21 Best Things to do in West Hollywood (in 2023)

I ❤️ WeHo! This creative city is one of the top Los Angeles hot spots for nightlife and live entertainment — there are so many fun things to do in West Hollywood.

As an LA local, I’ve enjoyed many a night out in clubs between the rainbow crosswalks of Santa Monica Boulevard and up on the Sunset Strip. We’ll check out all those spots in this article, as well as the best daytime offerings in the city. Many of these spots are 21+ though, so keep that in mind as you read on.

Situated between Beverly Hills and Hollywood, West Hollywood, CA, is bordered by Hollywood Hills to the north and Beverly Boulevard to the south. This central location places it among the most ideal places to stay in Los Angeles for visitors looking to explore the top things to do in LA.

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21 Best Things to Do in West Hollywood

The Comedy Store

Lift your spirits with laughter at a legendary Sunset Blvd comedy club

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 656-6225 | Website | Hours: 7 pm – 2 am daily* | Tickets: $5 – $30

Affectionately known as ‘The Store,’ this Sunset Strip staple is beloved by comics and audiences alike. Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and Jim Carrey are just a few of the famous names scrawled on the walls, proclaiming status as ‘paid regulars’ handpicked by comedy matriarch Mitzi Shore.

Some of the biggest names in comedy perform here regularly, refining material for tours and specials. You can pick up tickets to upcoming events on the club’s website. Hang at the outdoor bar after the show for some of the most fun late-night people-watching in Los Angeles.

The Comedy Store is usually closed one night each week, most often Monday or Tuesday. If Main Room tickets are sold out, try the Original Room. Marquee headliners often pop in there for a warm-up set.

👉 Read Next: After you’re done exploring all these picks for what to do in West Hollywood, check out my guide to things to do in Hollywood.

Pacific Design Center

Browse showrooms in a 1.6 million-square-foot mecca of interior design

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 657-0800 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday

Anchoring the West Hollywood Design District, Pacific Design Center showrooms and art galleries display the wares of the interior design industry’s leading manufacturers. Any and everything you’re looking to furnish, this is the place to do it.

Even if you’re not in the market, Pacific Design Center provides ample food for thought on how to make the most of your living space.

As for getting there, Pacific Design Center is hard to miss! The brightly colored glass buildings are just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, at the intersection of San Vicente Blvd and Melrose Ave.

RH West Hollywood

Peruse the offerings of one the best-known names in luxury furnishings

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 652-0323 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 7 pm Monday through Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm Sundays

Recently rebranded as RH, Restoration Hardware has long been a go-to for upscale home decor. Their West Hollywood gallery features exquisite full-room installations and an interactive design atelier to help envision pieces in your own space, from fixtures to furniture.

Don’t miss the rooftop! The garden and conservatory are lovely and peaceful, with great views of the Hollywood Hills and Pacific Design Center.

🛎️ Need a Hotel? Le Parc Suite Hotel is ideally located for anyone traveling to do business in the West Hollywood Design District.

Whisky a Go Go

Rock out at an iconic Los Angeles music venue on the Sunset Strip

When you’re looking to turn the party up to 11, this Sunset Boulevard club is ready and able to provide the perfect soundtrack.

The first live music venue ever to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Whisky a Go Go holds more than one place in music history. It’s also the birthplace of the ‘go-go’ dancer. And for the summer of 1966, The Doors was the house band. Here Jim Morrison performed some of his most experimental material, two shows per night.

Located at the intersection of Sunset and San Vicente Boulevards, the Whisky is easy to find, but difficult to park at. Save yourself the hassle by grabbing a rideshare. It’s a lot easier and usually less expensive.

Rainbow Bar & Grill

Eat, drink, and mingle with musicians at this low-key legend

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 278-4232 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 2 am Monday through Friday, 3 pm – 2 am Saturday & Sunday

I love a good dive bar, and the Rainbow is one of my favorites. The food is good, the drinks are strong, and the crowd is rowdy.

LA restaurants tend to come and go, but this Sunset Strip mainstay has been holding steady for 40 years. Once upon a time regulars include John Lennon and Ringo Starr. Living legends still pop in pretty frequently, including Ozzy Osburne and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.

🍽️ Pro Tip: The Rainbow is a great place to start a wild night out, but it’s an even better place to finish one. They serve dinner until 2 am, seven nights a week.

The Abbey

Drink, dine, and dance at one of the most popular gay bars on the west coast

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 289-8410 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 2 am Monday through Friday, 10 am – 2 am Saturday & Sunday

Good times and gorgeous go-go dancers are hallmarks of this West Hollywood staple on Robertson Boulevard. Just one block west of the city’s famous rainbow crosswalks, The Abbey’s four bars and three dance floors are a perfect place to party.

