30 Secret Spots In Los Angeles (2024)

Want to know all the best secret spots in Los Angeles? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!

Los Angeles has seemingly endless things to do and every time someone finds something new, it immediately goes viral and is no longer one of LA’s secret spots.

But there are still plenty of lesser known places around LA that you won’t find on every travel guide, so we consider them as secret spots or hidden gems.

From speakeasies to kitschy tiki bars to historic sites to natural wonders, there are a ton of secret spots in Los Angeles still.

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Secret Spots In Los Angeles

For the purposes of this post, the greater Los Angeles area is being covered, so think places like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Burbank, and more.

Some of these secret spots have been around practically forever, while others are still relatively new and just unknown to the viral social media frenzies.

Speakeasies

First up are some of LA’s best speakeasies.

The whole premise of a speakeasy is that it’s supposed to be a secret, so it’s fitting that they would be featured on our secret spots in Los Angeles post.

1. Death & Co

Death & Co is a speakeasy in Downtown LA.

It’s popular for it’s dark and romantic ambiance, so you’ll want to make sure you have a reservation.

Since it’s a bar, the best menu items you’ll find are their drinks.

The most recommended drinks are Deputy of Love and Dragon’s Dream.

Deputy of Love is made up of Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte Tequila, Zinfandel Rosé, Watermelon, Lime, and Aloe Vera.

Dragon’s Dream if made up of Novo Fogo Silver & Avuá Amburana Cachaças, Aperol, Mango, Cayenne, and Lime.

2. Lost Property

Lost Property is a speakeasy in Hollywood.

It used to be a bit more of a dive bar, but now that it has gained some popularity, it’s starting to be tailored to a more high-end clientele.

In general, you can expect most of the speakeasies in LA to have drinks that are around the $18-$25 range on average.

The most recommended drinks here are the Penny Benjamin cocktail, Last of the Oaxacans, and the Jack Rose.

Penny Benjamin is gin mixed with fresh blackberry shrub and bianco vermouth, so it’s refreshing and on the sweeter side.

I couldn’t find exactly what’s in the other two, but another recommendation is that when it’s not busy, you can have the bartender make you a drink of their choice.

3. Bathtub Gin LA

UPDATE: PERMANENTLY CLOSED (STILL OPEN IN NYC)

Bathtub Gin LA is a more Prohibition inspired speakeasy than most of the other LA speakeasies.

It’s located on Melrose.

They are obviously known for their gin cocktails more than anything else, but they also have live entertainment like jazz, a DJ, and burlesque shows.

Even if gin isn’t your go-to drink, they have drinks for pretty much any palette and you’ll also get a complimentary tub of popcorn.

Try a dirty gin martini, or some fruit tea infused with brandy.

4. The Roger Room

The Roger Room is a speakeasy in West Hollywood.

This one actually has a lot of popular drinks including classics like the Old Fashioned, Spiced Mule, Whiskey Sour, and Moscow Mule.

Some others include the Japanese Maple, Aces, Thug, Old Sport, Zucker, and Hello.

The Japanese Maple is a fun drink because they’ll add stencil art on top.

They used to do a Hello Kitty design that was wildly popular, but the stencil was stolen, so now you can get Pikachu instead.

There might be some other options as well, but you can just ask your bartender.

5. Rhythm Room 

The Rhythm Room is an underground speakeasy in Downtown LA.

They have an area for games like pool, darts, chess, and other board games, so it’s great for larger groups that want to get together and go out.

There is also an area for live entertainment, so it’s good for a date night or just to go chill somewhere that isn’t your couch.

Of all the speakeasies on this list, this one is definitely the most chill and casual.

Tiki Bars

Tiki bars are becoming more popular for vacationers and locals alike as we all tend to gravitate toward nostalgia and aesthetics these days.

LA is home to several lesser known tiki bars that would make for a great night of bar hopping or a fun little bucket list to check off as you go.

7. Clifton’s Republic

We first heard about this one from a friend that lives in Silver Lake and frequents DTLA a lot.

