Glamour and vibrance are the first words that come to mind when I think of West Hollywood. It’s iconic because it’s home to the legendary Sunset Strip, some of the craziest nightclubs and restaurants in the US crazy night life, and has featured in more movies and TV shows than one can remember. But it’s also unexpected. Its modern Design District has surprises at every corner, there are gourmet cafés and exceptional eateries lurking in the tiniest of alleys, and there are street art surprises at every corner.
But the best part of West Hollywood is the emphasis on inclusion. Here you’re free to be who you are. Where else will you find state-sponsored rainbow crosswalks painted in rainbow colours of the LGBT flag? If you know anything about us, you’d know just how much we love places that celebrate such heterogeneity instead of sweeping all sexual impulses under one homogenous umbrella.
So if you’re on a road trip in US, you must check out this little corner of California. Here’s a little guide to all our favourite places in West Hollywood:
Things to do in West Hollywood
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Visit The Sunset Strip
You’ve seen it in so many movies that you’ve lost count but this iconic stretch of Sunset Boulevard but The legendary Sunset Strip lives up to the hype. From Marilyn Monroe and Jim Morrison to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix there are hundreds of celebrities who’ve been seen in the area. A quick tip – Sunset Strip is best explored on foot as it is pedestrian friendly. Parking is hard to find and expensive.
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Check out quirky street art and amazing murals
Some of the world’s most instagrammed walls are right here in and around West Hollywood (WeHo). There are so many quirky street art gems in the area that it is easy to devote one day just to spying out these treasures. Try looking for colourful walls (Paul Smith’s pink wall is a social media phenomenon!), gigantic murals at the WeHo Public Library, and pristine angel wings that pop up all over the city. But that’s not all. Along the way, you’ll find tons of other bits and bobs that you’ll want to photograph. Take a look:
A photo posted by Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports) on
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Explore the music scene
It’s no secret – the sunset strip has been the hub of music for decades and hosted dozens of musicians and incredible bands such as Guns n’ Roses. Music is an important part of the culture of WeHo. The Roxy Theatre and Whisky a Go Go have a lineup of great acts on most nights.Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to Los Angeles Philharmonic and perfect if you enjoy classical music. If you want to party the night away, there are nightclubs by the dozen, including several gay nightclubs, at Santa Monica Boulevard. Posh, laid-back, or loud – in WeHo there’s a venue for you however you like your music.
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Photograph Stunning Californian sunsets at Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory is one of our favourite places in LA and it’s just a short drive away from West Hollywood. The observatory, perched on top of a hill, offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the iconic Hollywood sign. Our favourite time to visit the Griffith Observatory is at sunset – it’s the perfect place to drink in the beauty of a typical Californian sunset with the twinkling lights of downtown LA in the distance.
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Visit a Theme Park or beach
If you’re in the mood for a day trip, there are tons of fun options in the area:
- Venice Beach is a short drive away. It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy evening sipping on margaritas.
- If celebrity sightings in West Hollywood do not quench your thirst for everything Hollywood, then make sure you drive to Universal Studios Theme Park. The film studio and theme park is a short drive away from WeHo. From family-based attractions to thrilling rides, it has it all.
- If you’re travelling with young kids, you must visit Disneyland, just 30 miles away from West Hollywood. The entertaining resort has something for everyone and is bound to leave you smiling from ear to ear – it’s not known as the happiest place in the world for nothing!
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Participate in the one of the largest Pride Parades
West Hollywood prides itself on its progressive character. Unsurprisingly it was the venue for one of the world’s first few pride parades. Today La Pride Music Festival and Parade is one of the biggest LGBTQ celebrations in California. The 3 day festival is celebrated in West Hollywood Park in June every year. It is devoted to celebrating diversity, equality, and the rights of the LGBT community. Expect exhibits, music, art, parties, and loads of fun.
Where to stay in West Hollywood
Petit Ermitage is a luxurious bohemian gem tucked in a little alley close to Sunset Boulevard. The Moroccan-themed boutique hotel lives up to its reputation as a boho-luxe haven – everything from the ornamental menus to lush toiletries have a distinctly Moroccan edge. We opted for the Junior Suite at Petit Ermitage – each suite boasts of a traditional fireplace, an elaborate mantel, charming wardrobes, and Persian carpets. The entire ambience at Petit Ermitage here is whimsical and decadent – just the way we like it!
