Discover the Hollywood Vinyl District
Luxury hotels, red-hot restaurants and rooftop bars
Hollywood is synonymous worldwide with movie making, yet it also holds a place in the cultural and historical heart of the music industry. Now, a revitalized neighborhood-within-a-neighborhood is named in honor of this legacy of legendary recording studios, music labels, and record stores. An area previously known for underground nightlife, has been transformed into a walkable day/night community boasting truly world-class hotels, restaurants, and bars.
The Hollywood Vinyl District is reimagining a zone bordered by Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards between Schrader Boulevard and Gower Street. A forward-facing example of sophisticated, dynamic hospitality, the Vinyl District recognizes Hollywood’s iconic past while equipping it as a neighborhood for LA’s next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking an immersive, eclectic environment in which to live, work, and create.
Explore some of the highlights in this vibrant locale deeply steeped in music legend.
Amoeba Music
First opened in Hollywood in 2001, Amoeba Music is a cherished LA icon that simultaneously channels, preserves, and propels the area’s musical character. Famed for its vast stocks of new and used vinyl records and CDs - some of which were recorded just blocks away - and exclusive live events, Amoeba moved to a new spot on Hollywood Boulevard at Argyle Avenue. Fans familiar with its prior location may experience déjà vu, as this latest Amoeba retains its long counter of expert buyers, eclectic clientele, and warm sense of community among kindred spirits from all over the world.
Citizen News
Occupying a tastefully remodeled 30,000 square-foot Art Deco building that once housed the Hollywood Citizen-News newspaper, Citizen News comprises two levels of unique event spaces offering a curated menu by acclaimed LA chef Evan Funke. Featuring 20-foot ceilings and a 10,000 square-foot main room, the venue has already hosted thousands of VIPs.
Funke has created a lavish aura for Citizen News’ Rome-inspired restaurant, Mother Wolf, with mirrored columns, red leather banquettes, and an eye-catching open kitchen. Score a reservation and be the envy of everyone.
Dream Hollywood Hotel
The Dream Hollywood is a sleek, future forward hotel that holds court on the corner of Selma Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard. The self-described “hyper-modern glam” interiors are upscale, digital art-filled environments complimented with perfectly placed greenery. Check out the rooftop pool, the Highlight Room lounge and grill, graced with inspiring views of the Hollywood Hills, and don’t skip a visit to what must be one of the world’s most beautiful bathrooms.
Not your everyday hotel restaurant options, TAO LA and the Beyoncé approved Beauty & Essex amplify Dream Hollywood’s playful sophistication.
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
Situated on Cahuenga Boulevard just south of Sunset Boulevard, the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood is an energetic addition to the Vinyl District, making bold moves out of the gate with its curated art program. The four-star property caters to young professionals and leisure travelers, with 220 guestrooms and one of LA’s largest rooftops, programmed regularly with film screenings and sold-out parties.
Not to mention cocktail offerings at four bars, and the vivacious ALK restaurant. (Don’t miss the pet-friendly weekend brunch.) Personifying the Vinyl District ethos, the Godfrey lets visitors individualize their Hollywood experience, with a walkable visit to the nearby Walk of Fame, CNN Tower, and world-class shopping and entertainment.
Grandmaster Recorders
The Vinyl District’s most palpable connection to its musical past, Grandmaster Recorders is a restaurant, rooftop, and bar in what was once an eponymous recording studio. Amidst décor nods to a facility that hosted the likes of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Foo Fighters, its restaurant serves Italian cuisine with distinctive Australian accents. The 71 Studio Bar (Grandmaster Recorders originally opened in 1971) is a dedicated cocktail lounge and live music venue, while the Rooftop’s cultured food and beverage program compliments views of the Hollywood Sign and Capitol Records Building. Happy Hour happens here.
Superba Food + Bread Hollywood
Located in the landmark 1920s Sunset Boulevard building that was once the beloved Cat & Fiddle pub/restaurant (now on Highland Avenue), Superba Food + Bread is a casual yet classy eatery with extensive brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Its masterfully understated dining room and famed stone patio, festooned with foliage and citrus trees around a selfie-friendly fountain, could tell countless Hollywood ghost stories. Superba serves breads and pastries, salads and grain bowls, raw bar delicacies, and well-chosen wines, beers, and cocktails in a destination setting central to all that’s good in the burgeoning Vinyl District.
Thompson Hollywood
Opened in August 2021 between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, the Thompson Hollywood is a centerpiece of the Vinyl District. Sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows, the luxurious 190-room hotel brings a contemporary global sensibility to classic SoCal cool and Hollywood glam courtesy of renowned London interior designer Tara Bernerd.
This exquisite meet-up for Tinseltown adventures includes chef Lincoln Carson’s French-inspired Mes Ami brasserie, luxe rooftop lounge Bar Lis, sweeping views from its sun-dappled Terrace, plus 15,000 square feet of event space and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
tommie Hollywood
A sister hotel to Thompson Hollywood (see above), the tommie Hollywood is a cheerful social oasis in the heart of the Vinyl District. Rich in 1950s and ‘60s design references, the quintessentially SoCal property includes welcoming communal workspaces and an eclectic coffee bar in the lobby meant for mingling.
A star attraction at Tommie is its KA’TEEN restaurant. Helmed by revered Guerrilla Tacos founder Wes Avila, KA'TEEN serves delicious Yucatán-inspired fare in a lush, 5,000-plus square-foot outdoor dining space that feels like an escape.
After dinner, head upstairs to Desert 5 Spot, the Joshua Tree inspired rooftop bar with frozen Margaritas, live music and a killer jukebox.