From 19th-century architecture to local art, there’s so much to explore in West Adams.
liken to the East Coast , Los Angeles does n’t have much in the means of historical homes and buildings , with even the old standing residence in the metropolis , Avila Adobe , erect in 1818 . People point to Pasadena for its Craftsman - style homes and computer architecture , but if you look to West Adams , you ’ll find a wealth of beautifully preserved menage and building , many of which were built between 1880 and 1925 .
West Adams was developed by railroad line tycoon Henry E. Huntington and industrialist Hulett C. Meritt of Pasadena as a neck of the woods for flush downtowners , complete with square-toed sign of the zodiac and Craftsman bungalows for businessmen and USC professors . The dominion consist between the 10 freeway on the northward , Crenshaw Blvd on the east , Exposition and Jefferson Blvds on the Confederate States of America , and Culver City ’s boundary on the Occident , and it ’s been officially spot by the city of Los Angeles as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone .
In the 1910s , the Westside begin produce at a speedy stride , pulling West Adams ’ upper - class clean residents to neighborhoods like Beverly Hills . Wealthy Black residents start moving in , include renowned architect Paul R. Williams , who designed the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company headquarters — once the largest Black - owned insurance company in the West — when it opened on W. Adams Blvd and Western in 1949 .
Photo by Stan Lee for Thrillist
The region continued to thrive throughout the fifties , attract big - name residents like actor Hattie McDaniel ofGone With the Windand musicians like Little Richard and Ray Charles . Charles opened his business central office and recording studio in the neighborhood , and you’re able to still claver the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Westmoreland Boulevard to see " Ray Charles Square " that ’s named in his honor .
Despite all of this ontogeny and investment from the local Black community , West Adams as a community get when expression of the 10 state highway tore through a marrow section of the neighborhood in 1961 , which also included the urban center ’s role of eminent knowledge base and demolition of numerous West Adams homes .
In recent year , West Adams has experience a renaissance , pull in a fresh wave of residents and occupation owners with its cardinal location and well - preserved computer architecture . The neighborhood is now one of the most densely populate area in the city , with some of the youngest resident physician by medial historic period .
Photo by Joleen Zubek for Thrillist
Much like other historically Black areas in LA , notablyInglewood , farsighted - terminal figure house physician of West Adams are eager to reclaim a piece of their neighbourhood , launch an array of novel concern in the area . Even fledgling tend to arrive with a mother wit of responsibility to the history of West Adams , and there ’s a conjunctive effort afoot to verify it keep some of its magic .
Next prison term you find yourself in the area , consult this list of our favored thing to do in West Adams , spanning Black - owned restaurant , bookstore , museums , wine shops , breweries , and more .
Art and culture in West Adams
Band of Vices
This counterculture artwork art gallery was founded by actor and curator Terrell Tilford in 2015 , and the name of the gallery is in its foreign mission statement , which sound out in part that , “ There were time when being different was a vice . We turn down those labels . For those historically undervalued , overlooked or cast aside we say now is your meter , now is our metre . We are creating a Band of Vices . ” What ’s more , Band of Vices Sacred House is next doorway to Alta and Adams Wine Shop , which affords the chance for a consummate vice - filled weekend excursion .
Reparations Club
This Black - have concept bookstall and creative blank frequently host author readings and workshops , in accession to diddle host to the Los Angeles chapter of artistNoname ’s Book Club . Stop by the store orshop onlinefor titles that cross bestseller , fiction and nonfictional prose , audiobooks , history , life history and memoir , verse , kid , young grownup , and teen read — plus a wide survival of the fittest of anti - racist , LGBTQIA , and movement literature . The nine boasts that it ’s “ Curated by Blackness , ” with teaser , play add-in , and even constitutional love being sold by Black - own labels .
Peace Awareness Labyrinth Gardens
This “ spiritual oasis in the metropolis ” offers a passive respite , with the intent of helping people take a suspension from their busy aliveness to reflect , be present , and rejuvenate in natural environment . The gardens were built in 2001 and modeled after the Chartres Labyrinth in France , and they serve as the headquarters for the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness ( MSIA ) and Peace Theological Seminary & College of Philosophy ( PTS ) . The adeptness includes a labyrinth , speculation garden , and Guasti VIlla , an Italian Renaissance mansion that was build between 1910 and 1914 , and is designated as a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument . entranceway is $ 6 and the gardens are open Wednesdays , Fridays , and Sundays from 1–4 pm . Visits must be book in onward motion through the website .
Bars and Restaurants in West Adams
Alta Adams
Alta Adams is a mortal food restaurant led by chef Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson with a style that you ’ll only find in LA . The squad merge influence that cross West Africa and the American South with the best California produce , and even the dishes that sound familiar get a new twisting at Alta Adams , as in the savory Collard Greens that you ’ll swear were simmer with a ham hock , but are actually vegan — the smoky smack comes from smoked oil colour . Also of distinction are the crispy Black Eyed Pea Fritters that give way to a pillowy center and come with an herbaceous spicy sauce for dipping , and mains like Shrimp and Grits , Oxtails and Rice , and a Gumbo with fresh market vegetable . The cocktail carte du jour takes similar stirring , with nod to the Golden State in a wide salmagundi of fresh yield and herbs throughout .
