Everything you need to know about spending the perfect weekend in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Whether you’re a neighborhood resident or a visitor planning to possibly move to the neighborhood, I’ve put together an itinerary for the perfect Highland Park weekend, including where to eat, things to do, where to shop, and more.
There is essentially two Highland Parks – York Boulevard and Figueroa Street. But each of the two neighborhoods are united by their laid-back, Bohemian cool vibes. They are separated by about a mile’s worth of homes, mostly craftsman, some large, stately, and restored and some waiting for a magic little touch . The main thoroughfare, if you can call it that, between the two neighborhoods is Avenue 54, but it’s sometimes a lot of fun to get lost in the rolling hills of the ‘hood. You’ll always eventually make it out to the other side.
Where will you stay in Highland Park? Good question. There are a few motels on both York and Fig, but I recommend an airbnb. You’ll get more out of the neighborhood that way. And there are plenty to choose from including a “Whimsical Guest House with Chickens” and a “Home with a Pool in the Hottest Neighborhood in LA.” Let me know where you stay!
Friday Night 5-6pm
Welcome to Highland Park! You’ll like it, I promise. Start your weekend off like the locals do – with a bite at Good Girl Dinette. It’s essentially a Highland Park institution at this point. Start with a couple of glasses of the House Made Pop with farmers market fruit. Super tasty! Their pot pies are legendary, but if you’re on the go or in a hurry, grab a banh mi and a rice noodle salad.
Friday Night 6pm-7pm
Maybe you want a new look for your weekend. Like, a bang trim or a touch up? The expert stylists at The Artform Studio is the place to go. Not only is The Artform Studio a swank salon, they are also a boutique record and music book store. Their synthesis of the hair and music world makes this a destination for all creative people and families alike.
Friday Night 7pm – 8pm
Okay, if you want to get a lane at Highland Park Bowl, you may have to call in advance. That’s why I do these Weekend in LA posts. So you know what’s up before you go. Highland Park is Los Angeles’s oldest bowling alley. It’s also its most beautiful. Established in 1927, Highland Park Bowl originated during the midst of prohibition, and the building housed numerous doctors’ offices on the second floor, a pharmacy, music store, and recreation space. Today it’s been restored by the experts at 1933 Group and even though it can get a bit crowded on weekends, the bartenders and servers are insanely quick and friendly. Order a pizza to nosh on as you bowl, and perhaps a moscow mule or two.
Friday Night 7pm – 10pm
A few doors down from the alley is the bar Good Housekeeping and the restaurant Cafe Birdie. Even though the sister restaurant and bar opened in 2016 it’s already a neighborhood favorite thanks in no small part to the immaculate design of both spaces. As you wait for your table (never a long wait, promise, but sometimes the wait is part of the appeal!) head to the low-key, low-lit, brick-walled Good Housekeeping bar and order a classic & craft cocktail. Later at Cafe Birdie, everyone will tell you to get the Moroccan Fried Chicken. And you should. It’s the best fried chicken in Los Angeles (well, maybe arguably not the best, but it’s up there). Vegetarian favorites include the Pickled Beet Salad, the Mushroom Toast. Other favorites are Meatballs with Potato Puree and any pasta. Really, don’t skip the pasta.
Friday Night 10pm – late
Head across the street to ETA for a nightcap and some late night live jazz. ETA is an airport themed long, narrow bar space with artsy, casual-sleek decor. I know, “airport themed” doesn’t exactly scream fun, but trust me, this is one cool dive.
Saturday Morning 9am – 10am
You’ll love Kitchen Mouse! It’s a must for your morning breakfast and coffee or chai tea. A must! Yes, it is Vegetarian but the menu has many options even your favorite carnivore will enjoy. Get the yogurt for starters, and top it with a vegan BLT. I’m also quite partial the delicious Mikey’s Chilaquiles with special house enchilada sauce. Kitchen Mouse, if you’re listening, please bottle and sell that enchilada sauce?
Saturday Morning 10am – 11am
Kinship Yoga is Highland Park’s premiere yoga studio. The lovely studio offers hot yoga, prenatal yoga classes, plus aerial dance yoga, pottery, and meditation classes. Their classes are also strangely affordable. It’ll be a nice little restorative pick-me-up before you start the rest of your day. And by start I mean conquer all the best shops Highland Park has to offer.
Saturday Afternoon 11am – 2pm
Fun fact: Highland Park is home to the original Forever 21. Yes, the sign may say Fashion 21, but look inside for the first ever go-to shop for cheap staples and accessories. If you’re in the mood for vintage shopping though, Figueroa also has lots to offer you. Start at Sunbeam Vintage for the best vintage furniture for sale in Los Angeles at unbeatable prices. Excellent curated selection of the best of the best. Down the street are several shops for you to peek into, but my absolutely favorite is Prelude and Dawn. Prelude and Dawn is a unique boutique that offers stylish apparel and locally handmade goods. A lot of my clothing entered my life courtesy of this place. Also as you walk the shops of Figueroa be sure to look up and notice Chicken Boy, a local landmark. Chicken Boy’s story dates way back to the late 1960s when he was hatched (customized from an International Fiberglass big guy) and installed atop a roof on Broadway (also Historic Route 66). Chicken Boy spent the next many years peacefully standing guard. He was installed at his current location in 2007. Find out more about Chicken Boy’s history here.
