Lost in LA: West Los Angeles (PART 2)

Over two years have passed since I last wrote about West LA. I had discussed the neighborhoods of Westwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and the Pacific Palisades, as I had gone to those places during my time as a college student. Since then, I hadn’t really returned to explore more until earlier this year, and I’d like to add on the sights and attractions that one can see in this trendy, touristy part of Los Angeles.

West LA is what an outsider would consider as stereotypical “Los Angeles:” sandy beaches, palm trees, high-end shopping, and celebrity homes. Weekends and holidays are absolutely packed, as visitors (and some locals) from near and far flock to this part of town for the SoCal “vibes.” West LA is where paradoxes thrive, as it’s a blend of bohemian-chic and action-packed with chill nonchalance– all the while being an expensive and desirable place to be.

At 101 squared miles (262 squared kilometers), the Westside isn’t small. It stretches as north as Malibu to as south as LAX/Westchester, before trickling off at Hollywood proper in the east– and of course, the Pacific Ocean is its never-ending western border. With so much area to cover, one could spend a lifetime just digging through the large and hidden treasures of this notable pocket in Los Angeles.

I briefly lived in West LA as a college student. My alma mater, UCLA, is located in the area, and I spent the first three years living in its on-campus dorms before moving out to the apartments in Westwood for my final year. Rent wasn’t cheap: I remember paying about $700 (635€) monthly, and that was with three other roommates! It’s also been a while since I graduated, and I hear it’s not uncommon for students today to pay closer to $1000 (906€)! Even if you’re well-off, it’s truly one of the most-expensive places to live.

Exploring West LA didn’t come to me until my later college years, when I had more free time outside of studying to have fun. Santa Monica was just a Big Blue Bus ride away from campus ($1.25/1,10€ per trip) and LACMA was a few stops down Wilshire for weekends out. However, it wasn’t until I returned this past year that I began exploring new parts of the Westside, and these are the ones I want to share with you today.

Melrose

This tiny district within the West Hollywood neighborhood was made famous by the 1990’s TV series Melrose Place. As it’s located in WeHo, it’s not a surprise that it’s home to high-end shops, restaurants, and cafes, not to forget some of the most-expensive house properties in the city. Most visitors stay within West Melrose Avenue, where they can feel as if they’re living the Hollywood dream.

Melrose is known for its eponymous Trading Post, an open-air market held every Sunday that sells antique and vintage goods for the bohemian at heart. However, you’ll also find that plenty of shops along Melrose Avenue have that vintage feel, too, and they’re opened every day for window-shopping. You’ll find that the demographics quite specific: young, white, and hipster. That, and the tourists from Asia and Europe dressed to the nines to impress.

Other notable places to see are Paul Smith’s “Pink Wall,” which is essentially a bubblegum-pink wall adjacent to the British fashion designer’s brand store. Aside from  it being garish, there really isn’t much to the wall itself, yet it remains a hot-spot for tourists to take selfies every day– I admit, I had my photo-shoot there, too!

Hop across the street, and you’ll encounter Carrera Cafe, a picturesque coffee shop that’s incredibly-famous in Los Angeles. Everything screams “aesthetic” in this establishment, from the black-and-white tiled floors to the colorful neon sign “Ciao Bella” for that European flair. The lattes are the star of the show, as one can customize the foam to create cool texts, images, even both. Definitely takes the cafe experience up a notch!

Venice

Not to be confused with the Italian city, Venice is a beach neighborhood just four miles (6.4 kilometers) south of Santa Monica. Whereas Santa Monica is your “classic,” touristy beach, Venice is eccentric with its vagrant street artists and lax marijuana use (including several dispensaries). You’ll definitely smell the weed as you stroll town, and the crowds of people can be overwhelming– but that’s all part of its charm!

The beach itself is popular for surfing, volleyball, or just sun-tanning. It’s incredibly spacious, and you can get your toes wet in the cool water while walking barefoot along the white sand. You can also take some time to enjoy the colorful street art and skateboarders strutting their stuff near the boardwalk, or perhaps partake in some outdoor fitness at Muscle Beach.

If the beach isn’t your cup of tea, you can likewise shop and eat at trendy spots along Abbot Kinney Boulevard. There are plenty of options for food (Italian, French, vegan), and it’s a common brunch pit-stop before seeing more of Venice itself.

What gives Venice its name is its eponymous canal just a few blocks from the ocean. This man-made structure was first built in 1905 as means of recreating the magical waterways in Venice, Italy and today it’s become a secluded and romantic spot to walk through. The palm trees and sunny bungalows along the waterfront give the canals that distinctive, Californian glow, all the while perfect for pictures with loved ones.

Culver City 

Venture more inland and south of West LA, and you’ll reach Culver City. While not as tourist-hyped as the previous neighborhoods mentioned, it still remains a trendy spot that’s more attuned to locals, especially those who work in entertainment. Culver City is peppered with film and television productions along Washington Boulevard, from the big-name Sony Pictures to smaller, boutique ones.

Because of its reputation in the entertainment industry, Culver City is quite an affluent neighborhood, especially Downtown with its New-American eateries, industrial-chic cafes, and quirky boutiques. I got some of the best tacos and coffee in this area, and I would go back just for them!

The more south you go along Washington Boulevard, you’ll find Culver to be slightly more run-down, with older buildings and a more-mixed population (Hispanics, Asians) than Downtown (predominantly white and upper-middle class). The change is notable, but it still remains quite safe to walk around in– I enjoyed some incredible tres leches cake and Nepalese cuisine there!

For places to check out, the Culver City Stairs (officially known as the “Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook”) is one of them. It’s a steep, 282-step climb to the top of a hill, where one can get decent views of downtown LA and the mountains on a clear day. There are trails and designated areas for exercise as well, and it’s a pleasant escape from the busy streets below.

Another notable spot to see is the Museum of Jurassic Technology. It’s not your typical museum, as it’s dedicated to esoteric, paranormal, and otherwise bizarre artifacts that require interpretation from the museum-goers themselves. Expect plenty of taxidermy and glass orbs during your visit!

…and that’s the second part of West LA! There still remains a lot to explore in just this part of town, but this post covers a good portion of it. I’ll be sharing more adventures in LA in due course, so stay tuned for those. Thanks for reading!

— Rebecca