Gene’s Guidebook for WeHo and Beyond
Neighborhoods
Select Restaurants Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
Connie & Ted’s—5-minute walk; great seafood and craft beers.
Carney's—Cheap burger and hot dog spot located inside a train car on Sunset Strip, across the street from Standard Hotel. If you want to slum it for a meal, this is the spot. Forget Pink's.
Laurel Hardware Bar and Restaurant—5-minute walk; turns into a scene once food time ends and bar time begins.
Roku—Great sushi as well as full Japanese kitchen with Teppanyaki tables. Fun scene and wonderful Omakase on Sunset Strip. If this is your thing, forget all about Benihana.
BOA—Top notch steakhouse on Sunset Strip (across the street from Roku).
El Coyote—Landmark Mexican restaurant on Beverly Blvd. Hasn't changed much since the 60s.
Tesse—French bistro on Sunset Strip.
Cecconi’s—Pricey Italian food eaten by Hollywood VIPs and pretty people (Melrose Blvd). It's worth it alone to drive by and check out VIP parking at lunch time during the week.
Amarone Kitchen & Wine—Small, dimly lit, traditional Italian spot on Sunset Strip. Perfect for a romantic dinner.
Lucques—Continues to be popular since opening in the 90s on Melrose Blvd.
Dan Tana’s—Very old-school Hollywood spot; former Rat Pack hangout. Quality can be hit or miss. Mellow bar scene.
Gracias Madre—Interesting vegan Mexican food option.
Rosaline—Peruvian on Melrose.
Eveleigh—American fare in an interesting garden setting on Sunset Strip. The scene is often better than the food depending on who you ask.
Sushi Park—Go for the sushi, not the scene. Excellent sushi in a Sunset Strip strip mall.
Norah—Eclectic American in a creative space.
Barney’s Beanery—Restaurant and bar. The cheapest option on my list and the one I’ve spent the most time in over the years. Famous spot with a lot of history. Sports bar on the weekends.
Select West Hollywood Nightlife Spots Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
The Troubadour—Legendary bar& live music venue; opened in 1957.
Bar Lubitsch—Russian theme, lots of vodka options.
Harriet’s Rooftop Bar—Inside 1 Hotel West Hollywood; panoramic views; Sunset Strip.
Harlowe—Hollywood Golden Age themed bar
State Social House—Casual spot on Sunset Strip with live music.
Jones Restaurant and Bar—Famous old school Hollywood hangout.
Employees Only—Newly opened, trendy bar/lounge.
The Den—Swiss ski lodge theme; casual; Sunset Strip.
Sky Bar—Great views from this Sunset Strip hotel bar. Getting in can be tricky on weekends.
Cabo Cantina—Very casual; 2-for-1 happy hour; cheapest drinks on Sunset Strip.
Rainbow Bar and Grill—Famous old-school rock n' roll bar; Sunset Strip.
1OAK—Big Sunset Strip nightclub often used for filming; open select days only and hard to enter.
Doheny Room—Another old school Hollywood themes lounge/club.
The Naughty Pig—New Sports Bar on Sunset Strip; good happy hour.
The Pikey—Fairly typical British Pub on Sunset.
Saddle Ranch—Bar and restaurant; western theme; part of a chain and thus on the tourist trap side; mechanical bull; Sunset Strip.
Surly Goat—Hunting lodge theme; divey; popular with locals who aren’t trying too hard.
The Hudson—Casual; popular with locals who might be trying too hard.
The Tower Bar—Nice starting spot inside the famous, art deco Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunset Strip. Rumor has it John Wayne took his horse there.
Bootsy Bellow—Club/lounge; Sunset Strip.
Poppy—Club/lounge.
Viper Room—Famous bar and live music venue on Sunset Strip; a stop on the Celebrity Death Tour.
Pearl’s Rooftop Bar—Great views from Sunset Strip.
Rock & Reilly's Irish Pub—As the name states; next to Pearl’s on Sunset Strip.
The Peppermint Club—Club, lounge and occasional live music venue.
