Tucked behind Hollywood, Burbank, Universal City, and North Hollywood is the cozy 1.2 square miles of Toluca Lake. While it pales in stature to many of L.A.’s neighborhoods, this tiny village packs a punch. Here are some of the best things to see and do when exploring Toluca Lake.
Shop On Riverside
If you’re tired of the same old shops, take a refreshing stroll down Riverside Drive. The short stretch offers a handful of niche shops and boutiques with no chain retailers in sight. Reitzhaus hones in on the details that make the house a home. Find the perfect gift at Pergolina, which has products with a modern European flare. Rose and Sage boutique curates women’s clothing to keep it on trend and high quality. For your furry friend, À la Mutt pampers paws and keeps a water bowl out front, just in case Fido gets thirsty.
Riverside shops | © Hillary Jackson
Brunchin’ it?
Toluca Lake may be small, but there’s no shortage of places to enjoy brunch. Patys and Bob’s Big Boy both serve up hearty diner breakfasts that are available all day. Aeirloom Bakery specializes in brunch and lunch. If you’re mourning the possibility of life without Roscoe’s, try Aeirloom’s Simply Southern chicken and mini waffles topped with bacon. If you want something on the healthier side, opt for Ban-Chia, made of steel cut oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, and banana served with almond milk.
Patys, 10001 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, CA, USA, +1 818 761 0041
Bob’s Big Boy, 4211 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA, USA, +1 818 843 9334
Aeirloom Bakery, 10550 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, CA, USA, +1 818 754 1955
Aeirloom | © Hillary Jackson
Take A Stroll On A Tree Lined Street
If you’re missing plants, or dogs for that matter, take a walk in Toluca Lake. Large trees line many of the streets and provide shade necessary for non-succulent-type plants to grow into a floral oasis. Literally stop to smell the roses on Moorpark across from Bob Hope’s former home, and fantasize what it could possibly look like (large hedges block the view). Dog walkers abound, and in the process of taking it all in you may stumble on a celeb’s house or two. Toluca Lake has been home to stars for years, and Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Steve Carrell, and Miley Cyrus have all called it home. Meanwhile, its namesake lake is only available for views via the Lakeside Golf Club and surrounding houses, so some people live in the neighborhood their entire lives and never see the lake.
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Toluca Lake Street | © Hillary Jackson
Bottoms Up
Get a whiskey flight at Forman’s Tavern and sit with old friends or new ones at the communal table in the 21-and-over space. While drinks are the specialty, the menu has gourmet foods like the truffle burger and steak salad. If pubs are more your style, Catcher in the Rye offers a bookish vibe, with library-like decorations and drinks named after literary works like the ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ ‘The Gatsby,’ and ‘Tequila Mockingbird.’ Timmy Nolan’s, the Irish pub, serves up traditional pub fare with 15 rotating beer tap handles in a homely, two story space.
Forman’s Tavern, 10149 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 818 760 6900
Catcher in the Rye, 10550 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 818 554 3393
Timmy Nolan’s, 10111 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, CA, USA, +1 818 985 3359
Whiskey | © Kaicho20/Pixabay
Celebrate The Holidays
It’s never hard to find parking in Toluca Lake, unless it’s Halloween. Troves of children, dressed as everything from Elsa to Spiderman, and their families bus in from around the city. The neighborhood goes all out with lights, spider webs, and pumpkins. Zombies and graveyard scenes dot some yards. And once November 1st rolls around, Halloween décor is quickly replaced with Christmas lights and snowmen. Every December, Toluca Lake holds an open house, and most of the businesses and restaurants on Riverside open their doors and give out refreshments. In addition to all of the freebies and hot chocolate you could possibly drink, a truck featuring a choir dressed as Santa Claus drives up and down the street caroling.
Halloween in Toluca Lake | © Hillary Jackson
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Publish date : 2017-02-09 03:00:00
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