Things to Do in Hollywood

50,000 free tickets and 50,000 $1 tickets every season. Picnicking allowed.

17,500 seats under the stars. LA Philharmonic summer season, pop concerts, film screenings. Picnicking before shows is half the experience. 50,000 free tickets and 50,000 $1 tickets released each season -- half of all tickets are $48 or under.

2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068 · Box office: Tue–Sat 2pm–show start (concert days), Tue–Sat 12–6pm (non-concert days) · (323) 850-2000 · outdoor

Elton John, James Taylor, Tom Waits all had career-defining nights here. 500 capacity.

500-capacity club that has shaped pop culture since 1957. Elton John, James Taylor, and Tom Waits all played early career-defining sets here. Standing room, good sightlines from almost anywhere in the room.

9081 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 · Doors typically open 7–8pm on show nights · (310) 276-1158 · indoor

Pryor, Robin Williams, Chappelle all cut their teeth here. Three rooms, shows nightly.

On the Sunset Strip since 1972. Three rooms -- Main Room, Original Room, Belly Room -- running shows nightly. Headliners mixed with up-and-comers. Two-drink minimum. Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and Dave Chappelle all worked this stage.

8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 · Daily 6:30pm–2am · (323) 656-6225 · indoor

Free open mic every Tuesday at 5:30pm. Sign up at 5pm. 2-minute sets.

Sunset Strip comedy with nightly lineups -- established names and new talent. Free open mic every Tuesday at 5:30pm (sign up at 5pm, 2-minute sets). Two-drink minimum on ticketed shows. More polished than The Comedy Store.

8001 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90046 · Mon 7pm–2am, Tue 5pm–2am, Wed–Sun 7pm–2am · indoor

$5-$12. No drink minimum. Seven nights a week. Best comedy deal in LA.

Improv, sketch, and stand-up seven nights a week for $5-$12. No drink minimum. Founded by Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser. Franklin Ave is UCB's only remaining LA venue -- small, scrappy, consistently hilarious.

5919 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 · Shows nightly 7–10pm, box office opens 30 min prior · indoor

Sunset Strip since 1973. Bob Marley, Springsteen, Guns N' Roses all played here.

500-capacity Sunset Strip institution since 1973. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, and Guns N' Roses all played landmark shows here. The room still books strong indie rock, hip-hop, and electronic acts. Standing room with a small balcony. The On The Rox bar upstairs is a separate experience.

9009 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 · Show nights, doors typically 7-8pm · indoor

The Lab is a 50-120 seat black box for experimental comedy. $10-20. No drink minimum.

The Lab at Hollywood Improv is a 50-120 seat black-box space for experimental stand-up, improv, sketch, music, and variety shows. More adventurous programming than the main room. $10-20 tickets, no drink minimum. The main Improv next door has bigger names at higher prices.

8162 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Show nights, check schedule · indoor

Outdoor movies projected on a mausoleum wall. Bring a picnic. Summer Saturday nights.

Outdoor movie screenings on Saturday nights in summer, projected on the side of a mausoleum wall at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Classic films, cult favorites, and horror. Bring a picnic, blankets, and wine. Gates open at 6:30pm, film at dusk. One of LA's most iconic summer experiences.

6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038 · Summer Saturdays, gates 6:30pm, film at dusk · outdoor

Disney's own 1926 movie palace. Live pre-shows. 4D effects. Character meet-and-greets.

Disney runs this 1926 movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. First-run Disney, Pixar, and Marvel films with live pre-shows, 4D effects, themed photo ops, and occasional character appearances. Not like any other movie theater. All ages.

6838 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 · Opens 1hr before first show, closes 30min after last show · (800) 347-6396 · indoor

Free. 3.5-mile loop. Go before 9am or after 4pm. West Trail closed (fire damage).

Free urban hike with panoramic city views. Main loop is 3.5 miles, 789 feet of elevation gain -- manageable for school-age kids. Multiple entry points, easy to moderate trails. Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge heat and parking. Note: West Trail currently closed due to 2025 Sunset Fire damage.

2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Daily 6am–9pm · outdoor · Ages 5+

Disney's 1926 movie palace. Live pre-shows and character appearances. Not a regular theater.

Disney runs this 1926 movie palace showing first-run Disney, Pixar, and Marvel films with live pre-shows, 4D effects, and character meet-and-greets. VIP admission: reserved balcony and free popcorn. Worlds apart from a multiplex. Check for themed events tied to new releases.

6838 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 · Opens 1hr before first show · (800) 347-6396 · indoor · Ages 0+

Year-round free public outdoor pool in Hollywood. Lap swim Tue-Fri, recreational swim sessions. Free for LA residents.

1122 Cole Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 · Tue-Fri 12pm-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm · outdoor

Free donation-based outdoor yoga classes held at the top of one of LA's most popular hiking trails. Combines a solid hike with a yoga session and panoramic city views. Classes typically offered on weekend mornings. Bring your own mat. The canyon itself is free to hike daily from dawn to dusk.

2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Park open daily dawn to dusk, yoga on weekends · outdoor

Free City of LA rec center with lighted basketball courts, baseball diamond, tennis courts, playground, indoor gym. Lights mean you can play after dark. Free youth and adult programming.

