The Brooklyn
of Los Angeles is
Highland Park.

See the 21 venues →Where to stay
The case for Highland Park

Highland Park has two spines: Figueroa and York Blvd. The taco stands have been here for decades. The wine bars showed up ten years ago. Somehow it works. Saturday mornings the sidewalks fill with strollers and dogs, and by 9pm the bowling alley is packed and somebody's spinning vinyl next door.

Gold Line bar alone houses over 7,500 vinyl records, and that's just one of a dozen-plus independent bars lining York and Figueroa.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Silver Lake

Silver Lake had its moment first. The reservoir loop is still one of the best walks in LA, and the coffee shop density per block is genuinely absurd.

Echo Park

Echo Park revolves around the lake. Pedal boats, elote vendors, Sunset Blvd taquerias. It feels more like a small town than anywhere else in the city.

Glassell Park

Glassell Park is quieter, more residential, and five minutes from everything in Highland Park. People move here when they want a yard but still want good tacos within walking distance.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Highland Park.

01
Stay

Highland Park is residential, there are no boutique hotels in the neighborhood itself.
02
Eat & Drink

York Blvd runs from horchata lattes at Cafe de Leche to Taiwanese dan dan noodles at Joy without breaking a sweat.
03
Do & Shop

Walk York Blvd from Cafe de Leche to Galco's on a Sunday morning - that stretch is the whole neighborhood in miniature.
All 21 spots mapped out

Highland Park, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 21 top picks

The Highland Park guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyUSD
LanguageEnglish
Cost level $$$$Expensive
Best monthsOctober to November and March to May
Local time UTC-7
Plug type US plug · 120V/60Hz
Emergency911
Local tip
Walk York Blvd from Cafe de Leche to Galco's on a Sunday morning. That 15-minute stretch is the whole neighborhood in miniature.
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Common questions

Things to know about Highland Park.

What is the Brooklyn of Los Angeles?
The Brooklyn of Los Angeles is Highland Park. Highland Park has two spines: Figueroa and York Blvd. Gold Line bar alone houses over 7,500 vinyl records, and that's just one of a dozen-plus independent bars lining York and Figueroa.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Los Angeles?
Highland Park is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Los Angeles. Highland Park has two spines: Figueroa and York Blvd. The taco stands have been here for decades. The wine bars showed up ten years ago. Somehow it works. Saturday mornings the sidewalks fill with strollers and dogs, and by 9pm the bowling alley is packed and somebody's spinning vinyl next door.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Los Angeles?
Highland Park is the hippest neighborhood in Los Angeles. Decades-old taco stands share Figueroa with natural wine bars that opened last Tuesday, and nobody seems to find the collision strange.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Los Angeles?
Highland Park is Los Angeles's trendiest neighborhood right now. By 9pm the bowling alley is full and someone next door is spinning vinyl.
Where do creatives live in Los Angeles?
Creatives in Los Angeles gather in Highland Park, built along two spines: Figueroa and York Blvd. The work happens in a dozen-plus independent bars, vinyl rooms, and an upstairs music space on Ave 56. Decades-old taco stands and newer wine bars share the same sidewalks. Somehow it works.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Los Angeles?
Highland Park is the most bohemian neighborhood in Los Angeles. Saturday mornings the sidewalks fill with strollers and dogs. By 9pm a 1927 bowling alley is packed and somebody's spinning vinyl next door. Walk York Blvd on a Sunday and you get the whole place in miniature - tacos, natural wine, records.
Where should I stay in Highland Park, Los Angeles?
Highland Park is residential and has no boutique hotels worth recommending. The nearest creative neighborhoods with design-led stock are Silver Lake and Echo Park, about 15 minutes east.
Is Highland Park in Los Angeles safe at night?
Highland Park is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Los Angeles expensive?
Los Angeles rates $$$$ on a global travel scale. One of the more expensive cities, but Highland Park's independent spots are still better value than the touristic core.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
October and November are the prime window: warm days in the 70s, low humidity and the summer haze finally cleared. March through May is the runner-up, with hills still green from winter rain. Skip late August and September, when inland heat waves can top 100°F, and know that June often stays overcast all day on the coast - locals call it June Gloom.

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