Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Casual, order at a counter type place, with outdoor seating. The pizza is delicious and since you order by the ounce, you can sample a bunch of different types. They always have classic pizzas, as well as some that are more fancy and unusual.
82 locals recommend
Triple Beam Pizza
5918 N Figueroa StCasual, order at a counter type place, with outdoor seating. The pizza is delicious and since you order by the ounce, you can sample a bunch of different types. They always have classic pizzas, as well as some that are more fancy and unusual.
Just steps from our house, this is a great spot to grab a bite. Nice ambience, and healthy options.
88 locals recommend
Amara Kitchen
519 N Avenue 64Just steps from our house, this is a great spot to grab a bite. Nice ambience, and healthy options.
Delicious, fresh food in a great ambience -- one of our favorite date-night spots. There's a lovely, small outdoor space - try to get a seat out back!
102 locals recommend
Cafe Birdie
5631 N Figueroa StDelicious, fresh food in a great ambience -- one of our favorite date-night spots. There's a lovely, small outdoor space - try to get a seat out back!
Good, classic, neighborhood Italian restaurant. Very straight-forward food. There's a great outdoor area for warm evenings.
101 locals recommend
Maximiliano
5930 York BlvdGood, classic, neighborhood Italian restaurant. Very straight-forward food. There's a great outdoor area for warm evenings.
Super tasty Mexican food. It's an order-at-the-counter kind of place, with not your average order-at-the-counter food. It can get crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, but the line tends to move quick. The chips and salsa are delicious!
72 locals recommend
CaCao Mexicatessen
1576 Colorado BlvdSuper tasty Mexican food. It's an order-at-the-counter kind of place, with not your average order-at-the-counter food. It can get crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, but the line tends to move quick. The chips and salsa are delicious!
Vegan donuts that don't taste vegan. Lots of options -- and you can also make your own!
159 locals recommend
Donut Friend
5107 York BlvdVegan donuts that don't taste vegan. Lots of options -- and you can also make your own!
This is the sister restaurant to Silver Lake Ramen -- it can get very busy, but it's worth it! Their vegetarian ramen is really good too!
63 locals recommend
Ramen of York by Silverlake Ramen
5051 York BlvdThis is the sister restaurant to Silver Lake Ramen -- it can get very busy, but it's worth it! Their vegetarian ramen is really good too!
QUESO - need we say more?! This is a Tex Mex spot, with a trendy and modern twist. It's casual (order at the counter), but they also serve alcohol. Seating is mostly outdoors in a lovely, quiet patio.
188 locals recommend
HomeState
4624 Hollywood BlvdQUESO - need we say more?! This is a Tex Mex spot, with a trendy and modern twist. It's casual (order at the counter), but they also serve alcohol. Seating is mostly outdoors in a lovely, quiet patio.
Casual, order-at-the-counter Taiwanese restaurant. The peanuty dan-dan noodles are delicious, and so is the "thousand layer pancake" (hard to describe, but really yummy).
84 locals recommend
Joy
5100 York BlvdCasual, order-at-the-counter Taiwanese restaurant. The peanuty dan-dan noodles are delicious, and so is the "thousand layer pancake" (hard to describe, but really yummy).
Tokoro
802 Fair Oaks AveGood sushi spot
Civil Coffee
5629 N Figueroa StGreat coffee and pastries in a pretty, well-designed space.
Hippo
5916 1/2 N Figueroa StGreat outdoor patio!
Great vegan German food that even meat-eaters will love. You can also just for for the beer, pretzels, and great patio.
Hinterhof Vegan German Kitchen and Beer Garden
4930 Meridian StGreat vegan German food that even meat-eaters will love. You can also just for for the beer, pretzels, and great patio.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a great little wine shop. Folks are really friendly and will help you find a bottle on any budget.
20 locals recommend
Highland Park Wine
5918 1/2 N Figueroa StThis is a great little wine shop. Folks are really friendly and will help you find a bottle on any budget.
Hidden little bar just behind Cafe Birdie --- delicious cocktails!
