General Information
NFT Map: 23
Address: 10800 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-470-8752
Website: www.westsidepavilion.com
Shopping
The Westside Pavilion is a rarity. A no-attitude shopping location with all the usual suspects in terms of stores and resources, but with solid ties to the local community. This may not sound exciting, but this mall has hotspots for everyone, including a dance studio, post office, and hairstylist. There are more kid’s stores than you can hit in an afternoon: Gymboree, E.B. Games, Disney Store, and Three Cheeky Monkeys, to name a few. You can park the teens at Pop Star or Claire’s Accessories. Dad will probably park himself at Sisley’s Italian Kitchen wine bar while Mom is giving the plastic an airing at BCBG.
The mall is a long narrow space anchored by Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. Despite being home to over 160 stores it never feels crowded. The original space has an end-to-end skylight which gives a plein air feel even in winter. The newer annex is reached by way of a covered walkway across Westwood Boulevard. Periodically W.P. hosts wine and food samplings and honors local schools. There’s even a monthly Kid’s Club for the little brats that presents mimes, jugglers and puppet shows. On the upper level there’s the ubiquitous food court and a couple of cozy movie theaters that actually show films you don’t mind paying to see, including exclusive indie presentations not found anyplace else in the city. All in all a great, well-balanced mall.
Food
Not much to write home about. Basically, if you can fry it, put it on a stick, or smother it with cheese, you’ll find a counter devoted to it in the food court. If you want real food, try Sisley’s Italian Kitchen on the street level. Also surprisingly good is the Nordstrom Café, located inside the store on the top level. The best food, however, is just outside the mall: the Apple Pan (10801 W Pico Blvd) is a Los Angeles institution. The small shack serves affordable old-school hickory burgers in a lunch-counter setting. Be prepared to wait. Down the street on Pico is Louisa’s Trattoria and the venerable (but pricey) Junior’s Deli is just around the corner on Westwood Boulevard. It’s been there for 50 years and some of the waitresses look as if they haven’t missed a day. God bless ‘em.
Drawbacks
Do not attempt to navigate the parking lot without medication and a pocketful of breadcrumbs. Hands down the worst, most confusing parking lot in the greater Los Angeles area. Take the express ramp directly to the top level. Or better yet, splurge on the best valet bargain in town—$3, no waiting. Enter next to Nordstrom. If you start thinking about trying your luck outside the structure, don’t. There’s minimal street parking and, since it’s so close to both the 405 and 10 freeways, making your way around the surrounding streets (especially the biggies like Pico and Westwood) can be a slow-moving pain.
How to Get There
From the Valley, take 405 S and exit at the Pico/Olympic off ramp. Make a left to reach Pico Boulevard, and then another left. Continue east on Pico. Westside Pavilion extends from Westwood Boulevard to Overland Avenue. From the South Bay and Orange County, take 405 N, exit at National Boulevard and turn right. Make a left at Westwood Boulevard and travel north until you reach Pico Boulevard. From downtown LA, take 10 W and exit at Overland Avenue. Take a right on Overland Avenue heading north to Pico Boulevard. Westside Pavilion extends west from Overland Avenue to Westwood Boulevard. From Santa Monica, take 10 E and exit at National/Overland. Turn right on National and another right on Overland Avenue. Head north on Overland Avenue to Pico Boulevard. The bus lines that stop at Westside Pavillion are Big Blue Bus VA Commuter, Big Blue Bus 4, 7, Rapid 7, 8, 12, Super 12, 13, Culver City Bus 3, LADOT Commuter Express 431.