Guidebook for Los Angeles

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Guidebook for Los Angeles

Food Scene

Best Ramen in this part of town hands down. Be prepared for long waits at peak hours, but you can call ahead for take out. Also try the pork buns.
278 locals recommend
Silverlake Ramen
2927 Sunset Blvd
278 locals recommend
Best Ramen in this part of town hands down. Be prepared for long waits at peak hours, but you can call ahead for take out. Also try the pork buns.
The hippest brunch spot in this part of town. There's always a line on weekends. FYI: No reservations for brunch (they do take them for other meals) so make sure you prepare for a wait.
168 locals recommend
Home
1760 Hillhurst Ave
168 locals recommend
The hippest brunch spot in this part of town. There's always a line on weekends. FYI: No reservations for brunch (they do take them for other meals) so make sure you prepare for a wait.
Good food, nice atmosphere, they move the line through quickly so the wait isn't as bad as it can be for Home.
310 locals recommend
Alcove
1929 Hillhurst Ave
310 locals recommend
Good food, nice atmosphere, they move the line through quickly so the wait isn't as bad as it can be for Home.
Great French restaurant in walking distance. Even has outdoor cafe seating a la France.
189 locals recommend
Figaro Bistrot
1802 N Vermont Ave
189 locals recommend
Great French restaurant in walking distance. Even has outdoor cafe seating a la France.
Slightly upscale, very popular, a little pricey, good for a date or to treat yourself. Everyone loves Little Dom's.
276 locals recommend
Little Dom's
2128 Hillhurst Ave
276 locals recommend
Slightly upscale, very popular, a little pricey, good for a date or to treat yourself. Everyone loves Little Dom's.
Consistently good gastropub.
95 locals recommend
Messhall Kitchen
4500 Los Feliz Blvd
95 locals recommend
Consistently good gastropub.
This is the good Chinese Restaurant in the neighborhood. A little bit upscale so doesn't have 100% of the staples, but good. Not to be confused w the similarly named one further north on Hillhurst.
22 locals recommend
Chi Dynasty
1813 Hillhurst Ave
22 locals recommend
This is the good Chinese Restaurant in the neighborhood. A little bit upscale so doesn't have 100% of the staples, but good. Not to be confused w the similarly named one further north on Hillhurst.
People flip for their breakfast tacos.
188 locals recommend
HomeState
4624 Hollywood Blvd
188 locals recommend
People flip for their breakfast tacos.
North African/Middle Eastern food mash up, surprisingly good.
47 locals recommend
Bowery Bungalow
4156 Santa Monica Blvd
47 locals recommend
North African/Middle Eastern food mash up, surprisingly good.
Walkable from our house. Unusual flavors. Very delicious.
59 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1954 Hillhurst Ave
59 locals recommend
Walkable from our house. Unusual flavors. Very delicious.
Best sushi in the neighborhood, hands down, followed by Starfish Sushi on Vermont.
22 locals recommend
Yen Sushi & Sake Bar
2081 Hillhurst Ave
22 locals recommend
Best sushi in the neighborhood, hands down, followed by Starfish Sushi on Vermont.
Really good quality Indian food, low key. Walkable from here.
15 locals recommend
Agra Cafe Indian Cuisine
4325 Sunset Blvd
15 locals recommend
Really good quality Indian food, low key. Walkable from here.
Flat out great coffee.
37 locals recommend
Maru Coffee
1936 Hillhurst Ave
37 locals recommend
Flat out great coffee.
This is my favorite coffee shop. Flat out great coffee, and a great place to people watch right in the middle of Sunset Junction is Silver Lake.
510 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Silver Lake Coffeebar
3922 Sunset Blvd
510 locals recommend
This is my favorite coffee shop. Flat out great coffee, and a great place to people watch right in the middle of Sunset Junction is Silver Lake.

Arts & Culture

Free planetarium. Great for families. Tremendous view of the whole city. Iconic location from Rebel Without a Cause. Parking up there is crazy (and paid), so the best option is to catch the bus from Hillhurst that will take you straight there. Also a great place to start hikes. For DASH route info, look here: https://www.ladottransit.com/dash/routes/obs_lf/obs_lf.html
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd
4367 locals recommend
Free planetarium. Great for families. Tremendous view of the whole city. Iconic location from Rebel Without a Cause. Parking up there is crazy (and paid), so the best option is to catch the bus from Hillhurst that will take you straight there. Also a great place to start hikes. For DASH route info, look here: https://www.ladottransit.com/dash/routes/obs_lf/obs_lf.html
Cowboy & Native American themed museum just across from the zoo.
105 locals recommend
Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way
105 locals recommend
Cowboy & Native American themed museum just across from the zoo.
Library with original Shakespeare folios and Gutenberg bibles, art museum with famous works like Blue Boy, beautiful architecture and most of all many sprawling gardens with tons of beautiful plantings. If you can plan in advance, make reservations for lunch in their tea room.
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd
999 locals recommend
Library with original Shakespeare folios and Gutenberg bibles, art museum with famous works like Blue Boy, beautiful architecture and most of all many sprawling gardens with tons of beautiful plantings. If you can plan in advance, make reservations for lunch in their tea room.
The epicenter of Hollywood Boulevard mayhem. Walk of Fame stars, Grauman's Chinese theater, people dressed up as film characters to take pictures, huge shopping complex, Kodak theater, the whole 9 yards.
922 locals recommend
Hollywood & Highland
6801 Hollywood Blvd
922 locals recommend
The epicenter of Hollywood Boulevard mayhem. Walk of Fame stars, Grauman's Chinese theater, people dressed up as film characters to take pictures, huge shopping complex, Kodak theater, the whole 9 yards.
Dinosaurs fossils + lots of other stuff, spider/butterfly pavilion (depending on season), traveling exhibits. Really great for families.
461 locals recommend
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 W Exposition Blvd
461 locals recommend
Dinosaurs fossils + lots of other stuff, spider/butterfly pavilion (depending on season), traveling exhibits. Really great for families.
The big science museum. Great family rooms for little kids. Traveling exhibits. Lots of space stuff.
442 locals recommend
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Dr
442 locals recommend
The big science museum. Great family rooms for little kids. Traveling exhibits. Lots of space stuff.
Live outdoor music venue. A hearty walk or easy bus/Lyft ride from here.
380 locals recommend
The Greek Theatre
2700 N Vermont Ave
380 locals recommend
Live outdoor music venue. A hearty walk or easy bus/Lyft ride from here.

