About

About ULTIMATE Los Angeles City Guide

ULTIMATE Los Angeles City Guide is an independent guide for visitors to Los Angeles, California. We publish 14 curated lists: restaurants, cafés, bars & music, hotels, sights, museums & arts, parks & beaches, walks, shopping, health & wellness, property, developments, motoring and getting around. We cover Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip, Hollywood, Griffith Park and Los Feliz, Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, downtown, Fairfax and Museum Row, Silver Lake and Echo Park, and Century City and Westwood, with day trips to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, Disneyland and Catalina.

How we choose

Every place in our lists has been checked against its own website or an official source such as the Getty, the National Park Service, California State Parks, LA Metro or Los Angeles World Airports. We don’t use review scores, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm. MICHELIN distinctions and price bands are quoted only from the official MICHELIN Guide.

Before you go

Opening hours, schedules and seasons change often. Please check directly with each place before you visit. Prices are in US dollars.

For venues

Run a venue in Los Angeles and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, by Peter Merholz from Berkeley, CA, United States, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, by Fred Cherrygarden, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ahmanson Theatre, by Visitor7, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Getty Center from the Central Garden, by Robert F. Tobler, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A street in the Arts District, by joey zanotti, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, by wolfgang.mller54 from Niedersachsen /Germany, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sunset Strip at night, by Chalky Lives, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Homes in the hills of Bel Air, by Derbrauni, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The entrance to Hotel Bel-Air, by Alan Light, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Boutiques on North Rodeo Drive, by DXR, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, by Minnaert, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Hills sign in Beverly Gardens Park, by Andrek02, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Bowl at sunset, by Royalsafira, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Bradbury Building, by Visitor7, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Broad on Grand Avenue at night, by Dllu, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Los Angeles Theatre on Broadway, by Codera23, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hollywood Burbank Airport, by Busition, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Venice Canals, by Américo Toledano, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Petersen Automotive Museum, by David Zaitz, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica, by Cbl62 (talk), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Avalon Harbor and the Catalina Casino, by Elena.laps, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, by Jengod, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of Century City, by Pat Lim, Los Angeles Times, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, by Alexis Doine, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The Music Center, by Visitor7, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, by wolfgang.mller54 from Niedersachsen /Germany, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Los Angeles City Hall, by Levi Clancy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Crypto.com Arena, by Troutfarm27, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park, by Tuxyso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The downtown Los Angeles skyline, by Levi Clancy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A Día de los Muertos altar in Grand Park, with City Hall beyond, by Cesar Arredondo/CASfreelancer, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Walt Disney Concert Hall, by Carol M. Highsmith, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, by CrispyCream27, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars, by Busition, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The downtown Los Angeles skyline, by Levi Clancy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The downtown Los Angeles skyline, by Levi Clancy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Echo Park Lake, by Ramsey Isler, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sea stacks at El Matador State Beach, Malibu, by Graham, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Erewhon in Santa Monica, by Mx. Granger, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Fairbanks memorial at Hollywood Forever, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills, by Rennett Stowe from USA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Grand Central Market, downtown, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Getty Center from the Central Garden, by Robert F. Tobler, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Grand Park looking towards City Hall, by PKM, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Greek Theatre in Griffith Park, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills, by Los Angeles, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A hiking trail in Griffith Park, by Billy Hathorn, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grove, by Bobak Ha'Eri, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hammer Museum in Westwood, by Building by Edward Larrabee Barnes, photograph by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Handprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre, by sailko, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A lifeguard tower on Santa Monica Beach, by Cayambe, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery, by Ratmackay, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Sign seen from Hollywood Forever Cemetery, by Lo2013, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Lake Hollywood Reservoir below the Hollywood Hills, by Dan Leveille (danlev on Wikimedia), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory above Los Angeles at sunset, by Kasper Bertelsen kasperbertelsen, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Wilshire on Wilshire Boulevard, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, by Minnaert, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Desert Garden at The Huntington, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park, by Tuxyso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Malibu Lagoon State Beach, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The coast at North Laguna Beach, by Don Ramey Logan, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Los Angeles River, by Alexis Doine, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Theme Building at LAX, by Gunnar Klack, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Leo Carrillo State Park on the Malibu coast, by Cam Adams camadams, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A lifeguard tower on Santa Monica Beach, by Cayambe, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, by Kriddl, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Chateau Marmont above Sunset Boulevard, by Tony Mariotti from Los Angeles, United States, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, by