Silver Lake has always had an indie vibe and creative influence. Located just north of downtown LA, it’s where Walt Disney built his first studio in the 1930. If you drive up the narrow streets that snake up and down the hilly terrain, you'll discover iconic modernist houses designed by the architectural giants like John Lautner, Rudolf Schindler, Richard Neutra, and Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s been the home to many well-known, as well as struggling, musicians, screenwriters, directors, and artists. The neighborhood is going through a transformation. It's becoming more glossy and less seedy, and getting their first Whole Foods. But don’t let gentrification stop you from exploring.
Here’s where the local pros suggest you visit during your 24-hour stay in Silver Lake.
Cover Photo: Eric Norris [flickr]
“What most people don’t know about this area is Silver Lake has the distinction of the birth of the Gay Rights Movement. The revolution occurred prior to the infamous Stonewall on the east coast. It used to be illegal for men or women to kiss in public. On New Year’s Eve 1966 to 1967, the police infiltrated a local bar and waited until midnight when the celebratory New Year’s kiss occurs. The vice began arresting people. The outcome was a riot and, in the following days, protests and marches occurred. A plaque across the street from Bar Keeper commemorates the event.”
MORNING | Coffee
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Intelligentsia Coffee
Grab a coffee and hang out on the tiled patio. They have a small selection of pastries to pair with the coffee.
"Intelligentsia coffee is awesome and I like this one in Silver Lake a lot. Whenever I’m in this area, I always get coffee here."
FED Pro > Bartender Noah Ellis of Vice Food & Beverage
3922 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.663.6173 | www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
LaMill Coffee
Earned a loyal following with the serious coffee crowd as it was one of the early adopters to use pour-over cones and siphon filters. In addition to coffee and tea, they also serve a fairly extensive food menu along with wine and beer.
"Everyone knows about the espresso culture of Intelligentsia and Stumptown, but I think LAMILL has a really great coffee program. It’s enlightened me about coffee, the brewing, and the patience of it and the different extraction methods. But then, it doesn’t feel so cerebral."
FED Pro > Chef Roy Choi
1636 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
T: 323.663.4441 | lamillcoffee.com
MORNING | Breakfast & Brunch
Photograph Courtesy of Sqirl
Sqirl
The California-born jam-maker Jessica Koslow previously worked at the James Beard award-winning restaurant Bacchanalia in Atlanta doing pastry. She returned to California pursuing her passion for the range of local produce. She continues to make her jams, but also makes breakfast, lunch and dinner for a hipster-leaning crowd.
"Zack and Jessica do great work. Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl with sausage and egg, Hazelnut Butter and Jam Brioche Toast."
FED Pro > Chef Spencer Bezaire of L & E Oyster Bar
"The toast is like a three inch brioche with ricotta and jam. It's delicious, beautiful to look at, but it is like a bomb."
FED Pro > Renato Poliafito of Baked
720 Virgil Ave #4, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.284.8147 | sqirlla.com
The Black Cat
A former gay bar turned tavern that was raided by the cops in the mid-60s. Under the current ownership, they are open for all meals, including breakfast and brunch, and offer valet parking, a mix crowd, and a notable burger.
"They make an outrageous Biscuits & Gravy... yummy with a Bloody Mary or a shot of Mezcal."
FED Pro > Barman Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper
3909 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.661.6369 | theblackcatla.com
LATE MORNING SHOPPING
Spice Station
"One of my favorite shops and a haunt for local mixologist on the hunt for specialty ingredients. Bronwen Tawse carries organic spices and salts with no artificial preservatives. The products can be purchase in grams, making it easy and cost effective to sample."
FED Pro > Barman Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper
"Their spice blends are phenomenal, always new and interesting."
FED Pro > Chef Govind Armstrong of Willie Jane
3819 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
T: 323.660.2565 | spicestationsilverlake.com
Photograph courtesy of Spice Station
Broome Street General Stores
This general store sells artisanal goods and spices, vintage kitchenware items and coffee.
"This place is great. They have an amazing selection of home goods, snacks, and wonderful coffee. Fine folks, to boot. "
FED Pro > Barista Tyler Wells of Blacktop Espresso Bar
2912 Rowena Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
T: 323.570.0405 | www.broomestgeneral.com
LUNCH
Photograph courtesy of The Kitchen
Comfort Food | The Kitchen
Serving elevated comfort food dishes like mac n' cheese, fried chicken, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie. They have daily specials and make whatever they can from scratch including stocks, dressings, and sauces.
