Neighborhoods in East LA & Northeast LA (NELA)

Silver Lake is as diverse as the people living there. Mostly a hillside neighborhood in the heart of a city, it is home to many artist, writers and musicians as well as trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Famous for its reservoir, it is surrounded by Mediterranean, Spanish and modern homes with views of the lake. The neighborhood appeal and artistic vibe make Silver Lake a sought after location by young people, diverse families seeking good schools such as Ivanhoe Elementary, a prized public school, and alternative couples who want to feel removed from the hustle bustle of the city, yet have easy access to it.

Los Feliz is one of the most pleasant and livable areas of L.A. It has one of the best walking rates to coffee shops, theaters, boutiques, and sidewalk cafes. Noted hot spots would be “The Dresden Room”, best known from the movie “Swingers”, Little Dom’s, Fred 62 and the Alcove Café and Bakery. Also home to the noted Griffith Park Observatory, which features an extensive array of park land where you can golf, play tennis, go horseback riding and attend concerts at the famous outdoor Greek Theatre.

Los Feliz also boasts some of the best-known residential architecture in Los Angeles, including two homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: The Ennis House, the Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park and Richard Neutra’s Lovell House. 

Atwater is a small neighborhood nestled between Los Feliz and Glassel Park. Locals call it Atwater Village. The area is made up of about 90% single-family homes with hipster restaurants, bars, unique boutiques, coffee shops and farmers markets all within a walkable distance.  It is quickly becoming one of the most desirable areas to live in. Also touted in the neighborhood is the Tam O’Shanter, established in 1922, one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles County. Walt Disney was a frequent patron at this spot. Fatty Arbuckle, John Wayne and Walt Disney  members of the Disney studio were all regulars in the early days of the “Tam.”

Mt Washington is a neighborhood nestled in the San Rafael Hills of Northeast Los Angeles. The area has a mix of historic homes and mid-century homes; many with nice views and large lots. One of the most affluent areas in East LA, it is quickly becoming a popular alternative to the westside finding more bang for your buck. Founded in 1909, it is a historic area with one of the highest-achieving elementary schools: Mt Washington Elementary. Mt Washington students consistently score among the top schools in Los Angeles on the Academic Performance Index.

Montecito Heights is a small district in Northeast Los Angeles formerly known as the original East LA area. Central to just about everything. It is known by its residents as the "Wilderness in the City". The community of Montecito Heights, located between Los Angeles and Pasadena, has attracted artists, visionaries and intelligentsia for nearly a century. This picturesque district possesses a rich history as one of the oldest and most fascinating sections of Los Angeles. The Montecito Heights Improvement Association has operated for over two decades with the goal of protecting the historic integrity, preserving the natural beauty and advancing the progress of this little gem of a neighborhood.

Montecito Heights area attractions include the Heritage Museum collection of meticulously restored Victorian houses, the notable Lummis Home and the astonishingly vast Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. In 2003, The Audubon Center on Griffin Avenue partnered with the community to preserve Debs as an authentic native wilderness area. It has developed into an exceptional educational resource as a nature center at the edge of a dense urban environment.

Echo Park is a 120 year old walkable neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles. Its diverse community has been home to families, artists, musicians and writers, most famously noted for architect Richard Neutra, artist Jackson Pollack, film director John Huston and actor Leonardo DiCarrio. 

Legend has it that the name Echo Park got its name after workers building the reservoir remarked that their voices echoed off the canyon walls.

Eagle Rock is a neighborhood in the midst of a boom as urban professionals and families are increasingly priced out of areas like Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park. Home to many historic and architecturally significant homes such as Craftsman, Georgian, Streamline modern, Art Deco, Spanish and Mission, Eagle Rock continues to grow and attract new shops, cafés, and restaurants.  It’s been called “the next Silver Lake” but in reality it has a charm all of its own. 

Highland Park with its walkable streets, Craftsman and Victorian-style houses and small town feel, is one of the most blossoming neighborhoods in Los Angeles. A few years ago this may have seemed unlikely as Highland Park wasn’t necessarily the first stop on a discerning home buyer’s tour, but with home prices increasing in nearby Echo Park and Silver Lake, Highland Park became a natural fit for many. Today the neighborhood is filled with artists, musicians, actors and writers who enjoy upgrading their fashionable old homes and walking the main drag of York Boulevard and historic Figueroa Blvd. Latest hot spots on Figueroa include restaurants and cafés such as Kitchen Mouse and Antigua Bakery, the magnificently restored Highland Park Bowl as well some bar hopping spots like Greyhound Bar & Grill, Birdies, ETA and The Cave.

 

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