A Local's Guide to Los Angeles Neighborhoods

• On the westside (Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey), visit the Santa Monica pier and rent bikes (located under the boardwalk). Hop on your bikes and head south on the beach path. This path will take you directly through Venice Beach, where you can explore their boardwalk, and take a quick ride inland to view the Venice Canals. In the summertime, concerts on the beach are held at the pier. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy live music while watching the sunset on the beach.

• The La Brea Tar Pits are such an underrated attraction in the West Hollywood area. This area of Los Angeles still has active tar pits that are incredibly eerie to watch bubble. You can explore the history of the tar pits and view active digging sites.

• Larchmont Village is also a hidden gem. This quaint tree lined street is nestled between Hollywood and Koreatown and has shops, restaurants, and cafes that are worth trying. Grab a coffee and take a stroll through the surrounding neighborhoods of Hancock Park — “the beverly hills before beverly hills” neighborhood.

• If you’re looking for a central location to stay, Culver City is the best option. While there isn’t a ton to do in Culver City, you’re centrally located to the beach, downtown, and the east of the 405. It’s pretty easy to get anywhere fairly quickly from Culver City. While there isn’t much to do in Culver City, it has a rich history. Culver Studios was the location for films like Gone With The Wind and E.T., plus Sony Pictures, which was previously MGM, and where Wizard of Oz was filmed. Legend has it that there are underground tunnels from Sony connecting to the Culver Hotel that were used for the Wizard of Oz cast, specifically the munchkins, to secretly get into the studio without being seen.

• Downtown LA is a true downtown experience. There are event venues, restaurants, bars, all with unique twists and spectacular cuisine. Take in the magnificent design and decor at Bottega Louie while enjoying a famous macron, or dine at one of LA’s hottest restaurants, which are usually in the downtown area. Like many other cities, there are districts within downtown offering their own theme, like the financial district and jewelry district. Be sure to stop by Grand Central Market—a unique food hall and even if you don’t have time to see an LA Philharmonic show, the Disney Theatre is still worth a visit to explore it’s amazing architecture.

• More on the East Side of LA are your more artsy neighborhoods like Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Glassell Park. All have their own vibe, beautiful parks, one-of-a-kind shops, and amazing restaurants. Los Feliz has a ton of great thrift stores and restaurants on a very walkable street. A stroll through Echo Park or a walk around the Silver Lake Loop makes you forget that you’re in Los Angeles, and the Silver Lake Flea Market is all the rage. This is a great area to stay in if you want to spend most of your time in the LA neighborhoods and less on the beach.

• Hollywood and West Hollywood are more of the popular neighborhoods with a ton of history. It’s impossible to drive west down Sunset Boulevard and not imagine what LA was like 50 years ago. There are still remnants of history everywhere you look. For some not-so-touristy activities in this area, check out a comedy show at a famous comedy club or live music at the Viper Room—you never know if you’re unknowingly watching the next big star. This is also where you can enter the Hills and enjoy a beautiful scenic drive to the top of LA to view not only the Griffith Observatory or the Hollywood sign, but on a clear day, all of Los Angeles and the ocean.

• “The Valley” consists of even more neighborhoods and unique finds. Studio City is just over the hill from Hollywood and is where you’ll find Universal Studios theme park, Warner Brothers is in Burbank—where you can tour the studio lot and prop warehouse, or go a little further into the valley for more residential neighborhoods like Encino and Calabasas. These are great places to stay if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a drive to the more popular parts of town.

• Topanga Canyon is one of the more unique parts of Los Angeles. You can access Topanga Canyon via Highway 1 going north towards Malibu, or from the valley on the backside in Woodland Hills. The canyon road is 13 miles of steep incline and twists and turns, but gives you beautiful canyon views. If you’re driving west from Woodland Hills, you’ll be smacked in the face with the most beautiful coastal view as you approach Highway 1. The road takes you through Topanga Canyon Village, an off-the-beaten-path local town focused on wellness and arts.

• I also consider Malibu to be part of Los Angeles, because no trip to LA is complete without a visit. Even the drive to Malibu is worth it, with picturesque views along Highway 1, which is nestled between the coast and the mountains. 5–10 miles north of Malibu are Point Dume, Zuma Beach, and Paradise Cove, but you’ll find many spots to pull over and take in the incredible views.

It would be impossible to list out all the restaurant recommendations because a very neighborhood in LA is going to deliver on excellent food. You’ll find all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in Koreatown, fine dining in downtown LA, vegan food in Silver Lake, and seafood on the west side.

Some of the well-known “must try” spots are In-and-Out, Randy’s Donuts, and Pink’s Hotdogs. My personal recommendations for something unique to LA are Apple Pan in West LA, Jon and Vinny’s (multiple locations), and Canter’s Deli in West Hollywood.

LA is known for bringing unique cuisines and fusions to the market first, so don’t be afraid to explore and try new things. But also, no one is going to judge you for your late-night trip to In-and-Out!

Pro tip: If you see someone selling tacos on the sidewalk, stop and get some. You won’t regret it.