Culver City Area Guide: Things to Do, Coffee and Food
Culver City is a roughly five-square-mile city on the Westside, founded by developer Harry Culver and incorporated in 1917, and its seal still calls it "The Heart of Screenland" for the studio lots along Washington Boulevard. Downtown gathers around the flatiron-shaped 1924 Culver Hotel, City Hall and the Culver Steps; the Hayden Tract and Arts District fill old industrial blocks with galleries and reworked warehouses; and the Baldwin Hills rise on the southeast side while Ballona Creek runs west toward Marina del Rey.
Getting around
The Metro E Line stops at Culver City station on Washington Boulevard, next to Platform, and at La Cienega/Jefferson by the Hayden Tract, with trains to Santa Monica and downtown LA. The 10 Freeway skirts the north edge, the 405 crosses the west side and the 90 Marina Freeway ends at the south edge; Culver CityBus runs local routes, including Line 6 to LAX, and the Ballona Creek Bike Path heads west to Marina del Rey and the beach path.
Neighborhoods to know
Downtown Culver City. Culver and Washington boulevards meet at the flatiron-shaped Culver Hotel, with City Hall, the Culver Steps, the neon-topped Kirk Douglas Theatre and short Main Street, where the Tuesday farmers market sets up.
Arts District. Galleries, design studios and cafes line Washington and La Cienega boulevards on the city's east side, near the La Cienega/Jefferson E Line station.
Hayden Tract. A former industrial pocket around Hayden Avenue and National Boulevard, where architect Eric Owen Moss turned old warehouses into sculptural office buildings.
Fox Hills. The city's southern end near Sepulveda Boulevard and Slauson Avenue, with the Westfield Culver City mall, office buildings along Bristol Parkway and Hannum Avenue, and Fox Hill Park.
Blair Hills. Hillside streets in the Baldwin Hills on the city's east side, around Blair Hills Park on Wrightcrest Drive, a short drive from the Scenic Overlook.
Things to do in Culver City
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, 6300 Hetzler Rd., Culver City, CA 90232. A 58-acre state park on a 420-foot peak with views across the LA Basin to the ocean and mountains. Hike up a zigzag trail or a steep staircase from Jefferson Boulevard, or drive to the paid lot by the visitor center; open 8 a.m. to sunset.
Ballona Creek Bike Path, Along Ballona Creek, from Culver City to Marina del Rey. A paved bike and walking path that follows Ballona Creek from Culver City to Marina del Rey, where it joins the coastal path that runs from Pacific Palisades to Torrance. Ground murals mark several entrances.
Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230. A free museum and archive of Cold War era art and artifacts, set in Culver City's former National Guard armory and open Friday through Sunday. A new exhibition opens Nov. 7, 2026.
Museum of Jurassic Technology, 9341 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A small museum of curiosities on Venice Boulevard with dimly lit rooms of natural history, science and art displays, plus a tea room and rooftop garden upstairs. Timed-entry tickets are recommended.
Sony Pictures Studio Tour, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (parking at 3990 Overland Ave.). Guided weekday walking tours of the former MGM lot, about two hours long, passing soundstages tied to classic films and current TV game shows. Reservations are required, with parking at the Overland Avenue structure.
The Actors' Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A theater company founded in 1981 that stages plays at the Ivy Substation, a 1907 brick rail substation in Media Park. The 2026-27 season is underway, with pay-what-you-can nights.
Downtown Cultural Walking Tour, Downtown Culver City; booklets at City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd. A free self-guided walk past the public art of downtown Culver City, using the city's printed booklet (third edition, 2023), which is available at City Hall or as a PDF.
Platform, 8850 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. An open-air row of shops, restaurants and cafes on Washington Boulevard beside the Culver City E Line station, with pop-ups and seasonal events.
Events and markets
Culver City Farmers Market. When: Tuesdays, 2 to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Where: Main Street, downtown Culver City, between Culver and Venice boulevards. A weekly certified farmers market with fresh produce and other foods; the first hour is free in the nearby city parking structures.
George Barris Culver City Car Show. When: Usually in May. Where: Downtown Culver City. A free daytime show of classic cars and hot rods, including creations by George Barris, with live music.