Tom Tom—Reality show bar which may have turned into a gay bar?
Select West Hollywood Gay Bars Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
The Abbey (maybe the most famous gay bar in America; straightest of the gay bars)
Flaming Saddles
Fubar
Hi Tops
Trunks
Micky's (bar/nightclub)
Gym Sports Bar
Revolver
Fiesta Cantina (2-for-1 happy hour; sister bar of Sunset Strip Cabo Cantina)
Saint Felix
Hamburger Mary's (Bar and Restaurant; popular on bingo/trivia night)
Mother Lode
Rocco's
Beaches
Rage (bar/nightclub)
Gold Coast
Pump (reality show bar)
299 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
West Hollywood
Select Restaurants Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
Connie & Ted’s—5-minute walk; great seafood and craft beers.
Carney's—Cheap burger and hot dog spot located inside a train car on Sunset Strip, across the street from Standard Hotel. If you want to slum it for a meal, this is the spot. Forget Pink's.
Laurel Hardware Bar and Restaurant—5-minute walk; turns into a scene once food time ends and bar time begins.
Roku—Great sushi as well as full Japanese kitchen with Teppanyaki tables. Fun scene and wonderful Omakase on Sunset Strip. If this is your thing, forget all about Benihana.
BOA—Top notch steakhouse on Sunset Strip (across the street from Roku).
El Coyote—Landmark Mexican restaurant on Beverly Blvd. Hasn't changed much since the 60s.
Tesse—French bistro on Sunset Strip.
Cecconi’s—Pricey Italian food eaten by Hollywood VIPs and pretty people (Melrose Blvd). It's worth it alone to drive by and check out VIP parking at lunch time during the week.
Amarone Kitchen & Wine—Small, dimly lit, traditional Italian spot on Sunset Strip. Perfect for a romantic dinner.
Lucques—Continues to be popular since opening in the 90s on Melrose Blvd.
Dan Tana’s—Very old-school Hollywood spot; former Rat Pack hangout. Quality can be hit or miss. Mellow bar scene.
Gracias Madre—Interesting vegan Mexican food option.
Rosaline—Peruvian on Melrose.
Eveleigh—American fare in an interesting garden setting on Sunset Strip. The scene is often better than the food depending on who you ask.
Sushi Park—Go for the sushi, not the scene. Excellent sushi in a Sunset Strip strip mall.
Norah—Eclectic American in a creative space.
Barney’s Beanery—Restaurant and bar. The cheapest option on my list and the one I’ve spent the most time in over the years. Famous spot with a lot of history. Sports bar on the weekends.
Select West Hollywood Nightlife Spots Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
The Troubadour—Legendary bar& live music venue; opened in 1957.
Bar Lubitsch—Russian theme, lots of vodka options.
Harriet’s Rooftop Bar—Inside 1 Hotel West Hollywood; panoramic views; Sunset Strip.
Harlowe—Hollywood Golden Age themed bar
State Social House—Casual spot on Sunset Strip with live music.
Jones Restaurant and Bar—Famous old school Hollywood hangout.
Employees Only—Newly opened, trendy bar/lounge.
The Den—Swiss ski lodge theme; casual; Sunset Strip.
Sky Bar—Great views from this Sunset Strip hotel bar. Getting in can be tricky on weekends.
Cabo Cantina—Very casual; 2-for-1 happy hour; cheapest drinks on Sunset Strip.
Rainbow Bar and Grill—Famous old-school rock n' roll bar; Sunset Strip.
1OAK—Big Sunset Strip nightclub often used for filming; open select days only and hard to enter.
Doheny Room—Another old school Hollywood themes lounge/club.
The Naughty Pig—New Sports Bar on Sunset Strip; good happy hour.
The Pikey—Fairly typical British Pub on Sunset.
Saddle Ranch—Bar and restaurant; western theme; part of a chain and thus on the tourist trap side; mechanical bull; Sunset Strip.
Surly Goat—Hunting lodge theme; divey; popular with locals who aren’t trying too hard.
The Hudson—Casual; popular with locals who might be trying too hard.
