Los Angeles

Los Feliz perseveres despite the burden of being America’s most hyped neighborhood. It continues to have ample room for everyone—from grannies wearing old cardigans to hipsters wearing . . . old cardigans. You’ll find multimillion-dollar playpens on the hill, as well as crowded studio apartment buildings lining Vermont and Hillhurst Avenues. Los Feliz is home to some of LA’s most beloved and relevant attractions—Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Greek Theater—proving that, even in Los Angeles, sometimes you really can believe the hype.

Landmarks

• American Film Institute • 2021 N Western Ave
323-856-7600
The next David Lynch might be honing his craft here right now. Or not.

• Barnsdall Art Park • 4800 Hollywood Blvd
323-660-4254
Griffith Park may get all the glory, but Barnsdall Art Park is a great place to wander around on a lazy Sunday.

• Ennis-Brown House • 2607 Glendower Ave
323-660-0607
Frank Lloyd Wright’s version of a Mayan temple.

• The Figure 8 Mural • 4334 W Sunset Blvd
Former cover art, this mural is now a tribute to departed indie fave Elliott Smith.

• Greek Theatre • 2700 N Vermont Ave
323-665-5857
A more intimate alternative to the Hollywood Bowl.

• Hollyhock House • 4800 Hollywood Blvd
323-644-6269
Another brilliant Frank Lloyd Wright design, open for public tours, love the fireplace.

• Jumbo’s Clown Room • 5153 Hollywood Blvd
323-666-1187
Seedy strip club where Courtney Love first exposed her “celebrity skin.”

• Silverlake Conservatory of Music •
3920 W Sunset Blvd
323-665-3363
Neighborhood music school and hang-out courtesy of Chili Pepper Flea.

• Vermonica • Santa Monica Blvd & N Vermont Ave
Quirky display of LA streetlamps from various eras.

Nightlife

• Akbar • 4356 W Sunset Blvd
323-665-6810
Your friendly neighborhood homo/hetero hangout.

• Blipsy Barcade • 369 N Western Ave
323-461-7067
Dive bar/arcade? Yes please. Do the Playboy pinball.

• Blu Monkey • 5521 Hollywood Blvd
323-957-9000
Middle Eastern vibes in deep Hollywood.

• Drawing Room • 1800 Hillhurst Ave
323-665-0135
Tiny strip-mall dive, no pretense, TV ‘n’ locals.

• The Dresden • 1760 N Vermont Ave
323-665-4294
Home of Marty & Elayne’s famed lounge act.

• Eagle LA • 4219 Santa Monica Blvd
323-669-9472
The place to meet the leather-daddy of your dreams.

• Faultline • 4216 Melrose Ave
323-660-0889
An irresistible trifecta of beer, bears, porn.

• Good Luck Bar • 1514 Hillhurst Ave
323-666-3524
Confucius say: hook-ups likely.

• Harvard and Stone • 5221 Hollywood Blvd
323-466-6063
Craft cocktails near Thai Town.

• Hemingway’s • 6356 Hollywood Blvd
323-469-0040
Cool Hollywood hideaway inspired by tough-guy lit.

• Jumbo’s Clown Room • 5153 Hollywood Blvd
323-666-1187
The seediest little joint in Hollywood.

• La Descarga • 1159 N Western Ave
323-466-1324
Old Havana nightclub on a scary stretch of Western Ave.

• Rockwell • 1714 N Vermont Ave
323-669-1550
Weird crowd, but food better than would be expected.

• Tiki-Ti • 4427 W Sunset Blvd
323-669-9381
Fortify yourself with a famous Blood of the Bull.

• Whitehorse Inn Cocktail Lounge • 1532 N Western Ave
323-462-8088
Serious drinking with Bukowski’s ghost.

• Ye Rustic Inn • 1831 Hillhurst Ave
323-662-5757
If ye want pink drinks, get thee the hell out.