The gourmet breakfast spread is in keeping with the boho-luxe feel of the hotel – think grapes and strawberries spilling from wooden platters, a selection of gourmet cheeses, freshly baked breads, chia pudding (yes Chia Pudding at a breakfast buffet – score!), and coconut flakes. While the spread isn’t extensive, it is high in quality! The hotel’s pièce de résistance is its rooftop restaurant with a pool offering a 360 degree view of Hollywood Hills. Choose from tables framed by dainty creepers or ones enveloped by teepees with fairy lights strung across them for a dreamy dining experience:
Where to eat in West Hollywood
We really enjoyed exploring the dining scene in West Hollywood. From michelin-star eateries to west-coast staples such as In n Out Burger, there’s nothing you won’t find here. But it’s the independent eateries we loved the most! In keeping with the city’s penchant for healthy food, there are organic eateries and third-waves cafés everywhere.
Head to Coffee Commissary or Verve Coffee Roasters for your artisanal coffee fix. The Eveleigh is perfect if you’re craving a rustic filling meal in gorgeous surroundings. They also know how to mix some mean cocktails. If cocktails are on your mind then you must visit E.P. and L.P. – an incredible rooftop bar that offers views of the Hollywood Hills. Our favourite restaurant in the area is Gracias Madre, which offers 100% plant based food to guests. As the name suggests, Gracias Madre specializes in Mexican-inspired fare. We loved their tacos, salads, and green smoothies and went back for seconds and thirds.
Those are some of our favourite things to do in West Hollywood – the city is perfect for a weekend getaway jam-packed with urban pleasures.
Are you visiting California soon?
Check out our Guide to a Roadtrip in California and Nevada
See all our posts on travelling in USA here
I loved Hollywood! I was only in LA for a couple of days but managed to pack loads in – the Walt Disney Concert Hall is such a striking building too!
Hey Milly – glad we’re not the only ones who love WeHo. Walt Disney Concert Hall is a striking building indeed 🙂
I love Hollywood, been there once before. I’m going to Disneyland over there later this year. Love the rainbow crosswalks too
Hey Hannah – that’s awesome. Try staying in West Hollywood when you’re there later this year – you’ll love it 🙂
I have always wanted to go here, I adore the fact you can be who you want to be, you dont have to conform, your pictures are absolutely stunning as well x
Hey Lynne – I agree with you. I feel its progressive nature is the best part about WeHo 🙂
California and LA are definitely on my bucket list – thanks for sharing x
Hey Stephanie – LA had been on my wishlist for ages. Glad we finally made it there – our weekend in WeHo was the definite highlight of the time we spent in LA 🙂
I don’t know a lot about all the areas of LA, but I feel like I know quite a bit about West Hollywood now. All of the murals and coloured walls are beautiful and I love the state sponsored rainbow crosswalk. I would love the visit the Griffith Observatory, the view is stunning! All in all, WeHo looks like a fantastic place to visit.
Thanks Sarah – glad you enjoyed reading our Guide To West Hollywood. The state sponsored rainbow crosswalk seems to be a big hit with our readers and we’re so happy about that 🙂
Oh you are making me want to just chuck things into a suitcase and travel with these posts x
Hehe that’s us done then Rachel – so happy to know our posts inspire you to travel. Yay 🙂
Hollywood is on my list of places to visit. It looks so beautiful x
As it should be – it’s legendary for all the right reasons 🙂
I’m lucky enough to have been to West Hollywood and like you love the rainbow crosswalks. Jo x
That’s awesome- good to know to you enjoyed it as much as we did 🙂
For me being an avid street art lover, the biggest draw would be seeing all the street art. They have some fantastic murals.
Hey Ana – you would absolutely love the street art in WeHo. I’m a street art connoisseur because I studied visual arts at Uni and I really enjoyed my time there 🙂
Hollywood is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. I didn’t know about the rainbow crosswalk – it’s fab! x
Isn’t it? We loved the rainbow crosswalk – it put smiles on our faces everytime we walked past 🙂
Wow oh wow this place looks so amazing would love to visit.x
You should visit WeHo soon – it makes for such a great city break 🙂
oh wow ive never been but its defintely on my bucket list! That pink wall is AMAZING!