"They have really good fried chicken and it’s really inexpensive. It’s homey food, like meatloaf and pork chops and mashed potatoes."
FED Pros > Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis of Bestia
4348 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.664.3663 | thekitchen.la
Photograph courtesy of Pine & Crane
Chinese | Pine & Crane
A Taiwanese-Chinese restaurant sourcing seasonal produce from their family's local Asian vegetable farm.
"Order the Beef Roll, the Spicy Peanuts with garlic, and the Spicy Shrimp Wontons."
FED Pro > Chef Spencer Bezaire of L & E Oyster Bar
1521 Griffith Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
T: 323.668.1128 | www.pineandcrane.com
AFTERNOON SWEETS
Photograph courtesy of Valerie Confections
Chocolates & Sweets | Valerie Confections
Owned by baker Valerie and her husband Stan, they have three locations serving chocolates, petit fours, cakes, pastries, preserves and tea. This is their original boutique.
"Valerie really knows flavor and texture really well. Her Durango cookie is perfect. It has almonds, chocolates and salt and it’s buttery, a little chewy and crystal on the edges. It’s the world’s most amazing chocolate chip cookie, but instead of walnuts she uses almonds. Her petit fours are dense, buttery, moist and chocolate on the outside."
FED Pro > Pastry Chef Genevieve Gergis of Bestia
3360 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90004
T: 213.739.8149 | www.valerieconfections.com
AFTERNOON SHOPS
WINE, BOOZE & VINTAGE BARWARE
Photograph courtesy of Bar Keeper
Cocktail Finds | Bar Keeper
They call themselves a head shop for alcohol lovers, they carry unique small batch spirits, vintage barware (much of it used for TV's Madmen), over 150 bitters and syrups), and professional grade bar tools and glassware. They also have a vast selection of Absinthe fountains, glassware, and spoons.
"It's like a bar loving candy shop. They have a great spirit selection and everything you would need for your home bar or toys for your business. It's also a go-to when I need gifts for all my booze and wine loving friends. Great vintage barware too."
FED Pro > Sommelier Coly Den Haan of The Must
"A great little store with an incredible spirit selection, as well as tools, toys, bitters, antique glassware, and some beautiful punch bowls."
FED Pro > Bartender David Kaplan
"This place is like a cocktail enthusiast's dream. They have their own line of bitters, hard to find liqueurs like Salers Gentiane, Cocchi Americano, and Becherovka, plus the equipment needed to turn yourself into the next great Mixologist."
FED Pro > Bartender Derrick Bass of Willie Jane
"This is a one-stop shop for all your cocktail, glassware and spirit needs.
FED Pro > Bartender Brandyn Tepper of Hinoki & The Bird
"For bar tools, antique glassware, craft/artisanal spirits. Ask for Joe. He is a great man and a pioneer for the Los Angeles cocktail movement."
FED Pro > Bartender Eric Alperin of The Varnish
3910 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.669.1675 | www.barkeepersilverlake.com
Wine & Spirits | Silverlake Wine
Specializing in boutique, small production wine from around the globe and an eclectic selection of spirits, microbrew beer, and sake.
"I love visiting Silverlake Wine because they always have an interesting and fun selection and the people who work there are insanely knowledgeable."
FED Pro > Sommelier Caroline Styne of Lucques, A. O. C., Tavern
"They always have a great selection and the owners and staff really know their wine, so take their recommendations!"
FED Pro > Chef David Lentz of The Hungry Cat
2395 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
T: 323.662.9024 | www.silverlakewine.com
COCKTAILS
Photograph courtesy of Cliff's Edge
Cliff's Edge
"They serve really special cocktails. While the cocktails are unique, they aren't so complicated that they are confusing. Cliff's Edge has no signage... so one must know its location."
FED Pro > Barman Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper
3626 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
T: 323.666.6116 | www.cliffsedgecafe.com
![Tiki-Ti | Photo Credit: Sam Howzit [flickr]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54806d5de4b0a7c95f7b6d01/1438691368772-XAD20KT8AZUD2VYKBQVW/image-asset.jpeg)
Tiki-Ti | Photo Credit: Sam Howzit [flickr]
Tiki-Ti
This is mecca for Tiki lovers and one of the most famous of its ilk in the country. Bartender Ray Buhen opened the small joint in 1961. He learned his craft at Don The Beachcomber's, the first and most glam of the Tiki watering holes. His sons and grandsons are carrying on the tradition mixing his full repertoire of 86 different drinks. The bar is closer to Los Feliz, but worth checking out. Note: it's cash only.