With the Griffith Observatory twinkling down on the neighborhood, Los Feliz reminds us that the stars are among us, even where you least expect it. There’s a democratic quality to hedonistic pursuits here, and it’s not uncommon to see your favorite celebrity catching a film at the Vista or grabbing a bite on Hillhurst. Whether you’re enjoying the world’s best breakfast dish (the smoked salmon stack at the Alcove Café) or enjoying a divey round of dirty photo hunt at the Drawing Room, Los Feliz is the perfect place for brunch, booze, and the pursuit of happiness.

Restaurants

• Alcove Cafe & Bakery • 1929 Hillhurst Ave
323-644-0100 • $
Brunch, lunch, gourmet food market, beautiful patio out front.

• Alegria on Sunset • 3510 W Sunset Blvd
323-913-1422 • $$
Lively Mexican food made with home-style finesse.

• The Black Cat • 3909 W Sunset Blvd
323-661-6369 • $$$
Another French-inspired food and cocktail spot. Meow!

• Blossom • 4019 W Sunset Blvd
323-953-8345 •
Feel good pho in a slightly upscale atmosphere.

• Café Los Feliz • 2118 Hillhurst Ave
323-664-7111 • $
Neighborhoody gem. Exquisite tarts and cinnamon rolls.

• Cafe Stella • 3932 W Sunset Blvd
323-666-0265 • $$$$
Trendy French bistro and wine bar.

• Casita Del Campo • 1920 Hyperion Ave
323-662-4255 • $$
It’s all about the margaritas.

• Cha Cha Cha • 656 N Virgil Ave
323-664-7723 • $$$
Caribbean food and sangria.

• Cliff’s Edge • 3626 W Sunset Blvd
323-666-6116 • $$
Cal-Euro tapas, upscale bohemian digs, and Silver Lake’s swankiest patio.

• The Deli at Little Dom’s • 2128 Hillhurst Ave
323-661-0088 • $$
Unassuming gem, adjacent to popular eatery.

• El Cid • 4212 W Sunset Blvd
323-668-0318 • $$$
Spanish dinner and a show!

• Flore • 3818 W Sunset Blvd
323-953-0611 • $$
Seitan himself must be responsible for this sinfully delicious vegan fare.

• Forage • 3823 W Sunset Blvd
323-663-6885 • $$
Local produce making modern deli salads and desserts.

• Fred 62 • 1850 N Vermont Ave
323-667-0062 • $$
Retro-styled diner with surprising menu.

• Good Microbrew & Grill • 3725 W Sunset Blvd
323-660-3645 • $$$
Overpriced comfort food tempered by mucho bottled brews.

• Home • 1760 Hillhurst Ave
323-669-0211 • $$
No place like this outdoor eatery. Try the waffle fries.

• The Kitchen • 4348 Fountain Ave
323-664-3663 • $$
Late-night comfort food.

• Little Dom’s • 2128 Hillhurst Ave
323-661-0055 • $$$
Cheap? Not really. Tasty? Yes, indeed.

• Lucifers Pizza • 1958 Hillhurst Ave
323-906-8603 • $
Famous for the gothic decor and the Veggie Supremo.

• Madame Matisse • 3536 W Sunset Blvd
323-662-4862 • $$
Matchbox-sized and mellow French Café packed with regulars. BYOB.

• Malo • 4326 W Sunset Blvd
323-664-1011 • $$$
Yummy Mexican for the hipster cheapskate.

• Marouch • 4905 Santa Monica Blvd
323-662-9325 • $$$
Not a joke: the Chef’s Special really is.

• Mexico City • 2121 Hillhurst Ave
323-661-7227 • $$$
Arty Tex-Mex cantina.

• Pa Ord Noodle • 5301 Sunset Blvd
323-461-3945 • $
Cheap, delicious Thai with legit, face-melting spice.

• The Palace • 2112 Hillhurst Ave
323-667-1595 • $$$
Good Chinese food and those tasty, elusive appetizers, crab rangoons!

• Paru’s • 5140 W Sunset Blvd
323-661-7600 • $$
Delicious South Indian food with lots of happy-smiley service.

• Pazzo Gelato • 3827 Sunset Blvd
323-662-1410 • $
Because gelato is the best of all frozen treats.

• Ruen Pair • 5257 Hollywood Blvd
323-466-0153 • $$
So good chefs come here after work.

