13 Hidden Gems In Los Angeles, The City Of Angels

Full of icons, from the Hollywood Sign to Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles is by far one of the most famous tourist destinations globally. Its diverse cultures, entertainment industries, world-class museums, stunning beaches, and several Hollywood stars make this place what it is right now!

Let’s look at some of the hidden places of LA that are yet to be discovered in its complete glory.

1. Bradbury Building

Location: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States

Phone: +1 213-626-1893

Hours of Operation: Monday To Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Saturday To Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Architects: George Wyman, Sumner Hunt

Opened in 1893, the Bradbury Building is notable for its age and grandeur. It is featured in more than ninety films, including The Artist (2011), 500 Days of Summer (2009), Blade Runner (1982), and Double Indemnity (1944).

Designated as the Historic-Cultural Monument #6, this iconic building unites movie fanatics, photographers, architect enthusiasts, and everybody in between. Whenever you are staying in LA, you must visit this most photographed legendary building. 

$15 is just a small amount to pay to experience the true beauty of this beautiful building. From open cage elevators to marble stairs or light-filled Victorian courts to ornate iron railings, this is one of the iconic places in Los Angeles. 

Just a 15-minute walk from Freehand, LA, Bradbury is in a prime location from which you can visit many city landmarks, such as The Japanese American National Museum and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

What We Love: 

✔ The Victorian-style atrium
✔ Massive skylight and open balconies

2. Bridge To Nowhere - Trailhead

Location: Camp Bonita Rd, La Verne, CA 91750, United States

Phone: (310) 322 - 8892

Hours of Operation: Everyday: 24 Hours

Architects: George Wyman, Sumner Hunt

A 15.3 km out-and-back trail near Mount Baldy, California - Trailhead goes along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to the Bridge to Nowhere. It is not just the best trail in the San Gabriel Mountains but also one of the most unique attractions in La California. 

The 1200-foot Bridge To Nowhere, sitting in a deep gorge of the valley known as the Narrows, is the highest bungee jumping point in Los Angeles. Managed by the people at Bungee America, this place is a must-visit to satisfy your thirst for adventure. 

Enhance the joy of having a perfect trail experience with the understanding of the essentials you’ll need to bring with you, such as plenty of warm clothes, an extra pair of shoes, a warm hat + gloves, a portable lunch, two bottles of water, sunglasses, sunscreen and extra wool socks. No matter the season, you must have everything with you.

What We Love: 

✔ Rugged canyons
✔ Perfect for adrenaline junkies

3. Garden of Oz

Location: 3040 Ledgewood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Hours of Operation: Thursday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Architect: Gail Cottman

Originally intended only to house a patch of roses, Cottoman later grew this flower garden into something much more spectacular and magical than someone can ever think of. 

Tucked between the Hollywood Reservoir and the Hollywood Sign, this mosaic-filled folk art center is not generally open to the public. Closed six days a week, it clearly states that this garden is meant to be glanced from a respectable distance. 

Designated as the Historic-Cultural Monument #996, its existence isn’t exactly a secret, but because of its privacy norms, it is still one of the secret places in Los Angeles. 

Plan your visit for Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and respect the no-photography rule inside the garden. Enjoy the intricate backyard art of concrete, glass, cast-off toys, and other junk used in novel ways.

What We Love: 

✔ Great place for folk art lovers
✔ Mini garden full of colors.

4. Greystone Mansion

Location: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States

Phone: +1 310-285-6830

Hours of Operation: Everyday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Architect:  Edward L. Doheny, Gordon Kaufmann

Greystone Mansion, or the Doheny Mansion, is a landscaped estate with many formal English gardens. This 46,000 sq ft, 55-room mansion built on 16 acres of land costs over $3.1 million and is one of the must-visit places in Los Angeles. 

Now a public park, the Mansion's Beverly Hills Flower & Garden Festival location is used for special events. With beautifully manicured gardens, this place has been a popular location for shooting films and hosting events like Catskills West, a theatre arts and drama camp. 

Take two hours of your day to explore the history of this intimate mansion fully. The cost is just $250 for one person and $52 for each additional person. With picnic lunch, games, and a pop-up bar, this place is perfect for having a fun and mindful experience. 

What We Love: 

✔ Picturesque views
✔ Spectacular park grounds

5. Lummis Home (El Alisal)

Location: 200 East Avenue 43, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Phone: (323) 226-1620

Hours of Operation: Saturday & Sunday: 10 am to 3:00 pm

Architect: Charles Fletcher Lummis

This 4,000-square-foot Rustic American Craftsman stone house was hand-built by Charles Fletcher Lummis, a famous author, editor, activist, photographer, civic booster, and founder of the Southwest Museum. 

It took him over 12 years (1898 to 1910) to build this stone house for himself. El Alisal is the architectural reflection of Lummis’ passion for the history and cultures of the American Southwest, as well as the beginning of the Arts & Crafts aesthetic in Southern California.

Lummis Home was designated the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #68 on September 2, 1970. It also got listed as the California Historical Landmark on March 7, 1955. 

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks currently operates this site, which is open to the public only on Weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (free tours). It is one of the most beautiful places in Los Angeles, and you must visit it.

What We Love: 

✔ Breathtaking stone construction
✔ Fascinating window panes & woodwork

6. Mosaic Tile House

Location: 1116 Palms Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, United States

Email: mosaictilehouse@mac.com

Hours of Operation: Saturday: 12 to 3:00 pm

Architect: Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran

Mosiac Tile House is one place that captures Venice's effervescent essence. Unknown to the public, this large-scale artwork-in-progress structure might feel like walking inside a coral reef. 

The “Rainbow” is what radiated throughout the space. Almost every square inch of this property is covered in colorful mosaic tiles. 

Pann and Duran’s “visual feast” began as a weekend project to install bathroom tiles, and it later developed into a lifetime love affair that’s lasted more than two decades. Since 1994, the couple has been transforming their once bland, beige stucco home into the structural kaleidoscope it is today. 

So, if you ever find yourself visiting the beautiful city of Venice in California, make sure to visit this work-in-progress popular spot in Los Angeles. 

What We Love: 

✔ Overwhelming detailing and impeccable designing
✔ Gracious and friendly hosts

7. Old L.A. Zoo

Location: 4801 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States

Phone: +1 323-913-4688

Hours of Operation: Everyday: 5:30 am to 10:30 pm

The Old LA Zoo, or Griffith Park Zoo, is the remains of the original Los Angeles Zoo, which was simply left in its place when the zoo changed its location. This abandoned site of the Griffith Park Zoo is now a picnic area featuring multiple hiking trails and the ruins of animal enclosures. 

The large animal exhibits are well-maintained and are really fun to explore, especially for the kids. A perfect place for family outings, the Old LA Zoo is a great spot for having birthday parties, art classes, and professional photography sessions. 

This zoo, listed as the Historic_cultural Monument #942, is a truly unique location in the urban jungle of Los Angeles.

What We Love: 

✔ Completely free to visit 
✔ Everything from holes and abandoned buildings is for you to explore.

8. Pyramid Lake

Location: 35800 Camino Del Lago, Castaic, CA 91384

Phone: 661-944-8740

Hours of Operation: Everyday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Located in the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests, Pyramid Lake is a reservoir formed by the Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek near Castaic, California. It is one of the popular spots in Los Angeles for outdoor recreation. 

This lake is named after a pyramid-shaped rock carved by engineers building Old Highway 99. The 386-foot-tall earth and rock dam, completed in 1973, houses the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Castaic Powerplant.

From boating to camping, fishing to picnics, Pyramid Lake is a hotspot for several recreational activities. Vaquero Beach is the most popular area on the lakeside for swimming, sunbathing, or strolling.