Hey Deborah – that pink wall is so popular that there are queues to get photographed next to it 😉
wow wow wow! I’ve not been to CA for about 20 years and i’m sure it didn’t look this great back then!
I’m sure things have changed a lot in the past 20 years Stephanie. Time for another visit perhaps? 🙂
I would love to visit California, so many lovely places to visit and things to see! 🙂
There’s just so much to do in California – you should read our itinerary for a roadtrip in California for some ideas before you book a trip 🙂
Your photos are always so amazing. I need to visit here.
Thanks Emma – Vid had great fun clicking photos in West Hollywood 🙂
I’ve been to Hollywood once before but it was only for a few days and I’d have loved to go for longer and explore more x
Hope you make it there for longer Rhian – there is tons to do in the area. In fact, even a week isn’t enough 🙂
Your photos are beautiful – they certainly capture the Hip Urban scene in California! Thanks for sharing your experiences and suggestions for activities while visiting West Hollywood. There certainly appears a great number of unique and fun things to get involved in.
Hey Jane – thanks a ton. We’re both urban bunnies as we grew up in big cities, so we always find ourselves attracted to such getaways 🙂
Going back to California is on our wish-list but I think it will be a year or two before we manage it.
Ooh make sure you consult our itinerary for a roadtrip in California when you do go Teresa- would def. recommend West Hollywood and Death Valley National Park for 2 completely different experiences and landscapes 🙂
Wow this looks amazing! You have the most astounding photography 🙂
Thanks Harriet 🙂 We really enjoyed clicking those Cali sunsets
I love West Hollywood. There are so many cool shops! I would go back in a heartbeat.
Ditto – We’re actually trying to see if we can go back next year too 🙂
I’m possibly visiting Anaheim this summer for a conference, but we always have plenty of free time to explore the area and we’re sure to frequently to be in LA- with this article I’ll be able to wxplore the area easily. Love love love that street art and that view at Griffith’s Observatory!
Thanks Adele – do send us photos if you make it to Melrose Ave or Griffith’s Observatory – would love to share them with our readers 🙂
I have not been to California but after reading your post and I am adding to my list of places to visit in the states.
Hey Anosa – it’s definitely worthy of being in the bucket list. We loved our time there 🙂
Photography is absolutely amazing, I would love to go to Hollywood! xo
Thanks a ton Dena – it helps to be married to a photographer 😉
What an amazing post! The photography is just stunning. The view from the Observatory is simply sublime and I would love to visit it. Now added WeHo to my bucket list! x
Hey Tanya – thanks a ton. Vid couldn’t get enough of the sunsets from the Griffith Observatory. Hope you enjoy your time in WeHo when you make it there.
West Hollywood sounds AMAZING!! I love the quirky street art too!
Thanks Francesca 🙂 I was most excited by the street art
We watched La La Land at the weekend so would love to visit Griffith Observatory. Looks like a fab trip! Lucky things!
Oooh nice – we’re yet to watch La La land but I can vouch for the fact that Griffith Observatory is amazing 🙂
I wish I was your post makes it look and sound fantastic. It is somewhere I would love to visit although maybe without the 3 little ones.
Hey Melanie – you must take the kids to Disneyland when you’re there 🙂
I would love to visit LA. I should one day.
Those palm-tree laden boulevards calls out to one eh 😉
Wow you’ve made it look even more gorgeous than I already thought! I didn’t know about all the cool street art, those angel wings are so cool!
Thanks Laura – so happy to know you enjoyed our guide to West Hollywood. We weren’t expecting to have as much fun as we did 🙂
Ooh such gorgeous pictures! 🙂
I’ve never been to America before but it’s definitely on the bucket list!
Dani x
Hey Dani – this was our first prolonged stay in the US too and we loved it 🙂
Looks and sounds like an amazing place to visit! I love the rainbow crossing and the coloured walls!
Thanks Charlotte – we did have a lot of fun prancing around West Hollywood’s colourful alleyways 🙂
Love your sling bag with the pom poms ?
Thanks a ton Priti 🙂
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