Hollywood.
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Located eight miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and twenty minutes by subway from Union Station, Hollywood is known for century-old studio history and dense dining strips along Sunset Boulevard. The neighbourhood anchors the base of the Santa Monica Mountains. Hollywood is worth visiting if you want historic movie palaces, steep canyon trails, and standout regional Thai cooking. Look elsewhere if you expect a tranquil, walkable coastal retreat or uncrowded sidewalks.
Last updated 2 Nov 2026
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Record Stores
Record Stores
Crate-Digging Vinyl Stacks
Amoeba Music
Browse the sprawling Hollywood Boulevard floor for rare pressings and local reissues. Entry is free, validation is available in the underground garage, and an hour passes quickly.
Editor TipFounded in Berkeley in 1990, this independent behemoth remains the spiritual fortress of Southern California physical media, preserving the ritual of tactile record hunting. Check the staff recommendation tags clipped to the bins for obscure local funk and jazz reissues.
Ventura Boulevard Crate Digging
Freakbeat Records
Open daily from 11:00 AM. Give yourself an hour to comb through well-curated jazz, garage rock, and bargain 45s tucked under the main wooden bins.
Editor TipVentura Boulevard has anchored San Fernando Valley car and music culture since the postwar boom, sustaining indie record merchants long after major chains disappeared. Check the ninety-nine cent bins beneath the main racks; treasures hide there if your knees hold up.
Street Food
Grab griddled bacon-wrapped street hot dogs with grilled jalapeños outside Hollywood and Highland, or queue for al pastor tacos on Sunset Boulevard.
Street Food
Grab griddled bacon-wrapped street hot dogs with grilled jalapeños outside Hollywood and Highland, or queue for al pastor tacos on Sunset Boulevard.
Morning Boat Noodle Bowls
Sapp Coffee Shop
Walk into this no-frills strip mall diner for a steaming bowl of boat noodles or jade noodles. Bring cash, grab any open vinyl booth, and expect to spend under twenty dollars.
Editor TipEast Hollywood is home to the first designated Thai Town in the country, where rich blood-thickened broths and pickled bird's eye chilies have anchored breakfast routines since the 1970s. Order the dried chilies with caution; the kitchen does not adjust spice levels to spare fragile tourists.
Rice Porridge and Crullers
Siam Sunset
Slide into a booth and order jok with pork and an egg, paired with hot soy milk and patongko. Service is brisk, cash is easiest, and thirty minutes does the trick.
Editor TipThis strip mall dining room preserves the morning street-cart traditions of central Bangkok, feeding night-shift workers and local families long before the tourist buses stir. Dip the fried crullers straight into the warm pandan custard while they are still crisp.
Crisp Khanom Krok Tasting
Wat Thai of Los Angeles
Arrive by 8:30 AM on weekends for exchange tokens at the courtyard window. Order steaming rice porridge and coconut hotcakes straight from the cast-iron dimpled pans.
Editor TipFounded in 1979 as the spiritual hub for Southern California's Thai diaspora, the temple courtyard became a blueprint for authentic regional weekend street stalls in the Valley. Bring small cash bills to buy food tokens at the kiosk near the entrance to avoid card fees and delays.
Regional Thai
Regional Thai
Feasting on Southern Thai Curries
Jitlada Restaurant
Head to the strip mall on Sunset Boulevard for dinner. Expect a line at peak hours, order the dry beef curry or the turmeric-fried sea bass, and request mild unless you truly mean it.
Editor TipHollywood holds America's first designated Thai Town, settled in the late twentieth century, where regional cooks introduced complex Southern dishes far beyond standard pad thai. Bring a sweater for the cold patio and order a Thai iced tea immediately to extinguish the chili fire.
Note from the Editor
“Start early in Thai Town before the strip mall parking turns into a blood sport. Amoeba opens at eleven sharp, giving you quiet aisles before the afternoon rush.”
The Bed
Where to stay in Hollywood
Which part of town to book, and what each one costs you in walking, noise or quiet.
The Comparison
Hollywood, or somewhere near it
The places you are realistically choosing between, and the honest case for each.
The Local Record
Where to read more about Hollywood
The blogs, boards, guides and operators worth bookmarking.
What to do in Hollywood California United States
Hollywood splits between the neon-lit asphalt of Hollywood Boulevard and the quiet, eucalyptus-scented residential canyons rising behind it. Days here revolve around morning hikes above the fog line, afternoon screenings at classic rep houses, and late dinners in strip-mall dining rooms. It suits independent travellers comfortable navigating Los Angeles traffic to find deep local food culture and historic architecture.
24 hours in Hollywood California United States
Start at Fern Dell for an uphill walk to the Griffith Observatory before the tour buses arrive. Head down to Thai Town for a bowl of boat noodles at Sapp Coffee Shop, spend the afternoon at the Egyptian Theatre, and finish with a martini and grilled steak at Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Hollywood California United States
A second day lets you explore Barnsdall Art Park to tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House. Grab lunch along Franklin Village at La Poubelle, then spend the late afternoon browsing art galleries along Highland Avenue before catching an open-air evening concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Hollywood California United States
With three days, take a slow drive along Mulholland Drive into Studio City, explore the quiet 1920s architecture of Whitley Heights on foot, and venture into nearby Los Feliz for lunch. Finish the trip with al pastor tacos from street carts set up along Sunset Boulevard after dark.
Hollywood California United States itineraries by interest
Classic Dining in Hollywood California United States
Sit at the dark wooden booths of Musso & Frank Grill for dry gin martinis, sand dabs, and sourdough bread served by career waiters in red jackets.
Regional Cooking in Hollywood California United States
Eat boat noodles at Pa Ord, jade noodles at Sapp Coffee Shop, and spicy crispy pork at Jitlada along the six-block stretch of Hollywood Boulevard.
Historic Architecture in Hollywood California United States
Visit Frank Lloyd Wright's 1921 Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park or inspect the 1920s courtyard apartments lining quiet stretches of Whitley Heights.
Film Heritage in Hollywood California United States
Catch repertory 35mm prints at the Egyptian Theatre or browse film stills and vintage paperbacks along the packed shelves of Larry Edmunds Bookshop.
Hillside Hiking in Hollywood California United States
Climb the dirt switchbacks of Runyon Canyon or take the West Observatory Trail up from Fern Dell to catch the morning smog clearing over the basin.
Live Theatre in Hollywood California United States
Pack a picnic basket with cold chicken and chilled white wine for evening orchestra concerts on the wooden bench seating at the Hollywood Bowl.
Farmers Markets in Hollywood California United States
Browse citrus varieties, Harry's Berries, and prepared pupusas every Sunday morning along Ivar and Selma avenues before the midday heat sets in.
Coffee & Bakeries in Hollywood California United States
Order flat whites at Go Get Em Tiger and almond croissants at Friends & Family along Thai Town and East Hollywood side streets.
Modern Art in Hollywood California United States
Walk the concrete exhibition halls of Regen Projects and Jeffrey Deitch along Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard for contemporary painting.
Scenic Drives in Hollywood California United States
Drive the winding ridgeline of Mulholland Drive above the Hollywood Hills to see mid-century cantilevers and sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley.
Street Food in Hollywood California United States
Grab griddled bacon-wrapped street hot dogs with grilled jalapeños outside Hollywood and Highland, or queue for al pastor tacos on Sunset Boulevard.
Nightlife in Hollywood California United States
Sip classic rye cocktails in vintage booths at the Boardner's courtyard, a dark cocktail bar operating continuously since 1942 off the main strip.