Hidden Gems in Los Feliz

Every trip to Bar Covell is an experience, thanks to the attention given to providing each and every customer with the very glass of wine that they’re craving. This is a wonderful place to learn about the fruits of the vine free of affectation, where anyone who is simply curious will be treated like a regular. There are also great beers on tap, as well as a selection of bites to accompany your libation of choice. Owner Dustin Lancaster works hard to ensure the distinctively Los Feliz feel that has endeared Bar Covell to locals, while charmingly retaining the unpretentious friendliness of his Oklahoma roots.

Get both creative and active in your ascent to Griffith Park with the historic Berendo Stairs. The 181 steps, beginning at Berendo Street and Cromwell Avenue, north of Los Feliz Boulevard, were constructed in 1924. Comprising three sets of staircases that collectively ascend 557 feet, you’ll welcome the benches located midway up and at either end. Having caught your breath at the top, turn right into Glendower Avenue until the road splits then turn left into Glendower Road. As you walk towards Griffith Park, turn left through the gate and into the park itself, from where you can hike up to the famed Observatory.

“Come in as a friend, leave with a stranger!” goes a motto of this self-proclaimed dive bar where the booze flows for as long as it’s legal (that is, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily). Select some songs from the way-above-average jukebox, settle at the red-hued bar or into one of the tufted booths, and imbibe cheap drinks and warm vibes. To help make that stranger a friend, step up for a game of electronic darts with one of the locals over generous pours and spirited conversation. But bring cash, as that’s all they accept here.

Completed in 1929, The Greek Theatre was built on a canyon site according to controversial land tycoon Griffith J. Griffith's dying wishes and funded from his will. Designed with just short of 5,000 seats by Samuel Tilden Norton, its use has fluctuated over time, including serving as a military barracks during World War II. Since then, the facade has been renovated, the structure has undergone an earthquake retrofit, and seating has been expanded to over 6,000 seats. Today, contemporary and classical music acts consistently perform here for an eclectic line-up of shows and, when the weather’s right (and it usually is), one of the most memorable concert experiences anywhere in the world.

There's no better place in L.A. to enjoy Texas-inspired breakfast tacos, Frito Pie right in the bag, and many more Lone Star State-evoking sensations than Homestate on Hollywood Boulevard. Order at the counter and take a number before sitting down to a Tex-Mex breakfast or lunch wrapped in flour tortillas straight from owner Briana Valdez's grandmother's recipe. As late, legendary L.A. food critic Jonathan Gold put it in the Los Angeles Times, “HomeState's menu could be considered an anthology of Texan folk remedies ... but on fuzzy mornings, the breakfast tacos may be everything you remember and everything you still crave.”

A visit to La Luz De Jesus Gallery invariably takes longer than anticipated, with the gallery itself and a pop culture toy shop, Wacko, rolled into one. Also on-site are the La Luz de Jesus Press and the family-run Soap Factory, both of whose products you'll find in the shop. With the gallery constantly rotating exhibits bordering on (or stepping firmly all over) the "lowbrow" category, there's always a reason to revisit – if not for the kitschy gift shop in and of itself, which also carries vintage trinkets and the largest collection of postcards in L.A.

This isn’t your average library. PRS was founded by and for people seeking knowledge regarding philosophy, spirituality, mythology, mysticism and related subjects. And, for nearly 90 years, it has piqued the intellectual curiosity of its visitors. Founded by Manly P. Hall, the PRS event calendar is filled with movie screenings, concerts, book presentations, art exhibitions and classes. Read more about this Los Angeles Icon here.

It's easy to lose a few fascinating hours in this gem of an independent bookstore, with its wonderfully curated selection of titles encompassing literary fiction, art, film, TV, Los Angeles culture and history, and more. The knowledgeable staff are always helpful in finding what you need, as well as happy to offer their own recommendations. And if a desired volume isn’t in stock, you can often order it through Skylight and they'll have it within a week or so. You can also catch your favorite writers at this Los Feliz stalwart’s impressive schedule of in-store author reads.

 Celebrating its centennial this year, the single-screen Vista Theatre originally hosted both silent movies and vaudeville acts. Its 800 seats were later reduced to 400 with the removal of every other row. Much like the famous Forecourt of the Stars at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre, you'll find the handprints and footprints of industry luminaries at the entrance, only the Vista pays homage to heroes of indie moviemaking. In 2021, director Quentin Tarantino revealed that he had purchased the Vista, which is currently undergoing renovations with plans to reopen in mid 2023.

Seldom can you recommend both the carnitas and the burgers at the same eatery, much less a taco stand. Yet Yuca's on Hillhurst is just that kind of place. Originally a tiny shoeshine shack converted by founder ‘Mama’ Socorro Herrera in 1976, it’s today lovingly referred to as simply “The Hut.” Keeping their cuisine simple yet consistently memorable and delicious, Yuca’s daily servings include arguably the best authentic tacos in LA, Mexican tortas, quesadillas, carnitas, and award-winning Yucatan-style burritos filled with their James Beard Award- winning cochinita pibil, carne asada, and so much more. To enjoy such humble yet hearty and flavorful feasts, remember to bring cash.