At the time of writing this, they are temporarily closed, but will re-open January 31st, 2024.

I’m not sure what all will change, but currently they are known for having 6 floors of immersive “fantasy” environments that began as an Art Deco cafeteria.

They’ve been around since the 1930s and even served as part of the inspiration for Disneyland with it’s Redwood themed area that has rock grottoes and waterfalls.

Part of their expansion includes a Pacific Seas Polynesian playground, which is why it’s part of our secret tiki bars list.

8. Damon’s Steak House

Damon’s has been a Glendale staple since the 1930s.

The decor inside of this steak house is an immersive tiki theme, complete with spiked Dole Whip!

Some other popular tropical drinks to try here include Damon’s Famous Mai Tai, Blue Hawaii, and the Manhattan Island, which are all in the $10-$15 range.

Damon’s will fill up at peak dining hours, so be sure to get a reservation or arrive early.

9. Kahuna Tiki NOHO

Here you’ll enjoy the waterfalls and cozy fire pits while you sip on tropical cocktails in it’s outdoor area.

They are most known for their immersive ambiance and drinks, so you don’t necessarily need to come here for dinner too, but snacking on some sushi rolls with your drinks is also a good idea.

Reservations are highly recommended as the line can be out the door on evenings and weekends, especially on luau nights.

Some popular drinks here include their Mai Tai, Painkiller, and Pina Colada.

10. Tiki No

Popular drinks here include the quintessential tropical cocktails like the Pina Colada, Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian, and Painkiller.

Their signature drinks include their Coconut Mojito, the Lychee Luau, and the Toasted Marshmallow

Tiki No offers Happy Hour seven nights a week from 5-7 pm, food trucks each Thursday starting at 5:30 pm, and Karaoke every Sunday from 9 pm to close.

11. Tiki-Ti

Tiki-Ti is a popular tiki bar on Sunset Blvd.

It’s on the smaller side since it’s older and has more of a dive bar feel than the other tiki bars.

Their retro drinks are authentic to how tropical cocktails were made back in the 60s.

This is a great place to bring out of towners to order an Uga Booga or a Blood and Sand and watch how the entire place will start cheering, chanting, and celebrating when your drink comes out.

12. Tonga Hut

Tonga Hut is the oldest tiki bar in LA and has been around since 1958.

They also have a second location in Downtown Palm Springs that we love!

I highly recommend trying the Nutty Chi Chi and Syd Thomas’ Kraken the Dole Whip.

The Nutty Chi Chi is a creamy pina colada with macadamia nut and Kraken the Dole Whip is Kraken and vanilla rum, macadamia nut, coconut, and pineapple.

Hiking Trails and Parks

LA is home to a ton of popular hiking trails like Runyon Canyon that give you great views of the city and where you’re likely to run into a celebrity or two.

But let’s talk about the less frequented trails and parks that you don’t see all over Instagram but are just as Instagram worthy.

And really anywhere you go in LA you could see a celebrity, so there’s that too!

13. Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Park

The Inspiration Point trail at Will Rogers State Park is by far my favorite trail I’ve been on in LA so far, so we’ll start with this one.

When we went we only saw about a dozen or less people on the trail itself.

As you make your way around the loop, there are lookout points with benches along the way.

Hence the name, Inspiration Point.

It’s just a nice place to soak in the views of the mountains, the mansions, the oceans, and the sunset.

14. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

What’s unique about this hiking trail is that you’ll take a set of STEEP stairs to get to the top of the overlook.

But once you’re up there, you can see all of LA.

If you can’t take the stairs or just don’t want to climb up and down all those stairs, there are dirt paths that wind around it, though it takes a little longer.

There’s paid parking at the top of the hill or you can find street parking at the base of the trail.

15. Franklin Canyon Park

Franklin Canyon Park is one of the best areas for hiking in Los Angeles because of its gorgeous 3 acre lake right in the middle of a 605 acre park.

The park is located between Beverly Hills and San Fernando Valley and very easy to reach.

