The 10 best things to do in Silver Lake

Though you can’t get inside of this man-made, decomissioned reservoir, its public perimeter has two dog parks, a basketball court and a playground, along with a 2.2-mile trail around its entirety. It’s also home to Silver Lake Meadow, a soft, grassy knoll overlooking the water where visitors can lounge and picnic (though no pups are allowed here).

Sunset Junction, named for the intersection of Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards, is home to Silver Lake’s walkable, trendy shopping district. The street is lined with some of the neighborhood’s best boutiques and is anchored by Intelligentsia, where you’re sure to spot beautiful people having very important discussions on its gorgeous tiled patio. Other notable spots nearby include clothing shop Mohawk General Store, bagel truck Yeastie Boys, an outpost of the lauded bakery Tartine and leather fetish spot Rough Trade.

This neighborhood market—hosted Tuesday afternoons (1:30–7pm) and Saturday mornings (8am–1:30) at Sunset Triangle Plaza—is the place to see and be seen while you peruse produce. The shoppers here have style, as evidenced by the many (rather pricey) vintage clothing racks and jewelry stands dominating a corner of the market. There are also used books and records for sale, fresh flowers, a lot of crystals, dried sage and other hip hippie wares. Of course, there’s a ton of good food, too.

Featured on the cover art of Figure 8, this swirling mural became an unofficial memorial to Elliott Smith after the singer-songwriter’s death. Following some bouts with tagging, the wall has been looking pretty good, with remembrance messages still popping up on the mural’s tight red, white and dark blue stripes.

In 2016, a large swirling section of the mural was removed from the building’s exterior and relocated inside as part of the now-shuttered Bar Angeles. When the space flipped into lauded Filipino spot Ma’am Sir, the interior mural stuck around but was covered by a woven fixture. As of mid-2022, the storefront is currently empty.

There are dozens of public, outdoor stairways scattered around Silver Lake’s verdant hillsides. Though some homeowners have tried to prevent open access, make no mistake: These sets of stairs are for public use.

There’s an exhaustive guide in author Charles Fleming’s Secret Stairs, but we’ll call out just a few: the Swan Stairs and their “je t’aime L.A.” mural on Rotary Drive; the piano key-painted Murray Stairway on Sunset Boulevard; the gay rights landmark Mattachine Steps on Cove Avenue; and the Music Box Steps on Vendome Drive, where Laurel and Hardy haul a piano. But there’s one we’re sure you’re really looking for: artist Carla O’Brien’s rainbow and heart-adorned paint job on the Micheltorena Stairs off Sunset.

It may seem like a typical, polished Silver Lake gastropub but take a close look at the historical marker near the entrance when you walk in: This was the site of the very first LGBTQ+ civil rights demonstration in the country back in 1967. Inside, look for photos and newspaper clippings of the spot’s indispensable history as you settle into a plush booth over some bar bites and a punch bowl.

Though architect Richard Neutra’s original live-work space burned down in the ’60s, his son oversaw the careful reconstruction of an updated version. Today, this glass-walled paragon of modern design overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir is an active part of L.A.’s design community and home to occasional art installations. Each Saturday, students in Cal Poly Pomona’s architecture program lead half-hour tours.

For the first half of the 19th century, this Sunset Boulevard space went through phases as a jail-themed café and a cabaret theater. But in 1962, it opened as the El Cid we know today: a recreation of a 16th-century Spanish tavern that features flamenco dinner shows on Saturdays, with music, comedy and burlesque throughout the rest of the week, and meals and drinks on the patio nightly.

Silver Lake’s live performance scene is considerably quieter than it was a decade ago, but we’re still fortunate to have this small theater and cafe. Swing by the Lyric Hyperion on Tuesdays for the weekly stand-up show, and look out for everything from musical parodies to intimate warm-up shows from headliner-caliber comedians. If you’re hungry, the attached Bravo Bistro serves sandwiches on the patio daily.

This curious exhibit is often touted as a shrine to the man who inspired the Indiana Jones films. While stepping through this kitschy museum isn’t quite as swashbuckling as that association implies, it is a fascinating trip through Biblical ephemera from 20th-century explorer A.F. Futterer’s search for the Ark of the Covenant. Two-hour tours are offered daily by appointment only.