The LA Streets series is an ode to the expansive streets that extend the width of this sprawling city, filled with opportunities for discovery. This series is inspired by Jonathan Gold, who learned how to eat on Pico Boulevard, and in turn, taught us all to take a closer look at the streets we drive by every day. 

part one: sunset boulevard

my favorite and least favorite street

Sunset Plaza | West Hollywood

The Palladium | Hollywood

Northern view from Sunset Blvd | Silver Lake

What images does a mind conjure up when prompted with Sunset Boulevard?

Palm trees and mansions? Giant billboards of the latest box office hits? Commercial blocks filled with trendy shops and restaurants? Yes, yes and yes.

A street that is larger than life, that is known by name around the world, and yet known in reality only to Angelenos who care to dig a little deeper. A street that, to those who only know of it from Hollywood, is assumed to have a singular identity, but in reality captures? takes on? complements? evolves with? the patchwork identities of the neighborhood it weaves through as it snakes its way from the Pacific Ocean to Echo Park before suddenly dissolving (as even the greatest of LA streets do) into an entirely different street, W Cesar Estrada Chavez Ave in Chinatown.

from sunset plaza to sunset junction, sunset beach to sunset strip, this boulevard carries with it the vibrant stories and histories of this mismatched city 

Sunset Boulevard has inseparable ties with Hollywood, and shows up often on the big screen and silver screen and whatever OTT screens count as (bronze? aluminum? lol). It shows up perhaps most famously in a film that borrows its name, a Hollywood classic that ironically is centered around a house that was actually on Wilshire Boulevard, which, given its spot in central LA, would be 5 boulevards south of Sunset. Nevertheless, the street itself remains a formidable force that tells many stories throughout the city. Filled with longstanding icons that persist in the ever-evolving strip-mall filled LA landscape. While it wears the many colors of LA from east to west, one thing is for certain: there is no part of Sunset Boulevard you want to be on on a Friday afternoon any time after 4pm. 

there’s no shortage of iconic landmarks on this street, and yet the best parts of it are still in strip malls

one street, many parts

Sunset Boulevard takes on many forms as it ebbs and flows through the city, some undeniably more appealing than others. Let’s break it down, starting from the west and driving east.

I. THE BREEZY RICH

On the west side, Sunset Boulevard begins where the Pacific Ocean ends, aka it drops you off right on PCH, right in front of Gladstones, just south of Getty Villa, and right on the northern edge of what is considered the Pacific Palisades. We’ll call this the “rich people” part of Santa Monica, part one. These are the moneyed residents of West LA who live in (multi) million dollar homes and send their children to private schools. The people who shop exclusively at Gelson’s and barely ever go to the closest beaches (too touristy). These are the unicorns of LA, the ones that are there living their lives in a normal that few of us dare dream. They’re not old money, but they’re not… not old money, at least for west coast standards. 

This is the most windy part of the street, from PCH, it quickly hooks around one of LA’s most underrated spots, the Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, before snaking along past a rich kid charter school and right through the Palisades version of the Grove/Americana (which is to say, slightly more luxe, slightly more out of touch). 

Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine | Palisades

(top) a peek of the ocean from Will Rogers State Park

(bottom) the little market, in Palisades Village

From there, it becomes pretty residential, you’ll pass by what would seem to be perfectly normal comfortable suburban communities until you remember you are in Los Angeles and each of these homes could buy you several in the suburbs. More rich kid schools, rich people golf courses, more mansions (yes, if you took detours you’d hit some pretty well known ones) as you get into Brentwood. You’ll know you’re almost to the 405 when you reach a strangely quaint strip mall-y commercial center in a confusing intersection around Barrington (don’t worry there are even worse intersections you’ll meet later on this street).

And then suddenly you’re in bumper to bumper traffic with the not-very-aesthetic-but-certainly-recognizable Hotel Angeleno to your left and one of the more confusing freeway entrance and exit situations that will get you onto LA’s most notorious (but actually IMO not the worst – but we’ll save that rant for another day) freeway.

Beverly Hills Hotel

UCLA Powell Library | Westwood

II. THE MARIO KART STRIP

Once you get past the 405, you reach, well, more rich LA. But this time it’s the so-rich-you-can’t-even-see-them kind of rich. Yes, this is Bel Air. Driving east, you’ll see to your left the grand gates into Bel Air, tall hedges line the street blocking the mansions from view. And then suddenly, a clearing that you can see to your right. That’s UCLA, yes, poor financial aid college students in the midst of west coast royalty. As a former student living off Sunset Boulevard for four years, I will say, there are worse places to be (cough USC cough). The parts of campus you can see from Sunset is the pretty part, north campus, home to the beautiful brick buildings that one might recognize from television and movies as “Harvard.” 

