Hollywood

Hollywood has long been a town where magic happens. Actors and actresses have rocketed to stardom. Major studios have produced some of the most celebrated motion pictures in cinematic history. Ornate movie palaces have been built, and more than a century later, some still stand. A 1923 real estate advertisement—the Hollywood Sign—has become one of California’s most famous landmarks.

Fueled by an explosive growth of creativity and star power at the turn of the 20th century, Hollywood has become synonymous with show business. Today, this small neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles is larger than life with an electric energy that extends across a main drag lined with theaters, bars, museums, and restaurants waiting to be explored.

Things to Do in Hollywood

Watch the sun rise behind the distant Hollywood Sign on an early-morning hike through Runyon Canyon. There are two entrances just north of Hollywood Boulevard leading to scenic overlooks where you can enjoy views of the neighborhood and Downtown Los Angeles—and perhaps even a celebrity sighting. 

To explore another local landmark, visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where Douglas Fairbanks, Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood stars are buried. Weekly guided tours pay respects to the cemetery’s most famous residents. For an excursion highlighting present-day A-listers, go celeb-spotting with Starline Tours, which also offers hop-on, hop-off rides on a double-decker bus.  

More star-studded attractions can be found on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of Tinseltown. Along a 1.3-mile stretch, the Hollywood Walk of Fame features 2,765 stars bearing the names of industry luminaries in motion pictures, television, radio, recording, theater, and sports. At nearby Madame Tussauds, you can marvel at more than 100 wax likenesses of celebrities including Harry Styles, Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, and other famous names.

That’s only the beginning of Hollywood’s outside-the-box attractions, which include family-friendly picks like the Guinness World Records Museum and Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Housed in the historic Max Factor building built in 1928, the Hollywood Museum has a 10,000-piece collection of memorabilia spanning more than 100 years of filmmaking history. Don’t skip the horror-themed basement featuring a replica of Hannibal Lecter’s cell.

Hollywood Entertainment

Experience part of L.A. history with a visit to the Hollywood Bowl. Opened in 1922, the entertainment venue has set the stage for magical moments in music, including the recording of The Doors’ 1968 album Live at the Hollywood Bowl. The worlds of film and music collide during the summertime cinematic concert experiences powered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. 

Film buffs will also love catching a flick at one of the historic movie palaces on the Walk of Fame. Dating back to the 1920s, the Egyptian Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, and El Capitan Theatre all provide an experience at the crossroads of past and present, with modern-day marquee titles playing in a glamorous, Old Hollywood setting. If you’d rather give your regards to Broadway, the Pantages Theatre down the road has razzle-dazzled crowds with live entertainment since its days as a vaudeville stage in the 1930s. 

You can’t call your Hollywood getaway complete without being part of a live television audience. Jimmy Kimmel Live! films right on Hollywood Boulevard at the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, with free tickets available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can also get a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry on the Paramount Pictures studio tour. The guided, two-hour jaunt through a working studio includes visits to soundstages, the prop warehouse, and a backlot that doubles as the streets of New York. 

Dining and Nightlife in Hollywood

There’s food for every mood in Hollywood, from the high-end steakhouse Gwen to the ’60s inspired Clark Street Diner, as seen in Swingers, Gilmore Girls, Entourage, and more. An A-list favorite, Musso & Frank Grill serves up its famous stirred martinis in a setting nearly unchanged since its opening in 1919. Hollywood is also home to hidden gems scattered across Little Armenia, where you can find sit-down dining at Carousel, fresh meat-filled beorek (or börek) pastries at Taron Bakery, or casual grab-and-go fare at Sahag’s Basturma Sandwich Shop and Falafel Arax. 

For a trendier take on Hollywood’s culinary scene, Grandmaster Recorders provides a three-in-one experience housed in a recording studio where Stevie Wonder and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have laid down tracks. A menu of modern Italian and Australian cuisine is served in the restaurant located above 71 Studio Bar, a lounge with craft cocktails and a disco ball. The rooftop is a lively spot for some late-night revelry—but come before sunset to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign.

Dance the night away at Tramp Stamp Granny’s, a piano bar slinging cheekily named cocktails like Two in the Pink and French 69. Co-owned by Glee and American Crime Story actor Darren Criss, the bar features singing pianists performing everything from musical theater and Disney tunes to rock ‘n’ roll classics. While Tramp Stamp Granny’s brings the glam, Good Times at Davey Wayne’s is its kitschy, laid-back counterpart just a few blocks east. A fridge door serves as a time portal to a 1970s house party, complete with games, neon signs, and drinks served out of an Airstream trailer.

Where to Stay in Hollywood

Sleep where the stars stayed and played during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Favored by Hollywood elite including Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin, the Hotel Roosevelt oozes vintage glamour in accommodations like the 3,200-square-foot Gable & Lombard Penthouse suite with a private rooftop patio. There’s also a spa, a Prohibition-style cocktail lounge outfitted with a bowling alley, and the 1960s-style Tropicana Pool featuring a mural painted by British artist David Hockney. 

Families will love the Magic Castle Hotel on the edge of town. One- and two-bedroom suites are spacious enough for up to six people, and kid-friendly amenities include free snacks 24 hours a day and a poolside popsicle hotline. Bonus: A stay here includes a pass to the members-only Magic Castle—a coveted invitation to see close-up magic, parlor tricks, and grand illusionists inside the Victorian mansion next door.