Los Angeles

Valley Village is still cheap, comfortable, and kid-friendly. Studio City still sounds cool enough to justify bringing dates to the Valley. But no one, whether resident, cartographer, or postal worker, claims to understand the borders. But, if you find yourself settling here (which is easy), you’ll want to know about the Studio City Farmers Market, where produce-scavenging locals and harried parents intermingle each Sunday for the face-painting, animal-petting, moon-bouncing kiddie fare.

Landmarks

• Academy of Television Arts & Sciences •
5220 Lankershim Blvd
818-754-2800
An in-your-dreams-sized Emmy perched atop a fountain marks the spot.

• Brady Bunch House • 11222 Dilling St
You too can pretend to be part of America’s favorite blended family.

• CBS Radford Studios • 4024 Radford Ave
818-655-5000
Seinfeld’s NY sensibilities were actually found here, in the heart of the Valley.

• El Portal Theatre • 5269 Lankershim Blvd
818-508-0281
Former Vaudeville/Silent Movie house now anchors the NoHo Arts District.

Nightlife

• The Brickyard Pub • 11130 Magnolia Blvd
818-505-0460
BIG beer bar with lotsa pool tables.

• Firefly • 11720 Ventura Blvd
818-762-1833
Bookshelves paint the scene at this signless valley draw.

• Foxfire Room • 12516 Magnolia Blvd
818-766-1344
Unchanged since the ‘70s, a fun local dive bar.

• Kulak’s Woodshed • 5230 Laurel Canyon Blvd
818-766-9913
Much-loved folk music venue/scene. Popular Monday-night open mic.

• Maeve’s Residuals • 11042 Ventura Blvd
818-761-8301
Low-key entertainment industry hangout.

• Oyster House Saloon • 12446 Moorpark St
818-761-8686
Stellar bartenders sling drinks like pros.

Restaurants

• Art’s Deli • 12224 Ventura Blvd
818-762-1221 • $$
New York-style deli.

• Asanebo • 11941 Ventura Blvd
818-760-3348 • $$$
Fantastic sashimi + retro setting = 1985 flashback.

• Caioti Pizza Café • 4346 Tujunga Ave
818-761-3588 • $$
Trendy, creative Italian.

• Crown Burger • 5072 Lankershim Blvd
818-980-3709 • $
Strange combo of burgers, teriyaki bowls and leche liquada.

• Daichan • 11288 Ventura Blvd
818-980-8450 • $$
Japanese “soul food.”

• Du-par’s • 12036 Ventura Blvd
818-766-4437 • $$
Cheap breakfast joint.

• Eclectic Wine Bar & Grille • 5156 Lankershim Blvd
818-760-2233 • $$
California cuisine and art.

• Ernie’s • 4410 Lankershim Blvd
818-985-4654 • $
Legendary, old-school Mexican eats and drinks, for 50+ years.

• Firefly • 11720 Ventura Blvd
818-762-1833 • $$$$
Gourmet French bistro with a cozy, clubby atmosphere.

• Four ‘N 20 • 4723 Laurel Canyon Blvd
818-761-5128 • $$
Old-school restaurant with homemade pie.

• Good Earth Restaurant • 12345 Ventura Blvd
818-506-7400 • $
Healthy meals served against a backdrop of soothing fountains.

• Great India Café • 12321 Ventura Blvd
818-761-8140 • $$
People either hate or love their chicken tikka masala.

• Henry’s Tacos • 4389 Tujunga Ave
818-769-0343 • $
Deluxe ground beef tacos.

• JINYA • 11239 Ventura Blvd
818-980-3977 • $$
Unpretentious noodle shop dishes out fantastic tonkotsu ramen.

• Katsu-Ya • 11680 Ventura Blvd
818-985-6976 • $$$$
Great Sushi; gets crowded on weekends. Try the baked crab roll in soy paper.

• Lala’s Argentine Grill • 11935 Ventura Blvd
818-623-4477 • $$$
Empanadas, chorizo, steak, and more. Trendy casual.

• Laurel Tavern • 11938 Ventura Blvd
818-506-0777 •
Beer/burger joint popular with the neighborhood ‘industry’ folk.

• Mantee • 10962 Ventura Blvd
818-761-6565 • $$$
So you think you know Armenian food.

