Los Feliz is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Los Angeles. It is full of art and art lovers, from vintage movie theaters, art galleries, and a beacon for all book lovers, Skylight Books. What I love about Los Feliz is that there are very few chains here, making it easier to support small businesses, vintage shop, and get great food. I hope this Los Feliz Neighborhood Guide gives locals and tourists tons of ideas to spend a day in this little town within a city.
The main reason Los Feliz is known outside of Los Angeles is that it is home to the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory.
This guide has over 50 things to do in Los Feliz.
If you are planning your trip and need advice, read my detailed guide for travelers.
Table of Contents
Why tourists go to Los Feliz
The only reason tourists go to Los Feliz is to see the Griffith Observatory, which is a shame because Griffith Park has three museums, hiking trails that lead you to breathtaking views, and Los Feliz has so much more to offer. I hope this Los Feliz Neighborhood Guide gives you lots of ideas.
Did you know?
So many movies have been filmed at the Griffith Observatory. Before your next visit watch Rebel Without A Cause, Charlie’s Angels, and La La Land.
This Ugly Beautiful City Tip
How you say Los Feliz and speak Angeleno.
Why locals go to Los Feliz
I hope this Los Feliz Neighborhood Guide also gives locals ideas for what to do here.
- Hike one of the many miles of trails in Griffith Park, including up to the Hollywood Sign.
- Picnic at Barnsdall Art Park.
- Sit in cafes to write screenplays, create content, and people watch at the restaurants along Vermont.
- Vintage Shop. Los Feliz has the best vintage shopping in the city. Followed by Burbank, which is outside of the city.
- They live here. Between Vermont and Hillhurst, Los Feliz, and Hollywood Blvd. are tons of 1920s-style apartments, craftsman houses, and other places that have tons of character.
Barnsdall Park @thisuglybeautifulcity
Top 5 things to do in Los Feliz
One: Go to Griffith Park [click here to read a post about it]
Two: Vintage shop [click here to read a post about it]
Three: Tour a Hollyhock House [click here to read a post about it]
Four: See a concert at the Greek Theater.
Five: Buy books or see a book event at Skylight Books. [click here to read a post about it]
My Los Feliz Favorites
My favorite place to get coffee: Maru Coffee
My favorite restaurant: Saffy’s
My favorite place to get a cocktail: It is tied between Saffy’s and getting a glass of wine at Tabla Rasa.
Bonus: My favorite place to get a Milkshake: Fred 62 (My milkshake of choice is chocolate peanut butter.)
My self-guided itineraries that take place in Los Feliz
Need help deciding what to do in this neighborhood without doing hours of research? I have developed some itineraries for you. These are my favorite places in the city.
Los Feliz Like a Local Audio Tour
Access the audio tour where I show you what a day is like as a local in Los Angeles. If you only come to Los Feliz to go to the Griffith Observatory, you are doing it wrong. I will be your guide to this neighborhood’s hidden gems.
BIPOC and Women-owned companies to support in Los Feliz
- Spitfire Girl–This gift shop is a great place to find unique gifts for those hard-to-shop-for friends [website] [my post]
- Squaresville–This is one of my favorite vintage shops in Los Feliz. [website] [my post]
- Kismet and Kismet Rotisserie–Kismet Rotisserie is a great place to grab that picnic lunch and head to Barnsdall Art Park. [Kismet website] [Kismet Rotisserie website]
- The Little Knittery–This is one of the few independent yarn & yarn art craft stores in Los Angeles. [website]
- Yucca’s Tacos–This hut has served Los Feliz for almost 50 years. [website]
Getting around the neighborhood
Walkability score: 88
I am actually surprised that this score is so low. There is so much that you can accomplish on foot, including shopping, errands, and entertainment. Perhaps it is low because it is impossible to walk all of Griffith Park.
Public transit options
Los Feliz is well connected via bus and train, the 2, 302, Metro B line (formerly known as the Red Line)
There is a DASH bus that runs from the Vermont/Sunset Station to Griffith Observatory. It also stops at the Greek for either concerts or daytime parking in Griffith Park.
Parking
This is a neighborhood notorious for its hard-to-find parking. There are a lot of people who live in Los Feliz, and the apartment buildings were built before owning a car was commonplace, so parking can be difficult. If you have patience, you can find parking in the neighborhoods. If you don’t have patience, there are some public pay lots.
What neighborhood(s) to explore next
Silverlake/Virgil Village—Coming soon
Koreatown—Coming soon
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