Experience Los Angeles on a Budget in L.A.’s Hippest Neighborhood
Instead of wading through a sea of tourists on Hollywood Boulevard, experience Los Angeles like a local while staying in one of L.A.’s hippest, walk-friendly neighborhoods. Why not spend a few days where real Angelenos like to hang out? You may even spot a few celebrities! I’m talking about L.A.’s Beverly Grove neighborhood, which borderlines West Hollywood and Beverly Hills and is one of L.A.’s few walk-friendly neighborhoods. If you don’t mind walking, you can skip renting a car and never run out of things to see and do.
LACMA’s “Urban Light” street lamps by artist Chris Burden | Photo by Rebecca Pavlik
Anchored by two of L.A.’s premiere shopping malls, the Beverly Center and The Grove, this mellow and understated neighborhood epitomizes L.A.’s laid back casual reputation. It’s a short walk from one to the other, with many trendy little shops and boutiques in between. West Third Street is the hub of most of the activity. If you’re not a shopper, there are a ton of local restaurants and outdoor cafes, as well as L.A.’s famous Farmer’s Market at The Grove. You will also find movie theaters at The Grove, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, art galleries, the super hip Melrose Trading Post flea market (great for people watching), and much, much more.
Beverly Grove – a Deux Chevaux off W. Third St. | Photo by Rebecca Pavlik
What’s so nice about the Beverly Grove area is that most of the shops and restaurants cater to Angelenos, giving it a very relaxed vibe. Due to its central location and proximity to the major film studios, many of the people who live in this area work in the entertainment industry. Actors, writers, musicians, artists, and film production folk call this neighborhood home. You’ll find them walking their dogs, going out to brunch, and shopping at Trader Joe’s. You may even spot a few celebrities at Joan’s On Third, an L.A. institution and a favorite of locals since 1995.
Beverly Grove apartment buildings on Blackburn Ave. | Photo by Rebecca Pavlik
While there is a host of things to do and see within these few short blocks, my favorite is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (LACMA, as it’s known). LACMA has beautiful gardens open to the public, which include the La Brea Tar Pits. In addition, LACMA offers their free Friday Night Jazz series, which takes place outdoors. Music lovers can bring their own food and picnic on the lawn while enjoying the concert. Oh, did I mention the art? If you only have time to visit one art museum, this is the one to see.
Every street in this unassuming neighborhood is packed with shops, galleries and cafes catering to L.A.’s diverse culture and lifestyle. A good example is the ever-evolving scene on Fairfax Avenue between Beverly Blvd. and Melrose Avenue. This stretch includes super trendy hip-hop and skateboard shops, art galleries, cool thrift stores, and L.A.’s famous Canter’s Deli. The constantly changing scene now has more restaurants catering to the young and hip.
Also on Fairfax Avenue is the popular Melrose Trading Post flea market. Locals flock here every Sunday for people-watching, antiquing, and catching up on the latest vintage fashion trends. For fashionistas with serious cash to spend, visit the upscale stretch of Melrose Avenue between Crescent Heights and La Cienega. Quite a few famous clothing designers have opened high-end boutiques on this trendy road.
The Grove, L.A.’s popular outdoor shopping mall | Photo by Rebecca Pavlik
For a completely different scene, I recommend Farmer’s Market at The Grove. This outdoor mall and food court, an L.A. landmark, is popular among tourists and locals alike. The food stalls here offer a wonderful variety of cuisine (including bakery, crepes, and candy booths). The food here is great and a much better deal than the over-priced restaurants at The Grove.
Whatever you do, don’t rent a car! While this neighborhood is known for being walk-friendly, it’s also known for having some of the worst grid-lock in central Los Angeles. It is literally faster to walk than to drive down some of these streets. If you must visit Hollywood Boulevard, just call an Uber. The only thing worse than driving in Los Angeles is trying to find a parking space!
The Beverly Laurel Hotel on Beverly Blvd. | Photo by Rebecca Pavlik
Best Hotels in Beverly Grove (and walking distance to most sights I mentioned) – The Orlando Hotel, the Farmers Daughter, the Beverly Laurel, and the Wilshire Crest Hotel.
Best Eateries – almost any restaurant on W. Third Street, especially Joan’s on Third, Goal (sports bar), Swingers (diner open til 2 AM), Son of a Gun (seafood), The Churchill, Little Next Door, Gusto (Italian), Toast (breakfast, brunch), El Carmen (Mexican) Canter’s Deli, Kings Road Café (hip local favorite since 1990), El Coyote (an L.A. landmark), and DuPars (for breakfast at The Grove).
Sightseeing and L.A. Landmarks (walking distance) – LACMA, CBS Studios, The Holocaust Museum, The Petersen Car Museum, Canters Deli, Melrose Avenue, Fairfax Avenue, The Grove and Farmer’s Market.
Sightseeing farther away if you have a car (my favorite L.A. sights and attractions) – The Getty Center (amazing art museum), Universal Studios (especially the movie studio tour), Warner Bros. Studio Tour (for private tours), Hiking trails near the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Pantages Theater (beautiful old theater), Mulholland Drive (for city views), Malibu Beaches (my favorite place to hang out for the day), The Hollywood Bowl (great place to see a performance), Santa Monica beach area.
© 2022 Rebecca Pavlik | TravlGusto