• Matsuda • 11837 Ventura Blvd
818-760-3917 • $$$
Yet another decent mini-mall sushi experience.

• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt • 4849 Laurel Canyon Blvd
818-985-9150 • $
Pay by the pound.

• Mexicali Cocina Cantina • 12161 Ventura Blvd
818-985-1744 • $$
Lively California-Mexican.

• Next Door Tapas Lounge • 11814 Ventura Blvd
818-985-9222 • $$
Small but fancy plates.

• Out Take Bistro • 11929 Ventura Blvd
818-760-1111 • $$$
Interesting fusion cuisine.

• Panera Bread • 12131 Ventura Blvd
818-762-2226 • $
Freshly baked bread and tasty sandwiches; laptop-friendly.

• Pitfire Artisan Pizza • 5211 Lankershim Blvd
818-980-2949 • $$
Trendy, crowded California-style pizza establishment. Great patio.

While the mutual hostility continues between the Valley and the balance of LA, Studio City quietly distinguishes itself as a cultural magnet on the other side of the hill. Branching off from the Ventura Boulevard smorgasbord, it presents a host of trendy, glad-I-didn’t-drive-to-Hollywood restaurants (Firefly, Spark, etc.), shops, and neighborhood secrets.

• Salomi • 5225 Lankershim Blvd
818-506-0130 • $$
Vegetarian-Indian cuisine with heat that’s not for wimps.

• Sattdown Jamaican Grill • 11320 Ventura Blvd
818-766-3696 • $$
Tasty island classics like meat pies, jerk chicken and oxtail.

• Spark Woodfire Grill • 11801 Ventura Blvd
818-623-8883 • $$$
Come for the meat, stay for the mojitos.

• Sushi Dan • 11056 Ventura Blvd
818-985-2254 • $$
Excellent Sushi on a budget. Fun atmosphere.

• Suzanne’s Country Deli • 11273 Ventura Blvd
818-762-9494 • $
Great salads and sandwiches. Bright and cheery.

• Teru Sushi • 11940 Ventura Blvd
818-763-6201 • $$$$
Basic—but delicious—sushi.

• Tokyo Delve’s Sushi Bar • 5239 Lankershim Blvd
818-766-3868 • $$$$
Sushi.

• Vegan Plate • 11943 Ventura Blvd
818-506-9015 • $
Vegan food at mouthwatering prices. Spicy mint leaves a must!

• Vitello’s • 4349 Tujunga Ave
818-769-0905 • $$
Robert Blake’s favorite Italian.

Shopping

• Almost Christmas Prop Shoppe • 5057 Lankershim Blvd
818-285-9627
Holiday decorations specializing in film sets.

• Artisan Cheese Gallery • 12023 Ventura Blvd
818-505-0207
THE place for cheese.

• Bedfellows • 12250 Ventura Blvd
818-985-0500
Clocks, pillows, and bedside tables make wonderful bedfellows.

• Dari • 12184 Ventura Blvd
818-762-3274
One of the Valley’s outposts for trendy women’s clothes.

• Flask Fine Wines & Spirits • 12194 Ventura Blvd
818-761-5373
Newly renovated as a haven for fine wines.

• Hoity Toity • 4381 Tujunga Ave
818-766-2503
Upscale women’s clothing boutique.

• Kit Kraft • 12109 Ventura Pl
818-509-9739
Art supplies, model kits, and more.

• La Knitterie Parisienne • 12642 Ventura Blvd
818-766-1515
The best knitting store around.

• M Frederic • 12124 Ventura Blvd
818-985-4404
Retail haven for the young and trendy.

• Marie et Cie • 11704 Riverside Dr
818-508-5049
Coffee, home furnishings, and gifts all in one.

• Tennis Ace • 12544 Ventura Blvd
818-762-8751
Everything Tennis! Clothes, shoes, balls, etc.

• Village Gourmet • 4357 Tujunga Ave
818-487-3807
Great gifts for the foodie in your life.

• Village Market • 11653 Moorpark St
818-761-4848
Old style, family-owned local market. Good deli.

• Voila Boutique • 12500 Magnolia Blvd
818-766-9449
Nice knock-offs to get you through each season.

• Wasteland • 12144 Ventura Blvd
818-980-8800
Hipster skinny jeans and vintage plaid trading depot.