The 17 best things to do in West Hollywood

Of all the old-school stand-up rooms, the Comedy Store is the only one that’s managed to keep its lineups consistently fresh and funny while staying true to its seedy Sunset Strip roots (it dates back to 1972, when it took over a space that was once the notorious club Ciro’s). Three separate stages host a monstrous array of stand-ups more or less every night of the week, and its long showcases are known for headline-worthy drop-ins (just maybe cash out your two-drink minimum tab before the doldrums of the last hour of the show).

Sleeping baskets on the roof, communal kitchens and a revolving-door salon of artists: Nope, not a Burning Man camp—this is the Schindler House, designed by Austrian architect Rudolf Schindler, who built it as a dual-family residence. These days, it’s home to the MAK Center, a Vienna-based institute that runs a fantastic program of events in the space (think experimental fashion shows, innovative performance art and concerts of new compositions). From Wednesday to Sunday, you can tour the house ($10 with a reservation) and imagine yourself as part of the freewheeling L.A. bohemia of the 1920s and ’30s.

This storied club has a rich musical history: Randy Newman got his start here, and Elton John made his U.S. debut on its stage in 1970. It hasn’t lapsed into irrelevance in the time since, and you’ll see on-the-rise bands sell out the space on a weekly basis as well as once-in-a-while intimate sets from arena-sized bands. The sound is great and the views are decent from almost anywhere in the room—just stay out from under the balcony.

West Hollywood might not be the very first city to add a touch of rainbow to the street, but this photogenic crosswalk is certainly the most notable permanent fixture like it in a major city. The city painted two rainbow crosswalks on San Vicente Boulevard (at Santa Monica Boulevard) in late 2012, and ever since it seems nearly impossible to imagine the area without them. In 2022, WeHo added brown and black stripes to the crosswalks for inclusivity, as well as blue, pink and white to represent the transgender flag.

This long-standing indie book shop has been a staple amidst L.A. bookworms since 1975. The variety of stock at Book Soup is huge and diverse (more than 60,000 titles to be exact), even if the space itself is a little squeezed. It’s also a regular stop on literary luminaries’ book tours.

The burgers aren’t quite destination-worthy, but the entertainment at this West Hollywood mini-chain—the tag line: “Eat, drink and be Mary”—sure is. Swing by on Wednesday nights for its popular drag queen bingo, or all-day Sunday for brunch with drag divas.

Just below the star-studded Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood’s mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard has long been the epicenter of a unique mix of sleaze and glam (and where you’ll find most of the venues on this list). It’s nearly impossible to miss the building-sized billboards, legendary clubs and kitsch—Mel’s, Pink Dot, Carney’s, Saddle Ranch (which has inexplicably become an influencer favorite). Though much of the music scene has moved east, you’ll still find industry types mingling in Sunset Plaza’s high-end restaurants and boutiques.

The Abbey’s unwavering success is also one of its downsides. Not so very long ago, it was the nucleus of gay life in West Hollywood, but as its popularity has grown, increasingly the crowd (particularly at night) seems to be made up of tourists and a hodgepodge of bar flies. All that said, make no mistake, the Abbey is the granddaddy of gay bars in Los Angeles and as such it still rules the roost. Other bars and clubs come and go, but WeHo locals still worship at the altar of the Abbey from time to time.

In its 30-plus years as a Sunset Strip stalwart, the Roxy has been both a major player (hosting early Springsteen and Guns N’ Roses shows) and a disappointing has-been (insert name of horrible ’80s hair band here). But following a 2014 deal with promoter Goldenvoice, the Roxy has seen a surge of worthwhile talent stopping by.

This art gallery-like furniture store (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) is great if you’re in the market for luxury midcentury-inspired furnishings. But chances are you don’t need a couch at this moment. You do, however, need to visit the space for its semi-secret rooftop. Architect James Gillam topped off the retail space with a park of sorts that overlooks the surrounding Hollywood Hills and Pacific Design Center. To be clear, as a privately owned store, RH’s rooftop isn’t quite a public park so it’s always possible access may be limited—but you’re obviously there with the intent to purchase.