Food Scene
Best breakfast and lunch around. About two blocks down on Santa Monica Blvd., this wonderful little place has some seriously delicious food, most of it made each morning by the owner. I recommend the gruyere omelette and the Austrian meatloaf sandwich! Great coffee and all that, too. Breakfast is served until 4 on weekends, 11 on weekdays. Lovely back patio, a couple front sidewalk tables, and a nice vibe inside.
73 locals recommend
FOOD LAB
732 Highland AvenueBest breakfast and lunch around. About two blocks down on Santa Monica Blvd., this wonderful little place has some seriously delicious food, most of it made each morning by the owner. I recommend the gruyere omelette and the Austrian meatloaf sandwich! Great coffee and all that, too. Breakfast is served until 4 on weekends, 11 on weekdays. Lovely back patio, a couple front sidewalk tables, and a nice vibe inside.
The Formosa used to be an iconic Old Hollywood fixture, but it was recently purchased and renovated and lost its soul. However, the food is still decent and they have a rooftop space and a good Happy Hour. And it's super close by--if you don't love it, you can escape to Jones across the street.
75 locals recommend
Formosa Cafe
7156 Santa Monica BoulevardThe Formosa used to be an iconic Old Hollywood fixture, but it was recently purchased and renovated and lost its soul. However, the food is still decent and they have a rooftop space and a good Happy Hour. And it's super close by--if you don't love it, you can escape to Jones across the street.
The Village Idiot is a really great bar, but I have always gone for the excellent food, so that's why it's here in the Food category. You can get a truly good English breakfast here, which is a bit of a rarity around these...entire United States. I was married to a Brit who gave his full-hearted approval, so I'm confident in recommending it.
I guess it's basically a gastropub, because both the bar part and food part are on point. It knows what it's doing, and does it all very well. A straight shot down to Melrose from our place, about a ten minute walk.
125 locals recommend
The Village Idiot
7383 Melrose AveThe Village Idiot is a really great bar, but I have always gone for the excellent food, so that's why it's here in the Food category. You can get a truly good English breakfast here, which is a bit of a rarity around these...entire United States. I was married to a Brit who gave his full-hearted approval, so I'm confident in recommending it.
I guess it's basically a gastropub, because both the bar part and food part are on point. It knows what it's doing, and does it all very well. A straight shot down to Melrose from our place, about a ten minute walk.
They have great food. The turkey BLT is perfect on a hot day, and the cafe is right on the corner of Fairfax and SM, which means good people watching while you munch. About a ten minute walk.
13 locals recommend
Mocafe
7900 Santa Monica BlvdThey have great food. The turkey BLT is perfect on a hot day, and the cafe is right on the corner of Fairfax and SM, which means good people watching while you munch. About a ten minute walk.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great bar with great food and great vibe. This is where the locals go after work, and the work around here is very diverse--film production and tattoo artistry mingle happily. It can be a little loud, but that's part of the vibe. It's warm, dim, inviting, well-appointed. Bartenders are good at what they do. There are comfy red booths and a wraparound bar, excellent jukebox. Best pizza in town, as far as I'm concerned.
181 locals recommend
Jones Hollywood
7205 Santa Monica BlvdGreat bar with great food and great vibe. This is where the locals go after work, and the work around here is very diverse--film production and tattoo artistry mingle happily. It can be a little loud, but that's part of the vibe. It's warm, dim, inviting, well-appointed. Bartenders are good at what they do. There are comfy red booths and a wraparound bar, excellent jukebox. Best pizza in town, as far as I'm concerned.
Great selection of different small-brewery beers, a side patio area, and games. Well-designed with booths and nooks and an open-air front part for sidewalk people-watching. Shuffleboard! Arcade games! Hipsters! Oh my.
Just past the Whole Foods on Santa Monica, maybe a 15 minute walk, tops.
59 locals recommend
The Surly Goat
7929 Santa Monica BlvdGreat selection of different small-brewery beers, a side patio area, and games. Well-designed with booths and nooks and an open-air front part for sidewalk people-watching. Shuffleboard! Arcade games! Hipsters! Oh my.