When you’re here, there are several hiking trails to choose from.

The Discovery Trail is a quick 0.3 mile long walk around the park that only takes about 10 minutes.

There is also the Hastain Trail, which is significantly more difficult.

It’s a 2.3 mile hike that takes about an hour and a half to complete.

An important piece of advice: take this trail clockwise, otherwise it’ll be too steep to get down from!

Lastly, I recommend the Berman Trail.

This is a 0.9 mile trail that only takes 30 minutes to complete.

You can see lots of wildflowers and dogs on this trail, but not much else.

It is quite overgrown, so only the adventurous spirits should try this one out. 

16. Lake Hollywood Park

Most people that want to see the Hollywood Sign will go to Griffith Park and hike toward the sign from there.

Or maybe find street parking as close as they can and walk the rest of the way.

But there’s a much easier way to get your photo up close to the Hollywood and it’s Lake Hollywood Park.

It’ll definitely be busy on Summer and holiday weekends, but it’s free and so is the parking!

The drive in is scenic and takes you around a reservoir that you probably didn’t know existed way up in the Hollywood Hills!

Historic Spots

Los Angeles is home to a variety of historic spots, though it’s not necessarily a history buff’s #1 vacation destination.

With all the theme parks and movie industry things to do, some of the historical landmarks tend to get overlooked.

But here is one that is lesser known to most visitors and locals that is worth checking out.

17. Avila Adobe and Olvera Street

Avila Adobe is the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles and was built in 1818.

You can find it at East 10 Olvera Street in the El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park.

It’s open to the public during normal business hours for tours.

Houses

While Avila Adobe is technically a house and could fall under this next category, these next few places are more so known for their opulance than being older historic landmarks, though they are still historic landmarks too.

18. Getty Villa

While most visitors will make their way to the Getty Center, set atop the Hollywood Hills, where you really want to go is the Getty Villa over in Malibu.

You’ll feel like you’ve been transported into an Italian palace.

Best of all, admission is free!

You just have to go to their website in advance to book a window of arrival on the date you want.

Once you’re in you can stay as long as you want (until they close).

They do charge for parking, but if you visit the Getty Villa and the Getty Museum in the same day you can use the same parking ticket for both.

19. Doheny Greystone Mansion

The Doheny Greystone Mansion is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

This Tudor Revival mansion was built in 1928 as a gift from an oil tycoon to his son, but has been owned by the city of Beverly Hills since 1965.

It’s a very popular filming spot for movies and tv shows.

The descending staircase in the mansion is one of the most famous sets in Hollywood.

You can see it in movies and shows like:

• “We Belong Together” (Mariah Carey music video)
• Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Batman & Robin
• Ghostbusters II
• Gilmore Girls (Chilton Academy)
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Benjamin’s and Abigail’s mansion. Seen when Conner drives her up to the front door, filmed in the courtyard of the Mansion)
• Spider-Man (2 and 3 also)
• The Big Lebowski
• The Muppets (Kermit’s mansion)
• The Social Network
• and a ton more!

The park grounds are open to the public except for holidays, filming, or special events.

Admission and parking are both free here.

Access to the mansion itself is only available during special events, which you can browse on their website or give them a call.

20. Stahl House

The Stahl House is a modernist style home located at 1635 Woods Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

It was built in 1959 and has earned many accolades for it’s architectural design.

This house is also a popular filming location.

I first saw it in the movie Galaxy Quest as the house that Tim Allen’s character lives in, but it’s also featured in various fashion shoots, ad campaigns, and other movies.

They offer afternoon and evening tours here, though they’re very restricted in the number of guests and the number of vehicles that can be permitted on any given tour, so be cautious of that when booking.

Disney History Sites

This is my favorite section of this entire post!

There are so many places in Los Angeles that are significant to the history and lore of the Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney’s life in general.

While obvious spots would be Disneyland and the various Disney related stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there are even more lesser known spots that have preserved pieces of Disney History.

21. Tam O’Shanter Table

Tam O’Shanter is a Scottish steakhouse that is part of the Lawry’s group, which is known for their prime rib.

