Highland Park Ultimate Guide
Highland Park Ultimate Guide
Laura Aitken
Welcome to Highland Park, Los Angeles! This small town vibe in a big city is a great place for all things food, drink, and shopping. This guide will show you the best places in the area so you can experience Highland Park like a local.
This guide includes:
𧳠Stay
âď¸ Coffee
đ Eat
đş Drink
đ Do
đď¸ Shop
đż Hike
Everything you need to have the best time in Highland Park all in one place.
Tips are much appreciated!
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Hello, Highland Park
Big little suburb, Highland Park, is a cute borough in Northeast Los Angeles that is chock full of some of the best food, bars, shops, and experiences LA has to offer.Â
History
Highland Park is part of an area that was originally settled thousands of years ago by Native Americans, and which has changed many hands of ownership since. Hotly disputed over for most of its history, and once even a gold rush town, Highland Park is a historic a hub for Latino and Chicano culture.
This list includes any and all of my favorite Highland Park establishments, but emphasizes latino-owned businesses. Get to know the area and its culture through its amazing food, drink, and beautiful landscape.Â
Stay
There are not a lot of places to stay within Highland Park, so I've selected my favorite, unique places to stay within transit or driving distance. If you want to stay within Highland Park itself, there are some motels on the main streets of York and Figueroa.Â
La Boheme Living
@laurasontheroad
Idyllic glamping experience with great transportation links that take you into the heart of Highland Park or to DTLA.
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Bissell House Bed & Breakfast
@laurasontheroad
Great for history and architecture buffs, this Victorian house hosts an adorable bed and breakfast with glowing reviews.
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Coffee
Cafe de Leche
@laurasontheroad
Lovely community-focused cafe with Nicaraguan roots. Get the spiced Mexican mocha đ
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The Highland Cafe
@laurasontheroad
Strong coffee and nice, shady interior. Buy a bottle of Zabâs hot sauce here, you wonât regret it!
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Muddy Paw Coffee & Park Eagle Rock
@laurasontheroad
Dog friendly cafe with outdoor seating, great coffee, and empaĂąadas that include vegan options.
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Civil Coffee
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One of the better places in Highland Park to work on your laptop, but only if you have a hotspot because they do not offer free wifi.
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Eat
Delicias Bakery and Some
@laurasontheroad
Amazing bakery with vegan and non-vegan versions of classic Mexican baked goods as well as savory food.
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Villa's Tacos Los Angeles
@laurasontheroad
Great tacos that are locally, and soon to be nationally, famous! Good vegan options as well!
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Las Cazuelas Restaurant & Pupuseria
@laurasontheroad
Super creative Pupusas and they even have vegan bean and cheese Pupusas for the veggies out there.
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Maciel's Plant-Based Butcher & Deli
@laurasontheroad
A rising star in Highland Park, everything here is good, but particularly the Flores sandwich. Jackfruit-based Mexican prime rib sandwich that even your omni friends will love.
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Nativo
@laurasontheroad
Great local woman-owned cantina with Mezcal-forward cocktails and Guadaljarian-inspired food!
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Joy
@laurasontheroad
Very hip spot for very good food, but a little bit of a wait time, so go during off-peek hours.
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Wolfie's Hot Chicken - Highland Park
@laurasontheroad
This is a great place to watch sports and burn yourself on the hot âchicken.â The loaded fries are the star of the show and a meal all in themselves.
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Belle's Bagels
@laurasontheroad
Really good bagels but can be hard to get as they often sell out and they close super early. If you happen to catch them, they have very good vegan cream cheese and even a vegan breakfast bagel!
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Bagel + Slice
@laurasontheroad
The vegan vodka slice is the best, and their cashew-based vegan cream cheese makes for amazing bagels.
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Kitchen Mouse Cafe & Catering
@laurasontheroad
Cute little breakfast spot with both vegan and vegetarian options.
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Drink
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MacLeod on York
@laurasontheroad
Great UK-inspired beer list and vegan pizza optionsâthis is a perfect place to go for a casual drink and pizza with omni friends.
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Highland Park Brewery (Production Facility Only)
@laurasontheroad
Perfect outdoor space for an afternoon beer on a sunny day.
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Do
Avenue 50 Studio, Inc.
@laurasontheroad
Rotating art exhibits as well as lectures and classes centered around Latino artists.
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Highland Theatres
@laurasontheroad
Historic movie theater with $6 ticket nights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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MorYork
@laurasontheroad
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Highland Park Bowl
@laurasontheroad
Very expensive for bowling, but worth visiting to see the incredible, thoughtfully refurbished historical bowling alley that originally opened in 1927. You donât have to bowl to drink, so grab a beer and watch from the bar as the bowlers do their thing.
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Shop
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Crush & Touch Art Supply
@laurasontheroad
Awesome spot to get gifts for friends and family. Really cool collection of artsy, unique items.
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Shorthand
@laurasontheroad
Art and stationary store with very cool handmade cards that you can either send or frame!
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Big Bud Press Highland Park
@laurasontheroad
Highly ethical, unisex, and inclusive Los Angeles based clothing brand.
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Uno Liquor Produce Market & La MichoacĂĄna Ice Cream Parlor
@laurasontheroad
Great place to get Mexican candy, food, drinks, and ice cream bars!
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Galco's Old World Grocery
@laurasontheroad
All kinds of local and worldly soda types as well as a hefty beer selection. This shop has been open since 1897, and became soda-centered in 1995.
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Hike
Fiji Hill
@laurasontheroad
Short uphill hike with beautiful views! I like to park by FEAST Student Garden, walk towards the theater area, then take the first dirt path to your left upwards and youâll find the rest of the trails.
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Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
@laurasontheroad
Not so much a hike as it is a park with some walking trails, but home to a beautiful skyline view AND and turtle pond âď¸
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Did you enjoy this guide?
Please consider leaving a tip, and check out my other maps and area guides.Â
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Aitken
Lifelong traveler specializing in low-budget, adventure-focused trips that veer off the beaten path. I've spent the last ten years balancing work and travel and have adventured across the world by foot, cycle, train, plane, boat, and car. Meticulous planning pairs nicely with spur of the moment, throw those plans out the window spontaneity, and I'm here to help you find that balance on your next adventure.
⨠Also a foodie and lifelong vegetarian/vegan, I've spent years seeking out the best veg-friendly spots in the world. Check out my veggie food guides to find the best there is everywhere you go.
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