Just past the Whole Foods on Santa Monica, maybe a 15 minute walk, tops.
They don't open til 7, but this is a strange and good little vodka bar about three blocks away. Leafy front patio; dim, rich colors and pleasing vibe inside. Occasional music in the back.
116 locals recommend
BAR Lubitsch
7702 Santa Monica BlvdThey don't open til 7, but this is a strange and good little vodka bar about three blocks away. Leafy front patio; dim, rich colors and pleasing vibe inside. Occasional music in the back.
This is a new bar that I just fell in love with--it's a sixties-airport-theme. I know, but give it a chance! The vibe is actually wonderful and they seem to be in on the joke. I wandered in with a friend a few weeks ago and had such a good time. There's humor in the air (and a Scottish bagpipe player and a full free buffet, for some reason, the night I visited). The bartenders are total professionals.
26 locals recommend
Now Boarding
This is a new bar that I just fell in love with--it's a sixties-airport-theme. I know, but give it a chance! The vibe is actually wonderful and they seem to be in on the joke. I wandered in with a friend a few weeks ago and had such a good time. There's humor in the air (and a Scottish bagpipe player and a full free buffet, for some reason, the night I visited). The bartenders are total professionals.
The most iconic and fun bar in WeHo, for good reason. It's about a mile down Santa Monica, so I would take an Uber or grab the bus on our corner for a dollar-fifty. Parking isn't easy.
It's a sprawling, celebratory space that is both indoor and outdoor at once. One of the oldest gay bars in town, but welcoming and great for all. It's a great base for roaming around WeHo Proper with all the other spots in easy range.
471 locals recommend
The Abbey
692 N Robertson BlvdThe most iconic and fun bar in WeHo, for good reason. It's about a mile down Santa Monica, so I would take an Uber or grab the bus on our corner for a dollar-fifty. Parking isn't easy.
It's a sprawling, celebratory space that is both indoor and outdoor at once. One of the oldest gay bars in town, but welcoming and great for all. It's a great base for roaming around WeHo Proper with all the other spots in easy range.
Parks & Nature
The trail entrance to Runyon Canyon is a few blocks up, on our very street. The view from the top is breathtaking, and you can go all the way to the Hollywood sign if you want. There is free yoga at the base of the trail. A very convenient bit of nature!
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller AveThe trail entrance to Runyon Canyon is a few blocks up, on our very street. The view from the top is breathtaking, and you can go all the way to the Hollywood sign if you want. There is free yoga at the base of the trail. A very convenient bit of nature!
Because it's right across the street! This is a fantastic park with yoga, dogs, playground, tennis plus lessons and supplies, picnic potential, chess tables, ice cream bar, and farmer's market every Monday. This park is an amazing microcosm of WeHo, where all sorts mingle in harmony. It's heaven.
You have your 900-year-old Russian guys playing chess and cards, kids on swings, yoga mamas stretching, crossfit dudes crossfitting, dog people making friends, tennis people doing whatever tennis is, and trans folk being themselves. Bathrooms and water and joyful outdoor art installations. This is a gender-neutral public park where everyone is supported. Monday Farmer's Market is from 9 til 2, and it's delicious. You could fill your belly on the samples alone! A thirty second walk from your door.
80 locals recommend
Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica BlvdBecause it's right across the street! This is a fantastic park with yoga, dogs, playground, tennis plus lessons and supplies, picnic potential, chess tables, ice cream bar, and farmer's market every Monday. This park is an amazing microcosm of WeHo, where all sorts mingle in harmony. It's heaven.
You have your 900-year-old Russian guys playing chess and cards, kids on swings, yoga mamas stretching, crossfit dudes crossfitting, dog people making friends, tennis people doing whatever tennis is, and trans folk being themselves. Bathrooms and water and joyful outdoor art installations. This is a gender-neutral public park where everyone is supported. Monday Farmer's Market is from 9 til 2, and it's delicious. You could fill your belly on the samples alone! A thirty second walk from your door.