Fiesta La Ballona. When: A weekend in late August. Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 4117 Overland Ave. A three-day city festival with food vendors, a community stage, amusement rides and activities at the Plunge pool; 2026 marked its 75th year.
Downtown Culver City Tree Lighting. When: Early December (Downtown Culver City lists Dec. 3, 2026, 5 to 8:30 p.m., with the lighting at 6) Where: Downtown Culver City. A free evening holiday celebration downtown with the lighting of the tree, a visit from Santa, treats from local businesses and choir performances.
Coffee in Culver City
Philz Coffee Culver City, 9300 Culver Blvd., Suite 113, Culver City, CA 90232. A branch of the San Francisco coffee company at the base of the Culver Steps, brewing each cup to order, with tea and pastries.
Cognoscenti Coffee, 6114 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A small espresso bar on Washington Boulevard in the Arts District, serving espresso drinks, brewed coffee and pastries.
Super Domestic Coffee, 10054 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A coffee shop on Culver Boulevard west of downtown with espresso drinks and pastries, plus a second shop in the Arts District at 8545 Washington Blvd.
Leilo Coffee, 10606 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A minimalist coffee bar near the Wende Museum serving espresso, cortados, single-origin filter coffee, flash brew and a rotating seasonal drink.
Grand Casino Bakery & Cafe, 3826 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232. An Argentine bakery and cafe on Main Street, baking on site since 1987, with coffee drinks, empanadas, facturas (pastries), cakes and a sit-down menu.
Places to eat
Tito's Tacos, 11222 Washington Pl., Culver City, CA 90230 ($). A walk-up taco stand open since 1959 near the 405, serving hard-shell tacos, bean and cheese burritos, tamales, enchiladas, tostadas and quesadillas.
Sorrento Italian Market, 5518 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 ($). A long-running Italian market with a deli counter, imported pastas and groceries, and wines from across Italy; open Wednesday through Sunday.
Johnnie's Pastrami, 4017 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 ($). A 1950s diner on Sepulveda Boulevard with a neon sign, counter seating and a patio with fire pits, serving pastrami sandwiches, chili and burgers into the late evening.
Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken, 9537 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 ($$). Kettle-fried chicken with buttermilk biscuits, fries and pancakes, ordered at the counter in downtown Culver City, with patio seating.
Mayura, 10406 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 ($$). A strip-mall restaurant on Venice Boulevard cooking dishes from Kerala and South India, such as dosas, biryani and parotta; closed Mondays.
IPPUDO Culver City, 3847 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232 ($$). A new Main Street branch of the Japanese ramen company, serving Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, steamed buns and small plates.
Lillie's Eat & Drink at The Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 ($$). The bistro and garden lounge inside the 1924 Culver Hotel, open from breakfast through dinner, with cocktails and an ongoing lineup of live music.
Dear John's, 11208 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 ($$$). A traditional steakhouse and cocktail lounge on Culver Boulevard serving steaks and classic sides, open Tuesday through Saturday evenings with reservations through OpenTable.
Hours, prices and event details checked October 2026.
Culver City questions
Why is Culver City called the Heart of Screenland?
The phrase is on the city seal and dates to the early studio era, when MGM and other studios built lots here. Sony Pictures Studios now occupies the former MGM lot on Washington Boulevard and offers weekday walking tours, and The Culver Studios sits nearby on the same street.
How long is the hike up to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook?
From the Jefferson Boulevard entrance, the main trail zigzags about a mile up to the 420-foot overlook, and a steep, straight staircase offers a more direct climb. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, and the lot at the top charges $2 an hour or $6 a day.
Where does the Ballona Creek Bike Path go?
It follows Ballona Creek from Culver City to Marina del Rey, where it connects to the Marvin Braude bike path that runs along the coast from Pacific Palisades to Torrance.
Escrow notes for Culver City
Transfer tax. Culver City's own real property transfer tax (Measure RE, in effect since April 1, 2021) is marginal, with each slice of the price taxed at its own rate and added together: 0.45% on the portion up to $1,499,999, 1.5% on the portion from $1,500,000 to $2,999,999, 3% on the portion from $3,000,000 to $9,999,999, and 4% on the portion at $10,000,000 and above. The bracket thresholds adjust for inflation every five years. The LA County tax of $0.55 per $500 also applies. 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 Culver City? 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.