7341 Willoughby Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm

Mobile auto detailing service that uses waterless and eco-friendly products. Comes to your location -- home, office, or parking garage. Waterless exterior hand wash starts at $40 for a regular car, $50 for SUVs. Full detail packages available. Convenient for anyone who does not want to leave their car at a shop.

8000 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, by appointment · (323) 371-4273 · outdoor

Self-service laundromat on Hollywood Blvd with new high-efficiency machines, card-operated payment (no quarters needed), and a clean, well-lit facility. Small loads from $3.25, large from $6. Wash-and-fold drop-off service available. Open early to late, seven days a week.

4661 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Daily 6am-11pm · indoor

Dry cleaner on La Brea Ave. Suits, shirts, dresses, leather, comforters. Same-day on items dropped before 9am. Shirts from $3.50, suits from $11.

1435 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm · indoor

200+ items, actually spicy Southern Thai. Jonathan Gold's favorite. Tell them the truth about your spice level.

Southern Thai food that's actually spicy — not American-spicy, Thai-spicy. The crying tiger beef, the crab curry, the morning glory. Jonathan Gold's favorite Thai restaurant. The menu is enormous (200+ items) and the specials board is where the real food lives. Tell them your spice tolerance honestly. 15 minutes from DTLA.

5233 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 · Tue-Sun 11am-3pm & 5pm-10:30pm. Closed Mon. · 323-663-3104 · indoor

Yes, it's the Instagram spot. The coffee is also genuinely good.

The Instagram coffee shop — "But First, Coffee" neon sign is an LA landmark. Here's the thing: the coffee is actually good. Not just a photo op. Excellent iced oat lattes, solid espresso. 20+ locations across LA now. Melrose Place is the original and the most photogenic. Abbot Kinney location if you're in Venice.

8428 Melrose Pl, Ste A, Los Angeles, CA 90069 · Daily 7am-6pm (varies by location)

Three Michelin stars. Seafood tasting menu. LA's highest-end dinner.

Three Michelin stars. Michael Cimarusti's seafood tasting menus are pristine — the ingredient quality is absurd, presentations are elegant, pacing is perfect. The 16-course tasting menu is the experience. This is LA's highest-end dining. Budget accordingly: $200+ per person before wine. Reservations weeks in advance.

5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 · Tue-Thu 5:45pm-9:15pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-9:15pm. Closed Sun-Mon. · 323-460-4170 · indoor

26-seat French counter. The omelette is legendary. No reservations — just show up.

Ludo Lefebvre's French bistro. The omelette is legendary — butter, eggs, technique, nothing else needed. The double cheeseburger is one of the best in LA. No reservations at the counter, first come first served. Tiny space, 26 seats. The bourguignon and steak frites are exactly what you want them to be. 20 minutes from DTLA.

718 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 · Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm · 323-468-8916 · indoor

The sorrel rice bowl. The ricotta toast with jam. Walk-in only, line moves fast.

The sorrel rice bowl with preserved Meyer lemon, feta, and a poached egg started a movement. Jessica Koslow's jam program is world-class — the ricotta toast with seasonal jam is the other essential order. Walk-in only, line moves fast. Small patio. Closes at 4pm. 15 minutes from DTLA.

720 N Virgil Ave, Ste 4, Los Angeles, CA 90029 · Daily 8am-4pm · 323-284-8147

The only legal off-leash trail in LA. 160 acres, city views, free. Go before 8am on weekends or it's a parking nightmare. Bring water — there is none.

160 acres of off-leash hiking with city views. The only legal off-leash trail in LA. Multiple routes from easy (the paved fire road) to moderate (the spine trail with canyon views). Free, open sunrise to sunset. Gets absolutely packed on weekends — go before 8am or after 4pm. Bring water, there's none on the trail.

2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 · Sunrise to sunset daily · outdoor

Hike to the Hollywood Sign with your dog. 3.5 miles, moderate, leash required. Go before 9am or you'll bake.

3.5-mile round trip hike in Griffith Park that takes you to the summit of Mount Lee with views of the Hollywood Sign. Dogs on leash the whole way. Moderate difficulty — some elevation gain. The payoff is one of the best views in LA. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.

3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 · Sunrise to sunset · outdoor

1,000 sq ft patio at a gastropub literally named The Fat Dog. Craft cocktails, good food, and they actually mean it about the dog thing.

Gastropub with a 1,000-square-foot dog-friendly patio. Craft cocktails, elevated pub fare, and enough space that your dog isn't stepping on other diners. The name tells you everything about the vibe.

11050 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601 · Mon-Sun 11am-midnight · outdoor

Cocktail bar in a building shaped like a giant barrel. Dogs on the patio by the fire pit. An only-in-LA experience.

Cocktail bar in a historic barrel-shaped building with a front patio and fire pit area where dogs are welcome. Americana-themed drinks and a chill NoHo neighborhood crowd. The building is a registered LA landmark — shaped like a giant barrel.

4824 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601 · Mon-Sun 4pm-2am · outdoor