Thomas's Guidebook
Food scene
Neighborhood coffeehouse across the street run by the super friendly Yancy. You should be able to recognize him by his effusive personality and LA Dodgers cap! Great vibe and everything offered on menu is fantastic!
35 locals recommend
Antigua
3400 N Figueroa StNeighborhood coffeehouse across the street run by the super friendly Yancy. You should be able to recognize him by his effusive personality and LA Dodgers cap! Great vibe and everything offered on menu is fantastic!
Awesome little cafe and juice bar with a large menu prepared by a friendly staff!
Aide's café and juices
2805 N Figueroa StAwesome little cafe and juice bar with a large menu prepared by a friendly staff!
Yum Yum Donuts
Falmouth AvenueFriendly neighborhood donut shop.
Vegan donuts! The Custard Front Drive is an absolute must! They might be a bit pricey, but worth every penny!
159 locals recommend
Donut Friend
5107 York BlvdVegan donuts! The Custard Front Drive is an absolute must! They might be a bit pricey, but worth every penny!
This place pretty much has it all, including out of this world Horchata, and it’s only a block away!
Cypress Best Burgers
3240 N Figueroa StThis place pretty much has it all, including out of this world Horchata, and it’s only a block away!
El Atacor#1
3520 North Figueroa StreetTwo words: Super Burrito
Junior Pizza
3520 N Figueroa StGood pizza and good prices! Short walk to pick-up, and they deliver!
No frills Mexican joint just up Figueroa with tasty food served by friendly people.
17 locals recommend
La Abeja Restaurant
3700 North Figueroa StreetNo frills Mexican joint just up Figueroa with tasty food served by friendly people.
Salvadoran restaurant across Figueroa featuring super tasty pupusas and plantains!
Maria's Restaurant
Salvadoran restaurant across Figueroa featuring super tasty pupusas and plantains!
Otoño
5715 N Figueroa StFabulous Spanish food in a vibrant atmosphere with an awesome bar!
Hippo
5916 1/2 N Figueroa StCasual cool and contemporary with amazing Italian food!
Cafe Birdie
5631 N Figueroa StTrendy spot with a welcoming atmosphere for dinner and drinks.
Dynamite Vegan Mexican food at great prices! Go for the HOT sauce, but use it sparingly! Available for pick-up or delivery only!
Cena Vegan - Mission
Dynamite Vegan Mexican food at great prices! Go for the HOT sauce, but use it sparingly! Available for pick-up or delivery only!
Neighborhood Bars
Footsies
2640 N Figueroa StTHE Cypress Park bar. Hip scene with nicely priced drinks.
Great cocktails, food, and beer selection. If you’re into European football (Soccer!) this is your place! They also play most other sporting events.
98 locals recommend
The Greyhound Bar & Grill
5570 N Figueroa StGreat cocktails, food, and beer selection. If you’re into European football (Soccer!) this is your place! They also play most other sporting events.
Fun spot that offers tasty bar food, craft cocktails, and bowling!
253 locals recommend
Highland Park Bowl
5621 N Figueroa StFun spot that offers tasty bar food, craft cocktails, and bowling!
Good Housekeeping HLP
5635 N Figueroa StCozy spot for the perfect nightcap.
ETA
5630 N Figueroa StChill cozy spot to grab drinks.
Old School Eateries
Established 1908. Downtown joint with awesome bar and vibe claiming to have originated the French Dip sandwich.
153 locals recommend
Cole's French Dip
118 E 6th StEstablished 1908. Downtown joint with awesome bar and vibe claiming to have originated the French Dip sandwich.
Established 1908. Downtown joint with awesome authentic vibe claiming to have originated the French Dip sandwich.
100 locals recommend
Philippe The Original
1001 N Alameda StEstablished 1908. Downtown joint with awesome authentic vibe claiming to have originated the French Dip sandwich.
Established 1917. Huge array of gastro choices available for your overindulgence amid this beautiful bustling Downtown bazaar.
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayEstablished 1917. Huge array of gastro choices available for your overindulgence amid this beautiful bustling Downtown bazaar.
Established 1919. Los Angeles Royalty. The oldest and most iconic restaurant in Hollywood. Enough said.
198 locals recommend
Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood BlvdEstablished 1919. Los Angeles Royalty. The oldest and most iconic restaurant in Hollywood. Enough said.
