Hollywood sits at the foot of the Hollywood Hills inside the City of Los Angeles, northwest of Downtown. Its landmarks run along Hollywood Boulevard, from the Walk of Fame and the Egyptian Theatre to the Hollywood Bowl tucked into the hills above Highland Avenue. Housing ranges from 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival courtyard apartments and bungalows on the flats to hillside homes reached by winding streets above Franklin Avenue, with newer mid-rise apartment buildings near the Metro stations.
Getting around
The Metro B Line runs under Hollywood with stations at Hollywood/Western, Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland, connecting to Downtown Los Angeles in one direction and Universal City and North Hollywood in the other. The US-101 Hollywood Freeway cuts through the neighborhood, and Metro buses run along its main boulevards. Hollywood Burbank Airport is the closest airport, with LAX farther south.
Neighborhoods to know
Central Hollywood. The blocks around Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Highland Avenue hold the Walk of Fame, historic movie palaces, Art Deco and Spanish Revival commercial buildings, and apartment buildings from the 1920s through today.
Hollywood Hills. North of Franklin Avenue the streets climb into canyons with hillside houses from the 1920s through mid-century, plus the Hollywood Bowl, Lake Hollywood and the trails of Runyon Canyon.
Thai Town. The City Council designated the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard between Normandie and Western avenues as Thai Town, and it is lined with Thai restaurants, bakeries and markets. The Hollywood/Western station sits at its west end.
East Hollywood. Around Vermont Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard you will find Barnsdall Art Park and Hollyhock House, small apartment buildings and bungalow courts, and the B Line stations at Vermont/Sunset and Vermont/Santa Monica.
Sycamore District. Part of Hollywood's Media District, the low-rise blocks around Willoughby and Sycamore avenues hold studio and production buildings, with Sightglass Coffee on the corner of Willoughby and Sycamore.
Things to do in Hollywood
Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. More than 2,800 stars line the sidewalks, and new star ceremonies usually start at 11:30 a.m. The site has a star directory and map for finding a name.
Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. This restored movie palace shows new releases from Netflix Monday through Thursday, and American Cinematheque programs classic and repertory films Friday through Sunday.
Hollywood Bowl Museum, 2301 N. Highland Ave. Free all year, the museum covers the history of the amphitheater and the concerts held there. Off-season hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Runyon Canyon Park, Hollywood Hills. A city park with steep dirt trails and views over Hollywood and the basin, open sunrise to sunset. The West Trail was closed after a fire when we checked, and there are no restrooms, so bring water.
Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Frank Lloyd Wright's first Los Angeles commission sits on a hilltop park with lawns and city views. Self-guided admission runs Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the park is open daily.
Griffith Observatory, 2800 E. Observatory Road. Just east of Hollywood in Griffith Park, the observatory has free admission, exhibits and wide views over the city. It is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays.
Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. This historic cemetery is also home to Cinespia's summer screenings, and the flower and gift shop sells a tour book and map for a self-guided walk.
Events and markets
Hollywood Farmers' Market. When: Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Where: 1600 Ivar Ave., at Ivar and Selma avenues. Farm stands, flowers and prepared food fill several blocks near the Hollywood/Vine station.
Cinespia at Hollywood Forever. When: Summer evenings, with some fall screenings. Where: Fairbanks Lawn, Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Bring a blanket for outdoor movies on a big screen. Check the Cinespia calendar for dates and tickets.
Hollywood Bowl summer season. When: Summer; the 2026 season ran June 19 through September 27. Where: 2301 N. Highland Ave. Summer concerts under the shell include the LA Phil's season.
Walk of Fame star ceremonies. When: Several times a month, usually at 11:30 a.m. Where: Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Ceremonies are free to watch from the sidewalk, and the schedule is posted on the site.
Hollywood Christmas Parade. When: Sunday, November 29, 2026. Where: Hollywood Boulevard. Floats and marching bands follow a route along Hollywood Boulevard and back on Sunset Boulevard, and the parade site posts road closures.
Coffee in Hollywood
Go Get Em Tiger, 6344 Fountain Ave. The Los Angeles roaster's newest cafe has a full espresso bar and a food menu, a few blocks south of Sunset.
Groundwork Coffee, 1501 N. Cahuenga Blvd. A Los Angeles roaster's cafe on Cahuenga near Sunset, with ordering ahead online.
Sightglass Coffee, 7051 Willoughby Ave. A roastery and cafe at Willoughby and Sycamore with pour-over, cold coffee on tap, a patio and an all-day food menu. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tiago Coffee Bar + Kitchen, 7080 Hollywood Blvd. A cafe on the boulevard serving coffee alongside breakfast and lunch all day, with vegetarian and vegan options.
Places to eat
Musso & Frank Grill, 6667 Hollywood Blvd. ($$$). A Hollywood Boulevard grill room open since 1919, serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Providence, 5955 Melrose Ave. ($$$). Seafood-focused cooking from chef Michael Cimarusti. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Gwen, 6600 Sunset Blvd. ($$$). A butcher shop and restaurant where meats and vegetables are cooked over fire, with a pre-theater menu for a show night.
Jitlada, 5233 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd. ($$). Southern Thai cooking with fiery curries and a long menu of Thai classics. Walk-in only, closed Mondays.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles, 1514 N. Gower St. ($). Fried chicken and waffles, open until midnight most nights and later on weekends.
Pink's Hot Dogs, 709 N. La Brea Ave. ($). A hot dog stand serving chili dogs, long stretch dogs and burgers, open late with its own parking lot.
Hours, prices and event details checked October 2026.
Hollywood questions
Where is the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
The stars line the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in central Hollywood. The Metro B Line's Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine stations let you out right on the Walk.
When is the Hollywood Farmers' Market?
Every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, at Ivar and Selma avenues (1600 Ivar Ave.).
Is there a city transfer tax in Hollywood?
Yes. Hollywood is part of the City of Los Angeles, so a sale pays the city's 0.45% transfer tax and, at higher prices, Measure ULA, on top of the Los Angeles County tax.
Escrow notes for Hollywood
Transfer tax. Los Angeles County charges $1.10 per $1,000 of value. The City of Los Angeles adds its base tax of $2.25 per $500 (0.45%), so a $1,200,000 sale pays $1,320 to the county and $5,400 to the city. For sales closing after June 30, 2026, Measure ULA adds 4% of the full price above $5,400,000 and below $10,900,000, and 5.5% at $10,900,000 or more. A Los Angeles mailing address doesn't settle whether a property is inside the city; the property tax bill or the city's ZIMAS lookup does. Rates as of October 2026. 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 Hollywood? 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.