Welcome to Hollywood! This is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world. Over five million visitors a year flock to the intersection of Hollywood & Highland, the site of TCL Chinese Theater, The Walk of Fame, and more tourist attractions. As a local, I want you to know that Hollywood is more than the intersection of Hollywood & Highland. While here, explore great hidden gems, world-class restaurants, and hiking in the Hollywood Hills. I hope this Hollywood Neighborhood Guide persuades you to spend more time experiencing what makes this neighborhood unique.
This Hollywood Neighborhood Guide has over 50 things to do, see, and eat. Use the Table of Contents to jump to the information you are looking for.
If you are planning your trip and need advice, read my detailed guide for travelers.
Table of Contents
Why do tourists go to Hollywood?
Hollywood is many tourists’s first stop in Los Angeles. Many of you come to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the handprints in the cement in front of the TCL Theater (aka Grauman’s Chinese Theater), eat a hot dog at Pinks, and get pictures of the Hollywood Sign. Although, it is called Universal Studios Hollywood, the theme park is in neighboring Studio City, a subject of a future neighborhood guide.
Did you know?
Hollywood wasn’t the original center of movie-making in Los Angeles. For more information, read my post about the lost city of Edendale.
Why Locals Go to Hollywood
- They have visitors who want to see the tourist spots. Please thank them for taking you. It isn’t our favorite place in town. (Sorry, but it is true.)
- Hit the many hidden bars located in the neighborhood, like No Vacancy and Good Times at Davey Waynes.
- Hike Runyon Canyon or walk around Lake Hollywood. WHAT THERE IS A LAKE IN HOLLYWOOD!
- They live there. There is a high concentration of apartment buildings in the area, from 1920s-style Art Deco or Spanish-style buildings with tons of character to new modern highrises with birdseye views of Hollywood’s most famous attractions.
- They go to the Sunday Hollywood Farmer’s Market, one of the best in the city.
Lake Hollywood, @thisuglybeautifulcity
Top 5 things to do in Hollywood
One: Get stunning views of the city from Yamashiro modeled after an Edo period Japanese castle.
Two: See your favorite bands at the Hollywood Bowl
Three: Collect Michelin Stars at Hollywood’s top foodie destinations.
Four: Visit all of the museums and galleries in the area like Japan House, LACE, Regen Projects, Jeffrey Deitch, and more. (Love museums? This is a list of all of the free and inexpensive art experiences in the city)
Five: Have a special occasion dinner in the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles, Musso and Franks.
This Ugly Beautiful City Tip
Musso & Frank’s is one of the few, if not the only, places you can see celebrities in Hollywood. Chances are that you will recognize Musso & Frank’s even if you haven’t visited. It has been a filming location for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Ocean’s Eleven, The Offer, and Mad Men to name a few.
Sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders who know a lot about Hollywood history and can point out celebrity tables. They also make a great dirty martini.
My Hollywood Favorites
My favorite place to get coffee: Obet & Del’s
My favorite restaurant in Hollywood: Bludso’s BBQ [Read my post about it here. ]
My favorite place to get a cocktail: Musso & Frank’s–I love the classics served with a good story. [Read my post about it here]
BIPOC and Women-owned businesses to support in Hollywood
Supporting small businesses is in the DNA of This Ugly Beautiful City. My Hollywood neighborhood guide also includes great businesses to support while you are here. These are fantastic alternatives to drinking Starbucks, eating at California Pizza Kitchen, or other places you can find at home.
- Bludso’s Bar n Que–The best Texas-style BBQ in the city IMO. [website] [Read my post here]
- No Vacancy & Good Times at Davey Wayne’s–The Houston brothers created several hidden speakeasies around the Hollywood area. These are cocktail-forward and around a theme. [No Vacancy website] [Good Times at Davey Wayne’s website] [Read my post here]
- Erin McKenna–This is one of the L.A. outposts of the New York bakery. Everything is vegan, gluten-free, and delicious. [website] [Read my post here]
- The Mozzaplex–On the corner of Melrose and Highland sits the Mozzaplex. Three restaurants were the brainchild of chef Nancy Silverton. These range from casual pizza and pasta to an upper-scale homage to the grill. [website] [Read my post here]
- Obet & Del’s (Thai Town, Hollywood adjacent)—A great coffee shop and event space for the local community. [website]
- Jitlada–(Thai Town, Hollywood adjacent) is a Southern Thai restaurant serving spicy and flavorful dishes on an epic menu. You may have heard about this place from Jonathan Gold or seen it on WorthIt, the Chef Show, and/or No Reservations. [website] [Read my post here]
Self-Guided itineraries that include Hollywood
Los Angeles Tourist Bingo
A spin on the classic bingo travel game, Los Angeles Tourist Bingo is a fun way to gamify your next trip to Los Angeles. Follow a path down, across, or diagonally to create a day-long itinerary, a weekend getaway, or fill the entire card for a week of things to do. There are twelve possible itineraries where you can visit Los Angeles tourist attractions like the Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, and the Griffith Observatory. Visit celebrity chefs and social media famous sites.
Los Angeles Hidden Gems Bingo
Exploring the local side of Los Angeles can be hard. What if you turned it into a game? Whether you’re a lifelong Angeleno or visiting from out of town, this clever game will turn you into an LA insider with an eye for the extraordinary. Stop just seeing the Hollywood Sign and finally experience the true hidden gems and under-the-radar hotspots of LA!
Hollywood Guide to Getting Around Hollywood
Walkability score–98
Most errands can be run on foot with grocery stores, Farmers’ Markets, and drug stores in the area. There is tons of entertainment outside of the tourist area.
Public transit options
Hollywood is one of the biggest transit hubs in Los Angeles, with several bus and train lines serving the tourist area. My favorite app to use for public transportation is Transit, which has GPS and real-time arrivals and departures.
Hollywood is accessible by the following public transit options: The Metro Red Line and buses 780, 180, 212, 210, and the Hollywood DASH.
Parking
Street parking is hard to come by in the tourist area of Hollywood and I recommend parking at the Ovation Center.
For Hollywood Bowl parking, please see my tips for the Hollywood Bowl.
What neighborhood(s) to explore next
My one piece of advice is to not spend a day in Hollywood and head immediately to Santa Monica. You will spend at least an hour in the car. Listen to the podcast episode where I talk about that here.
Los Feliz Neighborhood Guide
This guide features Los Angeles’ most famous park, great vintage shopping, and one of my favorite Los Angeles hidden gems.
Mid-Wilshire Neighborhood Guide
Explore the best collection of Los Angeles museums in one place, go to tourist draw the Grove, and some local favorites in this neighborhood.
This Ugly Beautiful City is a 100% self-funded publication. If you have used any of the advice on these pages and would like to send a thank you, consider buying me a coffee.