Entertainment & Activities

It's no San Diego Zoo, but it definitely steadily improving. Kids love the carousel. New Rain Forest exhibit. In winter there are also zoo lights at night, which are very fun. 15 Minute drive from here either through Griffith Park or via the highway.
328 locals recommend
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Dr
328 locals recommend
It's no San Diego Zoo, but it definitely steadily improving. Kids love the carousel. New Rain Forest exhibit. In winter there are also zoo lights at night, which are very fun. 15 Minute drive from here either through Griffith Park or via the highway.
Has three very small screens and theaters--def not as nice a viewing experience as the Vista, but again you can't beat walking to dinner and a movie.
137 locals recommend
Los Feliz 3 Cinemas
1822 N Vermont Ave
137 locals recommend
Has three very small screens and theaters--def not as nice a viewing experience as the Vista, but again you can't beat walking to dinner and a movie.

Parks & Nature

Tons of hiking trails in Griffith Park of varying degrees of difficulty, including up behind the Hollywood Sign and up to the Observatory.
898 locals recommend
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Drive
898 locals recommend
Tons of hiking trails in Griffith Park of varying degrees of difficulty, including up behind the Hollywood Sign and up to the Observatory.
Private gardens about 20 minutes away by car. Lovely, lots of good walking/flowers/trees plus a train ride for kids. Some seasonal activities as well.
7 locals recommend
Descanso Gardens Visitor Center
1418 Descanso Drive
7 locals recommend
Private gardens about 20 minutes away by car. Lovely, lots of good walking/flowers/trees plus a train ride for kids. Some seasonal activities as well.

Essentials

Main general grocery store in walking distance.
177 locals recommend
Albertsons
2035 Hillhurst Ave
177 locals recommend
Main general grocery store in walking distance.
Natural foods grocery store, also in walking distance. Their produce and toiletries are my favorites. NB: Not open on Sundays.
202 locals recommend
Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins
2080 Hillhurst Ave
202 locals recommend
Natural foods grocery store, also in walking distance. Their produce and toiletries are my favorites. NB: Not open on Sundays.
Our local TJ's. Prob a little too far to walk.
1699 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
2738 Hyperion Ave
1699 locals recommend
Our local TJ's. Prob a little too far to walk.
Closest pharmacy. NB: Not 24 hour pharmacy.
48 locals recommend
Rite Aid
1433 Glendale Blvd
48 locals recommend
Closest pharmacy. NB: Not 24 hour pharmacy.
Close bank/ATM in the Albertsons a few blocks north.
112 locals recommend
Wells Fargo Bank
1600 Vine St
112 locals recommend
Close bank/ATM in the Albertsons a few blocks north.
Children's hospital + closest pediatric ER. Walkable.
28 locals recommend
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd
28 locals recommend
Children's hospital + closest pediatric ER. Walkable.
Closest emergency room
18 locals recommend
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Emergency Room
1300 N Vermont Ave
18 locals recommend
Closest emergency room
This is where I take my dry cleaning. They do a great job with my clothes, and they even text me when my pickup is ready.
Hillhurst Cleaners
1804 Hillhurst Ave
This is where I take my dry cleaning. They do a great job with my clothes, and they even text me when my pickup is ready.
Closest urgent care.
Cedars Sinai Urgent Care - Los Feliz
Closest urgent care.

Shopping

Awesome local book store, with live readings and a tremendous children's section.
148 locals recommend
Skylight Books
1818 N Vermont Ave
148 locals recommend
Awesome local book store, with live readings and a tremendous children's section.
cute kids stuff
The Reckless Unicorn
2124 Hillhurst Ave
cute kids stuff
cute kids stuff
La La Ling
1810 N Vermont Ave
cute kids stuff
Americana in Glendale is the easiest/nicest/closest (outdoor) mall & has a good movie theater there (for all the standard blockbuster style movies) as well.
87 locals recommend
Americana Way
Americana Way
87 locals recommend
Americana in Glendale is the easiest/nicest/closest (outdoor) mall & has a good movie theater there (for all the standard blockbuster style movies) as well.

Getting Around

Closest Metro stop - red line, 1/2 mile walk from your AirBnB.
76 locals recommend
Vermont / Sunset Station
76 locals recommend
Closest Metro stop - red line, 1/2 mile walk from your AirBnB.
Need to rent a car? There's an Enterprise just a couple blocks south.
328 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1619 N Gower St
328 locals recommend
Need to rent a car? There's an Enterprise just a couple blocks south.