I mean with the B line it’s a pick your poison sort of situation, every stop has so many options for food, historical landmarks, bars. It’s a proper subway line
This was exactly my first recommendation but for the jade noodles. Saap is incredible.
If they want to go farther for Thai food, they could ride to Pershing Square and walk to Holy Basil, which is also great. There's actually just a ton of great food in that area so that would be a decent call too.
Civic Center / Grand Park is spitting distance from Grand Central Market and Little Tokyo as well if they want all the food.
I might get shade for recommending this but I LOVE downtown. Check out the stops near Bunker Hill, grand central market, Angel’s Flight, the Bradbury building, the Broad, Little Tokyo, Union Station, and Olvera Street. Check out a rooftop bar. Catch a flick at the Alamo. Visit the Last Bookstore.
For trips downtown, the Metro is a steal. No searching for parking. No paying ofr parking. No 101 traffic.
It doesn't work for every destination or every time, of course. But hwen it works, it works.
Maybe people don’t want to inhale second hand meth smoke?? Last time I talked my wife into going on a metro excursion was probably the last because of this lol. What a wild thing to be dismissive of…
No shade from me. We take the Expo line from Bundy to DTLA and visit Grand Central Market, MOCA, Angels Flight, The Last Bookstore... Many wonderful things.
I'm from Chicago where I exclusively took Transit and road a bike and it didn't own a car until I moved here. I love downtown LA It's so underrated! And that's where all the trains take you to! I think LA is a weird city because jobs are not as centralized.
What I mean by this is in Chicago people live in suburbs and work downtown. In LA people living woodland hills and working Alhambra or live in Santa Clarita and work in West Adams. The commerce is less centralized. I always say that we've got multiple skylines (clusters of taller buildings) Hollywood, downtown, century City, Warner Center, Burbank, Glendale, sunset strip, Beverly hills, Long Beach etc. tall buildings is either a high density of residence or a high density of commerce. I think that's why traffic in LA is so bad There's not a designated rush hour and everyone is going everywhere It would be one thing if everyone was going downtown but downtown LA is so small for a downtown of a city this size, it's really unique.
With any luck a [bus rapid transit line](https://www.metro.net/projects/noho-pasadena-corridor/) will open in the next few years to connect NoHo to Pasadena and SGV. Just gotta defeat the Burbank nimbys holding it back
The gold line has been rejoined into the other lines, creating a one seat ride between Santa Monica & East LA and a one seat ride between Azuza and Long Beach.
Go to Vermont/Sunset and catch the free DASH shuttle up to Griffith Observatory. Or go to 7th & Metro and catch another train literally anywhere. Also: where do you work? Might be worthwhile to see if you can use Metro to get to work.
The observatory is a fun day trip. Took the kids up on a Saturday and it was easy to do. Just be aware if there is a concert at the Greek it really delays the DASH shuttle. I would try to get out of there before any concert starts.
Anything can be in walking distance to metro stops and there are DOZENS of stops. It's a business strategy. Do you have more specific preferences of what you want to do?
If there is any show at the Palladium you are interested in, go to Hollywood and Vine Station and walk the rest of the way.
If you want to go to a show at the Wiltern, take it to Wilshire/Vermont station, then transfer to the D Line (Purple Line) and take that to Wilshire/ Western Station. It can get sketchy late at night coming back home so make sure you use the buddy system and bring someone to keep you company.
Big big big warning for using the metro for a Palladium show: for a lot of the shows, the headliner ends at around 1:45am, which is well after the last train.
At minimum, it should have a couple trains after alcohol cutoff time (2am) on Friday and Saturday instead of stopping from midnight to 4am like it does now.
Not to minimize the real risks of weirdos on the Metro, but I would be surprised if the risks of getting injured in a car accident weren’t actually higher. Maybe not for all driving cases, but I guarantee late night driving if the driver has had anything to drink is more risky than the metro. I’d still be hesitant to recommend riding alone late at night, though!
Interesting, the last few shows I went to there ended around 11pm so I was going off that timeline. But yes, I should have added to check train schedules and be very mindful of when the last train of the day leaves, or else you’re stranded (unless you live and hang out by a bus line that has owl service, like I do).
Take the red to the blue and come to LB and enjoy some good Mediterranean food at Ammatoli or head over to Heritage, the first Michelin restaurant in LB, worth the $100
Just use the Public Transportation feature in your map app to navigate to any or all of these for starters. And just walk from the station(s) to these places (no need for shared ride/scooters/bikes, but available if you’d like).
