Ideally situated somewhere between LA neighborhoods Beverly Hills and beachy Venice, Culver City has long been home to movie studios and production houses. More recently, it has gotten its share of shopping and eating destinations enough to make it a truly hip LA hood.
Where to Shop
As you can tell from the name, this multi-brand women’s fashion and accessories boutique wasn’t born on the left coast, but fits right in now. Breezy dresses, denim jumpsuits, clog sandals and lots of sunglasses are served to give you just the right amount of fashion and function that LA living requires.
This cult LA brand makes slinky dresses and basics with a focus on small runs and sustainable production. The Culver City location is at Platform, an innovative new retail destination that will eventually have a Metro stop across the street.
Located in the Helms Bakery complex, this bookstore has a wealth of art, fashion, and photography tomes. You’re sure to find inspiration within the words and images you find here.
Wafts of Palo Santo hit your nose when you walk through the door and rows of muted color hemp, linen and cotton fashion line the walls at this truly Californian shop. Natural beauty and home goods abound too alongside accessories.
Where to Eat
A limited menu of elevated, fresh dishes serve the surrounding creative community at Jordan Kahn’s perfect place for lunch and people watching. Haute bowl food will make you wonder how porridge can taste so good.
Like Destroyer, this is another Kahn production but with a capital P. This esoteric restaurant is located in an undulating structure known as The Waffle Building, and that’s where the drama starts. It’s described as a dining experience in four acts and that loosely translates to an 18 course tasting menu. A scored soundtrack accompanies each meal, and now you’ve experienced fine dining from the future.
This longtime Culver City favorite does few things but does them very well. Organic burgers, crispy shoestring fries and craft beers have inspired a very loyal clientele. If the wait for a table is too long, there’s an In-N-Out not too far.
Shareable Southeast Asian small plates by chef Sang Yoon don’t disappoint. Expect spicy and tangy dumplings, noodles and salads in a minimal environment and a patio for when the sun is shining which, you know, is most days.
You can’t let too many days go by without eating tacos in LA, and this is top notch handmade Mexican food in a chill environment. Loqui started as a weekly pop-up at San Francisco’s famed Tartine, so you know it’s quality.
What to Do
Museum of Jurassic Technology
This cabinet of curiosities is dedicated to “the knowledge and public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic”. They never explain what that means, and many exhibits appear to clearly strain the idea of truth, but stepping into this strange world should not be missed. David Hildebrand Wilson, who founded the museum with his wife in 1988, was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 2001, so you can’t argue with his genius.
Culver City Stairs
For incredible city views, just take this somewhat intense climb up 282 stone steps- about a mile- to the Baldwin Hills scenic overlook. Angelenos take their fitness seriously, and the many climbers doing their thing lend this trail a social atmosphere.
Where to Stay
This boutique hotel in downtown Culver City is housed within an Art Deco historic landmark building. Stars such as Greta Garbo, Judy Garland and Dorothy Dandridge stayed here, but that’s not where its Hollywood pedigree ends. Charlie Chaplin once owned it, and legend has it that he lost in a poker game to John Wayne. It’s been beautifully updated and has a charming bar and restaurant.