Walt Disney used to frequent this place back in the day and even enjoyed it so much, he had his favorite table – Table 31.

Today, that table has a plaque designating it as Walt Disney’s favorite table.

When you go, you can always request to sit at this table, but there may be a wait.

22. Merry-Go-Round at Griffith Park

The story of the carousel at Griffith Park says that this is where the idea for Disneyland was born.

Walt Disney would take his daughters to this carousel on their daddy-daughter day each week and he would sit on the bench and watch them ride around the carousel.

One day he had the idea that there should be a place where the kids and parents could go on the rides together.

At first, his wife Lillian said no because amusement parks back then were dirty, but Walt decided his would be clean and proper.

One of the benches from this area can be found at Disneyland at the entrance to the theater where they show Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln.

You can still see and experience this same carousel today.

It’s located between the Los Angeles Zoo and the Los Feliz park entrance.

It has been in Griffith Park since 1937!

There are 68 horses and all of them are jumpers.

The carousel is open on weekends throughout the year from 11 am to 5 pm.

During Summer, Christmas vacation and Easter vacation, it’s also open on weekdays from 11 am to 5 pm.

23. Walt’s Gravesite

Walt Disney and much of his family are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Glendale.

While this cemetery in particular isn’t as welcoming to tourists as some of the others, you can still respectfully go visit Walt’s grave here.

This garden is in the far Eastern side of the cemetery along the curve of Arlington Drive, North of Cathedral Drive.

24. Snow White Cafe

Snow White Cafe is located right in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard.

While it’s not officially associated with Disney, it’s known for it’s Snow White murals.

Supposedly, the original owner that opened the bar in 1946 was a friend of Walt Disney’s.

He had asked the animators at the time to pain the murals in the cafe, which are the murals you still see today.

25. Walt’s Disney’s Storybook Mansion

One of Walt Disney’s houses is located in Los Feliz and it’s open to tours occasionally.

From the street you just see the entrance gate and drive way.

Walt and Lillian had this house built in 1932 after the success of creating Mickey Mouse and it was their family home until they moved to Holmby Hills in 1950.

You can find the house at 4053 Woking Way.

Walt owned another famous home that you may have heard about where he built a mini railroad in the backyard.

This house still exists at 355 Carolwood Drive and you can see that mini railroad at Walt’s Barn in Griffith Park.

Celebrity Cemeteries

I mentioned Walt Disney’s grave site as a unique place to visit in LA that has significance to Disney history, but there are several cemeteries where you can visit celebrity grave sites.

Since we’re focusing on secret spots in Los Angeles I want to share a cemetery that is TINY and hidden just behind Westwood, the neighborhood outside of UCLA.

26. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park

What’s wild about visiting this cemetery is that JP attended UCLA for 5 years back in the 90s and had NO IDEA this place existed right down the street.

When you find out which celebrities are buried here, it’s crazy to think it’s not more popular.

Most notably, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner are buried right next to each other.

My personal favorite grave sites I was able to visit here are Don Knotts and Eva Gabor.

Some other notable graves here include Natalie Wood, Dean Martin, Burt Lancaster, Mel Torme, Rodney Dangerfield, Peggy Lee, and more.

Neighborhoods

The Greater Los Angeles area is made up of many well known cities and neighborhoods like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and more.

But let’s talk about a couple less visited areas.

27. Chinatown Square

We recently went on a ghost tour through Chinatown and the main square is just absolutely beautiful day and night.

I highly recommend staying long enough to enjoy a meal here.

A popular restaurant here is Full House Seafood Restaurant.

Then, if you want to get some drinks after, go to General Lee’s.

28. Venice Canals

Just behind Venice Beach is a neighborhood known for the Venice Canals.

It’s a cute little neighborhood you can make a quick drive through or you can walk around.

The canals are man-made and were created in 1905 by a developer that wanted to re-create the feel of Venice, Italy right in Los Angeles.