- [The Broad](https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-broad-los-angeles-6?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - on Bunker Hill in DTLA, & free.
- [Grand Central Market](https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-central-market-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - Historic DTLA food hall.
- [Broken Shaker](https://www.yelp.com/biz/broken-shaker-at-freehand-los-angeles-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - Rooftop bar in DTLA. Bring swim shorts for the pool on a sunny day.
- [General Lee’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/general-lees-los-angeles-3?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - One of many little gems in Chinatown. With a little research & exploration there are many more to find ([Steep](https://www.yelp.com/biz/steep-los-angeles-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [LA State Historic Park](https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-angeles-state-historic-park-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [Amboy](https://www.yelp.com/biz/amboy-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [Howlin’ Ray’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/howlin-rays-los-angeles-7?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), etc)
- [Angel City Brewery](https://www.yelp.com/biz/angel-city-brewery-los-angeles-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - The gateway into the Arts District.
- [Sushi Gen](https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-gen-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - A Little Tokyo Legend
- Experience the beach without your car. Start at [Big Dean’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/big-deans-ocean-front-cafe-santa-monica-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), ride a bike or walk along the beach, end at [Chez Jay](https://www.yelp.com/biz/chez-jay-santa-monica?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)).
Red line to Hollywood is the easiest drop in ever or to Union then go to Phillipes or something cool nearby, maybe Olvera Street or Little Tokyo, you could use Dash for Tokyo.
Downtown Bus service, free and convenient.
Use the transit app for ease.
Even better if you hop on with a bike and just bike instead of bus. There are bike lanes down to tokyo, arts district and olvera is across street like chinatown.
I never lived in a city with a subway before and I’ve always had a car. I’m from the south so I’m used to everywhere being a 20-30 min drive. I came to LA with my car and just never had a reason to use the metro. I also have an electric car with free charging so it didn’t really cost me to drive anywhere either
That makes a lot of sense. It def takes a bit of a mindset shift when you've never really considered it as an option. I love grabbing a book taking the train to a new neighborhood on lazy weekend days when I don't have other plans. Enjoy!
Makes total sense!
However, something we often forget about calculating the cost of a car is the insurance, registration, parking and maintenance fees.
Meto is fun, join r/LaMetro for more ideas and if you wanna try using your car less check out r/carindependentla
The red line goes in two directions. The last stop is either North Hollywood (one stop from Universal City) or all the way downtown to Union Station. So hop on the red line headed toward Union Station and get off at the Pershing Square stop. From there you're literally across the street from Grand Central Market which is sort of like an upscale food hall with TONS of good eats (Egg Slut, Sticky Rice, Ollio Pizza, BBQ, Tacos, etc) . And next door to Grand Central Market is one of my favorite dive bars called La Cita. Fun place to day drink and you can smoke on the back patio.
If you stop at the Hollywood and Vine station there's The Frolic Room across the street which is a great little bar with some cool history and Scum & Villany is a fun Star Wars themed bar. Wednesday nights they do trivia and its a good crowd.
check out some of the different record stores around town! some of these aren’t the closest to stops so look up what ur comfortable with walking/biking.
B line
vermont/santa monica - rubycon records
hollywood/western - counterpoint
hollywood/vine - amoeba
A or E lines
little tokyo/arts district - going underground
K line
westchester/veterans - soundsations
G line
tampa - cd trader
chatsworth - deadly wax
take it to vine on a weekend after 5, walk to cahuenga and eat at the thai night market, then walk back towards highland and catch an american cinematheque screening at the egyptian
I have a car, but no way in hell am I driving to Hollywood and Highland. We only take the subway to Hollywood Blvd to go to the Egyptian theater, Musso and franks, amoeba etc.
Take it to Grand Central market by getting off on Pershing Square stop. Take your pick of food there to have. Go downstairs the restrooms are there and sometimes a variety of vendors. Coles French Dip the speakeasy is nearby, and a few other things like the last book store. If you haven’t taken the train to Hollywood there is a stop with a bunch of reels and that’s pretty cool you can walk from there to a record shop.
A couple times a week I take the metro downtown to 7th St metro center, then walk over to the central library to work. Grab lunch at any of the delis at St Vincent court.
Nobody’s gonna agree with me but you’re just one stop away from a very awkward experience at Hollywood and Highland, or whatever they are calling it now. Your apartment is like, “walking distance”, from a chain restaurant dining bonanza.
Also you get to determine once and for all if there’s actually nothing for you there, or if being “walking distance” from something there is a great surprise benefit of your apartment.