Sightseeing
Melrose Avenue
7763 Melrose AveA ten minute walk. Great people watching, shops, silliness.
A ten minute walk up to Sunset and the heart of music. Head west and you'll eventually find the Whisky A Go Go, the bar at the Chateau Marmont, and all the rest.
334 locals recommend
Sunset Strip
A ten minute walk up to Sunset and the heart of music. Head west and you'll eventually find the Whisky A Go Go, the bar at the Chateau Marmont, and all the rest.
Because it's about a fifteen minute walk, and why not? (Don't answer that.) It's total chaos, but it's fun if you're in the mood.
1913 locals recommend
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset BlvdBecause it's about a fifteen minute walk, and why not? (Don't answer that.) It's total chaos, but it's fun if you're in the mood.
Arts & Culture
The LACMA is fantastic. It's pretty close by--I'd take an Uber so you don't have to think about parking. Maybe a mile and half away. The permanent exhibits are wonderful (I'm into Matisse) and the features are always amazing. Turrell was a recent revelation.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdThe LACMA is fantastic. It's pretty close by--I'd take an Uber so you don't have to think about parking. Maybe a mile and half away. The permanent exhibits are wonderful (I'm into Matisse) and the features are always amazing. Turrell was a recent revelation.
The Tar Pits have real dinosaur bones! It's a great place to wander, with tons of interesting work to observe as the archeologists continue to dig. You'll see the tar pits bubbling! There's a park for kids and lots to explore. All free.
890 locals recommend
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
5801 Wilshire BlvdThe Tar Pits have real dinosaur bones! It's a great place to wander, with tons of interesting work to observe as the archeologists continue to dig. You'll see the tar pits bubbling! There's a park for kids and lots to explore. All free.
Essentials
Smart & Final
1041 N Fuller AveThis place has all your basics, and it's at the end of the block.
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica BlvdWhole Foods is about a ten minute walk down Santa Monica.
This is my beloved "corner store." A three minute walk from the house, this place has all the essentials. Raj will take care of you.
Vista Mini Mart
1055 North Vista StreetThis is my beloved "corner store." A three minute walk from the house, this place has all the essentials. Raj will take care of you.
Entertainment & Activities
Easily walkable, an improv show at the Groundlings theater is a great choice for one of your evenings. They had me rolling with laughter despite myself.
87 locals recommend
The Groundlings Theatre
7307 Melrose AveEasily walkable, an improv show at the Groundlings theater is a great choice for one of your evenings. They had me rolling with laughter despite myself.
This is a Russian spa about four blocks down on Santa Monica. I have not had their body treatments--you have to be okay with someone slapping you with eucalyptus fronds, and I haven't yet felt the need--but they do have an enormous indoor swimming pool and full kitchen and bar, plus various sweat rooms and cold rooms for the full experience! I'm sure the treatments are quite wonderful; I just haven't partaken. (As a massage therapist, I'm judgy and hard to please.) But these are traditional Russian treatments that are probably pretty great, and I do plan to try them and, most likely, enjoy them a ton.
The main thing is the facility, though. Just palatial and unexpected, right on Santa Monica within a quick walk from my place. You can hang there all day by the pool. Open late, too, like the weird hybrid of bar and healing center it is.
10 locals recommend
Voda Spa
7700 Santa Monica BlvdThis is a Russian spa about four blocks down on Santa Monica. I have not had their body treatments--you have to be okay with someone slapping you with eucalyptus fronds, and I haven't yet felt the need--but they do have an enormous indoor swimming pool and full kitchen and bar, plus various sweat rooms and cold rooms for the full experience! I'm sure the treatments are quite wonderful; I just haven't partaken. (As a massage therapist, I'm judgy and hard to please.) But these are traditional Russian treatments that are probably pretty great, and I do plan to try them and, most likely, enjoy them a ton.
The main thing is the facility, though. Just palatial and unexpected, right on Santa Monica within a quick walk from my place. You can hang there all day by the pool. Open late, too, like the weird hybrid of bar and healing center it is.