Burbank Area Guide: Things to Do, Coffee and Food
Burbank sits at the eastern end of the San Fernando Valley, with the Verdugo Mountains rising along its northeast side and Griffith Park across the Los Angeles River to the south. The city holds the Warner Bros. studio lot and the headquarters of The Walt Disney Company, along with Hollywood Burbank Airport and an aviation history tied to Lockheed. Its main streets for shopping and dining are San Fernando Boulevard downtown, Magnolia Boulevard in Magnolia Park and Riverside Drive near the studios.
Getting around
Metrolink's Ventura County and Antelope Valley lines stop at Downtown Burbank station, and Hollywood Burbank Airport has two rail stops: Burbank Airport-South, served by Metrolink and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, and Burbank Airport-North on the Antelope Valley Line. The 5 and 134 freeways cross the city, BurbankBus fares are $1, and the Chandler Bikeway runs west from Mariposa Street to Vineland Avenue.
Neighborhoods to know
Downtown Burbank. San Fernando Boulevard from Burbank Town Center to IKEA, lined with restaurants, shops and the AMC Burbank 16, with the Colony Theatre, Burbank Central Library and the Downtown Burbank Metrolink station a few blocks away.
Magnolia Park. A shopping strip along West Magnolia Boulevard around Hollywood Way with vintage clothing and antique stores, record shops, It's a Wrap! (selling studio wardrobe and props since 1981), Halloween Town and other horror-themed shops, plus cafes and bakeries.
Media District. The area around the Warner Bros. and Disney studio lots along Riverside Drive, Olive Avenue and Alameda Avenue, with Bob's Big Boy, the Smoke House, hotels and cafes, and Griffith Park across the river.
Airport District. The north end of the city around Hollywood Burbank Airport on Hollywood Way, with the Empire Center shopping area at Victory Place and Empire Avenue and a cluster of airport hotels.
Things to do in Burbank
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, 3400 Warner Blvd. Guided and self-guided tours of a working studio lot, including backlot sets and the Stage 48 exhibits, with longer tours that add the Property Department. The standard tour takes about three hours, and tours depart between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Stough Canyon Nature Center, 2300 Walnut Ave. A nature center at the top of Walnut Avenue with exhibits on local plants and wildlife, and trailheads into the Verdugo Mountains, including a longer loop toward Verdugo Peak. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Wildwood Canyon Park, Wildwood Canyon Rd., in the hills above Burbank. A canyon park in the Verdugo foothills with picnic areas and steep trails that climb to views over Burbank and the valley.
Gordon R. Howard Museum, 1100 W. Clark Ave. The Burbank Historical Society's museum complex in George Izay Park, covering local history from the city's early wineries and truck building to aviation and film. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m.
Chandler Bikeway, Chandler Blvd., Mariposa St. to Vineland Ave. A paved, off-street path for cycling and walking along Chandler Boulevard through the Magnolia Park area, running west from Mariposa Street to Vineland Avenue.
The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St. A nonprofit professional theater company in Downtown Burbank presenting plays, musicals, concerts and readings; its December 2026 show is the Troubies' holiday musical spoof ELFTON (December 3 to 20).
DeBell Golf Club, 1500 E. Walnut Ave. A public 18-hole, par-71 course in the hills above the city, with a par-3 course, disc golf and a restaurant and bar with views over the valley.
Events and markets
Burbank Certified Farmers Market. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. Where: Olive Ave. and Glenoaks Blvd., Downtown Burbank. A certified farmers market with produce, flowers, bread and other vendors, run by a nonprofit that is part of the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation and open rain or shine.
Bob's Big Boy Classic Car Show. When: Fridays, 4 to 10 p.m. Where: Bob's Big Boy parking lot, 4211 W. Riverside Dr. A weekly gathering of classic and custom cars in the lot of the 1949 Streamline Moderne diner.
Starlight Bowl Summer Concert Series. When: Select evenings in July and August; shows at 6:30 p.m., gates at 5:30 p.m. Where: Starlight Bowl, 1249 Lockheed View Dr. The City of Burbank's summer concerts at an open-air hillside amphitheater that holds up to 4,000; guests may bring their own food and drink, and parking is cash only.
Burbank International Film Festival. When: Late summer (the 2026 festival ran August 2 to 8) Where: AMC Burbank 16, 125 E. Palm Ave., and other Downtown Burbank venues. A week of independent film screenings, panels and filmmaker Q and As, ending with an awards night.
Holiday in the Park. When: A Friday evening in November (November 20, 2026, 4 to 10 p.m.) Where: Magnolia Blvd. from Hollywood Way to Buena Vista St. A free street festival in Magnolia Park, held for more than 30 years, with two stages, food trucks, nearly 200 shopping booths, a car show, Ferris wheel rides and Santa photos.
