Hollywood, Los Angeles, travel guide and things to do: The three-minute guide

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 6 years ago

Hollywood, Los Angeles, travel guide and things to do: The three-minute guide

By David Whitley
Hollywood Boulevard at dusk. The theatre district serves as a famous tourist attraction.

Hollywood Boulevard at dusk. The theatre district serves as a famous tourist attraction. Credit: iStock

WHY?

Hollywood tends to be a place of broken dreams – the studios are to the north in Burbank, while the big theatres have big crowds and forlorn "entertainers" in Spider-Man costumes outside. But it is also getting a new lease of cool with new museums, restaurants and bars, many of which aren't in the immediately obvious spots on Hollywood Boulevard.

VISIT

The iconic Hollywood sign overlooking Los Angeles.

The iconic Hollywood sign overlooking Los Angeles. Credit: iStock

The Museum of Broken Relationships is an extremely welcome addition to Hollywood Boulevard's otherwise rather crass offering. The concept is delightfully simple: people from around the world donate items that remind them of a relationship that died, and tell the story behind the item. This can be teddies, dresses, old letters – whatever. And the stories lurch from angry to funny to tragic. See brokenships.la

EAT

Forget Hollywood Boulevard for dining – a far more interesting scene is on Cahuenga Boulevard. The Running Goose is a fine choice here, with a massive outdoor deck, its own herb garden and a good craft beer list. Dishes err towards Central American, and the braised short rib with chipotle adobo and plantain dumplings is especially good for $US18. See runninggoose.weebly.com

The Running Goose

The Running Goose

LOOK

Advertisement

It is tacky as hell, but wandering along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, looking at the names on the stars in weirdly compelling. This is partly because of the seemingly random order they've been laid down in, giving strange bedfellows such as Fleetwood Mac next to Jack Palance, or Larry King next to Fats Domino. Or, best of all, Sting next to Donald Duck.

MUST

Mama Shelter Los Angeles.

Mama Shelter Los Angeles.

The Hollywood Hills rise up just to the north of Hollywood Boulevard, and the famous Hollywood sign can be found among them. The best sweaty hike to take on, however, is Runyon Canyon. This is where people go jogging and power walking with ridiculously tiny dogs, and providing the haze isn't too bad, the views are ample reward for puffing and panting up to the top.

SLEEP

Mama Shelter goes aggressively for the youth vote, and pulls it off magnificently. The bar, restaurant and rooftop have become local hangouts, while the rooms have a tangible sense of fun that nods to the surroundings. So you might get scripts for The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction as in-room reading material, along with the Apple TVs and Darth Vader masks over the bedside lights. Rooms cost from $US189. See mamashelter.com/en

TIP

The best places for a drink are also down Cahuenga Boulevard. Particularly enjoyable is the southern pastiche cocktail joint Sassafras Saloon, which deserves all manner of awards for interior design – not least because its centrepiece is a house transported brick-by-brick from Savannah, Georgia. Live bands play and potent sazeracs are served up. See sassafrashollywood.com

David Whitley was a guest of Accor Hotels

See discoverlosangeles.com

Traveller's 10th anniversary reader survey

Vote for your Destination of the Decade and Airline of the Decade in our reader poll to mark 10 years of Traveller

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading