The Guide to the San Fernando Valley
Action and Magic Made Here | Photo: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Photo: Katsu-Ya Studio City
"The Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard" | Photo: Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge
The San Fernando Valley is a diverse, cultured and cosmopolitan region, offering a vast array of attractions to visitors. Huge (260 square miles) and populous (over 1.8-million residents), the SFV boasts everything from historic movie studios to rugged mountains; sleek luxury hotels to stunning parks; museums and galleries to luxury retail and vintage boutiques; the LA Rams practice facility and a 100-acre mixed-use complex in development.
From budget to luxury, the perfect hotel is waiting to host your trip to Los Angeles. Browse the Discover LA directory and book your stay today!
The Valley offers countless dining options, from casual local chains to landmark restaurants, upscale eateries and Sushi Row - a stretch of Ventura Boulevard that boasts some of the best sushi in LA.
Discover your new favorite patio, shaded beneath the sycamores of NoHo’s Garland hotel. Casual, comfortable, serving American breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
This outdoor cocktail bar/restaurant, known for its wonderful Hollywood Hills views, serves brunch on weekends with bottomless mimosas complementing classic morning faves.
With Burbank, Sherman Oaks and Calabasas locations, Hank’s has your SFV bagel hankering covered. In just five years it’s become a Valley staple – and with good reason.
This quaint Granada Hills eatery revolves around family, community, and homemade twists on classic dishes using local ingredients like pork belly eggs Benedict and stuffed French toast.
Start the day with a classic Mexican or Californian breakfast at this San Fernando favorite.
Lou serves a tight menu of fruit tartelettes, the Quiche du Jour and sandwiches, but you're really here for the incredible Plain Croissant, one of the best in the city.
Savor a Mexican lunch at this historic Sherman Oaks eatery and bona fide movie location, seen in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The End and Valley Girl.
Don't miss the Meet Me Special at this Sherman Oaks favorite - boneless saffron chicken, beef koobideh and filet mignon shish kebab with a full plate of rice and half-salad.
While soaking up the vibrant NoHo Arts District (see below), grab breakfast or lunch at EAT, serving traditional dishes, healthy alternatives and modern twists, all at very fair prices.
With Valley locations in Burbank, Studio City and NoHo, Granville is a reliable collection of premium-casual restaurants with globally inspired eats and sounds amid warm ambiance.
The Sherman Oaks outpost of Chef Ludo Lefebvre's acclaimed French bistro features signatures like the Omelette Petit Trois and the decadent Big Mec.
James Beard Award winning Chef Justin Pichetrungsi serves modern takes on classic Thai dishes along with the wildly popular Thai Taco Tuesday and monthly omakase experience.
Top Chef alum Antonia Lofaso opened Black Market Liquor Bar in 2011, featuring a menu of shareable plates and playful desserts like deep-fried Fluffernutter sandwiches.
American gastropub with chef-driven comfort food using locally sourced ingredients, 20+ beers on tap, an array of bottled microbrews and craft cocktails, and the weekday "Peasant Happy Hour."
At 12+ courses, Phillip Frankland Lee's tasting menu has earned Pasta|Bar a Michelin Star for five years running - the guide describes it as "one for the books."
With three NoHo locations and one in Sherman Oaks, the secret of this perennially popular Valley staple is huge portions of authentic Jerez, Zacatecas fare in a warmly welcoming atmosphere.
Located across from Warner Bros. Studios since 1948, this landmark steakhouse offers "the World's Greatest Garlic Bread," generous portions and live entertainment.
The vision of GRAMMY-winning mixing engineer Manny Marroquin, Toluca Lake’s Verse marries premium Angeleno cuisine to an immersive acoustic environment and live entertainment events.
Studio City gem serving classic Italian piccatas, marsalas and parmigianas, plus steaks, chops, vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options, all with a side of potential celebrity sightings.
A Sushi Row stalwart since 1991, Asanebo offers omakase and extensive a la carte options at high-end quality that belies its strip mall location.
SFV native Mark Okuda took over The Brothers Sushi in 2018 and transformed the eatery into a Woodland Hills hotspot with his California-style omakase and signature dry-aged fish.
Lively Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant with several indoor-outdoor dining areas spanning the 5,000 square-foot space.
At his Michelin-starred Encino restaurant, Taketoshi Azumi serves edomae sushi that features an exceptional omakase with the freshest seasonal fish.
The "omakase speakeasy" from the Pasta|Bar team serves its 17-course tasting menu - 16 pieces of nigiri and a dessert bite - to just 10 lucky diners a night.
This is the original Katsu-Ya - the birthplace of the famous spicy tuna crispy rice continues to serve favorites like Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño and Seared Albacore with Crispy Onion.
This Sherman Oaks favorite offers two stellar omakases: the 12-piece Whole Note with an optional wine pairing from its well-curated list of 200+ wines; and the six-piece Half Note.
Contrary to its portrayal in movies like Valley Girl and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the Valley's cultural scene includes museums, ornamental gardens, theaters, concert venues and vibrant displays of art. Along with the NoHo Arts District, attractions are spread across the sprawling region, from the eponymous city of San Fernando and neighboring Sylmar in the north; to Burbank in the east, and Chatsworth on its western edge.
As well as its famed, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, Universal also offers heart-pounding rides including the epic Jurassic World – The Ride, and the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Recently expanded, this tour takes guests behind the cameras of Warner Bros’ nearly 100 years of TV and movie history, with an amazing, interactive “Action and Magic Made Here” finale.
With the new Escapology, LA's first Hello Kitty® and Friends Cafe, dozens of stores, 25+ dining options, live performances and a six-story IMAX, Universal CityWalk is a one-stop entertainment destination!
