Brentwood & West LA

Brentwood is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles, bordered by Pacific Palisades and the even ritzier Bel-Air neighborhood. Brentwood is a quiet community full of modern, luxurious homes hidden behind tall, ornate gates and lush gardens. It’s not as densely populated as the rest of the metropolitan area. You’ll have quick access to the freeways, the beaches, and the Santa Monica Mountains.

West L.A. sits in the middle of the beaches and downtown. You’ll find single-family homes and resort-style condominiums closer to Los Angeles’s most iconic nightlife. Sunset Strip is full of historic music venues and famed hotel lounges. Lively sports bars and nightclubs line Santa Monica Boulevard. Melrose Avenue is dotted with boutique shops, bohemian cafes, and chic eateries.

Though it’s next to the hustle and bustle of West L.A., Brentwood retains much of its residential charm. It’s a quieter and more laid-back neighborhood where long-time residents know each other. West L.A. gives a mix of professional and social appeal. Residents are more active, spend more time outdoors, and stay out late into the night.

Brentwood’s main thoroughfare is San Vicente Boulevard, which is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops. Baltaire Restaurant is a fine-dining restaurant specializing in prime steaks and seafood. A.O.C. Wine Bar serves New American cuisine and an indulgent wine list from James Beard Award-winning chefs.

 

Toscana Brentwood is a lively, modern eatery with pizza, pasta, seafood, and other northern Italian cuisines. Takao, Katsuya, Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa, and Taiko Restaurant are all highly-rated for their Japanese fare and sushi.

 

Coral Tree Café serves breakfast all day and has farm-to-table dishes, vegan options, meals-to-go, and organic, fair-trade coffee and teas. For healthy options, Sweetgreen has counter-served organic salads and bowls.

 

San Vicente Plaza, Brentwood Place Shopping Center, and Granville Plaza are the closest retail centers with boutique shops and services.

 

In West Hollywood, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica, La Cienega, and Sunset Boulevard are lined with shops, eateries, bars, and entertainment venues. The Sunset Strip is famous for iconic music lounges, such as the Whiskey a Go Go, The Roxy Theatre, and the Viper Room.

 

Boa Steakhouse is a fine Japanese steakhouse, and Hyde Sunset Kitchen serves New American cuisine and signature cocktails in a trendy setting. Craig’s has an eclectic menu with vegan options served in a white table setting. It is a popular choice for area celebrities. Nobu is another celebrity hotspot known for its Peruvian-Japanese fusion fare.

 

Things to Do

West L.A. is known for comedy clubs, as it is where some comedy legends were discovered. The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory are both L.A. landmarks and have shows almost nightly.

 

The Geffen Playhouse puts on Broadway-quality shows, and Odyssey Theatre Ensemble produces classic and contemporary plays. On the other side of Brentwood, The Getty Center is a museum with an impressive collection of artwork, a sculpture garden, and panoramic views of Los Angeles.

 

On Halloween, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval draws in 200,000-300,000 people every year.

 

The Brentwood Country Club is an exclusive, members-only club. It features an award-winning golf course, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

 

Schools

The Los Angeles Unified School District serves Brentwood and West L.A. Some of the top schools in the area include:

 

• Kenter Canyon Elementary School
• Paul Revere Charter Middle School
• University High School
• Brockton Avenue Elementary School
• New West Charter School