Welcome to Culver City
GET TO KNOW CULVER CITY
Culver City has become a thriving destination in recent years, with the redevelopment of Downtown Culver City and the arrival of the Metro Expo Line transforming the area into a pedestrian-friendly hub of activity. Here are some of the top things to do in Culver City, no matter what your interests may be:
- Tour a classic movie studio: Culver City is home to several iconic movie studios, including Sony Pictures Studios and Culver Studios. Take a tour to see where some of your favorite films and TV shows were made and get a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry.
- Explore the shopping and dining scene: Culver City is home to a diverse range of shopping and dining options, from trendy boutiques and art galleries to gourmet restaurants and casual cafes. Whether you're looking to shop or simply enjoy a great meal, you'll find plenty of options to choose from.
- Enjoy some culture: Culver City is home to a number of cultural institutions, including the Wende Museum, the Hammer Museum, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Take in a performance, view an art exhibit, or learn about history at one of these fascinating venues.
- Get outdoors: Culver City is surrounded by beautiful green spaces and parks, making it a great place to spend time outdoors. Take a walk along the Ballona Creek Trail, explore the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, or visit the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area for hiking, picnicking, and more.
- Attend a special event: Throughout the year, Culver City hosts a number of special events, including the Culver City Art Walk, the Downtown Culver City Car Show, and the Culver City Film Festival. Check out what's happening during your visit and see if you can catch one of these exciting events.
Culver City has traditionally been known for its entertainment industry, but in recent years it has become a thriving hub for tech startups as well attracting very cool people who work in very creative offices. The Hayden Tract, a former industrial area that has been redeveloped by architectural firm Eric Owen Moss Architects and local developer Samitaur Constructs, has become a popular location for tech companies. The area features a collection of architecturally stunning office buildings that have attracted some of the most well-known startups in the Los Angeles area, including TikTok, Sweetgreen, Omaze, SteelHouse, Clutter, Scopely, Jam City, and Enervee. Centrally located, Culver City and the Hayden Tract are becoming increasingly attractive for tech companies looking to set up shop in Los Angeles. Other notable companies headquartered in Culver include:
- Sony Pictures Studios: One of the largest production companies in the world, Sony Pictures Studios offers a wide range of employment opportunities in the film and TV industries. The company's subsidiaries, Columbia Pictures and TriStar, are also based in Culver City.
- NFL Network: If you're interested in sports reporting, the NFL Network has a presence in Culver City and offers job opportunities in the field.
- NPR West: NPR West is a radio station that offers careers both on and off-air for those interested in the radio industry.
- Amazon Studios: Amazon Studios has a new campus in Culver City that houses IMDb and Amazon Video, offering employment opportunities in the entertainment industry.
- Ivy Station: The development of Ivy Station has attracted the attention of major companies, including HBO and Apple, which have plans to set up their West Coast headquarters and content production divisions in Culver City.
I am personally obsessed with the Culver Arts District, also known as the Hayden Tract. It is walking distance to the Culver Steps, Ivy Station, Apple, HBO, Sony and Amazon offices. Along with all the amazing shopping (e-hem, Platform), galleries and restaurants at Helms Bakery, Platform, and Downtown Culver. It’s also a hop skip and jump away from the Ballona Creek bike path, which goes all the way to the Pacific Ocean, and Syd Kronenthal Park where you can play tennis and pickleball.
THE COMMUNITY
Diverse, Cool, Techy, Transplants from other metropolitan cities like NY, SF, DC and Chicago
LOCAL INITIATIVES
MOVE Culver City is a city initiative that aims to transform streets into public spaces and prioritize safety through street design. As part of this effort, physically separated bus and bike lanes will be created on Washington and Culver Boulevards by converting a single vehicle travel lane in each direction. The corridor, which extends 1.3 miles from Duquesne Avenue to La Cienega Avenue and connects Downtown Culver City with the E Line Culver City Station and the Arts District, will provide safe and reliable infrastructure for pedestrians, motorists, first responders, and transit users, including Culver CityBus, Big Blue Bus, LA Metro, and LADOT bus lines.
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO, FOOD TO EAT, THINGS TO DO
Restaurants
- Bianca: Bianca is a cozy cafe and bakery that draws inspiration from the owners' French, Italian, and Argentinian heritage. The menu features homemade comfort foods such as rigatoni alla Bolognese and croque madame, and the patio, filled with plants and citrus trees, is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy them. The selection of baked goods and pastries is also not to be missed.
- Carasau Restaurant: Laidback Italian Restaurant specialized in Sardinian Cuisine. The restaurant is named after pane carasau, which means "toasted bread" in the Sardinian language.
- Citizen Public Market: Only seven stalls with a solid range of vendors that make it worth a visit. From plump Baja oysters and uni trays at Jolly Oyster, carnitas tacos at Mexicology, Japanese fried chicken at Go-Go Bird, and Nancy Silverton pizza at Pizzette. A bonus feature here is Bar Bohemian, a rooftop bar. It’s also a great spot to eat all the food you bought from downstairs.
- Coolhaus: Ice Cream with adventurous flavors with limitless horizons.
- Dear John’s: In 1962, Johnny Harlowe made the jump from the silver screen to chef and owner of Dear John’s. Convinced by his pal Frank Sinatra, Johnny opened the iconic spot just a ways down from Sony Studios on Culver Blvd. It became the watering-hole for the Hollywood elite with Sinatra often in the corner playing the piano against the dark brick walls once lined with portraits of famous John’s. Chefs Hans Röckenwagner and Josiah Citrin teamed up to re-open Dear John’s until April 1, 2023.
- Destroyer (sister restaurant of Vespertine): A cafe atelier, serving delicious and beautiful food and drink.
- Etta: From the creative partners who brought the award-winning steakhouse Maple & Ash, etta is a neighborhood restaurant in the The Shay Hotel that serves delicious wood-fired food. Centered around the wood-fired hearth, favorite seasonal dishes include pizza and warm focaccia, crisp seasonal salads, family-style shared pig and lobster picnics.
- Hatchet Hall: Southern-leaning spot with small plates. The space can best be described as barnyard gothic, and there’s a secret bar—appropriately called Old Man Bar—hidden in the back, just in case you needed another reason to check this place out.
- Jolly Oyster: A small family business dedicated to farming top quality oysters and clams. Specializing in Kumamoto and Pacific oysters the Jolly Oyster controls the complete production cycle from their hatchery producing the seed through their farms to your table. You'll find rotating specials, fresh crudo, sustainable prawns, draft beer and natural wines.
- Lodge Bread: Whole-grain bakery offering wood-fired pizzas, toasts & seasonal plates, plus beer & wine.
- Loqui (for the mushroom taco on their homemade flour tortilla): Serve honest handmade Mexican food in a casual environment at The Platform.
- Margot: Market-driven menu inspired by Coastal Mediterranean cuisine, regional wines and craft cocktails,
- N/Naka: Two Michelin star restaurant. Modern interpretation of omakase presents the very best seasonal ingredients from both California and Japan’s land and sea. Their tasting menu celebrates ingredients and reimagines kaiseki through a California lens.
- Roberta's Pizza: Wood-fired pies & other refined Italian eats at Platform.
- Simonette Restaurant: An Upmarket bistro with a charming patio serving classic French fare & craft cocktails at the Pali Hotel in Downtown Culver.
- Van Leeuwen: Delicious ice cream to feel good about at Platform.
- Vespertine: 22-seat tasting menu restaurant from LA chef Jordan Kahn.
Shopping
- Platform (shopping center - basically every shop there is amazing): A collection of independent retail, restaurants and creative businesses in the Hayden Tract of Culver City. Super centrally located.
- Cisco Home
- HD Buttercup: Iconic LA furniture emporium created by Evan Cole, who previously ran and lived above the seminal New York ABC Carpet & Home.
- PF Candle Co.: Family-owned fragrance company from Los Angeles.
- Teller: A multi-label women's store bringing together singular, independent brands from around the world in a distinctive space.
- The Optimist: A men's lifestyle concept celebrating the pioneering and easy going spirit of Los Angeles.
- Broome Street General Store: A luxury gift shop located in Los Angeles and inspired by New York. Curated goods from around the world.
- Midland Shop: Elevated essentials and beautiful basics for our everyday in the Hayden Tract.
- Rejuvenation: Timeless furniture and fixtures shop selling products from family-owned factories in the USA and craftspeople around the world.
- Hi-Lo Market: General store curating a set of off-grid and oh-mazing craft beers, wines, and spirits and market goods.
- Santa Ynez General: luxury design destination curating tabletop, homekeeping, cookware, floriculture, paper, apothecary, and ceramic goods at Platform.
Groceries
- Erewhon - coming to Downtown Culver
- Co-opportunity Market: Natural, local grocery store in the Hayden Tract.
- Culver City Farmer’s Market: The Culver City Farmers Market is a year-round, certified farmers market that operates from 2 to 7 pm every Tuesday, rain or shine.
- Wholefoods: The new Wholefoods market on La Cienega is at the cross section of Mid City Heights, West Adams and Culver.
Coffee Shops
- Super Domestic (also for one of the best burritos in LA - The Rico Suave!): Trendy coffeehouse supplying cycling gear, plus pastries, breakfast fare & beans by the pound.
- Cognoscenti: Espressos, teas & specialty pour-over coffees are the draw at this modern cafe with lots of light. Ask about their reusable cup program!
- Bar Nine (temporarily only doing wholesale out of their space on Helms): Expansive coffeehouse roasting its beans on-site & teaming its java with pastries. Ask about their to-go cup recycling program!
- Menotti’s: Gathering spot for coffee, espresso & baked goods in a white-walled space with an old-school vibe.
Wine Shops with a Hang Out Feel
- Hi Lo Liquor: General store where you can also sit and drink!!
- Bar & Garden: A natural wine and spirits store in the HaydenTract that focuses on small-batch artisan products. Every Friday From 5:00pm To 8:00pm there is a Friday Flight At Bar & Garden. Stop in, taste five wines from a specific importer for $10 all in! All wines are in stock and available for purchase after the tasting.
- Stanley's Wet Goods: Stanley's wine bar is a 36-seat indoor and outdoor wine + beer bar.
Recreation
- Syd Kronenthal Park
- Ballona Creek Bike Path starts at Syd Kronenthal Park!
- Wild Child Gym: A boutique children's play space
- Platform LA: Check out this small, hip, boutique mall under Culver City’s elevated E train. Its upscale, fashionable tenants include Reformation, Loqui, Blue Bottle Coffee, Van Leeuwen, Aesop, Sweetgreen, and other curated hot shops. Platform introduces new activations, pop-ups, community events and movie screenings each month. Visit their instagram for more info.
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
- Culver Stairs: The Culver City Stairs offers an intense climb up 282 uneven stair steps leading to the Baldwin Hills Overlook with amazing views of LA and some quirky sculptures along the way.
- Kenneth Hahn Park in neighboring Baldwin Hills
- Cliffs of Id: Rock climbing gym.
- Carlson Park: Great for picnics.
BAR SCENE
- Pali Hotel: Parisian cool meets old Hollywood glam. The nighttime scene on Simonette's al fresco patio may be as close to a summer night in Paris as Angelenos can get.
- Culver Hotel: A rich and illustrious past is what makes The Culver Hotel so enchanting. Frequent jazz in the lobby bar.
- Stanley's Wet Goods: Stanley's wine bar is a 36-seat indoor and outdoor wine + beer bar.
- Old Man Bar: Old Man Bar is an intimate, dimly lit, straight forward bar with an emphasis on spirits.
- Bar Bohemien: Rooftop Cocktail Bar
- Margot: At Platform, drinking with a view doesn't get any better than at Margot, a lush atrium and rooftop bar where it feels like summer year-round.
- Oldfields Liquor Room: Themed lounge with wood bar & named for racer Barney Oldfield, serving cocktails & happy-hour deals.
- Alley: Sophisticated space with plenty of comfy seating & a menu of classic & contemporary cocktails.
- Alibi Room: Casual, modern bar with a patio serving micro beers & cocktails plus eats from Kogi Korean BBQ.
- Blind Barber: Hidden behind a barber shop, this lounge offers craft cocktails & modern pub bites in a hip setting.
- The Garage on Motor Ave: A former auto shop houses a sports bar with TVs & lots of craft beer plus a gastropub & garden.
- Auld Fella: An Irish joint in the heart of Culver.
- City Tavern: Creative pub grub, wine, cocktails & self-serve beer taps offered in a rustic, brick-walled tavern in downtown Culver.
- Big Foot West: A friendly neighborhood bar with a "Cheers"-like sensibility, this cozy log cabin transports eager Angelenos to grandpa's cabin at story time.
- Cozy Inn: Old-school watering hole attracting an eclectic crowd for shuffleboard & billiards.
CENTRALITY & TRANSPORTATION
- Extremely central to everywhere in Los Angeles.
- Culver City has an electric low-floor minibus that will take residents from the Hayden Tract to Downtown Culver, as part of the MOVE Culver initiative, although you can also walk it.
- Expo Train Line
- Right off the 10 Freeway and accessible to the 405.
NOTEWORTHY ARCHITECTURE
THE MARKET
In Q3 of 2022, the median home sale price in Culver City was $1M, an increase of 15% year-over-year. (Source: Property Shark)
SCHOOLS
- Farragut Elementary School
- Braddock Drive Elementary School
- Playa Del Rey Elementary School
- El Marino Elementary School
- El Rincon Elementary School