But anyways, I like to call this part of Sunset, “Mario Kart” Strip, because you’ll feel like you’re playing Mario Kart as you speed along the windy street, never knowing what’s around the corner, and yet continuing to push 65 in a 35mph speed limit area, only slowing down where you know there’s a light hidden around the next blind turn. Because truly, only tourists drive the speed limit.

This takes you through Holmby Hills and The Flats, aka neighborhoods where actual rich people live, the northern end of the Beverly Hills tourists get to see. All that traffic you hit from backed up left turn lanes? Those would be for the many canyon roads that are a “short cut” (I use that term loosely) through the Hollywood Hills to the Valley, for days when the 405 is true hell (aka, every day).

Once you get past the Beverly Hills Hotel (truly an icon), you’ll begin to see more and more hotels, and start to feel like you’re in a tourist’s fever dream of Los Angeles. That’s when you know you’ve reached the next part of Sunset.

The Laugh Factory | West Hollywood

The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker | Sunset Plaza

Book Soup | West Hollywood

III. SUNSET STRIP

That mild annoyance you feel? Totally normal. Welcome to the scene-y part of Sunset. Where music and comedy venues mingle with sleek but bland restaurants and bars that fill in between endless 4 to 5 star hotels (let’s be real, the only one with real clout is Chateau Marmont). It feels like a constant party, but in a tacky way, a caricature of the Hollywood glitz and glam, only somewhat redeemed by the slightly elevated status of being west of the worst part of Hollywood. 

Whisky A Go Go and The Viper Room, just two of many many famed venues on this strip of Sunset

Even so, there are a couple tolerable places in this strip, some even worth driving up here for. Book Soup is one of the main indie bookstores in the city, they even have an LAX outpost in the Tom Bradley terminal. Night+Market‘s original location is tucked away up here (you’ll hit a second location further east). Greenblatt’s is a longtime Jewish establishment that is well loved by locals, while Daughter’s Deli is a newer one to the block (but a part of LA Jewish deli royalty, this is the daughter of the famous Langer’s after all). The Griddle Cafe has a reputation that proceeds itself, but is an experience you just have to have (and no, there’s no way to get around that hour wait on a Sunday). And if you’re into stand up, these comedy theaters will be no stranger to you, as they are some of the major players in the scene in LA and beyond.

By the time you drive past Zankou (dw – you’ll pass by another location before this tour is over), you’ll notice a general cheapening of the commercial blocks to either side.

IV. UGH, HOLLYWOOD

Welcome to Hollywood. This is the part of Sunset Boulevard that captures Hollywood in all it’s glory. And no, that is not supposed to hype it up. If anything, it means it’s a hot mess. At the foundational layer, you get a lot of unmemorable strip malls and nondescript generic storefronts and the usual mix of QSR brands. The kind that could easily be used in the backdrop of any film without actually detracting any attention from the scene. The kind of place that is actually functional for residents, like where you go to run errands. 

Of course once you get past that you hit In-n-Out (probably the second-most touristy one after the one by LAX) and then the most touristy Chick-fil-A in the city right on Highland. You’re dangerously close to the hell hole that is Hollywood and Highland, so keep going. But not too far. Because in that nondescript strip mall to your right is one of the best Thai restaurants in the city, Luv2eat Thai Bistro. The name says it all. As for Crossroads of the World? Still unsure of what that is, but not quite curious enough to figure it out. 

Welcome to working Hollywood. As in, the part of Hollywood where people work. There’s some studios and production spaces. Some office buildings. And a lot of local chain lunch options (think: Tocaya, Tender Greens, Veggie Grill). There’s the CNN building with a Philz downstairs (pro-tip, they validate 20 minutes of parking in the structure for pick ups). The late Amoeba Music (RIP this musical institution). And then the historic Cinerama – a living relic from the hot minute when Hollywood thought they could just keep making movies wider to get people to stop watching TV. 

And then you hit Sunset and Vine. Super commercial. Super Hollywood. Probably the nicest Walgreens in the city (they have specialists in the beauty section and they sell sushi??), and the prettiest Chase bank with a mural facade (and perhaps more importantly a generous parking lot). 