You can see them in some movies and tv shows, most notably in the movie Valentine’s Day.

Griffith Park

Last but not least, let’s talk about some areas of Griffith Park that are not as well known as some others.

We’ve already mentioned the carousel and Walt’s Barn, but there are a couple other places that are real hidden gems in Griffith Park.

29. Bronson Caves

The Bronson Caves in Griffith Park are a popular filming spot for when sets need to look exotic, far away, or foreign.

These caves are actually man-made and are the remains of a rock quarry from 1903.

You might have seen these caves appear as the entrance to the Bat Cave in the tv series from the 60s.

It’s also in the classic Western movie, The Searchers with John Wayne and Natalie Wood.

Some tv shows filmed here include Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Star Trek Voyager, and Wonder Woman.

You can see the Bronson Caves for yourself by taking a short walk along the East side of Canyon Drive, crossing over a bridge, and then walking up the gated driveway.

30. Old LA Zoo (Griffith Park Zoo)

The Griffith Park Zoo operated from 1912 – 1966.

Today it sits as a picnic area and has access to several hiking trails.

It’s located at the same parking lot of the carousel.

Many of the animal exhibits are still intact and you can walk around them.

There are even picnic tables dispersed throughout these abandoned exhibits.

If you’ve ever seen Anchorman, the bear scene was filmed here at the Old LA Zoo.

More Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles

While these secret spots in Los Angeles are so fun to explore, there are plenty of other activities for tourists and locals who have a variety of interests.

😎 Universal Studios Hollywood One Day Itinerary

We’ve been annual pass holders at Universal Studios Hollywood a few times over the past several years and love to take our visitors here.

We know that most visitors will only get one day here to try to see and do it all, so we’ve compiled the ultimate Universal Studios Hollywood one day itinerary.

This is actually one of our most popular posts on our entire blog!

😎 Best Winery Day Trips Around Los Angeles

Within LA and nearby, there are a ton of destinations for wine lovers.

From wine tasting rooms to actually wineries, Southern California has some of the best and most award winning wines in the entire world.

😎 Best Hikes In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to a ton of walking trails.

You can find trails along the beach, in the mountains, and in the various city, county, and state parks.

If you’re lucky, you might even run into a celebrity or two.

😎 Best Things To Do In South Bay Los Angeles

The South Bay region of Los Angeles is made up of the peninsula below downtown.

This area includes cities like Long Beach, Torrance, Marina Del Ray, and more.

Long Beach in particular is a huge tourist destination.

While it’s known for it’s Beaches, it’s the perfect place for a Day Trip or a Romantic date night.

Visiting in the Fall?

We’ve shared all the best things to do in LA in September and October.

This includes popular events like Nights of the Jack, Carved at Descanso Gardens, LIGHTS OUT At Pomona Fairplex, and Oktoberfest at Pomona Fairplex, among other activities.

While some of our favorite activities haven’t returned since the pandemic like Malibu Wine Safari and Pumpkin Nights, there’s still so much to do here.

Visiting in the Winter?

Winter is a fun time in LA because it’s usually still warm enough to enjoy the seasonal festivities.

Though it’s not always the case, because we’ve actually had Snow In Los Angeles very recently!

Our personal favorite winter activity in Los Angeles is the LA Zoo Holiday Lights.

Some past favorites that haven’t returned since the pandemic include Malibu Lights: Winter Nights and Snow Day LA at Elysian Park.

Where To Eat In Los Angeles

LA has seemingly endless options when it comes to dining.

It would be nearly impossible to try it all, so we’ve compiled some lists of the more popular restaurants that fit a variety of budgets and palettes.

You can try the Best Romantic Restaurants, the Best Birthday Restaurants, and even the Best Rooftop Restaurants in Los Angeles.

Conclusion: Secret Spots In Los Angeles

There are so many secret spots in Los Angeles that appeal to visitors with a variety of interests.

From the historical landmarks to the speakeasies and tiki bars, you can always be exploring new places in LA that aren’t viral internet sensations.

Which one are you most excited to visit first?