Jackalope Art Fair, Downtown Burbank. When: Twice a year, on a summer weekend and a December weekend (December 12 and 13, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Where: San Fernando Blvd. between Magnolia Blvd. and Angeleno Ave. A free outdoor fair of more than 170 independent artists and makers selling art, jewelry, clothing, home goods and gifts.
Coffee in Burbank
Republik Coffee, 164 E. Palm Ave., Suite 103. A Downtown Burbank coffee lounge serving roasted specialty coffee, lattes and cold brew, with all-day breakfast plates, salads and desserts. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 7 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
Coffee Commissary, 3121 W. Olive Ave. A Media District cafe on Olive Avenue serving coffee, cold brew and pastries along with breakfast burritos and other breakfast and lunch items. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Black Elephant Coffee, 940 N. Lima St. A coffee shop just off Magnolia Boulevard that pours Stumptown coffee and serves lattes, mochas, teas and matcha drinks, with patio seating.
Romancing the Bean, 3413 W. Magnolia Blvd. A Magnolia Park cafe serving espresso drinks, juices and smoothies with breakfast and lunch made from organic ingredients, and indoor and outdoor seating.
Blvd Cafecito, 3210 W. Magnolia Blvd. A Magnolia Park cafe serving Cuban-style coffee drinks such as cafecito, cortadito and cafe con leche, plus drip coffee and breakfast and lunch. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Places to eat
Porto's Bakery & Cafe, 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd. ($). A Cuban bakery and cafe selling pastries, cakes, sandwiches and savory snacks such as potato balls, with coffee drinks and seasonal items. Order at the counter or online for pickup.
Bob's Big Boy, 4211 W. Riverside Dr. ($). A Streamline Moderne coffee shop designed by Wayne McAllister and built in 1949, now a California Point of Historical Interest, serving burgers, breakfast and other diner standards. Open from 6 a.m. daily, until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Monte Carlo Italian Deli & Pinocchio Restaurant, 3103 W. Magnolia Blvd. ($). An Italian market and deli with imported groceries, wine, cured meats, cheeses and bread, joined to Pinocchio, a restaurant opened in 1971 that serves lasagna, meatball subs, pastries and gelato.
Guisados, 312 N. San Fernando Blvd. ($). A Downtown Burbank taqueria serving tacos filled with guisados, slow-braised stews of meat or vegetables, on corn tortillas.
Tony's Darts Away, 1710 W. Magnolia Blvd. ($$). A Magnolia Boulevard pub pouring only California craft beer on draft, with a largely vegan menu plus some meat dishes, billiards and a kitchen open until 10 p.m.
Bea Bea's, 353 N. Pass Ave. ($$). A breakfast and lunch restaurant on Pass Avenue, open since 2008, with long lists of French toast, waffle, crepe and pancake variations plus sandwiches and salads. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Smoke House, 4420 W. Lakeside Dr. ($$). A steakhouse near the Warner Bros. lot, open since 1946, with a bar, Sunday brunch and its garlic cheese bread. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Castaway, 1250 E. Harvard Rd. ($$$). A hilltop steakhouse in the Verdugo foothills with views of Burbank and Los Angeles, palm-lined grounds, a waterfall and koi ponds. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Hours, prices and event details checked October 2026.
Burbank questions
Where is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour?
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is at 3400 Warner Blvd. in Burbank's Media District. Tours depart between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and the standard tour takes about three hours, including a guided portion of about one hour.
When is the Burbank farmers market?
The Burbank Certified Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Olive Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard in Downtown Burbank, rain or shine.
Where can you hike in Burbank?
Trails start at Stough Canyon Nature Center (2300 Walnut Ave.) and at Wildwood Canyon Park and climb into the Verdugo Mountains, with routes from Stough Canyon reaching toward Verdugo Peak.
Escrow notes for Burbank
Transfer tax. County tax only: $1.10 per $1,000 of value. Burbank's municipal code (Sections 2-4-1001 to 2-4-1011) sets a city documentary transfer tax of $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000), the standard city share allowed by state law, which is credited against the county tax rather than added to it, so the total stays at the county rate. Burbank is not among the five cities the Registrar-Recorder lists with special rates, and none of Burbank's November 3, 2026 measures (a hotel tax increase and two council election measures) is a transfer tax. Source: official page.
Our transfer tax calculator runs the county and city tax for any Los Angeles County price, and the free 2026-27 LA Transfer Tax and Measure ULA Cheat Sheet has every city rate on one page.
Buying or selling in Burbank? Send Iris the fully executed contract at iris@calwestescrow.com or call (323) 300-6122.
About this guide. Cal West Escrow wrote this guide to share general local information. No business paid to be included, and we do not accept free goods or services for mentions. A mention is not an endorsement, and hours, prices and events change, so check with each business before you go. Business names and trademarks belong to their owners. Transfer tax and other escrow notes are general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice. Cal West Escrow is committed to fair housing: this guide describes places, not people, and is not meant to suggest who should live anywhere.