![Tiki-Ti | Photo Credit: Megan Westerby [Flickr]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54806d5de4b0a7c95f7b6d01/1438691457131-Q1XF1R5XTNH16BY3QYIF/image-asset.jpeg)
Tiki-Ti | Photo Credit: Megan Westerby [Flickr]
"They've been here since 1961 and it’s a must visit. It’s family-run for three generations and the founder of it, Ray Buhen, was one of Don the Beachcomber’s first bartenders at the birth of tiki. It’s basically a direct descendant."
FED Pro > Bartender Martin Cate of Smuggler's Cove
"You can just feel the history in the walls. Mind you, some of that history is just layers of nicotine covered with layers of shellack but, well you know. They use the cheapest ingredients and make magic with them."
FED Pro > Bartender Blair Reynolds of Hale Pale
"They have incredible tiki drinks. It’s really small with about twelve seats at the bar and maybe four tables. There’s always a huge line to get in, because it’s the only bar in California where you can smoke, due to the loophole in the law. They still use all the original tiki recipes and know how the drinks were actually made."
FED Pro > Bartender Brother Cleve
4427 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
T: 323.669.9381 | www.tiki-ti.com
DINNER
Photograph courtesy of Alimento | Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni
Italian | Alimento
Chef Zach Pollack, who is also co-chef and co-owner of Sotto, makes rustic Northern Italian meets Southern California fare with house-made pastas, smoked pork shank, roasted snapper, and a dish he calls 'Pig in a Blanket,' which has braised mortadella with fermented turnip and stracchinata cheese.
"Their chicken sandwich is something of dreams and they have Grüner on tap."
FED Pro > Chef Spencer Bezaire of L & E Oyster Bar
“On the weekends, they stay open until midnight and after a long Saturday night service, nothing makes me feel whole again like Chef Zach’s pasta."
FED Pro > Chef Kris Yenbamroong of Night + Market
"Good food and perfect for the neighborhood. It is a great neighborhood place to eat with family and friends."
FED Pros > Chefs Walter and and Margarita Manzke
1710 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90026
F: 323.928.2888 | www.alimentola.com
Photograph courtesy of Night + Market Song
Thai | Night + Market Song
The Silver Lake outpost of chef Kris Yenbamroong's Night + Market. He is serving the same Thai street food that he has become renowned for at his first Night + Market location.
"Order Green Papaya Salad and Larb Pla Duk (Catfish Larb)."
FED Pro > Chef Spencer Bezaire of L & E Oyster Bar
"I love everything on the menu from top to bottom, hands down."
FED Pro > Chef Kuniko Yagi of Hinoki & the Bird
"Chef Kris Yenbamroong is creating street Thai food dishes that are out of this world. The food is known for being spicy which is why ordering a large Singha beer is a must. The Chiang Rai Style Pork Larb and the Larb Gai are my favorite dishes."
FED Pro > Bartender Brandyn Tepper of Hinoki & the Bird
"Kris Yenbamroong is a very talented chef and makes some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had. He's also a true wine lover."
FED Pro > Wine Importer Guilhaume Gerard of Selection Massale
3322 West Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
www.nightmarketla.com
Seafood | L & E Oyster Bar
A seafood house in the heart of Silver Lake where you'll find lots of oysters on the menu, served raw, in po'boys, grilled, Casino, and Rockefeller. They also serve fish and many other mollusks and crustaceans.
"Come here and order a dozen raw oysters."
FED Pro > Chef David LeFevre of M.B. Post, Fishing with Dynamite
1637 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
T: 323.660.2255 | www.leoysterbar.com
L & E Oyster Bar | Photo Credit: Sidney Bensimon
BAR
Photograph courtesy of Little Dom's
Italian | Little Dom's
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails at this Italian-American restaurant redone to feel like an old school neighborhood joint. From the same owners as 101 Coffee Shop and Dominick's.
"Excellent food with a great bar, but with a tiny footprint of a bar within the restaurant."
FED Pro > Barman Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper
2128 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
T: 323.661.0055 | www.littledoms.com
LATE NIGHT
Photograph courtesy of 4100 Bar
4100 Bar
A dark and moody neighborhood cocktail bar with leather banquettes and a big singles scene. On weekends, the cash-only Barbecue Pit Stop sets up in the parking lot from about 9:30pm until 2am.
"A pick-up bar."
FED Pro > Barman Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper
Open until 2am
4100 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
T: 323.666.4460 | 4100bar.com