45 locals recommend
Good Housekeeping HLP
5635 N Figueroa StHidden little bar just behind Cafe Birdie --- delicious cocktails!
Barcade
5684 York BlvdBar with classic video games! They serve food too.
Parks & Nature
Steps from our house, this park has a large skate park, playground equipment and grassy area. There are picnic tables, or you can bring a blanket and sit on the grass (let us know if you need to borrow one!).
Garvanza Skatepark
6240 Meridian StSteps from our house, this park has a large skate park, playground equipment and grassy area. There are picnic tables, or you can bring a blanket and sit on the grass (let us know if you need to borrow one!).
Great playground for kids under 10. Right across from a coffee shop so you can grab a coffee/snack before heading in.
22 locals recommend
York Park
4596 N Avenue 50Great playground for kids under 10. Right across from a coffee shop so you can grab a coffee/snack before heading in.
This regional park has a grassy area, a number of trails, and a peaceful, tree-shaded lake with nice spots to sit. Keep climbing and you'll find some really great views of downtown L.A.
112 locals recommend
Ernest E Debs Regional Park
4235 Monterey RdThis regional park has a grassy area, a number of trails, and a peaceful, tree-shaded lake with nice spots to sit. Keep climbing and you'll find some really great views of downtown L.A.
This is a great starting point for a walk/run through the Arroyo Seco (there's a large parking lot). We suggest running in the direction of the historic Pasadena Bridge.
6 locals recommend
Pasadena Roving Archers
415 S Arroyo BlvdThis is a great starting point for a walk/run through the Arroyo Seco (there's a large parking lot). We suggest running in the direction of the historic Pasadena Bridge.
Sightseeing
Absolutely stunning private gallery and gardens. Once a private residence, Huntington Gardens is sprawling -- you could spend an entire day walking the property.
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford RdAbsolutely stunning private gallery and gardens. Once a private residence, Huntington Gardens is sprawling -- you could spend an entire day walking the property.
Getting Around
The South Pasadena stop is a little further from our house than Highland Park, but still walkable (about 2 miles, or 30-35 minutes). The town of South Pasadena is quaint with some nice little shops and cafes. The train stops right in town.
46 locals recommend
Metro Gold Line
13005 Meridian AveThe South Pasadena stop is a little further from our house than Highland Park, but still walkable (about 2 miles, or 30-35 minutes). The town of South Pasadena is quaint with some nice little shops and cafes. The train stops right in town.
This is the stop closest to our house (1 mile, or about a 15 minute walk). The Gold Line will take you to Pasadena, or into downtown (where you can transfer to other Metro Lines).
101 locals recommend
Highland Park Station
203 N Ave 58This is the stop closest to our house (1 mile, or about a 15 minute walk). The Gold Line will take you to Pasadena, or into downtown (where you can transfer to other Metro Lines).
Shopping
Dinosaur Farm
1510 Mission StGreat independently owned kids store in South Pasadena!
Need to bring someone a gift? Just steps from our guest unit, these women-owned shop has really beautiful and interesting plants.
Ponderosa Cactus
128 N Avenue 64Need to bring someone a gift? Just steps from our guest unit, these women-owned shop has really beautiful and interesting plants.
Held the second Sunday of every month. You can find some great vintage stuff at this market.
99 locals recommend
Rose Bowl Flea Market
1001 Rose Bowl DrHeld the second Sunday of every month. You can find some great vintage stuff at this market.
Essentials
If you don't know Trader Joes, this is a great chain of grocery stores. They have interesting snack foods, as well as pre-made and frozen foods that are great for "kitchenette" meals (that require just refrigeration and a microwave!).
202 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
345 S Lake AveIf you don't know Trader Joes, this is a great chain of grocery stores. They have interesting snack foods, as well as pre-made and frozen foods that are great for "kitchenette" meals (that require just refrigeration and a microwave!).
Rite Aid
6305 York BlvdDrug store with all the essentials (and more!)
Just steps from our place, the Hi Ho Market has all the basic convenient store stuff. Keep in mind, it's nestled in the neighborhood, so they don't stay open super late.
Hi Ho Market
623 N Avenue 64Just steps from our place, the Hi Ho Market has all the basic convenient store stuff. Keep in mind, it's nestled in the neighborhood, so they don't stay open super late.