The way we see it as died-in-the-wool Angelinos, the perfect smoothie lies somewhere between the perfect wave and the perfect soulmate – in other words, as much an experience as an ideal object. While simple enough of a delight, what with its blended fruit, crushed ice and perhaps a dollop of yogurt, the proverbial smoothie is actually a difficult treat to hunt down if the goal is consuming a great one. Often times, it is a result of pure dumb luck or maybe even fate. Let it be known that Woodland Hills has some of the best smoothie spots in LA.

But, as with waves and potential mates, Southern California abounds with delicious smoothies, and being that the Golden State is considered the smoothie capital of the country with more than 300 juice bars set up in malls or tucked comfortably along chic boulevards, you just have to know where to look.

The following represent our picks for some of the best smoothie spots around Woodland Hills.

Protini Bar, located at 6220 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Suite 9090, has been redefining the standard for healthy drinks since 2017, offering smoothies, shakes and bowl bars that serve as nutritional treats packing flavorful punch. Featuring what is often considered the best acai in L.A., Protini’s menu boasts items that combine organic fruits and veggies with plant-based protein, ensuring you consume healthy fats, natural carbohydrates and nutrients that can increase energy while providing mental clarity. If you find yourself dealing with a schedule that just doesn’t seem to let up, Protini Bar’s protein shakes, smoothies and bowls are a convenient and delicious way to get the protein you need to keep on moving forward. Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm, except for Thursday, Friday and Saturday when the shop is open until 10:30 pm.

Juicy Ladies, located at 22423 Ventura Boulevard, serves 100-percent organic, healthy lifestyle vegan and vegetarian cuisine in addition to 100-percent New Zealand grass-fed meat, juices, smoothies, desserts and snacks. Long before the idea of opening an all-organic juice bar and vegan café took root, Juicy Ladies owners Maggie and Kinzie shared a passion for the connection between food and health, as well as an understanding about the way processed foods are nutrient-deficient and harmful to the body; realizing that plant-based foods do the exact opposite, they upped their research and germination game while nurturing ideas about nutrition and health, eventually leading to the opening of Juicy Ladies in 2009. Today, the shop sells an assortment of custom meal plans delivered daily to customers to ensure superb quality and taste, as well as multiple detox programs for beginners and experts alike to help cleanse the body. Open Monday through Friday 8 am to 7 pm and Saturday/Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Healthy Greens, located at 20929 Ventura Boulevard Suite 43, was established in 2014 with the goal of serving organic juices, smoothies and acai bowls infused with quality fruits and vegetables from local SoCal farmers markets. The business’ superfoods are a delicious and convenient way to help you attain optimum health, but most Woodland Hills health fanatics flock to Healthy Greens for the shop’s myriad of build-your-own smoothie options and signature superfood shakes – from popular variants like the Slim and Sassy Shake made with strawberry, pineapple, vanilla (pea) protein, slim-down boost and coconut juice, to the incredibly unique Pitaya Tropical Smoothie bursting with raw pitaya, pineapple, mango and apple juice. If you’ve been living on a steady diet of McDonald’s since the pandemic, give Healthy Greens a try to turn your life around…and maybe even extend your days on this planet. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5:30 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm.

Ubatuba Acai, located at 5301 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, was established in 2013 to bring the concept of Brazilian acai bowls to the sexy celebrity-centric city of Los Angeles, offering everything from delicious smoothies to baked empanadas. Here, you can build your own bowl, adding as many bases and toppings as you can fill to the rim for one set price, a list that encompasses matcha, pitaya, agave coconut, oatmeal and chia pudding. All bases are vegan and non-dairy in nature, with the Sherman Oaks location being the only one serving Ubatuba Acai’s specialty smoothies blended with a variety of juices or hemp milk, pitaya or acai and fresh fruits. Open daily from 9 am to 8 pm.

Mr. Juice, located at 20014 Ventura Boulevard, offers fresh-squeezed juices, fresh veggie juices, Italian gelato and sorbet, Iranian ice cream, traditional Persian drinks and even fresh pizza and Paninis, making it one of the most unique options in our roundup. This family-owned juice bar and ice cream shop hybrid also boasts an impressive smoothie menu, with fan-favorite selections that include Pineapple, Mango and Orange Smoothie; Banana, Strawberry and Orange Smoothie; Watermelon and Raspberry Smoothie; Watermelon and Melon Smoothie; Banana Milk Smoothie; Carrot Milk Smoothie; Date Milk Smoothie; Banana, Pistachio and Milk Smoothie…and many more. Open daily from 10 am to 9 pm.

As you could have garnered by now, L.A. is bristling with spots to secure fresh juice or smoothies, as everyone from Mexican vendors to Brazilian corner stores embrace their own recipes showcasing pulverized or blended produce long before both became national trends. The city’s juice and smoothie spots are packed year-round, not just during California’s inevitable heat waves, and the aforementioned suggestions will gain you some outstanding refreshment and nourishment, whether it’s a strong green shot or a customized smoothie from the likes of Ubatuba Acai.