The best Los Angeles neighbourhoods
Visiting a city like Los Angeles during a California road trip requires a lot of preparation.
This big West Coast city offers as many different atmospheres as there are neighborhoods.
To help you find your way around, here's my guide to the best neighbourhoods in the City of Angels.
Beverly Hills
Known by some for its glamour and by others for the television series of the same name, Beverly Hills is one of L.A.'s must-see neighborhoods.
Most of the action takes place on the south side, while the north side is largely made up of residential streets.
The area lives up to expectations, with high-end restaurants and iconic hotels such as the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Beverly Wilshire.
The famous Rodeo Drive is surely the most famous street in the neighborhood, with its luxury designers.
If you want to explore Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Trolley offers comprehensive tours for tourists.
If you rent a car in Los Angeles, don't hesitate to go further north where you can daydream over the huge mansions and celebrity homes.
Venice Beach
The beach and boardwalk of Venice Beach need no introduction.
Whether you want to relax on the beach, browse the little souvenir shops or explore by bike, you're sure to be charmed.
Not far to the northeast, you'll find the Venice Canals, a few blocks of houses lining four canals.
There are no streets here: everything is done on foot or in small boats.
It's the perfect place for a pleasant morning walk.
Abbott Kinney is a great street to grab a bite to eat.
It boasts numerous trendy restaurants and local cafes, as well as several local craft stores.
Santa Monica
Venice Beach's neighbouring district, Santa Monica, retains its laid-back seaside atmosphere.
The main attraction is the iconic and festive Santa Monica Pier.
The pier boasts a small amusement park, numerous shops, street artists and restaurants, including the popular Bubba Gump Shrimp, made famous by the movie Forest Gump.
If you cross Ocean Avenue, you'll find several shops and shopping centres along Santa Monica Blvd.
The next street, Wilshire Blvd, is home to a number of small restaurants and cafes including the very popular Huckleberry's Café.
Finally, Santa Monica beach features a real outdoor gym known as Muscle Beach.
Enjoy some biking, skating or surfing while you're there.
Silverlake / Echo Park
The nearby neighbourhoods of Silverlake and Echo Park share the same creative energy and avant-garde culture.
Many of my favourite places to go in Los Angeles can be found here.
The area will appeal to artists and nature lovers alike.
There's a vibrant musical scene, quaint cafés and locally-inspired restaurants, as well as many outdoors activities.
A local favourite, Echo Park (for which the neighbourhood is named), boasts a lake in the heart of the city, with a plethora of water activities.
L.A. locals like to picnic around the lake, and local vendors sell their wares.
For a little more nature, go to Elysian Park and take the Wildflower Trail.
This easy hike will make you wonder if you're really in the city.
Culture buffs will be delighted to visit Carroll Avenue, which appears in Michael Jackson's Thriller music video and many TV series.
For live music, head to The Echo, a famous music venue and nightclub.
Downtown L.A.
While most of Los Angeles has fairly low buildings, Downtown L.A. and its financial district is a forest of skyscrapers.
There you will find the Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center), home to the Lakers, the Clippers, the Sparks and the Kings.
Sport fans, be sure to catch a game there!
Nearby is the LA Live shopping centre.
The downtown area also includes Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic heart and birthplace of the city.
As you can guess, the dining scene will transport you around the world!
The Historic Broadway Theater District boasts 12 movie theaters dating back to the beginning of the last century, and several museums with outstanding architecture.
These include the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Walt Disney Concert Art, the Grammy Museum and my favourite L.A. museum, the Broad.
Hollywood
Hollywood has been the international icon of the movie world since the 1920s.
So it should come as no surprise that the area's main attractions revolve around the motion picture industry.
It's certainly one of the best neighbourhoods in Los Angeles to visit with the family.
Enjoy the Hollywood Wax Museum, Madame Tussauds of Hollywood, or the Guinness World Record Museum.
Of course, when you think of Hollywood, you think of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This section of Hollywood Boulevard with its collection of terrazzo and brass stars is the most popular attraction.
It's also home to the Chinese Theatre, whose forecourt features the footprints and hands of many celebrities, forever embedded in cement.
Finally, I highly recommend a visit to a film studio, such as Paramount Studios, which offers guided behind-the-scenes tours of well-known movies and TV series.
West Hollywood
Nestled between Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, West Hollywood is L.A.'s trendy destination.
Its 3 square kilometres are best explored on foot.
You won't find any tourist attractions here, but you will find many of the most famous streets in the City of Angels.
The Sunset Strip abounds with new trendy establishments and famous bars like Whisky à Go Go and the Viper Room.
Santa Monica Boulevard is the heart of the city's 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
It offers many clubs, as well as the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.
And last but not least, Melrose Avenue remains the most fashionable commercial street in all of Los Angeles.
Los Feliz
Another lesser-known neighbourhood, Los Feliz, is located between Hollywood and Silverlake.
It's a favourite stomping ground for locals who like to mingle with celebrities, most notably at the Alcove or Little Dom's.
Other neighbourhood highlights include Skylight Books, the Vista Theater, a historic movie theater, and Dresden, a legendary cocktail bar.
Los Feliz also boasts Griffith Park, one of the best places to take a photo of the Hollywood sign, and a green oasis in the middle of the city.
This park features hiking trails, a golf course and even a zoo!
It is also home to the Griffith Observatory.
The latter has a planetarium, several exhibits on space and the stars, and a legendary observation platform overlooking the City of Angels.
That concludes our tour of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Do you have a favourite neighbourhood to tell us about? Feel free to share it in the comments below!
An enthusiast of both our vibrant cities & great oudoors, my life revolves around travel & adventure. It's a no brainer that I have to share the wonders & secrets of my neck of the woods with other travelling souls. Enjoy the journey!
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