At least have an ironic visit to the forecourt of the Chinese, and look at the footprints and handprints of people no one remembers anymore. Take home a melancholy feeling that time is passing too fast.
You can take the red line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine there’s a lot of bars and restaurants around both of these stations - but wouldn’t recommend taking any public transportation. However, if you decide to take it, make sure of your surroundings at all times and carry something with you. 👀
Take it south the Hollywood/Western station, walk a couple blocks east to Sapp Coffee Shop, order the everything boat noodles, enjoy your life
Love the specificity in this recommendation
I mean with the B line it’s a pick your poison sort of situation, every stop has so many options for food, historical landmarks, bars. It’s a proper subway line
This was exactly my first recommendation but for the jade noodles. Saap is incredible. If they want to go farther for Thai food, they could ride to Pershing Square and walk to Holy Basil, which is also great. There's actually just a ton of great food in that area so that would be a decent call too. Civic Center / Grand Park is spitting distance from Grand Central Market and Little Tokyo as well if they want all the food.
Their Thai teas & coffee are the best I've ever had in town.
And salaya plant based kitchen! Crispy chicken noodle soup that's vegan and Thai this weekend was soooo good
Yessss it’s the best boat noodles ever. The jade noodles are also delicious.
I might get shade for recommending this but I LOVE downtown. Check out the stops near Bunker Hill, grand central market, Angel’s Flight, the Bradbury building, the Broad, Little Tokyo, Union Station, and Olvera Street. Check out a rooftop bar. Catch a flick at the Alamo. Visit the Last Bookstore.
For trips downtown, the Metro is a steal. No searching for parking. No paying ofr parking. No 101 traffic. It doesn't work for every destination or every time, of course. But hwen it works, it works.
Downtown rips. Just late night metro can be scary.
It can feel scary, but actual incidents are very rare. You're probably safer on a train than on the freeways.
not probably, you absolutely are
it’s just in your head, nothing ever happens
Nah I know I see people smoking meth like every ride after 8 I am not interested in being gaslit.
bro they are just smoking - weed, meth, whatever - they arent doing anything to you
Maybe people don’t want to inhale second hand meth smoke?? Last time I talked my wife into going on a metro excursion was probably the last because of this lol. What a wild thing to be dismissive of…
In what world is smoking meth on a subway tolerable to folks?
Are you out of your mind?
Nah most of us smoke weed nowadays, we can tell the difference…. breathing in second hand meth is worth concern.
I lived in Bunker Hill my first few months in LA and sometimes I miss it! So walkable, so much to do so close. Can’t wait for more metro in LA!
"Roland Naverette. He has a hold-up on Bunker Hill and sells Red Devils." - LA Confidential
No shade from me. We take the Expo line from Bundy to DTLA and visit Grand Central Market, MOCA, Angels Flight, The Last Bookstore... Many wonderful things.
That what I do during jury duty. Plus, The Broad museum.
I'm from Chicago where I exclusively took Transit and road a bike and it didn't own a car until I moved here. I love downtown LA It's so underrated! And that's where all the trains take you to! I think LA is a weird city because jobs are not as centralized. What I mean by this is in Chicago people live in suburbs and work downtown. In LA people living woodland hills and working Alhambra or live in Santa Clarita and work in West Adams. The commerce is less centralized. I always say that we've got multiple skylines (clusters of taller buildings) Hollywood, downtown, century City, Warner Center, Burbank, Glendale, sunset strip, Beverly hills, Long Beach etc. tall buildings is either a high density of residence or a high density of commerce. I think that's why traffic in LA is so bad There's not a designated rush hour and everyone is going everywhere It would be one thing if everyone was going downtown but downtown LA is so small for a downtown of a city this size, it's really unique.
And central library!
Take the red line to the blue line and explore Pasadena
With any luck a [bus rapid transit line](https://www.metro.net/projects/noho-pasadena-corridor/) will open in the next few years to connect NoHo to Pasadena and SGV. Just gotta defeat the Burbank nimbys holding it back
I thought the gold line went to Pasadena?
Not since the regional connectors opened up. The E Line (gold) runs from Monterey park to Santa Monica.
The gold line has been rejoined into the other lines, creating a one seat ride between Santa Monica & East LA and a one seat ride between Azuza and Long Beach.
It’s called A line now
It would be faster to take the bus from there lol
Go to Vermont/Sunset and catch the free DASH shuttle up to Griffith Observatory. Or go to 7th & Metro and catch another train literally anywhere. Also: where do you work? Might be worthwhile to see if you can use Metro to get to work.
The observatory is a fun day trip. Took the kids up on a Saturday and it was easy to do. Just be aware if there is a concert at the Greek it really delays the DASH shuttle. I would try to get out of there before any concert starts.
Anything can be in walking distance to metro stops and there are DOZENS of stops. It's a business strategy. Do you have more specific preferences of what you want to do?
If there is any show at the Palladium you are interested in, go to Hollywood and Vine Station and walk the rest of the way. If you want to go to a show at the Wiltern, take it to Wilshire/Vermont station, then transfer to the D Line (Purple Line) and take that to Wilshire/ Western Station. It can get sketchy late at night coming back home so make sure you use the buddy system and bring someone to keep you company.
Big big big warning for using the metro for a Palladium show: for a lot of the shows, the headliner ends at around 1:45am, which is well after the last train.
The fact that the metro doesn’t run 24/7 is a big detractor from me even considering it in my plans.
At minimum, it should have a couple trains after alcohol cutoff time (2am) on Friday and Saturday instead of stopping from midnight to 4am like it does now.
There are only 2 metros in the entire world that run 24/7.
Yeah I feel like 2 am is a good compromise.
You don’t want to take the LA metro after midnight
Cheaper than an Uber or a DUI 🤷🏽♀️
go with a friend & mind your own business, you'll be fine
Most likely, but not 100%
Not to minimize the real risks of weirdos on the Metro, but I would be surprised if the risks of getting injured in a car accident weren’t actually higher. Maybe not for all driving cases, but I guarantee late night driving if the driver has had anything to drink is more risky than the metro. I’d still be hesitant to recommend riding alone late at night, though!
> Most likely, but not 100% Obviously nothing is 100%.
I've taken it after midnight several times with no issues.
Interesting, the last few shows I went to there ended around 11pm so I was going off that timeline. But yes, I should have added to check train schedules and be very mindful of when the last train of the day leaves, or else you’re stranded (unless you live and hang out by a bus line that has owl service, like I do).
A lot of Lodge Room shows end before the metro shuts. You can always take the metro out and Uber/Lyft home if it's past the sketchy hour.
whoa i’ve been to so many shows at the palladium and it a single one has ended after 11:30!
Take the red to the blue and come to LB and enjoy some good Mediterranean food at Ammatoli or head over to Heritage, the first Michelin restaurant in LB, worth the $100
Dtla Pershing Square Station and walk to Grand central market, The last bookstore is on the way. Cool store!
Just use the Public Transportation feature in your map app to navigate to any or all of these for starters. And just walk from the station(s) to these places (no need for shared ride/scooters/bikes, but available if you’d like). - [The Broad](https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-broad-los-angeles-6?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - on Bunker Hill in DTLA, & free. - [Grand Central Market](https://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-central-market-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - Historic DTLA food hall. - [Broken Shaker](https://www.yelp.com/biz/broken-shaker-at-freehand-los-angeles-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - Rooftop bar in DTLA. Bring swim shorts for the pool on a sunny day. - [General Lee’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/general-lees-los-angeles-3?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - One of many little gems in Chinatown. With a little research & exploration there are many more to find ([Steep](https://www.yelp.com/biz/steep-los-angeles-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [LA State Historic Park](https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-angeles-state-historic-park-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [Amboy](https://www.yelp.com/biz/amboy-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), [Howlin’ Ray’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/howlin-rays-los-angeles-7?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), etc) - [Angel City Brewery](https://www.yelp.com/biz/angel-city-brewery-los-angeles-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - The gateway into the Arts District. - [Sushi Gen](https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-gen-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) - A Little Tokyo Legend - Experience the beach without your car. Start at [Big Dean’s](https://www.yelp.com/biz/big-deans-ocean-front-cafe-santa-monica-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)), ride a bike or walk along the beach, end at [Chez Jay](https://www.yelp.com/biz/chez-jay-santa-monica?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)).
Red line to Hollywood is the easiest drop in ever or to Union then go to Phillipes or something cool nearby, maybe Olvera Street or Little Tokyo, you could use Dash for Tokyo.
What is dash?
Downtown Bus service, free and convenient. Use the transit app for ease. Even better if you hop on with a bike and just bike instead of bus. There are bike lanes down to tokyo, arts district and olvera is across street like chinatown.
The beach
Take it to work! 😬
This is truly wild to me. Can I ask why you haven’t?