Saturday Afternoon 2pm – 3pm
Echo Park’s Cookbook has just opened a Highland Park outpost near the bowl and it is the place to pick up fresh fruit, sandwiches, and more for picnic supplies. Maybe even a bottle of wine? Cookbook is also an excellent place for, well, cookbooks. They have a nicely curated collection of books that would make the perfect gift for a friend or yourself.
Saturday Afternoon 3pm – 5pm
With your picnic basket (or paper bag) in hand, stroll down Figueroa for about a mile. Walking is, of course, the best way to get to know a neighborhood. But I have a destination in mind for you: Lummis House, a local historic landmark. Lummis House is a Rustic American Craftsman stone house built by Charles Fletcher Lummis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was constructed with beautiful river rock stones from the Arroyo across the 110 freeway. The Lummis House Gardens offer a great place to picnic in a shady spot outdoors.
Saturday Evening 5 – 7pm
Okay, I’m not going to recommend walking all the way back up after your long walk down. Get a Lyft and make your way to the other side of Highland Park – York Boulevard! You deserve a beer and a game of shuffleboard on Highland Park’s best outdoor patio. Block Party is a relatively new addition to York and, at first, locals were wary. The name didn’t seem to fit at first, but with time, Block Party has become exactly that. It’s a bustling meeting place for locals and their dogs. Yes, Block Party allows dogs.
Saturday Night 7 – 8pm
Everyone’s favorite ramen, Silver Lake Ramen, has opened a second location York Boulevard. Ramen of York is a busy and tiny restaurant just across the street from Block Party. The trick to getting a table in a timely manner is going at 7pm, beating the 8pm dinner rush. Start with Cucumber Crab Salad and the Edamame. Why not throw in a Mini Pork Bun or two as well? Get a California Roll and a Lemon Roll for the table. You’ll love the Vegetable Ramen with miso, bean sprouts, corn, mushroom, tofu, broccoli, baby greens, and eggplant. If you’re hankering for some meat do the Tonkotsu with pork belly.
Saturday Night 8pm – late
Just down the way, Hermosillo and the Highland Park Brewery are serving brews made on site and a nice selection of 30 red and white wines. Also a plus? You can take a Brewery Growler home with you for a nice nightcap of 32 ounces of pure beer bliss.
Sunday Morning 9am – 1oam
Start your morning where everybody near York Boulevard start their mornings: Cafe de Leche. Cafe de Leche is the now longtime coffee and tea spot for locals. They currently serve Stumptown coffee but will soon begin roasting their own beans on site. Also, note: on weekends Cafe de Leche has a no wifi policy. So if you were thinking about checking some emails Sunday morning leave your laptop at the airbnb! Follow your morning jolt of caffeine with Belle’s Bagels across the street. Belle’s Bagels is simply the best bagel on the east side of town. Or any side of town really. Pro tip: Belle’s Bagels usually sells out of bagels around 11am, so don’t miss it!
Sunday Morning 10am – 12pm
The shopping strip of York Boulevard has plenty unique vintage and boutique stores to keep you busy for hours. No matter what you’re in the market for York has you covered. Shorthand is a shop that specializes in beautiful supplies for your desk. I’m talking beautiful pens, pencils, notebooks, and more. If you know me, you know I own a prized gold stapler. The shop is also home to Iron Curtain Press, who create the most gorgeous greeting cards for any occasions. Then there’s Matters of Space which sells home goods like glassware, placemats, vases, and more items you can’t find anywhere else. Dotter has a great selection of women’s clothing, jewelry, and gifts and toys for babies. Rosie Bunny Bean has incredible toys for your dog and cat, plus food, treats, sweaters, and so much more for our four legged friends. Or Permanent Records for the music lover in you. And, my go-to for an insanely well curated selection of vintage clothing, Weepah Way.
Sunday Afternoon 12pm – 2pm
By now, you’re probably somewhere around York and Avenue 52 and parched. Stop by longtime neighborhood favorite Jugos Azteca for a refreshing juice. For a Highland Park souvenir to take home with you or some old school candy go to Galco’s Soda Shop. Galco’s is a legendary one-of-a-kind shop that just simply doesn’t exist anymore. It’s like a time portal to another world. Galco’s is dedicated to the art of the soda pop and to supporting the local small businesses behind every bubbly drink.
Have an amazing time!
– Tatiana
Did you have the perfect weekend in Highland Park? What were some of the shops, restaurants, and experiences you may have stumbled upon that I’ve missed? Let me know!
And if you’d like a tour of the neighborhood or to see some homes for sale in Highland Park, email me at tatiana.tensen@sothebyshomes.com or call me at (937) 243-2349!