life balance, even for busy TV showrunners.