The Tower Bar—Nice starting spot inside the famous, art deco Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunset Strip. Rumor has it John Wayne took his horse there.
Bootsy Bellow—Club/lounge; Sunset Strip.
Poppy—Club/lounge.
Viper Room—Famous bar and live music venue on Sunset Strip; a stop on the Celebrity Death Tour.
Pearl’s Rooftop Bar—Great views from Sunset Strip.
Rock & Reilly's Irish Pub—As the name states; next to Pearl’s on Sunset Strip.
The Peppermint Club—Club, lounge and occasional live music venue.
Tom Tom—Reality show bar which may have turned into a gay bar?
Select West Hollywood Gay Bars Within Walking Distance to Under 10-Minute Uber Ride:
The Abbey (maybe the most famous gay bar in America; straightest of the gay bars)
Flaming Saddles
Fubar
Hi Tops
Trunks
Micky's (bar/nightclub)
Gym Sports Bar
Revolver
Fiesta Cantina (2-for-1 happy hour; sister bar of Sunset Strip Cabo Cantina)
Saint Felix
Hamburger Mary's (Bar and Restaurant; popular on bingo/trivia night)
Mother Lode
Rocco's
Beaches
Rage (bar/nightclub)
Gold Coast
Pump (reality show bar)
Hollywood & Vicinity:
Runyon Canyon Park & Trail—Great for a day hike and some city views. Keep in mind it’s gotten too popular for its own good over the years, so don’t expect peace and tranquility or easy parking (take a $5 Uber), but do expect lots of happy dogs and pretty people.
L’antica Pizzeria da Michele—Authentic Italian pizza; where local Italians go for pizza
Korea Town—Excellent Korean food options and then karaoke
APL Steakhouse—New Hollywood steakhouse. Can be hit or miss. When it hits, it's fantastic. Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla hang out here for what it's worth.
Musso and Frank Grill—Legendary old Hollywood steakhouse opened since 1919. Been in countless movies and TV shows.
740 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Hollywood
Hollywood & Vicinity:
Runyon Canyon Park & Trail—Great for a day hike and some city views. Keep in mind it’s gotten too popular for its own good over the years, so don’t expect peace and tranquility or easy parking (take a $5 Uber), but do expect lots of happy dogs and pretty people.
L’antica Pizzeria da Michele—Authentic Italian pizza; where local Italians go for pizza
Korea Town—Excellent Korean food options and then karaoke
APL Steakhouse—New Hollywood steakhouse. Can be hit or miss. When it hits, it's fantastic. Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla hang out here for what it's worth.
Musso and Frank Grill—Legendary old Hollywood steakhouse opened since 1919. Been in countless movies and TV shows.
Vibrato Grill Jazz—Herb Alpert's unique live music grill in the middle of a residential section of Bel Air. If you're into dining with the rich and famous types, local residents come here frequently. Food is superb.
Nate N’ Al’s Deli in Beverly Hills: If deli food is your thing, this is a legit, old school Los Angeles deli. Larry King is a regular. I get pastrami on rye with extra pickles on the side every time.
The Ivy in Beverly Hills—Still a Hollywood VIP power lunch spot, though you'll see more tourists than VIPs. Good food but pricey. Great boutique shopping on this street (Robertson Blvd.).
Mastro's Steakhouse—Top 5 steakhouse in all of LA. I've never had a bad experience here.
Cut—Wolfgang Puck's fine dining steakhouse and lounge inside the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Morton's Steakhouse—Famous, world-class steakhouse next to SLS hotel in Beverly Hills.
Venice Canals—Less touristy than Venice Beach Boardwalk, more peaceful, more ducks. Great burgers at Simmzy’s and Hinano’s (both on Washington Blvd., 1 block apart)
Main Street, Santa Monica & Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice—If you want to check out where the locals hang out once you’re done with the Third Street Promenade, take a short drive to Main Street and continue from there to Abbot Kinney… shops, cafes, bars, galleries, etc. Try Enterprise Fish Co. off Main St. for some simple happy hour seafood.