Take a little screen magic home with you from this huge, unique Burbank outlet for actual wardrobe and props from movie and TV sets, including Western, sci-fi and vintage pieces.
Two blocks from It’s A Wrap, Blast from the Past sells movie, comic and TV collectibles including Hot Toys figures, Gentle Giant Busts, NECA and McFarlane figures, t-shirts and more.
Head north from the Valley to Santa Clarita and the "Thrill Capital of the World," which boasts a record 20 roller coasters, more than any other theme park.
This Griffith Park treasure gathers stories of all peoples of the American West through paintings, sculptures, film memorabilia, photos, historic firearms and more – over 600,000 pieces in all.
This half-mile Valley Glen mural depicting California history and social realism took five summers and 400 diverse volunteers to create at the turn of the 1980s.
Weekend guided tours reveal the fascinating history of this 19th century Calabasas residence of a French Basque–Native American couple that illustrates California’s culturally diverse story.
Founded in 1797, this mission gave its name to the city that grew around it and then the entire Valley. Self-guided tours, including the Bob Hope Memorial Gardens, are available.
SoCal is a historic home of automotive culture. This Sylmar car collection is a breathtaking display of functional fine art, auto history, and engineering excellence, 1890s-1970s.
Famous for its citrus groves and beautiful rose garden, the 24-acre Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center is the site of the historic Orcutt residence, heritage oak trees and wandering garden paths.
Located on the campus of Cal State Northridge, The Soraya hosts a wide range of student performances, touring musicians and dance troupes.
Located in Griffith Park, the museum features 43 full-scale railroad engines, cars and other rolling stock; and the Melody Ranch Special, a miniature train once owned by Gene Autry.
Vintage pop culture artifacts and memorabilia, from neon signs to a playable retro arcade, creating a fun, family-friendly journey through SFV history in two hangars at Van Nuys Airport.
Flanked by multiple mountain ranges, the Valley has more open spaces and hearty outdoor recreation than its suburban reputation implies, alongside world-class parks and gardens.
Located in Lake View Terrace, offering fishing, boating, picnic areas, soccer and baseball, plus golf, a horse park, aquatic center, and the kid-focused Discovery Cube science museum.
Unwind and recharge at this authentic, 6.5-acre marvel created in the midst of urban Van Nuys using only reclaimed water to feed both natural beauty and understanding of Japanese culture.
Eighty acres of family fun including Swan Boat rentals, picnic pavilions (by reservation), barbecue pits, moonbounce and bike rentals, and fishing (with license) around a 27-acre lake.
Over 1,400 animals amid immersive habitats and lush gardens, with live presentations, giraffe feedings, a petting zoo, and interactive learning zones, with every ticket supporting conservation.
4,800 acres of the Santa Susana Mountains between Chatsworth and Simi Valley distinguished by spectacular towering outcrops, oak savannahs, and Bob Hope’s former Runkle Ranch.
Accessed via the Victory Trailhead, the 5,600-acre preserve is home to diverse habitats and endangered species; and welcomes hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians to enjoy miles of trails.
The Valley has your shopping needs covered with everything from upscale fashions and ultra-hip boutiques to quirky vintage outlets and thrift stores a go-go. And, in a region that once defined American mall culture, there are still some indoor shopping centers offering nostalgia for shoppers of - ahem - certain ages.
The formerly outdoor mall boasts anchors Bloomingdale's, Macy's and global dining options including Kura Revolving Sushi Bar.
Opened in 1964, Westfield Topanga was among Cali’s first major enclosed malls, its 240 shops today including Dior, Versace, Gucci, and Cartier, plus eateries like North Italia and Pinstripes.
Shop alongside a stream or catch up over coffee beneath redwoods in the heart of Studio City.
Upscale mixed-use retail destination laid out as a classic American town square, featuring a two-acre park and anchors Nordstrom and Barnes & Noble.
Buffalo Exchange is just one of the vintage stores on an epic retail strip along Ventura Boulevard from Sherman Oaks to Studio City, alongside Iguana Vintage and Goodwill.
The de facto town square of Calabasas, the open-air Mediterranean-style Commons will soon be reimagined with new shops, restaurants with outdoor dining and a new family-friendly green space.
One of SoCal’s largest, oldest bookstores offering over 125,000 titles, knowledgeable staff, comfy couches, free parking, and unhurried, air conditioned browsing in the heart of NoHo.
Valley night owls can explore the bustling NoHo Arts District, enjoy live jazz and take a tropical voyage in LA's oldest TIki bar.
A one-stop, very walkable square mile of eats, drinks, small theaters, art galleries and public art, dance studios, music venues and a vibrant surrounding community drawn to all of the... More
Studio city jazz hotspot since 1970 hosting live music nightly accompanied by an imaginative menu of signature baked potatoes, salads, and desserts, plus classic cocktails and diverse wines.
Covered floor to ceiling with framed dog pictures, Blue Dog allows fur babies on the shaded patio, and pet parents can order a plain burger patty for their pup.
Located in Sherman Oaks, this new bar from the Mirate team boasts a dozen creative variations of the classic Margarita.
Landmark bar in NoHo with a two-story whiskey barrel up front and a giant bulldog - a replica of the Bulldog Cafe built for The Rocketeer - in the courtyard.
Enjoy a tropical escape just as studio staffers and talent have for decades at LA’s oldest Tiki Bar, established in 1958, where delicious cocktails are enhanced by lovingly kitschy décor.
Featuring an all-California list of craft beers on tap, bar games, billiards and a very veg-friendly menu of snacks and entrees.