An outdoor patio crisscrossed by string lights offers a more mellow atmosphere when you’re not looking to get turned up. Well, on weeknights. This is one of the most popular bars in the city of Los Angeles, so if you’re coming on a weekend expect a crowd.

🛎️ Need a Hotel? Less than a 10-minute walk from The Abbey, Petit Ermitage features a private rooftop with a saltwater pool.

The MAK Center for Art and Architecture

Tour an innovative example of early modern architecture

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 651-1510 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 6 pm Wednesday through Sunday | Tickets: $10, General Admission; $7 Students & Seniors

In contrast to the massive art institutions in Downtown Los Angeles, West Hollywood museums tend to be smaller and dedicated to a single theme. At Schindler House, headquarters of the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, the museum itself is the main exhibit.

Originally intended as an experiment in communal living, Schindler House was designed to blend multiple lifestyles as fluidly as it integrates indoor and outdoor spaces. Nestled among apartment buildings on a quiet residential street, it blends right in with the surroundings. It’s easy to miss the signs for this tiny landmark, so trust your GPS and walk to the address listed, it’s there.

MAK Center also welcomes small rotating exhibits of fine art and unique antiquities.

👉 Love Architecture? Plan a visit to the Stahl House, set in the Hollywood Hills overlooking the Sunset Strip. A quintessential example of mid-century modern design, the home – and its fabulous view – has been featured in many Hollywood productions.

Troubadour

Soak up good vibes and amazing performances at a cherished venue for live music

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 656-6225 | Website | Hours: Varies by event | Tickets: $20 & up

Though the max capacity is just 500, everyone from rising stars to superstars grace this stage. For dedicated fans, shows at Troubadour are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see superstars up close.

For performers, Troubadour is a rite of passage. In 1970, it was here James Taylor and Carole King debuted “You’ve Got A Friend.” That same year Elton John made his US debut here, and Randy Newman his first solo performance. During the second of two sold-out shows in July 2022, Finneas featured guest star Billie Eilish.

🚗 How to Get There: Located on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Troubadour sits on the northeast corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Doheny Drive. It’s not the easiest area to navigate and parking is very limited, so this is another good location to utilize rideshares.

Sunset Plaza

Indulge in luxury brands and fine dining at a premier West Hollywood shopping area

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 652-7137 | Website | 👉 Ferrari Driving Tour from Hollywood to Sunset Plaza

Sunset Plaza brings a taste of Beverly Hills luxury to the Sunset Strip. An outdoor mall mixing upscale boutiques with popular restaurants that feature sizeable outdoor seating areas, this attraction offers visitors a chance to sample the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

One of the most notable Sunset Plaza spots is Revolver Gallery, a contemporary art gallery dedicated exclusively to the life and work of Andy Warhol.

🛍️ Love Shopping? For a full-on spree, check out the Beverly Center, two miles southwest of Sunset Plaza at the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard.

Micky’s West Hollywood

Dive into drag brunch and disco at this lively West Hollywood gay club

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 657-1176 | Website | Hours: 5 pm – 2 am Monday through Thursday, 5 pm – 4 am Fridays, 1 pm – 4 am Saturdays, 3 pm – 2 am Sundays

A long-running favorite of the LGBTQ+ community, Micky’s is one of the best places to experience West Hollywood’s vibrant nightlife.

Saturday drag brunches are fun-filled events with fabulous entertainment and bottomless mimosas. Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race can catch shows hosted by Morgan McMichaels, which often feature performances from fellow Drag Racers. Don’t forget to tip the queens!!

Located half a block west of San Vicente Boulevard on Santa Monica Boulevard, Micky’s floor-to-ceiling windows are open to the street, with a large outdoor patio that adds to the open, welcoming ambiance.

👉 Pro Tip: Micky’s takes full advantage of recently extended late night hours, staying open until 4 am on Fridays & Saturdays. West Hollywood is one of few cities in Southern California where bars are legally allowed to operate past 2 am, and the only one in Los Angeles County.

The Roxy Theatre

Capture a ‘before they were stars’ moment in a nightclub known for the hottest acts still on the come up

You know that friend whose Spotify you stalk for the best new music? This is the club they’re buying tickets to. Established by industry insiders, The Roxy attracts the cutting-edge trendsetters of our fair city and performers to match.

Upstairs you’ll find the club’s inner sanctum, On the Rox. Once a private club reserved for the owner’s friends and Hollywood insiders, the space now showcases buzzy acts from the LA scene.

🛎️ Need a Hotel? Sunset Strip favorites West Hollywood EDITION and The London West Hollywood are amazing when you’re looking to get a lil’ bougie. If you’re looking for someplace more budget-friendly, Best Western Plus Sunset Strip is a great Sunset Boulevard option within walking distance of area hotspots.