Montana Ave., Santa Monica—Very pleasant for a stroll with shops, restaurants, cafes, etc.
Marina Del Rey—Try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Various quick cruises available here (sightseeing, fishing, booze cruise, yacht charter, etc.).
West LA
Vibrato Grill Jazz—Herb Alpert's unique live music grill in the middle of a residential section of Bel Air. If you're into dining with the rich and famous types, local residents come here frequently. Food is superb.
Nate N’ Al’s Deli in Beverly Hills: If deli food is your thing, this is a legit, old school Los Angeles deli. Larry King is a regular. I get pastrami on rye with extra pickles on the side every time.
The Ivy in Beverly Hills—Still a Hollywood VIP power lunch spot, though you'll see more tourists than VIPs. Good food but pricey. Great boutique shopping on this street (Robertson Blvd.).
Mastro's Steakhouse—Top 5 steakhouse in all of LA. I've never had a bad experience here.
Cut—Wolfgang Puck's fine dining steakhouse and lounge inside the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Morton's Steakhouse—Famous, world-class steakhouse next to SLS hotel in Beverly Hills.
Venice Canals—Less touristy than Venice Beach Boardwalk, more peaceful, more ducks. Great burgers at Simmzy’s and Hinano’s (both on Washington Blvd., 1 block apart)
Main Street, Santa Monica & Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice—If you want to check out where the locals hang out once you’re done with the Third Street Promenade, take a short drive to Main Street and continue from there to Abbot Kinney… shops, cafes, bars, galleries, etc. Try Enterprise Fish Co. off Main St. for some simple happy hour seafood.
Montana Ave., Santa Monica—Very pleasant for a stroll with shops, restaurants, cafes, etc.
Marina Del Rey—Try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Various quick cruises available here (sightseeing, fishing, booze cruise, yacht charter, etc.).
Silverlake/Los Feliz (15 minute Uber ride):
4100—Trendy hipster bar
The Thirsty Crow—Old school whisky bar
Silverlake Lounge—Historic bar with live indie music
Dresden—Famous OG Hollywood bar/lounge
Burgers Never Say Die—Very popular with locals, but be prepared to wait 20-45 min for your burgers
Birds—Locals' staple restaurant/bar in Franklin Village/Los Feliz. On the divey side, famous for its rotisserie chicken... which tastes even better drunk at midnight.
256 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Silver Lake
Silverlake/Los Feliz (15 minute Uber ride):
4100—Trendy hipster bar
The Thirsty Crow—Old school whisky bar
Silverlake Lounge—Historic bar with live indie music
Dresden—Famous OG Hollywood bar/lounge
Burgers Never Say Die—Very popular with locals, but be prepared to wait 20-45 min for your burgers
Birds—Locals' staple restaurant/bar in Franklin Village/Los Feliz. On the divey side, famous for its rotisserie chicken... which tastes even better drunk at midnight.
Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach—Worth the drive compared to the closer and more touristy beach town destinations. Beautiful walk along The Strand; great food options; boutique shopping; good vibes; etc.
I like this area so much I moved here from West Hollywood.
South Bay
Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach—Worth the drive compared to the closer and more touristy beach town destinations. Beautiful walk along The Strand; great food options; boutique shopping; good vibes; etc.
I like this area so much I moved here from West Hollywood.
Consejos sobre la ciudad
Formas de ahorrar
Easily Skippable LA Attractions (if your time is limited)
Walk of Fame—Just go for 20 minutes if you must. Be prepared for crowds, noise, traffic congestion, shops selling cheap Chinese-made junk and pick pockets. If you’re interested in any of the many Hollywood bus tours (LA sightseeing; celebrity homes; celebrity death locations; etc.), most start here.
Pink’s Hot Dogs—I have yet to meet the hot dog that’s worth a 30-45 minute wait.
Downtown—Out of the way, dirty, and not particularly safe. There are some great restaurants in DT, but those can also be found in much nicer areas. DTLA is a necessary evil for concerts, sports, special events, etc.