Sandwiched between the hipster neighborhoods of Silver Lake and Los Feliz, East Hollywood is a convenient alternative for those looking for a more affordable Los Angeles neighborhood with all the conveniences of East Side living. Decidedly chiller and grungier than West Hollywood, you won’t find designer stores, but you will find an eclectic array of nightlife options, cheap restaurants, and cultural happenings.
Cultural Hubs
Upright Citizens Brigade
Since 2005, the West Coast outpost of the popular NYC comedy club, Upright Citizens Brigade, has been serving up improv and sketch comedy performances nightly. Performances start at just $5 a pop, ensuring an attainable entertainment option even when you’re waiting for that residual check to come in. The club hosts both seasoned veterans of the Sarah Silverman and Amy Poehler caliber, as well as up-and-coming comics. With an average of four evening shows daily starting as late as midnight, this a great option for those of us night owls whose side hustle is an evening one. In addition to performances, UCB also offers sketch and improv courses to help actors hone their comedic skills, culminating in a student performance at the UCB theatre. Class prices are reasonable (but definitely an investment) starting at just $500 for eight weekly sessions.
Amoeba Music
Hailing as the world’s largest independent record store, Amoeba is a music-lover’s dream. Not only does Amoeba carry an exhaustive inventory of both current favorites and classics on vinyl, it is also a performance venue, frequently hosting several weekly shows featuring some of the most popular musicians in L.A. In addition to records and CDs, Amoeba also sells a wide selection of DVDs for those of us who prefer to do things the old fashioned way. The knowledgeable staff can help you choose your next flick to help inspire your scene study ideas.
Public Transportation and Freeways
East Hollywood is very accessible both with and without a car. The neighborhood is adjacent to the 101 Freeway and the Metro Red line providing easy, traffic-free, access to Downtown L.A. With three Metro stops in the neighborhood, residents are never more than a short walk away from a train station.
Rental Costs
A one-bedroom in Hollywood averages about $1,700 per month. Rents in the eastern side of the neighborhood are generally on the cheaper end of the price range.
Where to Eat, Drink, and Chill
El Zarape
Located in the heart of East Hollywood, El Zarape serves up authentic Mexican favorites in unpretentious digs. The food is flavorful, delicious and won’t break the bank.
Sqirl
Sqirl is breakfast- and lunch-only eatery that's as famous for its food as it is for its jams, all made on site with 100 percent local ingredients. Traditional brunch favorites such as brioche French toast, buckwheat pancakes and porridge oats doused with a rotating roster of preserves including classic strawberry rhubarb, elephant heart plum, and blood orange and vanilla bean, are mouth-watering.
Friends and Family
If you’re looking for a comfortable spot to spend a few hours prepping for an audition or catching up on emails, Friends and Family is your place. The coffee is strong, baked goods are excellent, and wifi is fast and free. The coffee shop and daytime eatery plates up traditional favorites like eggs and pancakes, as well as options for more adventurous taste buds like the macro bowl and kabocha squash toast.
Good Times at Davey Waynes
Nestled on a relatively quiet stretch of El Centro Avenue, you might miss the entrance to Davey Wayne’s, where patrons enter through a hidden refrigerator door—if it wasn’t for the long line that demarcates the entrance to the bar most weekend nights. During the week the intimate stage hosts local musicians in the early evening until the main lounge area converts into a dance floor playing throwback tunes from the ’70s and ’80s. The always lively atmosphere makes this a great spot to bond with cast mates or celebrate the end of a production.
Tabula Rasa
Tabula Rasa is an intimate wine bar that offers a noteworthy daily Happy Hour as well as “semi-educational” wine tastings and a soundtrack of live jazz music several nights per week. The wine bar includes a notably extensive selection of orange wines, an increasingly popular variety which gets its unique color from the unorthodox fermentation process where grape skins are left on.
Health and Well-Being
Yogavibe Los Feliz
While East Hollywood lacks its own yoga studio, nearby Los Feliz is home to YogaVibe, a family owned-and-operated studio hugely popular among Eastsiders. Classes are scheduled seven days a week, with convenient time slots for actors who may have irregular schedules. Best of all, pricing is extremely affordable.
Is East Hollywood a Good Place to Live?
- What we love: public transport is a breeze, rent is cheap compared to the surrounding neighborhoods, lots of dining and nightlife options
- What we don’t: Lots of traffic congestion in and around the 101 Freeway, lacks street parking and plentiful green space, a bit too grungy for some seeking a more polished neighborhood.
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