Then, the few truly weird blocks. You have the bubbly Nickelodeon studios facing a Hollywood Palladium that just looks… tired. And then you have the sleek and modern Columbia Square (home to Viacom’s headquarters, the annoyingly pretty NeueHouse, a Sugarfish and an unnecessarily bougie cafe, Rubies+Diamonds, facing a Western themed strip mall that is just an eyesore. But I’d have it no other way. Because nothing captures the heart and soul of Hollywood than this juxtaposition that gives even Vegas a run for its money. (Although, to Gower’s credit, there is a solid coffee option – Coffee Commissary, and a Roscoe’s within reach at this intersection). The cherry on top is actually just east, an obnoxiously large sign for Arby’s (followed by another legit Thai place, Hoy-Ka Thai Noodle). 

To the north side of Sunset, a beautifully minimalist commercial center. To the south, a tacky “Wild West” themed strip mall and gaudy signage. Talk about juxtaposition.

And then you got the new Hollywood money. Aka Netflix. Oh and Emerson’s LA campus (the beautiful building by the Arby’s). But once you hit Netflix, congratulations, you’ve reached the end of the worst part of Sunset. 

V. THAI TOWN

Right past the 101, Sunset Boulevard takes you right through the heart of Thai town. It might not look impressive to those who don’t know better, but this is the place to be. Even though you’re just a mile away from the hell hole of Hollywood, here in East Hollywood, all is good and all is spicy. You’ve got your choices: there’s the solid noodle shop Pa Ord (two locations on Sunset), there’s Jonathan Gold’s favorite Jitlada. If you missed it before, there’s also another Zankou as we mix in some middle eastern flavors (the lines between Thai Town and Little Armenia get pretty blurred). Oh and excellent taco trucks a plenty. All of this scattered among discount stores and auto shops and a brand new Target that seems quite frankly out of place in the grungy patchwork blocks of EaHo. The lesson here is that all of the best things in LA are hidden in strip malls and grocery store parking lots. If you know, you know. And now you know.

Then it’s the “Hospital Strip” of Sunset Boulevard (doesn’t get it’s own section bc 1, you hopefully won’t be stopping here, 2, it really is just a couple blocks). Just be glad you aren’t a block south, on the Scientology strip of Fountain.

Case in point, many would simply drive by these signs. But those who know, know.

VI. COFFEE SHOP ROW

Right past one of the most confusing and annoying intersections in LA (that would be where Sunset turns and kind of merges with Hollywood Boulevard, but also at the same time intersects with Virgil which turns into Hillhurst), you get to the best part of Sunset Boulevard and quite frankly the only part worth existing in for the long term.

Welcome to Silver Lake and Echo Park. Yes. Home of the hipsters. Yes. Third wave coffee shops abundant. Yes. All the cool places you should be eating at. Yes. It is straight up dangerous to drive on this part of Sunset because there are far too many distractions.

I won’t get into all the places that are here. Just know that between Fountain and all the way through to the end of Echo Park, there are dozens upon dozens of cafés, shops and restaurants that are a billion times better than anything else on this street so far.

SUNSET x FOUNTAIN >> SANTA MONICA

RIP Ma’am Sir

Ok fine, I’ll go over a few. The first thing you’ll pass before you hit coffee shop heaven is Sunset Nursery (a local favorite) on your right. Try to ignore the Scientology media studio thing on the other side. Ignore it! And then you start the coffee tour with Dinosaur Coffee (right next to the McDonalds where you’ll always randomly run into C-list celebs). There’s the all white “Bate’s Motel” to your left (don’t know how long this will stay). And then of course, Sunset Junction. Home to the east side’s Intelligentsia. Where all the hipsters come for coffee to sit and be seen. 

Sunset Junction | Silver Lake

Skipping along (will link below), there’s that weird plaza with Pine and Crane, and then a bunch of bougie shops (think: Aesop, Le Labo, etc). Like the same ones you’d find on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Or on Berry in Williamsburg. Or on Armitage in Lincoln Park. Or on Hayes in Hayes Valley. A second Night+Market (Song). A strip of millennial-branded storefronts that includes a café called Dayglow (have you heard of anything more millennial?) and the new favorite All Day Baby

More restaurants, more cafés, more shops and bars. Somewhere around Alvarado (around where Andante is on your left and a gentrified strip mall with Starbucks Reserve is on your right), you transition from Silver Lake to Echo Park. These days, they are practically one in the same. You can’t really see Echo Park from Sunset. There are too many trendy coffee shops and restaurants in the way. Triniti is too cool for most people. Honey Hi tricks you into thinking you’re eating healthy LA food. Sage is vegan but comfort food. There’s a Lassens. It all checks out. 

From here it becomes a little less over saturated. You might have to go an entire block before reaching the next trendy hot spot. There’s Ostrich Farm, and then the famous but humble Konbi. And then near the end, near the Dodger Stadium traffic, Eightfold Coffee and the famous Guisados tacos. Right when you think it’s over, Sunset hits you with another confusing loopy intersection (btw it’s not fun turning around on this street if you miss anything – the detours are hell so just try not to). A street that is short but has three names and loops up and around a hill (great view of DTLA btw) to drop you right back on Sunset. Home to Winsome (yes, the place Lena Waithe took Dave Chang in Breakfast Lunch Dinner) a Clark Street (just had to squeeze one last coffee shop in there). Side note: if you wanna do a drive by tour, turn right and explore Angelino Heights just west of Sunset, home to some very famous Victorian mansions. 

And then finally, you hit the clusterf*ck that is the 101/110 interchange, and just past it, before you really get into Chinatown, the end of Sunset Boulevard, as it meets Figueroa Street to retire its name and become W Cesar Estrada Chavez Ave.

Happily ever after. How’s that for a Hollywood ending?

From ultra rich residences to grungy strip malls, from glitzy Hollywood entertainment to quiet neighborhood gardens, Sunset Boulevard has some of the best that LA can offer. And some of the worst too. It’s all a matter of perspective.