Carolineliebes, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Malibu Pier, by Levi Clancy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Chateau Marmont above Sunset Boulevard, by Tony Mariotti from Los Angeles, United States, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A Metro B Line train at Hollywood/Highland, by AveryTheComrade, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The outdoor gym at Muscle Beach, Venice, by DanielMichaelPerry, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard, by Gary Minnaert (Minnaert)), licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos Hill, by A.Savin, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the Exumas, by DrGvago, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, by Tatil Dükkanı, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Blue Mosque at night, by Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica, by Fred Romero from Paris, France, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, by Domob, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyond, by The Fun Chronicles, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Stone Bridge over the Vardar, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, by Julian Lupyan, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The ramparts of Galle Fort, by Daibo Taku, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftops, by Alex Sirac, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, by David Leigh Ellis, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Olvera Street, El Pueblo de Los Ángeles, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palm trees in Palisades Park above Santa Monica Beach, by Simon Cobb, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Palladium, by Doug Goodwin, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains, by Ethan from Scottsdale, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Pantages Theatre, by Christian Dionne, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Paramount Pictures gate on Melrose Avenue, by Mutante, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at Zuma Beach, Malibu, by Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, by Carolineliebes, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Peninsula Beverly Hills, by Toglenn, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Petersen Automotive Museum, by David Zaitz, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Santa Monica Beach and the Pier, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Santa Monica Pier sign, by AramilFeraxa, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Pink’s Hot Dogs on La Brea Avenue, by danlev or Dan Leveille, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Point Dume, Malibu, by Cecilybreeding, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The patio of the Polo Lounge, by Alan Light, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, by Cayambe, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Hills sign in Beverly Gardens Park, by Andrek02, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Rainbow Bar & Grill, by No machine-readable author provided. Mike Dillon assumed (based on copyright cla, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills, by Los Angeles, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Grand Central Market, downtown, by NewtonCourt, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Boutiques on North Rodeo Drive, by DXR, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Roosevelt on Hollywood Boulevard, by Alexander Migl, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A float in the 1930 Tournament of Roses Parade, by Los Angeles Times, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Exposition Park Rose Garden, by Los Angeles, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip, by Bidgee, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Royce Hall on the UCLA campus, by Beyond My Ken, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Sign from the Runyon Canyon trail, by Downtowngal, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Santa Monica Beach and the Pier, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Mission Santa Barbara, by Ligocsicnarf89, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Boutiques on North Rodeo Drive, by DXR, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica, by Tim Street-Porter, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee, by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Silver Lake Reservoir, by Junkyardsparkle, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Silver Lake Reservoir, by Junkyardsparkle, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gate of Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, by Coolcaesar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The courtyard at Spago Beverly Hills, by Alan Light, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sunset Strip at night, by Chalky Lives, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Art Deco Sunset Tower Hotel, by MikeJiroch, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Mark Taper Forum, by Photo: Andreas Praefcke, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lake Pit at La Brea Tar Pits, by Downtowngal, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A Metro B Line train at Hollywood/Highland, by AveryTheComrade, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Troubadour, West Hollywood, by Gary Minnaert (Minnaert)), licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Los Angeles Union Station, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Universal Studios Hollywood, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The USC School of Cinematic Arts, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Venice Beach boardwalk, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Via Rodeo, Beverly Hills, by Alexis Doine, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Outer Peristyle garden at the Getty Villa, by Dale Cruse - 11M SF views, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip, by No machine-readable author provided. Mike Dillon assumed (based on copyright cla, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Van Nuys Airport, by Don Ramey Logan, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, by Lmaslauski, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A hiking trail in Griffith Park, by Billy Hathorn, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Warner Bros. water tower in Burbank, by Chris Yarzab, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sunset Strip at night, by Chalky Lives, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Westfield Century City, by Haha169, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of Century City, by Pat Lim, Los Angeles Times, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Westwood Village, by Joe Kennedy, Los Angeles Times, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Westwood Village Memorial Park, by Oleg Alexandrov at English Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip, by Photograph by Mike Dillon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Beverly Wilshire on Wilshire Boulevard, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Wilshire Grand Center, by AmeteurAngeleno, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Wiltern on Wilshire Boulevard, by Codera23, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at Zuma Beach, Malibu, by Kevin Gill from Los Angeles, CA, United States, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.