Welcome to Highland Park
Chic and cultured crystallize this coveted Los Angeles region.
As one of the first suburbs of Los Angeles, Highland Park has a rich, enthralling history—and a trendy, immersive present. Known for its inimitable personality and architectural splendors, it’s long been a haven for the artistically minded. It continues to draw creatives to its lively York Boulevard and pretty residential streets, where notable Craftsman bungalows, beautifully restored Victorians, and bohemian venues underscore Highland Park’s status as the ultimate in California hipness.
Given its idyllic mix between the old and the new, neighborly Highland Park delivers historical delights right alongside fashionable pleasures. This is brilliantly demonstrated in its widely renowned areas of interest, from a 1920s vaudeville theater to a whole slew of fresh, stylish restaurants. With its colorful, offbeat character—as seen in its “Chicken Boy” statue and revitalized 20th-century buildings—Highland Park has massive appeal for those who crave eclecticism and vibrancy.
What to Love
- Inarguably a California trendsetter
- A retro-cool vibe that attracts artists and luminaries
- Featured in various films, including Reservoir Dogs
- Booming with unique shops, lounges, and restaurants
- An excellent nightlife
- Proximity to Atwater Village, Glassell Park, and downtown Los Angeles
Local Lifestyle
Highland Park garnered a reputation as a sanctuary for artists in the early 1900s and is revered to this day as the center of California’s Plein Air crusade. Painters, writers, actors, filmmakers—all are drawn to the neighborhood’s stylish charm. It’s also a magnet for families, professionals, and urbanites enamored by historic architecture.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
Whether it’s bar hopping or bowling, a leisurely meal, or a terrific concert, Highland Park offers supreme entertainment. Highland Park Bowl—the unforgettable alley in the film “The Big Lebowski”—pays tribute to its Prohibition-era start with vintage furniture and refurbished lanes but gives a nod to the 21st century with several cleverly titled libations: “The Dude Abides” and “Owen Loves His Momma” are just two Hollywood homages on its cocktail menu. Post-strike, nestle onto a stool at Highland Park’s premier gastropub, The York, for a Hazy IPA or one of their superb tequila Calientes.
Weekend mornings are the perfect time to hit up Café de Leche, where you can indulge in classic espresso drinks or inspired concoctions, such as Mexi mochas and agave lattes. Fans of street tacos will be thoroughly thrilled with the abundance of taco trucks on York Boulevard: Everything from potato to pastor fill the sizzling-hot tortillas at this bustling East Side “block party.”
Things to Do
Community is at the core of this sought-after enclave. Families take particular pleasure in all there is to offer at the Recreation Center of Highland Park—a facility featuring an array of activities, from a gleaming basketball court and yoga classes in the park to a stunning Audubon center filled with mallards, barn swallows, yellow warblers, and red-tailed hawks. Meanwhile, Debs Park is the ideal place to escape LA’s busyness: The hidden gem provides acres of native woodlands, pockets of peace, and ample room for sporting competitions.
History buffs will be awed by the Lummis Home and Gardens, where a turret-enhanced two-story house, built with local river rocks more than a century ago, emphasizes Highland Park’s historical significance.
Tend more towards exhilarating live music? The Lodge Room—an integral part of Highland Park’s distinguished music scene—presents dazzling performances by new and established artists.
Schools
The Los Angeles Unified School District proudly serves the students of Highland Park. Private and public schools near this neighborhood include:
