Echo Park and Silver Lake are located in the northwest of downtown Los Angeles and were established at the end of the 19th century. The old name of Silver Lake was Ivanhoe, given to it on the name of the novel written by Sir Walter Scott. Silver Lake was home to artists, musicians, and LGBTQ people and was the first area to hold a civil rights protest in 1967 at the Black Cat Tavern. Echo Park has eclectic architecture and Victorian homes. Echo Park and Silver Lake have a flourishing food scene, independent stores, vintage shops, and green areas like the Echo Park Lake with its famous swan boats and lotus flowers. Silver Lake is the best place for walking, jogging and enjoying nature due to its greenery, aesthetic view and fresh air.
Where to Stay in Silver Lake & Echo Park?
Here are the eight best places to stay in Silver Lake and Echo Park:
- Silver Lake Pool & Inn
Silver Lake Pool and Inn is a modern four-star hotel with a stylish and contemporary structure. It has an outdoor pool (heated pool), a bar and an Italian restaurant. The rooms are luxurious and have big windows and a restaurant with a patio on the premises. This hotel is pet-friendly because it has a specific area for pets and staff to handle them. The charges are $250-$400 per night, and check-in/out is from 3:00 PM-11:00 AM. This hotel is best for couples, solo and family tours.
Address: 4141 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles
- Noon on Sunset Hill (Echo Park)
Noon on Sunset Hill is a nonchalant, three-star guesthouse. It has eight rooms, two balconies and a guest-friendly patio. This hotel is very near to Echo Park and Silver Lake, tourists can easily visit it on foot. It opens for 24 hours. The charges are $150-$250 per night. This guesthouse is best for Solo tours, budget-conscious people and small business groups.
Address: 1436 Sunset Blvd #3432 on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park
- Hotel Covell (Los Feliz, nearby)
Hotel Covell is a luxurious and worth seeing hotel. It has an apartment building, a cool atmosphere, rooms with a classic view, a bar and a rooftop deck. The hotel check-in is at 3:00 PM and the check-out is at 11:00 AM. Pets are typically allowed. The charges are $300-$450. This is the best place for luxury seekers, business groups and private tours.
Address: 4626 Hollywood Blvd., a 9-suite boutique hotel in neighbouring Los Feliz
- Airbnbs & Loft Stays
Loft Stays and Airbnbs are old houses and re-done lofts, which offer comfortable and old classic places to stay. These places have old architectural interiors, unique, silky rooms and portions for pets. Loft Stays and Airbnbs do not have specific check-in and check-out timings. The charges are $120-$300 (depending on season). This is the best hotel for long stays, business meetings and couples.
- Comfort Inn Los Angeles near Downtown
Comfort Inn Los Angeles near Downtown is a two-star economical hotel situated in Echo Park. It has clean rooms, and it is reputed to be value-based. This hotel was constructed before the renovation, and the style is like old Los Angeles houses. It offers free breakfast in the morning, safe parking, and Wi-Fi. The hotel check-in starts at 3:00 PM and the check-out is at 5.00 AM. The charges are $130-$180 per-night stay. There is an extra ($50) charge for early check-in by guests. This hotel is best for road trippers and budget travellers.
Address: 2717 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- The Dixie Hollywood (near Silver Lake)
The Dixie Hollywood is a three-star Hollywood-themed hotel. It is located in an outdoor pool and has free Wi-Fi and parking. It is the favourite place of Hollywood stars to visit. The hotel opens at 3 AM and closes at 11 AM. The charges are $110-$170 per-night stay. This hotel is the best place to stay for Hollywood-loving people, business trips and luxury private tours.
Address: Hollywood, 5410 Blvd Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Mayfair Hotel (Downtown LA, close to Echo Park)
The Mayfair Hotel Los Angeles is a three-star hotel constructed in 1926 and a 5-10 minute drive away from Echo Park. It boasts a modern and trendy interior that bears a historic atmosphere. It has a modern art collection and a gorgeous, restored lobby. The prices depend on the season, but average charges are $191-$234 per night. The hotel opens at 3 AM and closes at 12 AM. This is the best hotel for young travellers.
Address: 1256 W 7th St, downtown LA
- Boutique Hostels (PodShare, near Echo Park/Silver Lake)
Boutique Hostels (PodShare) are low-cost co-living environments which have a blend of minimalist and practical designs. The PodShare Hollywood place is on 1631 Cosmo St and is close to Silver Lake and Echo Park. It offers affordable, flexible accommodation per night, week or month. Boutique Hostels provides services like a community food pantry, complimentary toiletries, internet access, and soundbooth. PodShare Hollywood is a lesbian, gay, transgender, and queer business. The check-in time is at 10:00 AM, and the check-out time is at 10:00 PM. The charges are $50-$90 per-night stay. This place is best for solo travellers and nature explorers.
Address: 100 S Vignes St #112, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
How to Get Around Silver Lake & Echo Park?
Here are the five best places to get around Silver Lake and Echo Park:
- Walking
The best way to explore the local neighbourhoods (Echo Park Lake and the Silver Lake Reservoir) of Silver Lake and Echo Park is walk. Walking is an easy way to visit artistic theatrics, cafes, and art installations in a slow-paced manner. It’s budget-friendly and gives the chance to enjoy nature.
- Metro (B Line-Red/D Line Purple)
Although Metro B Line (Red) and D Line (Purple) do not pass through Silver Lake and Echo Park, they connect them with the rest of Los Angeles. Metro is the best option to visit the East Hollywood stations and downtown LA. Metro passes are available at Metro rail stations via the vending machines of the TAP card. Costs per ride are $1.75, and there are daily and weekly passes available. Do not visit during the busiest times, and take care of what is going on around, even though there are security guards at certain stations. It is cost-effective and does not require one to pass through traffic, particularly to other LA areas.
- Bus Routes (Metro Local & Dash)
Metro Local and DASH Buses are a key form of transportation in Silver Lake and Echo Park. Local Metro buses, such as bus 4, operate along Sunset Boulevard, and they run frequently. The buses of LADOT cover the routes that are locally focused, such as Pico Union/Echo Park. The Metro site or transit apps provide schedules and routes of the buses. A Metro pass is more convenient when taking the DASH buses that cost less than a TAP card, only 1.75 per way. The Metro bus network covers a wide area and allows one to evade the problem of parking.
- Biking & Scooters
The biking and scooters give a versatile and enjoyable experience to visit Silver Lake and Echo Park. The Bike repair and hire can be found in local bike shops such as the Coco Variety in the area. There are bike paths such as the Silver Lake Loop, where one can have picturesque rides. Electric scooter companies have docks or dockless services within the city. Bird and Lime apps are used to find and rent a scooter. The fee for renting bikes is $17 per ride. Always carry a helmet and obey road safety rules and topography. Biking and scooters give freedom of movement and reach to regions that cannot be easily accessed by car.
- Car & Ride-Share (Uber/Lyft)
Car and ride-share services ( Uber and Lyft) are available everywhere in Silver Lake. They are ideal and the most convenient for direct, point-to-point travelling, especially in traversing the hills in the area. Ride-hailing is ordered directly through their applications. Pricing of ride-sharing depends on the distance, time of the day, and demand, but average charges are between $22-$30. Metro Micro service is cheaper and is on-demand, providing a ride-share service to select zones.
What to See & Do in Silver Lake & Echo Park
Here are the eight best places and activities to do in Silver Lake and Echo Park:
- Echo Park Lake
Echo Park Lake was formed as a drinking water reservoir in 1868, but was later turned into a park in 1891. It is constructed like Deco Art and swan-shaped pedal boats, a walking path, and lotus beds that bloom in the summer. There are no entry charges in this park, and it is open from 7 AM to 8 PM daily. They also have swan boat rentals within their operational hours.
Location: 751 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- Silver Lake Reservoir
Silver Lake Reservoir was originally constructed in 1907 and known as a reservoir, named after water commissioner Herman Silver, but it is currently used as a community meeting place. The reservoir is not a publicly accessible area, but the adjacent park has a 2.2-mile loop, which is popular for walking and jogging. There is also a dog park in the south end of Silver Lake. The reservoir complex is a free place of interest and is open at all times.
Location: 2268 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
- Sunset Junction
Sunset Junction is situated at the junction of Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, which forms the busy centre of the Silver Lake neighbourhood. It boasts an excellent selection of indie shops, restaurants, and cafes and is also indicative of the relaxed and creative mood of the neighbourhood. There is also an eclectic sense of architecture, where most of the stores and restaurants use the former storefronts. This is a free public street space.
Location: 4000 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Music Venues (The Echo & Echoplex)
The Echo and the Echoplex are connected and yet different venues, which have a reputation as an indie rock haven and a diverse range of live music. The smaller one is the Echo, an upstairs venue, whereas the larger one is the Echoplex, a downstairs venue. The booking of the venues is an adventure that has seen shows by Beck, Green Day and Kendrick Lamar. They are ex-storefront structures that have close standing-room designs. The charges are $88 per ticket.
Location: 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90026
- Chicano Art Murals (Echo Park & Silver Lake Walls)
Chicano Art Murals (Echo Park and Silver Lake) is an informal group of folk art that mirrors the Chicano movement of muralism in the 1960s, when the group started to depict Mexican-American culture and history. Some of the themes portrayed by the murals include heritage, culture, and social struggles. The murals are available 24 hours every day, free of charge, because they are publicly displayed art. There are specific places in the neighbourhood areas, including the mural on 3217 E Olympic Boulevard.
Location: Great Wall of Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley
- Vista Theatre (Silver Lake landmark)
Vista Theatre is a single-screen movie palace that was opened in Silver Lake in 1923. It presents a special blend of Egyptian revival and Spanish Mission Revival. The theatre has a reputation for having large seats and screening various new movies in 35mm and 70mm formats. Visitors can visit it anytime.
Location: 4473 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Dodger Stadium (near Echo Park)
Dodger Stadium is a mid-century modern stadium used by the Los Angeles Dodgers that was opened in the year 1962. It is the biggest by seats in the MLB stadium, and it has stunning scenery of the San Gabriel Mountains. All sports and other events are organised in the stadium where the players play. There is a ticket ($30 for the stadium. $35 for the main gate) and parking ($65) charge fee, and working hours vary according to the time of events.
Location: 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Griffith Park & Observatory (5-10 min from Silver Lake)
The Griffith Park Observatory is an Art Deco-style observatory located in Griffith Park, Mount Hollywood. It was erected in 1935 and has panoramic views of the city and the Hollywood sign. The observatory has exhibits, public telescopes and a planetarium. Planetarium shows and parking fees ($55) are charged, and admission to the observatory building and grounds is free. The park is open between 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM, and the observatory has some hours, usually closing on Mondays.
Location: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA, 90027
Where to Eat in Silver Lake & Echo Park
Here are the eight best places to eat in Silver Lake and Echo Park:
- Pine & Crane
Pine and Crane is a modern Taiwanese restaurant with a casual and contemporary design and modern architecture. Its signature dishes are Minced Pork on Rice and Dan Dan Noodles. It opens on Monday and Wednesday-Sunday, from 12 to 10 PM and is not expensive ($20-$30 per person) but does not accept reservations and provides quick seating and takeout.
Location: 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, Silver Lake
- Mohawk Bend
Mohawk Bend is a bar and restaurant in Echo Park that occupies a former movie theatre from 1914 with large ceilings and a spacious atmosphere. It has craft beer and a locally sourced menu, such as burgers, pizza, and buffalo cauliflower. It opens from 11:30 AM on most weekdays, 10:00 AM on weekends. The average charges are $35 per dish.
Location: 2141 W Sunset Blvd
- Night Market Song
Night + Market Song is a vibrant, popular Thai street food establishment with diverse, neon interior design. Its most common foods, such as Gai Tod Naeng Noi and Panang Neua and available regularly, as it takes dinner on all days except Wednesday, with a slight afternoon time slot, and moderate high cost ranging between 30-50 dollars a head.
Location: Silver Lake 3322 Sunset Blvd
- Tacos Delta
Tacos Delta is an informal taco in Echo Park, it is reputed to serve authentic tacos and a quick snack for $20. This place is unique and elegant, with delicious food.
Location: Tacos Delta, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
- Masa of Echo Park
Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Cafe offers family-style, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and vegan pizza, as well as dessert and other comfort food in a family-friendly and casual setting reminiscent of the 1940s. It serves lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday with a moderate price range of $20 to $30.
Location: 1800 W Sunset Blvd
- Winsome (Echo Park)
Winsome, an old Echo Park restaurant, is famous for its brunch, sandwiches with fried eggs, and potato rosti in a stylish, relaxed setting. The charges are $ 40 per dish. It opens from 11:30 AM.
Location: 1115 Sunset Blvd
What are the Essential Tips for Visiting Silver Lake & Echo Park?
Here are the six best tips for visiting Silver Lake and Echo Park:
Best Time to Visit
The best time is September to November, and March to May, to visit Silver Lake and Echo Park. It is also quite warm in the climate, and the places are not overcrowded as during the peak summer season. Escape the tourist season, tourist rush, as well as the possible rainy season that runs between December and February. The areas are nice to walk around, have outdoor food, and outdoor activities without having to overheat.
Budgeting & Costs
Silver Lake and Echo Park are a few of the pricier areas in Los Angeles, and it is best that a mid-high budget be planned. Avoid eating out in the fancier restaurants of Silver Lake and choose cheaper alternatives, especially taco trucks in the area. The Metro system is affordable as far as transportation costs are concerned, and the ride-sharing and taxis may become expensive.
Transportation Advice
Los Angeles, as well as Silver Lake and Echo Park, is the most convenient way to get around by car, as the neighbourhoods are spread and hilly. Expect heavy traffic during peak time, and budget the expenses and time spent in finding a parking space. In cases where the distance is short and there is a need to be in specific concentrated regions, ridesharing arrangements such as Uber and Lyft are easily accessible. The metro system in the city covers the area with bus lines; it is incomparable to those cities that are more transit-oriented. The only places that can be easily walked around and have walkable pockets are around Echo Park Lake or the Sunset Junction, but one must remember that Silver Lake, especially, was not designed to be on foot.
Safety & Security
Silver Lake and Echo Park are generally safe; however, as with any city, it is always good to be aware of the environment, especially when it comes to night. Be watchful of your surroundings, carry out common-sense precautions, such as walking in well-lit places, and ensure that you are watchful of your belongings. Echo Park is a culturally diverse and safe area except for late walks in less-frequented streets.
Local Etiquette & Vibe
The atmosphere in both the neighbourhoods is artistic, relaxed and bohemian with an eclectic blend of artists, musicians and young creative individuals. Silver Lake, specifically, is known as a haven of hipsters. The neighbourhoods have a high LGBTQ population, and always respect locals’ privacy. There is a proliferation of indie music, indie music bars, indie boutiques, and eccentric eateries; enjoy them with etiquette.
Photography & Social Media Spots
Silver Lake Reservoir is a great place to take photos as it contains breathtaking water, a hilly landscape, and the LA skyline. Take a walk of approximately 2.2 miles around the reservoir to get a chance to take photos of joggers, dog walkers and beautiful nature. To find out some local history, search for the secret out-of-doors steps which are everywhere on the hilly sides of Silver Lake. Echo Park Lake is an excellent area to take photographs, with the lake, lotus beds and the LA skyline in the background. Visitors hire a pedal boat to take a fun photo shoot on the water. The Silver Lake Sunset Junction is a lively street scene, featuring boutiques, cafes and distinctive storefronts. Vibrant street art and murals that are present in the two neighbourhoods make ideal backgrounds for creative social media content.