Established 1922. Scottish pub in Atwater Village. A favorite spot of Walt Disney (his table was #31), and the inspiration for Snow White’s cottage!
51 locals recommend
Tam O'Shanter
2980 Los Feliz BlvdEstablished 1922. Scottish pub in Atwater Village. A favorite spot of Walt Disney (his table was #31), and the inspiration for Snow White’s cottage!
Established 1923. The FIRST Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles!
46 locals recommend
El Cholo - The Original
1121 S Western AveEstablished 1923. The FIRST Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles!
Established 1924. An absolutely no frills Downtown staple.
88 locals recommend
The Original Pantry Cafe
877 S Figueroa StEstablished 1924. An absolutely no frills Downtown staple.
Established 1927. An Echo Park treasure. Savory French comfort food served in a cozy atmosphere with a lively bar scene!
125 locals recommend
Taix French Restaurant
1911 Sunset BlvdEstablished 1927. An Echo Park treasure. Savory French comfort food served in a cozy atmosphere with a lively bar scene!
Established 1929. Original Eastside joint serving classic deli food at great prices!
17 locals recommend
Eastside Italian Deli
1013 Alpine StEstablished 1929. Original Eastside joint serving classic deli food at great prices!
Canter's Deli
Established 1931. THE Hollywood deli! It doesn’t get much more iconic than Canter’s.
Established 1931. Fantastic Mexican food served in a festive atmosphere.
72 locals recommend
El Coyote
7312 Beverly BlvdEstablished 1931. Fantastic Mexican food served in a festive atmosphere.
Established 1932. A truly one of a kind Downtown experience!
79 locals recommend
The Pacific Seas at Clifton’s Cafeteria
648 S BroadwayEstablished 1932. A truly one of a kind Downtown experience!
Tom Bergin's
Established 1936. Irish Pub with fantastic vibe.
The Formosa Cafe
Established 1939. A truly iconic Hollywood jewel from the Golden Age.
Established 1939. Hollywood’s world-famous Hot Dog Stand. The line can be crazy long, because the wait is totally worth it!
297 locals recommend
Pink's Hot Dogs
709 N La Brea AveEstablished 1939. Hollywood’s world-famous Hot Dog Stand. The line can be crazy long, because the wait is totally worth it!
Established 1946. Koreatown gem! Incredible Korean food served in an absolutely luscious atmosphere!
46 locals recommend
The Prince
2 W 7th StEstablished 1946. Koreatown gem! Incredible Korean food served in an absolutely luscious atmosphere!
Established 1947. Deli and diner across from MacArthur Park with a classic menu and throwback atmosphere.
71 locals recommend
Langer's
704 S Alvarado StEstablished 1947. Deli and diner across from MacArthur Park with a classic menu and throwback atmosphere.
Mels Drive-In
8585 Sunset BlvdEstablished 1947. The Sunset Strip Original.
Bob's Big Boy
4211 W Riverside DrEstablished 1949. Iconic joint born in Burbank.
Established 1954. One of a kind spot for chilling out in Eagle Rock.
22 locals recommend
Colombo's Italian Steakhouse & Jazz Club
1833 Colorado BlvdEstablished 1954. One of a kind spot for chilling out in Eagle Rock.
Established 1954. This Los Feliz spot showcased in the film Swingers oozes the ultimate mid-century Los Angeles cool!
210 locals recommend
The Dresden Restaurant & Lounge
1760 N Vermont AveEstablished 1954. This Los Feliz spot showcased in the film Swingers oozes the ultimate mid-century Los Angeles cool!
Established 1959. German restaurant and beer house with a great patio located in Silver Lake.
149 locals recommend
The Red Lion Tavern
2366 Glendale BlvdEstablished 1959. German restaurant and beer house with a great patio located in Silver Lake.
Established 1960. My favorite breakfast spot and a Silver Lake staple featuring the best fresh-squeezed orange juice in town!
28 locals recommend
Astro Family Restaurant
2300 Fletcher DrEstablished 1960. My favorite breakfast spot and a Silver Lake staple featuring the best fresh-squeezed orange juice in town!
Established 1962. Located in Silver Lake, and my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant! Superb vibe and famously strong margaritas!
58 locals recommend
Casita Del Campo
1920 Hyperion AveEstablished 1962. Located in Silver Lake, and my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant! Superb vibe and famously strong margaritas!
