One Neighborhood, Ten Tips

TEXT: ESTELA ESTRADA | PHOTOS: WALTER GIORDANI
CATEGORIES: Arts & Culture, International, North America, Places, Travel, USA

Los Feliz, formerly known as Rancho Los Feliz, is a district located in the Hollywood Hills. The historic hacienda took its name from original owner José Vicente Feliz, but it was the property’s next owner, magnate Griffith J. Griffith, who donated half of the land to Los Angeles, creating the city’s largest park and the neighborhood that extends towards the south. This area has been and continues to be a favorite among movie stars, directors, musicians and other members of the Hollywood elite.

Restaurants

1. THE DRESDEN RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
Dating back over 60 years, this place is a true institution and one of the city’s most popular piano bars. The Dresden is a great place for dinner, drinks (try the Manhattan or the Blood and Sand) and live jazz: the duo of Marty and Elayne make this lounge well worth a visit.

2. ALCOVE
Located on the increasingly trendy Hillhurst Avenue, parallel to the now-famous Vermont Avenue, Alcove is a terrific place to enjoy breakfast, Sunday brunch or a glass of fine wine. The menu features organic salads, panini, quiches and delicious cakes. One of its biggest attractions is the artfully illuminated patio.

3. FRED 62
Hungry at dawn? Fred 62 recreates a 1950s diner and dishes up the main staples of U.S. cuisine, prepared with painstaking care. The clientele is diverse, with plenty of stars dropping in. According to the owners, recent customers have included Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Naomi Watts, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz and Heather Graham.

4. FIGARO
In the mood for French cuisine? Head for this café/restaurant, decorated in the style of a turn-of-the-century Parisian bistro. Figaro is great for watching the beautiful people and for spotting star after star. No wonder the most coveted tables are the ones lining the street. The bakery next door sells baguettes, croissants and cakes worthy of the Rive Gauche.

Architecture

1. HOLLYHOCK HOUSE
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1921, Hollyhock House is open to the public. The exterior can be seen from Barnsdall Park for free, but paid, guided tours of the interior are offered Wednesday through Sunday.

2. ENNIS HOUSE
Built in 1924 at the top of a hill, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House is reached by means of a winding, narrow street flanked by other beautiful homes. While tours of this house are not offered, you can still appreciate the grandiosity of its “Mayan Revival” style, restored thanks to a painstaking renovation just recently completed. The fantastic views of the city are another reason to visit.

3. LOVELL HOUSE
Finished in 1929, Richard Neutra’s Lovell House can only be admired from the outside. The international modernist style is considered a milestone in the history of modern architecture.

Fashion, a Bookstore and Stars

1. SKYLIGHT
Looking for the best in fiction, comics and books on music, art, film, theater and L.A. history? Then Skylight Books is the place for you. The faithful clientele includes local artists, musicians, writers and professors, who browse the racks, free from interruption.

2. UMA MAE´S
Vintage clothing and the latest fashions can be found at this boutique, which showcases a well-chosen selection of accessories – belts, handbags, hats, handcrafted jewelry – and organic clothing, all with a distinct sense of originality.

3. OBSERVATORIO ASTRONÓMICO GRIFFITH
Inaugurated in 1933, Griffith Observatory is famous for its Art Deco style and location on Mount Hollywood, within the park of the same name. Thousands of tourists come here every day for the scientific exhibits, the Foucault pendulum (which demonstrates the rotation of the Earth), the planetarium and the newest addition, The Café at the End of the Universe.

LAN FLIGHTS
To Los Angeles daily from Santiago (Chile) and Lima.