bookmark these

  • Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine: Admittedly random, but still well-loved shrine and “lake” for peaceful walks and meditation.
  • Palisades Village: Aka the Grove or Americana of the Palisades. There’s an Erewhon, an Alfred, a Sunlife Organics and The Little Market (aka Lauren Conrad’s cause-based gift shop) and an Amazon Books (bc we all know how yoga moms love to keep up w book clubs) in this bougie shopping complex that is basically where rich people come to run errands.
  • Will Rogers State Park: There’s a few trails leading up from Sunset with great views of the city and the coast. Also much easier to spread out than say Runyon or Griffith.
  • Brentwood Village Plaza: A quaint little plaza with a Kreation and Soom Soom and Starbucks and a cute local bakery Belwood Bakery. Not convinced people actually come here unless they happen to stop by and are suddenly thirsty.
  • UCLA: I don’t care how much you love USC, we have a better campus. Like if you need a beautiful outdoor space to picnic while social distancing and you’re on the west side, this is it. Be nice.
  • A lot of super cute little parks in the residential parts of Bel Air. Random, but cute.
  • Beverly Hills Hotel: this place is iconic for a reason, come for the cute banana leaf print and stay to pump elbows with the VIPs of Hollywood.
  • Soho House: I mean, if you’re looking for a scene, you’ve found it.
  • Night + Market Weho: The original Night+Market. We don’t love the location, but we love the food, and appreciate that they give us options west of the 405 and east of the 101 as well (NM Song is also on Sunset, but the cooler better part of Sunset)
  • 1OAK: Jk this is the real scene.
  • The Roxy: the first of many classic LA venues that agencies like to name their conference rooms after.
  • Whisky A Go Go: Another venue.
  • Viper Room: Another venue.
  • Book Soup: Actually a good indie bookstore, we like it.
  • Eveleigh, State Social House and other scene-y party brunch restaurants, we don’t like it
  • Sunset Plaza: We like it but mostly because it has ample free parking in the back. Even though these restaurants bring out the worst of the WeHo brunch crowd (aka the transplants). BBCM is tolerable.
  • Mel’s Drive In: an outpost of the LA classic
  • Daughter’s Deli: might as well call it the Daughter’s Deli. This is the Langer’s daughter we’re talking about after all.
  • All of the new money hotels: Seriously so many 4-star hotels on this block you’d think you’re in Vegas. Let’s be real the only cool one is The Standard.
  • Chateau Marmont: the only one that is actually impressive.
  • 8000 Sunset Strip: a shopping complex with suburban sensibilities (aka there’s a Trader Joe’s and CVS and Starbucks.
  • The Laugh Factory and Greenblatt’s: I mean, these two practically go together. Stand up comedy and old school deli food, what’s not to love?
  • The Griddle Cafe: Pancake stacks that can feed a family of four, hot waiters, and a long wait.
  • Zankou: not the only location on this street.
  • Ralph’s: don’t come here this one is a shit show.
  • The In-n-Out: The one that has all of the Hollywood Blvd tourists.
  • The Chick-fil-A: The one that has…all of the Hollywood Blvd tourists.
  • Luv2Eat: Seriously some of the best Thai food in the city. Get the jade noodles.
  • Crossroads of the World: This place is still an enigma to me. Like what does it mean? What is it? Why is it here? Who knows? But also, we wouldn’t expect any less of Hollywood.
  • The CNN building: Come here for Philz, they validate parking for pick ups. Or if you can snag street parking, there’s Groundwork across the street.
  • Space 15 Twenty: a shopping center for the cool kids (although, is Urban Outfitters still cool?)
  • Amoeba: RIP this musical institution.
  • Cinerama and the Studios by sunset and vine: for most intents and purposes, a food court and entertainment center.
  • The prettiest Chase bank: just, yeah.
  • The Palladium: a venue that looks like it’s seen better years lol.
  • Columbia Square and the weird western strip mall: So on one side you get NeueHouse, Sugarfish, Rubies+Diamonds and like the 3rd Sweetgreen so far on this street (more to come). On the other you get Rite Aid, The Kickin’ Crab and Dennys 🤷🏻‍♀️.
  • Lots of studio and recording buildings
  • Emerson: this building actively annoys me. Private schools. 🙄
  • Arby’s: feat. the most obnoxiously large hat sign. Like, this is a landmark that you’d expect to see somewhere in a boring part of Route 66. But instead it’s here on Sunset.
  • The Original Hoy-Ka Thai Noodle: another solid Thai place (Sunset is good for Thai food)
  • Netflix: ah, new money. This Netflix building stands like a large F-you to the major studios.
  • Home Depot and Target: Hey we appreciate this on the east side, ok?
  • Taco trucks: follow the flashing lights into the parking lot, you won’t be disappointed.
  • Pa Ord x 2: Unfussy Thai noodle dishes. And two locations at your convenience!
  • Jitlada: If the great Jonathan Gold gave his stamp of approval, we will all bow down. But seriously even if you love spicy food think twice before you order anything above mild.
  • Zeytun Grocery: for your Armenian grocery needs.
  • Zankou: hello again.
  • The Vista Theater: it’s quaint, it’s cute, it’s everything you want in a neighborhood movie theater.
  • The Scientology Media Center: prob where they churn out propaganda. Stay away.
  • Sunset Nursery: the perfect neighborhood nursery, moderately priced, decent selection, helpful staff.
  • The Kitchen: the perfect corner casual restaurant.
  • Dinosaur Coffee: the perfect aesthetic cute neighborhood cafe. Can you tell I used to live around the block?
  • My Vegan Gold: solid vegan Thai takeout
  • The Bates Motel: of instagram fame
  • 4100: low key bar
  • Mowhawk General Store: bougie lifestyle shop you wish you could afford
  • The 4th? I’ve lost track Sweetgreen on this street.
  • Tartine: I mean, how dare they open this after I move??
  • Sunset Junction: see and be seen, this is hipster central to the point that it’s mainstream.
  • Cafe Stella: can be a scene, but still a neighborhood favorite
  • Gilly Flowers: gotta have a local florist
  • Intelligentsia: a bit of an institution in Silver Lake
  • The Black Cat: a bar for grown ups
  • Yolk: a boutique for children
  • La Colombe: yes, they dared open right by Intelligentsia. Also RIP Casbah.
  • Yeastie Boys Bagels (often parked in front of a cafe nearby)
  • Needle: the new(ish) modern Cantonese hole in wall that took place of We Have Noodles
  • Forage: easy counter serve comfort food but like for grown ups
  • Tacos Delta: breakfast burritos that will knock you out for the day
  • Secret Headquarters: a popular comic shop
  • Sawyer: popular for brunch and oysters
  • Scout: cute adjacent coffee shop
  • Silver Lake Farmers Market: Saturdays only, bring cash.
  • Roo: a cute Aussie cafe
  • Pine and Crane: Taiwanese food for white people (ok and for yuppie Asians)
  • United Bread & Pastry: a longtime old school neighborhood Filipino bakery
  • The block with all of the millennial favorite DTC brands (seriously like Buck Mason, Le Labo, A.P.C. Aesop, you name it they have it)
  • Kreation (prob also like the third we’ve passed by on this street)
  • Heyday: spa for millennials
  • Eszett: a newer but buzzy restaurant in the neighborhood
  • Micheltorena Stairs: there are a lot of random stairs in Silver Lake but this one is painted and therefore an Instagram destination
  • Alfred: the second we’ve passed (the other being in Palisades)
  • Night+Market Song: also the second we’ve passed, this location is smaller but just as good if not better?
  • Day Glow: occupying a location that seems to always house a coffee shop but not for long – they’ve stayed put for a few years though, so maybe they’ve broken the curse
  • All Day Baby: your overly branded neighborhood diner/bakery/bar (we love it)
  • Flore Vegan: used to be further up but still a popular choie for vegan comfort foods
  • Silverlake Ramen: “the” ramen of the east side (what, we’re too far from Sawtelle ok?)
  • Ohana Superette: super cute Hawaiian
  • Freedman’s: trendy Jewish food
  • P.F. Candle Co: a little shop for those candles you find at every boutique in hipster neighborhoods in every city across the country
  • Andante: the east side outpost of a tried and true local coffee roaster
  • Starbucks Reserve: considering how many Starbucks we’ve passed, this is the only nice one
  • Mohawk Bend: a neighborhood institution
  • Larchmont Bungalow: in a shopping center of Echo Park because they got kicked out of their bungalow in Larchmont
  • Triniti: scandi-cool coffee shop
  • Sticky Rice: the brick and mortar of the Grand Central Market favorite
  • Stories: a bookstore with a cafe (or maybe the other way around?)
  • Sage: LA’s favorite vegan comfort food restaurant
  • Honey Hi: the epitome of a white girl on the east side’s diet
  • Dinette: probably more popular on Instagram than IRL
  • Ostrich Farm: an aesthetic yet low key choice for brunch and drinks
  • Konbi: sandos and croissants that truly need no introduction
  • Eightfold Coffee: a minimalist coffee shop that attracts a very obvious consumer base
  • Guisados: excellent tacos

a day on sunset

Yes, you can spend an entire day just on this street. No cheating. Ok well, you’re allowed to (and will probably have to) park on the side streets, but all of the main attractions have to have a Sunset address.

morning

Start on the east side. Mostly so that you can get breakfast at Konbi before they run out of croissants. Do yourself a favor and double up on brunch, perhaps at Ostrich Farm or Sage or All Day Baby. Or at least grab a coffee at Triniti or Andante or at the obligatory Intelligentsia.

Shop around the boutiques of Echo Park and Silver Lake. Buy a candle or four at P.F. Candle Co. Climb the Micheltorena Stairs to get an appetite. Shop (or at least window shop) at all those yuppie brands that advertise on your podcasts. Grab a picture by the Bates Motel. Buy some succulents at Sunset Nursery.

AFTERNOON

You’re getting Asian food for lunch and you have many choices. If you want to stay a little longer in Silver Lake, get Taiwanese food at Pine and Crane or ramen at Silver Lake Ramen. Or make your way to Thai town and get noodles at Pa Ord, or test your spice tolerance with southern Thai specialties at Jitlada. Or keep at it into Hollywood and go to Hoy Ka or Luv2Eat. You have options.

After lunch, skip ahead to the west side. Trust me. Traffic wise, you might as well go for it. If you’re feeling up to it, go all the way to the end and find a moment of peace at the Self Realization Fellowship Lake. Otherwise, grab some juice at Erewhon (or a nitro cold brew from Alfred), street park by the Will Rogers State Park and pick a trail, preferably one that will give you a view of the ocean by golden hour.

EVENING

Ok now make your way back east, toward the dreadful West Hollywood. Enjoy the scenic drive. Maybe stop by UCLA for a walk down memory lane? No? Just me? Ok.

Keep going. Consider stopping at the Beverly Hills Hotel (but honestly, if you’re not here for the Polo Lounge or just… rich enough to hang out, why bother?). Stop by Book Soup to pick up something good.

Need to run some errands? Now’s the time. Hollywood is a mess anyways. Take a moment to appreciate the strangeness, the weird cringey architecture, the remnants of Hollywood history hidden in plain sight.

Pregame a show with some deli favorites at Daughter’s or Greenblatt’s. Then head over to your venue of choice for some stand up.

Grab dinner at Night+Market. Order the crispy rice salad and panang curry and larb. And a bottle of natural wine. Or a beer tower. Feel our your party vibe. Night+Market will deliver.

Finish off your day with whatever West Hollywood has to offer. Perhaps that’s a concert. Or maybe a comedy show. Or maybe something a little more rauchy. Either way, end your night with tacos, because no matter what street you’re on, this is the best way to end a night in LA.

see also

LA’S BEST CRITIC

LOS ANGELES GUIDE

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