The Pink Wall

Strike a pose in one of the most Instagrammed spots anywhere in Los Angeles

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24/7 | 👉 Instagram Experience Tour

To the casual observer, this Melrose Avenue attraction is just what it sounds like: a pink wall. But to those in the clout game, this bubblegum backdrop is social media gold.

Don’t forget to visit Paul Smith! With equally photo-friendly interiors, the shop specializes in well-made, modern silhouettes. Plus their signature prints photograph particularly well against the famous pink background.

📸 Pro Tip: This may be among pro-level influencers’ favorite things to do in West Hollywood, but plan on shooting pics with your phone. Folks with professional setups will likely be asked to leave.

Morrison Hotel Gallery

See first-class photo collections in a posh gallery dedicated to famed musicians

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 881-6025 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 6 pm Monday through Saturday, 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday

Located in the comfortably elegant lobby of the Sunset Marquis hotel, this small gallery packs a big punch for photographers and music lovers. Few of the art galleries West Hollywood, CA offers capture their neighborhood vibe so flawlessly as this gem.

Featuring photographic art both by and of music icons including Joni Mitchell and Jim Morrison, the collection extends to portraits of Hollywood royalty like Marilyn Monroe.

Sunset Marquis, by the way, is exceptional. 10/10. If you can afford it, click the link to book now.

🚗 How to Get There: GPS driving directions go to the hotel entrance on Alta Loma road, but the only parking there is a guest-only valet. The easiest way to visit the gallery is to park at a meter near the intersection of Sunset Blvd and Alta Loma Rd, then walk down the hill.

Book Soup

Relish good reads in a bookseller catering to the “great and infamous”

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 659-3110 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 7 pm daily

It takes an impressive bookstore to hold its own among the pricey real estate on Sunset Strip. Guarded by golden dogs, the shop’s floor-to-ceiling shelves are stocked with titles devoted to fine arts, music, film, photography, and literary fiction.

Celebs rarely do their own shopping, but it’s not uncommon to spot a famous face perusing the pages in this Sunset Boulevard shop. Much to their assistants’ chagrin, one imagines, because shopping Book Soup isn’t an errand, it’s an experience.

📖 Pro Tip: Check out their selection of autographed books for the perfect gift for your favorite bookworm, or to add a cherished treasure to your collection.

Hollywood Improv

Load up on laughs at this world-famous comedy club on Melrose Avenue

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 651-2583 | Website | Hours: 6:30 pm – 12 am Sunday through Thursday, 6:30 pm – 2 am Friday & Saturday | Tickets: $15 & up

Another acclaimed institution in the comedy world, Hollywood Improv is a delightfully unpredictable stand-up comedy venue. You’ll see plenty of headliners listed on the calendar, but true to its name, the club is no stranger to change-ups.

Nothing levels up an evening quite like getting to see a favorite comic by surprise. Drop-ins are often polishing material for a bigger project, leading to them being extra tuned in to audience insights. I love watching the specials these sets become and catching adjustments made to the work I saw in progress.

To nab good seats, arrive an hour or so before the show and have dinner in the club’s restaurant. The food is pretty good, and the ambiance is great. Dave Chappelle and Tim Allen are among the stars featured in moody, framed candids hung on the high brick walls.

🤣 Love Comedy? The Store and Hollywood Improv are my favorites, but you can also see great comics at the Laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard.

Hamburger Mary’s

Eat, drink, and see Marys at a boisterous drag bar

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323)654-3800 | Website | Hours: 1 pm – 10 pm Monday through Friday, 11 am – 11 pm Saturdays, 10 am – 10 pm Sundays | Show Fee: $6

On Santa Monica Blvd you’ll find Hamburger Mary’s, a longtime favorite for bachelorette and birthday parties. Equal parts fun, friendly, and fierce, it’s a heck of a good time.

The West Hollywood, CA, branch of this well-known restaurant chain features performances by some of the best-loved queens in the Los Angeles drag scene. Drag brunch is a fan favorite, or try drag bingo for a more interactive event.

💃 Pro Tip: Always tip the queens. Always.

Circus of Books

Explore your wildest fantasies at a decidedly NSFW boutique

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 337-9555 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 8 pm Monday through Wednesday, 11 am – 11 pm Thursday-Sundays

For open-minded folks, Circus of Books is good fun. Like the 18 and over kind, if you catch my drift. If you’re not in the market for their main product line, it’s an interesting browse. Plus they have some super cute t-shirts and sometimes a contemporary art exhibit.

Circus of Books has two locations on Santa Monica Boulevard, one on the corner of La Jolla Ave and a second just east of San Vicente Boulevard, next to Micky’s.