• Sanamluang • 5170 Hollywood Blvd
323-660-8006 • $
Huge plates of noodles at 3am.

• Sapp Coffee Shop • 5183 Hollywood Blvd
323-665-1035 • $
Not only coffee, but Thai boat noodles. Anthony Bourdain liked it.

• Scoops • 712 N Heliotrope Dr
323-906-2649 • $
Amazing vegan and non-vegan daily ice-cream.

• The Trails • 2333 Fern Dell Dr
323-871-2102 • $
Comfort food esconced in pastoralia.

• Trattoria Farfalla • 1978 Hillhurst Ave
323-661-7365 • $$$
Inexpensive, reliable Italian.

• Umami Burger • 4655 Hollywood Blvd
323-669-3922 • $$
Dig those crazy burgers. Still one of LA’s best.

• Yai’s on Vermont • 1627 N Vermont Ave
323-644-1076 • $$
Kinda greasy but still divine. Comfy booths and great patio.

• Yuca’s • 2056 Hillhurst Ave
323-662-1214 • $
A busy shack serving luscious Yucatan-style burritos and tacos.

• Zankou Chicken • 5065 W Sunset Blvd
323-665-7845 • $
Palm-licking, Beck-serenaded chicken.

Figaro Bistrot on Vermont squeezes in thirsty hipsters. Malo on Sunset has an industrial-looking, surprisingly intimate outdoor seating area with heating lamps. The Dresden Room solidified its fame with a cameo in 1996’s prerequisite LA film Swingers, and comes with its very own lounge act. Paru’s is a bounty of all-veggie Indian fare but don’t forget the local outpost of Zankou Chicken, the Armenian mini-chain with the most delectable poultry you will ever have the privilege of fingerlicking.

Shopping

• Bar Keeper • 3910 W Sunset Blvd
323-669-1675
From spirits to shakers, everything you need for fancy cocktailery.

• Bicycle Kitchen • 4429 Fountain Ave
323-662-2776
Non-profit community bicycle workshop.

• Blue Rooster Art Supplies • 1718 N Vermont Ave
323-661-9471
Everything for the starving artist, except food.

• Casbah Café • 3900 W Sunset Blvd
323-664-7000
Café featuring gifts and home décor stuff a la Marocaine.

• The Cheese Store of Silver Lake •
3926 W Sunset Blvd
323-644-7511
High-quality cheese and a great selection of cured meats, olives, and gourmet teas.

• Glory • 4659 Hollywood Blvd
323-644-5679
‘50s Americana, cycles, and oddities.

• Gypsy • 3915 W Sunset Blvd
323-660-2556
Ponchos, Che tees, Mexican silver and assorted funkiness.

• Le Pink & Co. • 3820 Sunset Blvd
323-661-7465
Girly gifts, olde-time candy treats.

• McCall’s Meat & Fish Co. • 2117 Hillhurst Ave
323-667-0674
Fancy groceries for the carnivores among us.

• Ozzie Dots • 4637 Hollywood Blvd
323-663-2867
Vintage clothes, costume rentals, loads o’ fun.

• Pacific Auto Service • 4225 Santa Monica Blvd
323-666-7689
Jimmy may be a little eccentric, but he knows how to fix a car.

• Panty Raid • 1953 Hillhurst Ave
323-668-1888
Tell your boyfriend/girlfriend about their frequent lingerie sales.

• ReForm School • 3902 Sunset Blvd
323-906-8660
Awesome gifts and housewares with a school theme.

• Secret Headquarters • 3817 W Sunset Blvd
323-666-2228
Embrace your secret comic book obsession here.

• Squaresville • 1800 N Vermont Ave
323-669-8464
A staggering collection of vintage clothing, including high-end labels like Gucci and Pucci.

• Una Mae’s • 4651 Kingswell Ave
323-662-6137
The going designer threads & killer discounted vintage rack.

• Wacko / Soap Plant • 4633 Hollywood Blvd
323-663-0122
Books, tchotchkes, party favors, and obscure tees.

• Y-Que Trading Post • 1770 N Vermont Ave
323-664-0021
Gifts, trinkets, “Pluto: Never Forget” t-shirts.