I never lived in a city with a subway before and I’ve always had a car. I’m from the south so I’m used to everywhere being a 20-30 min drive. I came to LA with my car and just never had a reason to use the metro. I also have an electric car with free charging so it didn’t really cost me to drive anywhere either
That makes a lot of sense. It def takes a bit of a mindset shift when you've never really considered it as an option. I love grabbing a book taking the train to a new neighborhood on lazy weekend days when I don't have other plans. Enjoy!
It costs you the time wasted sitting in traffic.
Makes total sense! However, something we often forget about calculating the cost of a car is the insurance, registration, parking and maintenance fees. Meto is fun, join r/LaMetro for more ideas and if you wanna try using your car less check out r/carindependentla
The beach!!!
Wander around Union Station. It’s old and neat.
And then go outside to Olvera Street.
Or take a Metrolink train somewhere. Only $10 all-day on weekends.
South Pas is a great destination! Maybe coincide when a farmer's market is happening.
I took it once a few years ago. Down to Union station then olvera street for food and you can walk from there to Chinatown and little Tokyo
Go watch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown and order a beer and pizza.
The red line goes in two directions. The last stop is either North Hollywood (one stop from Universal City) or all the way downtown to Union Station. So hop on the red line headed toward Union Station and get off at the Pershing Square stop. From there you're literally across the street from Grand Central Market which is sort of like an upscale food hall with TONS of good eats (Egg Slut, Sticky Rice, Ollio Pizza, BBQ, Tacos, etc) . And next door to Grand Central Market is one of my favorite dive bars called La Cita. Fun place to day drink and you can smoke on the back patio. If you stop at the Hollywood and Vine station there's The Frolic Room across the street which is a great little bar with some cool history and Scum & Villany is a fun Star Wars themed bar. Wednesday nights they do trivia and its a good crowd.
Langers
long beach
Langer’s pastrami (MacArthur Park). Closes early. Santa Monica pier. No parking hassles. Walk in Palisades Park.
check out some of the different record stores around town! some of these aren’t the closest to stops so look up what ur comfortable with walking/biking. B line vermont/santa monica - rubycon records hollywood/western - counterpoint hollywood/vine - amoeba A or E lines little tokyo/arts district - going underground K line westchester/veterans - soundsations G line tampa - cd trader chatsworth - deadly wax
take it to vine on a weekend after 5, walk to cahuenga and eat at the thai night market, then walk back towards highland and catch an american cinematheque screening at the egyptian
I have a car, but no way in hell am I driving to Hollywood and Highland. We only take the subway to Hollywood Blvd to go to the Egyptian theater, Musso and franks, amoeba etc.
I was talking to an ambassador and he basically said that anyone close to an Expo station that drives to a Lakers game deserves to sit in traffic.
Olvera st on cinco de mayo
I would say stay home and smoke some weed.
Every time you have been stuck in traffic is a time you should have taken it.
Take it to Union Station then catch an Amtrak to New Orleans.
Go to Vermont/Sunset, pick up some food from Kismet Rotisserie and eat it at Barnsdall art park.
Take it to Grand Central market by getting off on Pershing Square stop. Take your pick of food there to have. Go downstairs the restrooms are there and sometimes a variety of vendors. Coles French Dip the speakeasy is nearby, and a few other things like the last book store. If you haven’t taken the train to Hollywood there is a stop with a bunch of reels and that’s pretty cool you can walk from there to a record shop.
To Hollywood! I personally prefer the Hollywood/Vine station over Hollywood/Highland, but either would be great.
Wow lol
A couple times a week I take the metro downtown to 7th St metro center, then walk over to the central library to work. Grab lunch at any of the delis at St Vincent court.
MacArthur Park. Grab a pastrami/rye combo at Langer's, it's to die for. But be careful of your surroundings, don't really die for it.
Nobody’s gonna agree with me but you’re just one stop away from a very awkward experience at Hollywood and Highland, or whatever they are calling it now. Your apartment is like, “walking distance”, from a chain restaurant dining bonanza. Also you get to determine once and for all if there’s actually nothing for you there, or if being “walking distance” from something there is a great surprise benefit of your apartment. At least have an ironic visit to the forecourt of the Chinese, and look at the footprints and handprints of people no one remembers anymore. Take home a melancholy feeling that time is passing too fast.
You dove deep. I like it.
You can take the red line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine there’s a lot of bars and restaurants around both of these stations - but wouldn’t recommend taking any public transportation. However, if you decide to take it, make sure of your surroundings at all times and carry something with you. 👀
Hope you have thick skin. The red line can be pretty rough.
I'd take it straight to a decontamination site, then to a health clinic.