E.P. & L.P.

Ditch the touristy vibe in favor of dinner and drinks on LA’s favorite rooftop

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310)855-9955 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 2 am Monday through Friday, 11:30 am – 2 am Saturday-Sunday

When you’re ready to explore a side of West Hollywood less frequented by out-of-towners, there’s nowhere better to start than L.P. One of the largest rooftop patios in Los Angeles, the chic space features oversized lamps and lots of greenery, and a luscious cocktail menu. Seating is first come, first served and it does get busy, so get there early to snag a table.

L.P.’s international snacks and sandwiches are yummy, but foodies with a full appetite will prefer the menu downstairs at E.P. restaurant.

At the same location on the northwest corner of Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard, Melrose Rooftop Theatre hosts screenings of much-loved Hollywood hits. Dinner + Movie tickets are great for date night. You’ll get a three-course dinner followed by sunset and a film – an evening well spent!

👉 Pro Tip: For another fun date night, follow up visits to E.P. & L.P. with a live show at Largo at the Coronet. Just a five-minute walk south down La Cienega Boulevard, the club counts Sarah Silverman and Marc Maron among their regulars for stand-up comedy, and they showcase a variety of local & national music acts.

Chateau Marmont

Splash out like a star in a hotel nearly as famous as its A-list clientele

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (323) 656-1010 | Website

Another storied treasure dating back to the Hollywood’s Golden Age, ultra-exclusive Chateau Marmont is a fabled hideaway for the rich and famous. Can you get a room without being famous? Sure. But the rich part is pretty much non-negotiable.

A bougie bar and restaurant remain open to the public, but reservations are very strongly recommended.

🤩 Pro Tip: A-listers are around at Chateau Marmont, in part because the chateau is very protective of their privacy. Photos are a no-no. Visitors unable to keep their cool are much more likely to chat with security than any celebrity guest.

West Hollywood Library

Pause for a quiet moment in a stylishly designed library adjacent to a charming park

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (310) 652-5340 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am – 6 pm Friday & Saturday, 1 pm – 5 pm Sunday

Across San Vicente Boulevard from Pacific Design Center, the West Hollywood City Library is a great visit for anyone interested in artistic endeavors or, somewhat obviously, books. There are plenty of reading nooks and several artworks on display.

To get some fresh air visit West Hollywood Park, right next to the library. Park amenities include a playground, pool, and dog park.

🌳 Love low-key local spots? Check out Plummer Park, a pleasant green space with tennis courts and a weekly farmers’ market (Mondays, 9 am – 2 pm.)

Mulholland Drive

Explore urban California wilderness along a curvy scenic route

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Mulholland Drive Tours on Viator

Ok, while this last one isn’t in West Hollywood, CA, technically speaking, it offers stunning views of West Hollywood. Tracing the crest of the Hollywood Hills from Bel Air to the 101 freeway, Mulholland Drive overlooks large swaths of Los Angeles county, with the city of Los Angeles to the south and San Fernando Valley to the north.

Anyone looking to work an outdoor adventure into their trip will find lovely parks with loads of great California hikes alongside the views. Runyon Canyon is the most popular, and Franklin Canyon is a beauty. East of Mulholland, across the 101, you’ll find popular attractions Universal Studios Hollywood, the Hollywood Sign, and Griffith Observatory.

It’s a nice cruise if you’re confident behind the wheel. Check out Discover Cars for great deals on California rentals, or if you’d rather kick back and relax on the drive, try one of these Mulholland Drive tours.

🚗 How to Get There: To get to Mulholland Drive, head north on Crescent Heights Blvd. Turn right on Mulholland for Runyon, left for Franklin Canyon. There are lookout points in both directions.

FAQs About What to Do in West Hollywood

What is there to do in West Hollywood?

Some of the best things to do in the city of West Hollywood include comedy clubs, live music venues, and a host of great bars and restaurants.

Is West Hollywood good for tourists?

West Hollywood is great for adult tourists, but the main attractions are geared toward visitors 18 and over or 21+.

What is West Hollywood best known for?

West Hollywood is best known for its vital LGBTQ+ community and the Sunset Strip.

Where can I walk around West Hollywood?

Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, and Santa Monica Blvd between Crescent Heights and Doheny are all great West Hollywood areas to walk around, but you’ll want to catch a ride to get from Melrose/Santa Monica areas up to Sunset Blvd.

What is West Hollywood known as?

West Hollywood is known as a trendy, energetic neighborhood with a thriving LGBTQ+ community and vibrant nightlife.

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Thanks for reading, I hope you have a wonderful time visiting West Hollywood! Up next, check out our guide to the best things to do in Malibu!

Have fun exploring all the best things to do in West Hollywood!