For your next vacation, make sure to include Pyramid Lake on the list of places to visit in Los Angeles. 

What We Love: 

✔ Ample room for picnicking 
✔ Adventure activities like jet skiing and hiking. 

9. Roundhouse Aquarium

Location: Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, United States

Phone: +1 310-379-8117

Hours of Operation: Weekdays: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Housed in the beautiful downtown Manhattan Beach, California, this Roundhouse Aquarium educates and inspires people of all ages worldwide. Managed and operated by Oceanographic Teaching Stations, this organization promotes the study of Southern California's oceans, tidelands, and beaches. 

Notable wildlife includes moon jellies, sharks, octopuses, sheepshead, moray eels, lobsters, and more—as well as a touch tank with sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and sea snails.

With an average of 300,000 sightseers every year, visitors and students can engage with the ocean through hands-on interactive experiences with marine life and habitats of southern California. 

The aquarium prides itself on being family-oriented. It is one of the best places to go in LA, California, with kids and even elderly people!

What We Love: 

✔ Over 100 different species of marine life
✔ Touch glass Aquarium fun for kids

10. The Bunny Museum

11. The Last Bookstore

Location: 453 S Spring St, Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States

Phone: +1 213-488-0599
Hours of Operation: Everyday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Founder: Josh Spencer

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the towering skyscrapers, busy streets, and industrial warehouses, “The Last Bookstore” is located in Downtown Los Angeles.

California's largest new and used bookstore is not just limited to book reading or purchasing; it is the center of film shoots or photography and a venue for an intimate fairytale wedding. 

The creative visual merchandising of the book sculptures and displays makes it one of the most Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles. 

The Annex, a special room in the library, is gated and houses all the fancy items—from first editions to collectibles and extremely rare to expensive art/architecture/photo books. A hotspot for private parties or events, this place also has inexpensive, fun things and discounted coffee table books.

One of the attractions in LA, California, ‘The Last Bookstore’ is releasing "Last and Lost Zone" in a limited run. Once it sells out, it's gone for good. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) and Last Bookstore history! 

What We Love: 

✔ Rare 1st editions and collectibles. 
✔ Book tunnel makes the perfect setting for events or photography. 

12. Thien Hau Temple

Location: 756 Yale St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

Phone: +1 213-680-1860

Hours of Operation: Weekdays: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Popular among Asian residents in the LA area, this Thien Hau Temple is situated in Chinatown. This Chinese religious place is dedicated to the ocean goddess Mazu. It also honors Guan Sheng Di Jun, a martial deity associated with justice, and Fu De Zheng Shen, a wealth deity.

Faithful believers from all parts of the world visit this temple to celebrate the birthday of Maze on March 23 of the Lunar Calendar. Visitors can expect firecrackers, lion dances, and various entertainment, such as opera, martial arts displays, etc., during the festivities.

What We Love: 

✔ Colors of the ambiance can consume you
✔ Overwhelming experience with lanterns, candles, flowers, and spellbinding light fixtures. 

13. Venice Canals Walkway

Location: Venice, CA 90292, United States

Hours of Operation: Everyday: 24 Hours

Architects: Moses Sherman, Eli Clark

One of the most unique things to do in LA during a day at the beach is strolling through the Venice Canals. Located right at 25th Street in Venice Beach, these canals could be easily missed if you don’t know where exactly they are. 

The area is primarily surrounded by houses that line four canals about a quarter-mile long each. With sidewalks and bridges along these channels, you can walk to explore the view of this picturesque area. 

A few blocks away from the busy Venice waterfront, The Venice Canals Walkway is the perfect location to stop by for lunch, browse the shops, relax by the beach, and let your kids enjoy the playground. 

The canals are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the neighborhood is a National Historic District.

What We Love: 

✔ Waterside walkway with picture-perfect bridges.
✔ High-end shops, restaurants, and galleries.