Guide to Los Feliz, Los Angeles: Top Things To See and Do

The Los Feliz neighborhood is known as the gateway to Griffith Park. The park’s southern entrance — the closest to the Griffith Observatory — is located on the northern end of the neighborhood. But Los Feliz has a lot of charm beyond that.

Not only is Los Feliz home to many of the iconic architectural landmarks of Los Angeles, the neighborhood is known as an artistic and trendy neighborhood with multiple art galleries and theaters. Some of the restaurants and bars in Los Feliz also attract food-loving Angelenos from all over the city.

Read below for all you need to know before visiting Los Feliz.

What is Los Feliz?

Los Feliz is a neighborhood in the Greater Hollywood area that encompasses Griffith Park. The home and businesses in Los Feliz start right at the southern border of Griffith Park. 

The area was once settled by the indigenous Tongva people, as the neighborhood is located next to the Los Angeles river. The name Los Feliz comes from Rancho Los Feliz, the land grant given by King Carlos III of Spain to Corporal José Vicente Feliz in the early 1800s. That land grant encompassed what is now Los Feliz, Griffith Park, East Hollywood and Silver Lake. 

In the early 1900s, Los Feliz was the epicenter of the film industry with multiple film studios in the neighborhood, kind of like an early Hollywood. 

The remnants of this era are the homes built during that period by famous architects for the wealthy. These houses have become the city’s landmarks. 

Los Feliz today is a popular and walkable neighborhood full of historic architecture from the early 20th century, plenty of art, and independently-owned restaurants and bars.

Want to visit? Here’s what you should see.

What to see in Los Feliz

Beyond all the different sights and museums that are available inside Griffith Park, Los Feliz is home to another Los Angeles gem, the Barnsdall Art Park. Oil heiress Alice Barnsdall bought the hilltop property and, in 1915, commissioned famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build a complex for a theatrical community. 

In the end, Wright only built Hollyhock House and two other residences. In 1926, Aline Barnsdall donated Hollyhock House along with 11 acres of the surrounding area to the City of Los Angeles to use as a public park. 

Today, the stunning Hollyhock House is open for public tours and the Barnsdall Art Park is also home to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, a theater for live performances, and two art centers offering public art classes for adults and children. On Fridays in the summer (between Memorial Day and Labor Day), the West Lawn of the park hosts wine tastings with local food trucks and DJs. The Friday night wine tastings are highly popular, and tickets do sell out.

Frank Lloyd Wright also designed another residence in Los Feliz, the Ennis House. The Ennis House is privately owned and not open to the public, but you can always admire it from the outside — just remember not to disturb the residents. 

Another famous architectural landmark in Los Feliz is the John Sowden House, designed by Lloyd Wright (the son of Frank Lloyd Wright), which would be of interest to true crime fans, as it was once the home of one Dr. George Hodel who was suspected to be the Black Dahlia murderer. 

The Vista Theatre is one of the coolest theaters to watch a movie in Los Angeles. The historic, art-deco theater is currently owned by none other than Quentin Tarantino and still uses actual film reels as opposed to a digital format. The theater screens both new releases and cult classics. 

Other noteworthy stops in Los Feliz include La Luz de Jesus Gallery, which focuses on underground and counterculture art, and the airy independent bookstore, Skylight Books.

So to recap, the top things to do in Los Feliz are:

• Visit Barnsdall Art Park and the Hollyhock House.
• Tour the Ennis House.
• Catch a movie at Vista Theatre.
• Browse the art at La Luz de Jesus Gallery.
• Curl up with a good read at Skylight Books.

What to eat and drink in Los Feliz

Art and architecture aside, Los Feliz is known for having some of the best coffee shops, bars, and restaurants in Los Angeles. 

Start with brunch and some baked goods at All Time, or refuel after your Griffith Park hike with some burgers from Goldburger. 

For a caffeine break, the minimalist Maru Coffee brews some of the best joe in town. 

In the evening, head to Mírate for a modern Mexican dinner and savor hard-to-find agave spirits. Or enjoy a quiet evening at the local favorite, Big Bar. 

Who should visit Los Feliz?

The neighborhood should not be missed by architecture buffs visiting Los Angeles, with homes designed by an important and diverse set of architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Wright, and Richard Neutra. Similarly, art lovers who are interested in the underground art movement will also find plenty to explore in the neighborhood.

Even the casual tourist will enjoy strolling past the independent storefronts of the neighborhood’s Hillhurst Avenue and grabbing a bite of drink in between (though I would recommend making a reservation at places like Mírate, as it’s currently one of the hottest restaurants in Los Angeles). 

How to visit Los Feliz

Taking a tour from a knowledgeable local guide is always a great way to get to know a new neighborhood, and Los Feliz is no exception. Our Hollywood Sign Tour through Griffith Park starts in Los Feliz, stopping at some of the best landmarks including the Ennis House. 

For those who can’t fit a tour into their travel schedule, it’s easy to stroll through Los Feliz. It’s a walkable neighborhood with independent storefronts and eateries that welcome spontaneous exploration. 

Los Feliz Combines LA History and Nature

From iconic architecture tied to LA’s filmmaking history to the underground art galleries, Los Feliz is truly one of the city’s artistic centers. 

It has a laid-back vibe and is a perfect stop for a bite before or after your tour of Griffith Park. But for those with more time to spare, this is also a neighborhood worth exploring a little more. Get to know Los Feliz, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in Los Angeles.