A Night Owl’s Guide to LA
Growing up, I fell asleep later and later until I became a full-time night owl. I figured that I would find a way to take advantage of my free time at night. As a college student, when we have free time we take advantage of it as much as possible. During my 1st year in college, my friends and I found excuses to go out late at night for the fun of it. There are a lot of places open late in LA besides bars. Places you can walk around even though stores are closed. Just make sure you keep change with you just in case you need to pay for parking. Now my 3rd year, I still find myself spending late nights, early mornings in LA eating out or walking around.
Here are places you can visit from 12am — 6am in LA:
Take a stroll on Santa Monica Pier. There are police patrolling the pier at all times but they do not mind if you go at 2am and leave at 4am in the morning as long as you are not doing anything illegal, obviously. Be mindful and use common sense. It is a nice time to have a deep conversation with a friend or just spend time enjoying the sounds of the ocean. Also, it is a great photo-shoot time and location as certain areas on the pier are still lit up. If you do choose to park in the parking structures on 4th street, you will still have to pay for the parking fee depending on how long you stay and explore.
Eat at Tatsu Ramen on Melrose. A friend took me here for the first time at 1am in the morning. This place is one of my favorite ramen places in LA. Although they are an Americanized version of a classic Japanese soup, it is one of the best ramen I’ve tasted in LA. Their selection is limited but their Bold Ramen is a crowd favorite! You can also order corn on the side for free. They have a parking lot behind the restaurant but it is very limited. If that lot is full you will have to resort to street parking.
Street bites with Taco Trucks. There may be many taco trucks and stands that are open late in LA but the best one is Ave 26 Taco Stand. They are located in an alley but you can smell the food all the way from the street. The smell of the tacos hits you right when you step out of the car. The smell is irresistible as you walk up to the stand to tell them what type of meat in your tacos. They offer Al Pastor and Carne Asada meat to put in your tacos. If you’re lucky enough, they might also have potatoes readily available only if you ask for it. The price is unbeatable at $1 per taco. It is also one of the best places to eat after a Dodger Game or before you’re headed home after a long day in LA.
Don’t question the Corn man. If you’re looking for some good late night Elote to satisfy your cravings, this guy is your man. Make sure to get there early since there is always a line no matter what day of the week you go. What makes him well known is that he serves Elote off the cob in a bowl. Since it it served in a bowl, it is less of a mess and retains more flavor from the lemon and hot sauce. It is worth it to drop by if you’re in around the Lincoln Heights area at night. Do not worry about parking because he is right next to an empty parking lot. Also, make sure to have cash because this is a cash-only vendor.
Bite into a cute panda at California Donuts. Satisfy your late night cravings here where you can get some decorative desserts. These donuts have a sweet twist to them with different toppings and fillings. One donut has a snickers bar baked right inside of it! Also, donuts toppings range anywhere from nuts to different cereals. My personal favorite is the fruity pebbles topped donut because it adds a sort of crunch to your donut. Depending on what time you come at night, there could be a long line and parking is a pain. You can either park in the small parking lot that it is located in or park in the neighborhood behind. The best option for parking is the lot directly across the street.
Dance under the Urban Lights display at LACMA. This only time you will be able to get a decent picture without worrying about anyone being in the background. You don’t have to pay for metered parking at this time because it is late so park freely anywhere near LACMA on the street.
Watch lights twinkle under the Chandelier Tree. It may only be part of one house but it lights up the whole street in this Silver Lake neighborhood. It is one sight that will leave you mesmerized for days.
Enjoy the sunrise at Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Downtown LA. A 10-acre park where you can sit and wait to watch the sunrise over DTLA. You can catch the sun from 5:15am-5:45am during spring and summer. Not only is it fun during the day but it is a great way to end a long night and a stunning view of DTLA.
Try to test your skills at an Escape Room. New to the escape room experience? An escape room is an interactive maze where you have to use clues and puzzles to unlock doors or locks that will lead you the way out. Be aware that you are given a time limit to escape or else you’re stuck forever (not really). This is a great idea when you’re out with a group of 2 or more. Also, be aware that all escape rooms have themes so choose wisely; you could either be sucked into a real life horror movie or find yourself laughing instead of screaming. With over 10 escape room locations in LA, only a few have reservations past midnight. Locations open late are: Escape Room Games in Studio City, Escape Hotel and Enigma Escape Rooms in Hollywood, and MagIQ in Los Angeles.
