Los Angeles Neighborhoods Breakdown

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is where the rich and fabulous people of Los Angeles live, shop, and dine. This neighborhood is one of the most famous in the city, with the name being synonymous with celebrity mansions and designer shops lining the streets. The commercial area of Beverly Hills is called the Golden Triangle, which includes the world-famous Rodeo Drive. The actual residents of this Los Angeles neighborhood are a very close-knit community with deep roots. As one of the three big affluent neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills is by far the one tourists flock to the most. If you want a taste of how the other half lives, take a stroll through Rodeo Drive to window shop or splurge a bit by eating at one of the many gourmet restaurants in the area. One of our favorites is Il Pastaio which has been serving mouthwatering Italian fare for almost 30 years.

Malibu

This 21-mile strip of coastline that extends into the Santa Monica Mountains is part small coastal town and part celebrity getaway. Many celebrities live in Malibu, so if you’re looking to try and spot one, this is the place to go. Malibu is one of the most outdoors-friendly Los Angeles neighborhoods, with great weather year-round and plenty of fantastic hiking areas that are scarce in other parts of the city. It has a beachy, laid-back atmosphere and is home to some of the best surfing in California. The Malibu Farmers Market is one of the best in the area for locals and tourists alike, and you have to check out the Malibu Country Mart for some great dining and shopping options right on the beach.

Venice Beach

When you think of an LA beach neighborhood filled with roller skaters, surfers, and bikini-clad sunbathers, Venice Beach is the one you’re thinking of. The famous beach spans a mile and a half of beautiful white sand beach that is easily walkable or bikeable, with The Boardwalk offering plenty of bars, restaurants, and shopping. The neighborhood of Venice was originally designed after the Italian city with the same name, but it’s taken on a style of its own since then. The most obvious example is the Venice Canals, a gorgeous waterway that meanders through one of the nearby neighborhoods and its many unique homes. Other areas boast a rich art scene with plenty of street art and murals that turn Venice into a stunning technicolor destination where locals love to live and tourists love to visit.

West Hollywood

Fun fact: West Hollywood, with its 1.9 square miles of land, was founded as a city in the 80s by a coalition of LGBT activists, seniors, and renters, creating a unique destination that is one of the most influential small cities in the country. There is so much Hollywood history here, including the famous Sunset Strip with its iconic music venues, restaurants, and nightlife that ranges from swanky historic eateries like the Formosa Cafe, which dates back to 1925, to iconic stand-up clubs like The Comedy Store. For a refined spot filled with culture around every corner, the Design District in West Hollywood creates an unforgettable fusion of art, fashion, and food that cannot be missed. Just a few of our favorite stops are The Butcher’s Daughter, which, despite the name, offers a completely vegetarian menu, and Catch LA, with its delicious seafood and high-class clientele. Because West Hollywood is a tourist-heavy destination, it’s considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, but there are still some sketchy areas, so make sure you’re aware of your surroundings before taking that dark alleyway shortcut.

Hollywood

Hollywood may have a reputation for having ‘streets paved with gold,’ but the reality is definitely less glamorous than the movies make it out to be. Yes, the Walk of Fame and the famous Chinese Theater are here, but they’re mostly surrounded by cheap souvenir shops, sleeping homeless people, and horrifying versions of children’s cartoon characters charging 20 bucks a pop for a photo. Does that mean that it isn’t worth the trip? Absolutely not! Even if the main strip isn’t all it’s made out to be, there are still some seriously amazing places in Hollywood offering a real taste of star power. One of our favorites is a restaurant called Grandmaster Records, which was once an old recording studio that helped create some of the most iconic music in the world with artists such as David Bowie, The Goo Goo Dolls, and so many more. They also have a rooftop lounge where you can watch the sunset over the Hollywood Sign. The view is so gorgeous you’ll swear it’s movie magic.

Downtown LA

The neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles has tons of things to do and massive special events spaces like the Crypto Arena and the LA Convention Center, but just so you know before you visit, this area is dingy. It has a large homeless population and a high crime rate, so I wouldn’t go walking at night unless it’s with a big crowd of people, like if a Lakers game just ended. Despite that, the area is extremely walkable, and you can easily go from the Arts District to Little Tokyo to the Civic Center without any issue. Parking here is hard with a capital H, where it sometimes takes over an hour to find a spot if there’s a home game or convention going on. You’ll usually end up spending at least $30 bucks for the day or up to $60 if you decide to bite the bullet after driving around the block for the 12th time.

Eastside Los Angeles

This hillside area at the base of the famous Griffith Park consists of three Los Angeles neighborhoods that create the Brooklyn equivalent of LA. Los Feliz, Silverlake, and Echo Park are where many artists and innovators flock to live that creative, hipster lifestyle. Everything here is very locally oriented, with colorful shops and restaurants replacing the usual chain businesses you’ll see in other areas of the city. The food and bars here are a specific Eastside highlight, with tons of great dining options and wine bars that are culturally rich and authentically LA. The tree-lined streets here feature older homes that date back to the 20s and 30s, and it’s considered one of the best places to live in the area. Both Echo Park Lake and Silverlake are great for spending the day by the water with a picnic, and Echo Park Lake even offers adorable pedal boat rentals and live music nights.

The Valley

The Valley is a cleaner version of authentic LA that has been booming over the past few years as people move out of the city and into the suburbs to find more affordable housing. This exodus caused a lot of businesses from the city to follow suit, giving this area all of the convenience and luxury of the city without the congestion. The Los Angeles neighborhoods within the Valley are all easily driveable, with a lot of green spaces and family-oriented activities like the Studio City Farmers Market being the usual weekly events offered in the area.

The City of Angels is one of the most spread out and diverse destinations in the world. With its beautiful year-round sunny skies, miles of sparkling beaches, and thriving film and art scene, it’s no wonder that thousands of people flock to the area every year to visit its iconic landmarks or try their luck at becoming the new big star on the silver screen. Despite its reputation, this SoCal metropolis is so much more than just surfers and celebrities, it’s a thriving, beautiful destination that changes drastically depending on which Los Angeles neighborhood you decide to explore. With that in mind, we’ve broken down a chunk of the major Los Angeles neighborhoods so that you know what to expect, what the best things to do are, and how to make the most of your time in this famous city.