Established 1962. Great Spanish food with an awesome patio and atmosphere in Silver Lake. Enjoy some dinner and a live Flamenco show!
65 locals recommend
El Cid
4212 Sunset BlvdEstablished 1962. Great Spanish food with an awesome patio and atmosphere in Silver Lake. Enjoy some dinner and a live Flamenco show!
Classic Watering Holes
Established 1917. Winery tours and tastings available near Downtown!
45 locals recommend
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar StEstablished 1917. Winery tours and tastings available near Downtown!
Established 1934. A Hollywood classic situated next to the iconic Pantages Theater.
49 locals recommend
Frolic Room
6245 Hollywood BlvdEstablished 1934. A Hollywood classic situated next to the iconic Pantages Theater.
Established 1961. Legendary little drinking hole and music room off Canter’s Deli.
8 locals recommend
Kibitz Room at Canter's
419 N Fairfax AveEstablished 1961. Legendary little drinking hole and music room off Canter’s Deli.
Tiki Ti
4427 Sunset BlvdEstablished 1961. A shimmering Silver Lake oasis.
Neighborhoods
Historic and hip neighborhood with vibrant shopping, dining and night-life along both the Figueroa and York corridors…and you might also bump into Billie Eilish or her brother Finneas since this is where they grew up.
132 locals recommend
Highland Park
Historic and hip neighborhood with vibrant shopping, dining and night-life along both the Figueroa and York corridors…and you might also bump into Billie Eilish or her brother Finneas since this is where they grew up.
Mount Washington sits just across Figueroa, and I hike up and over it every day! It offers wonderful views of Downtown, the Griffith Park Observatory and Hollywood Sign, the San Gabriel mountains to Mount Baldy, and you can even see all the way to Long Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Just plug “kite hill” into your favorite map app!
Mount Washington
Mount Washington sits just across Figueroa, and I hike up and over it every day! It offers wonderful views of Downtown, the Griffith Park Observatory and Hollywood Sign, the San Gabriel mountains to Mount Baldy, and you can even see all the way to Long Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Just plug “kite hill” into your favorite map app!
Original Eastside vibe! Wonderful street scene along Sunset Boulevard with plenty of shopping, dining and night-life offerings!
234 locals recommend
Echo Park
1632 Echo Park AveOriginal Eastside vibe! Wonderful street scene along Sunset Boulevard with plenty of shopping, dining and night-life offerings!
Eastside gem of a neighborhood snaking along Sunset Boulevard just west of Echo Park. It offers numerous dining and boutique shopping experiences.
Silver Lake
Eastside gem of a neighborhood snaking along Sunset Boulevard just west of Echo Park. It offers numerous dining and boutique shopping experiences.
Chinatown
Only two Metro stops away…but countless worlds…
Parks
The largest municipal park in the country. It truly has it all: Observatory, LA Zoo, Greek Theater, horseback riding, hiking trails, and the Bat Cave!
898 locals recommend
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs DriveThe largest municipal park in the country. It truly has it all: Observatory, LA Zoo, Greek Theater, horseback riding, hiking trails, and the Bat Cave!
Elysian Park surrounds Dodger Stadium and is a short drive away. It offers up plenty of picnic spots and hiking trails.
273 locals recommend
Elysian Park
835 Academy RdElysian Park surrounds Dodger Stadium and is a short drive away. It offers up plenty of picnic spots and hiking trails.
Nearby park with picnic areas and hiking trails that offer sweeping views of surrounding area.
112 locals recommend
Ernest E Debs Regional Park
4235 Monterey RdNearby park with picnic areas and hiking trails that offer sweeping views of surrounding area.
My favorite place to spend time in Los Angeles! I’m an avid hiker, and thoroughly enjoy the trails up Mount Lukens; the tallest mountain in Los Angeles.
20 locals recommend
Deukmejian Wilderness Park
3429 Markridge RdMy favorite place to spend time in Los Angeles! I’m an avid hiker, and thoroughly enjoy the trails up Mount Lukens; the tallest mountain in Los Angeles.
City advice
Don't miss
LA Bizarro
For more ideas on how to explore Los Angeles feel free to check out my copy of LA Bizarro on the nightstand!
Don't miss
Shepard Fairey Prints
Original Shepard Fairey prints grace the stairs down the “Figueroa Underwalk” at the corner of Loreto and Figueroa!