The 6 best neighborhoods to explore in Los Angeles
Jul 8, 2025 • 7 min read
Sunset view of Los Angeles. Jon Bilous/Shutterstock
As in most cities, declaring one neighborhood in LA “the best” is almost enough to get a smoothie splashed on your windshield (“almost” only because the smoothies cost $14 here). So we’ll just say these are starting points, smart places to set up base. But certainly explore beyond, and remember, the treacherous traffic in LA is very real. Under-planning and scheduling free time to dig deeper into a neighborhood (or two) is always the way to go.
One other detail: Some of these "neighborhoods" are actually cities. Ever heard that LA is "72 suburbs in search of a city"? It's kinda true. Santa Monica, Pasadena and Long beach are all proper cities within Los Angeles County, but for now we’ll treat each of these places like neighborhoods. So take your pick between areas noted for beach and boardwalk, extraordinary museums, old-school glam, arresting art, botanical gardens and craft beer.
1. Santa Monica
Best for beach vibes
Among some of LA’s resident Eastsiders, it’s a badge of honor to declare how long it’s been since you’ve visited the West Side. Sure, the area, namely Santa Monica, has a reputation for being touristy. But that’s for good reason – the beaches are here. Even still, it’s generally been considered cooler to head to Venice if you want to see the ocean. However, thanks to a recent boom in revitalized hotels (more on those below), Santa Monica is fresher than ever.
So if you’re in need of sun, sand and a stunning hotel, head to Santa Monica. Skip the Santa Monica Pier, but still walk or bike the path that runs past it. Head toward Venice and the famous Muscle Beach (it’s worth seeing at least once) and soak up some of LA’s skating, rollerblading and oceanside hula-hooping culture. In the evening, grab cocktails and a bite to eat at a rooftop spot with ocean views, like Élephante or Calabra, which is inside the Santa Monica Proper Hotel (another great option for a stay).
Where to stay: The refreshed and rebranded Sandbourne Santa Monica (the property was formerly Le Merigot) just opened in 2024. It has a pool, ocean views, covetable design and fun extras like free ceramics classes for guests. Another oceanfront stay that just had a facelift is The Georgian Hotel, a striking 1930s Art-Deco-meets-Romanesque-Revival property with a fabulous Italian restaurant.
2. Fairfax/Mid-Wilshire
Best for museums and convenience
Fairfax, along with the larger Mid-Wilshire area, is a standout for its central location. Stay here and you can easily dart over to the beach or downtown (just not always in one fell swoop, depending on the time of day and traffic).
For iconic culinary experiences, head to Canter’s Deli, which has been around since 1931 and was famously a favorite hangout of Guns N’ Roses, or the food hall that is the Original Farmers Market. Major museums, including LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits and Petersen Automotive, are also nearby.
Where to stay: Located on the edge of Fairfax and West Hollywood, Short Stories Hotel is walking distance to both shopping and dining. It also has a top-notch bar right on site, where you can grab a refreshing mango margarita and a seat outside.
3. Hollywood
Best for iconic LA
Not surprisingly, film fans will appreciate Hollywood, where you can still get a taste of the ol’ razzle dazzle of yesteryear. Sure, you’ll also see tourist traps like Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and Madame Tussauds, but save your time and energy for only-in-LA experiences.
Venturing over to Griffith Observatory, where Rebel Without a Cause was filmed and you can catch a planetarium show, is a must. From here, you’ll also get superb views of the legendary Hollywood sign. If you’d like to get an even better view of the city’s signature sign, do so on horseback. Sunset Ranch Hollywood offers guided trail rides, including a sunset option. After working up an appetite, eat at The Musso & Frank Grill, a Hollywood institution that has fed the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo.
Where to stay: It doesn’t get any more iconic than The Hollywood Roosevelt, the location of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. The hotel offers yoga on the rooftop and, at certain times of year, movie screenings around its Tropicana pool.
4. Downtown
Best for art
Home to LA’s official Arts District, Downtown LA is the best area to experience art both in a conventional museum setting and out in the wild. Hauser & Wirth – a gallery and garden space located in an old flour mill – hosts exhibits, artist talks, workshops and concerts. Also on the property, don’t miss the arts and culture bookstore Artbook. At nearby ROW DTLA, a collective of shops, restaurants and event spaces, you’re invited to get crafty at Souvenir of the Sunday, a pop-up space that regularly hosts workshops on the weekend.
For a more conventional setting, The Broad has quickly become one of the most popular museums in LA (art and otherwise). Dedicated to contemporary art, the museum’s regular collection is always free – just reserve a timed entry online.
Where to stay: The art appreciation continues at Hotel Figueroa, which has a gallery in its lobby space. And architecture aficionados will appreciate The Hoxton, set in a gloriously refurbished 1922 Beaux-Arts building.
5. Pasadena
Best for gorgeous gardens
If you’re a college football fan, no doubt you’re familiar with the annual Rose Bowl game and the flower-filled Rose Bowl Parade that precedes it. But even if you’re not in town on New Year’s Day, a trip to Pasadena can still be filled with awe-inspiring botanicals. From Old Pasadena it’s just a 10-minute drive to The Huntington Library – part archive for rare books and manuscripts, part art museum and part botanical garden. In all, the library has 16 themed gardens spread across about 130 acres. The Desert Garden, one of the largest outdoor collections of cacti and succulents in the world, and the Japanese garden, with its ceremonial teahouse, are both favorites.
Pasadena is also about 15 minutes from Descanso Gardens, an urban oasis that’s especially kid-friendly, thanks to its mini-train that offers both parents and youngsters a quick tour of some of its gardens. Descanso has a Japanese Garden as well, plus an Ancient Forest lush with prehistoric plants.
Where to stay: Keeping with the garden theme, The Langham Huntington, Pasadena has rooms in charming cottages spread throughout the well-manicured grounds. It also has two pools and tennis courts, all sure to make you forget you’re still within one of the country’s biggest, most bustling cities.
6. Long Beach
Best for food and craft beer
Don’t sleep on Long Beach. Possibly top among its many attractions is that it has its own airport, meaning you can bypass overly congested LAX. Added to that, food lovers will find endless opportunities to feast here, including at celebrated Cambodian restaurants like A&J Seafood Shack and Crystal Thai-Cambodian Cuisine. BBQ is also big at the moment, with standout spots like Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House and the American-style Robert Earl's BBQ. Plus, San & Wolves, the vegan Filipino bakery pop-up with a cult following, just recently opened its first permanent location, choosing the Belmont Heights area of Long Beach.
As for beer, Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls neighborhood (aka Brewery Knolls), is the place to be for craft brew and a welcoming atmosphere. Ambitious Ales has classic beer styles reinvented with interesting ingredients (like lavender and strawberry infusions), plus a large beer garden in back. Rasselbock serves over 35 German and Belgian beers, and then there’s Dutch’s Brewhouse, which is B.O.P (brew on premises). They’ll show you how to make your own beers.
Where to stay: Fairmont Breakers Long Beach is home to the celebrated Sky Room restaurant, a fine-dining establishment with breathtaking views of the harbor and Downtown LA. Plus, the hotel’s 10,000-square-foot spa is something to experience. Get a deep-tissue CBD massage or a Venn Supercharged Facial with Korean acupressure massage to increase your skin’s glow.