Adams Wine Shop
This cozy shop first opened during the pandemic in the hand of tardy sommelier Ruben Morancy , who also launched neighboring Alta ’s wine programme . It ’s now run by Morancy ’s mentee , Jaela Salala , who ’s done a fantastic task curating fantabulous artisanal wine-colored , beer , and spirits . BIPOC and women wine producers dominate the shelves , with a focus on diminished producer and a extract of international spirit like Haitian rummy .
Mel’s Fish
A caboodle has convert in West Adams over the last few years , but at least one matter remains the same : Mel ’s Fish Shack still service some of the best Pisces the Fishes in the region . It ’s a simple , no frills spot — the ‘ shack ’ in the name is not ironic — but Georgette Powell is frying up groovy seafood in many potpourri and serving it over fry just like her father Mel Powell did before her . They still make their southerly - style sides in house , the Po’Boys are excellent , and if you ’re attend for something a little light you may get grill fish over salad or else of fried and served on top of French small fry .
Cento Pasta Bar
After achieving cult position for his downtown pasta pop - up , chef Avner Levi open this quaint eating place that ’s perfect for appointment nighttime with an intimate , string - get off patio that offers a panorama into the open chef kitchen through floor - to - ceiling windows . There ’s also a cosy L - mold bar inside if you prefer a front - dustup seat to the alimentary paste - prepare action . Levi ’s known for his halfway Eastern - inflected contract on Italian culinary art , like the magenta spaghetti that gets its instinctive dyestuff from beetroot and is served with ricotta and chocolate-brown butter .
Harold & Belle’s
The soul food restaurant that first opened in 1969 and is now possess by the third propagation of the Legaux crime syndicate is your best stakes for authentic New Orleans - style Cajun food for thought in the orbit . The dining room is silklike , and it gets lively during repast times and almost feel like a holiday dinner party with your best-loved relation . The must - order here is the File Gumbo , a fill and fragrant sweat with saturnine roux , reason sassafras , prawn , blimp , gloomy crab , and chicken , though an raiment of po ’ boy sandwiches , deep-fried crab bar , and the Louisiana - Style Catfish bear witness just as tantalising . They ’re also one of the few eatery in LA that offers a crawfish boil when the fresh water crustacean are in season .
Highly Likely
This neighborhood coffee shop has grown into an crucial spot , serving coffee and snacks by day and natural wine bar in the evening . Executive chef Kat Turner ’s dinner menu is far from close , with options like Pisces and Chips with tempura - fried common snapping turtle , and an regalia of interesting Elmer Leopold Rice bowls . you’re able to still stop by early to enjoy their menu of coffee boozing and breakfast items , like the French Toast or a Chickpea Shakshuka .
WiJammin
Ok fine , this no - frills Jamaican place is just slightly outside the leap of West Adams , at the street corner of Redondo and Pico , but it ’s deserving let in . Order well ahead of your existent hunger because there ’s almost always a waiting for freshly prepared dishful like easy - cooked Oxtails , Jerk Chicken , and Curry Goat , dish up alongside side like Rice and Red Beans with a coconut blend , Ackee and Saltfish Seasoned Rice , and Ground Food , which include a moil good banana , honeyed potato , yam , and dumpling . They also have vegan options , including Callaloo , or tropical greens sauteed with peppers and onions , and of form , fried plantain tree . Check the daily special before you go to take advantage of rarer looker like a spicy Cow Foot Soup ( only available on Mondays ) and Jerk Pork ( only available on Fridays ) . You ’ll also want to set up on some Jammin Sauce ( useable in Vegan Sweet and Sour as well as Spicy Jerk flavors ) and one of their theme song drinks , like Honey Punch and Jamminade in Pineapple Ginger flavor , to complete your order .
Johnny’s Pastrami
If West Adams has a signature neighborhood odor , it might be the smoked meat smell that wafts from this point of view on W. Adams Blvd near Crenshaw . The long - go standstill shuttered in 2015 but was ressurrected in 2018 by Mizlala owner Danny Elmaleh . Pastrami is the obvious parliamentary procedure here , and the only tangible decision is how you desire it served , whether sandwich between two slices of Tartine marble rye whiskey , glut in a Gallic roll and served with dip , or directly up by the pound . Burgers and sandwiches , including a BBQ Brisket Sandwich , are also on offering , as well as sides that range from hand - cut fries to a jolly stunningly good Matzo Ball Soup and a rich Knish With Gravy .
Mizlala
This neighborhood favorite comes from chef Danny Elmaleh , who brought the restaurant from its original placement in Sherman Oaks to West Adams in 2019 , put up a part embrace patio strewn with olive trees and string Light that ’s perfect for a casual engagement night . The bill of fare have marketplace - novel Levantine food , including hoummos , felafel , spit - roasted meats , and tahini milkshake , plus vegetable and salads . The West Adams localization also boasts a build - your - own pickle saloon as well as a wine and beer listing .
Mian
Fans of Sichuan - manner noodles joy when chef Tony Xu of Chengdu Taste flesh out to a new location in West Adams . Mian translate to “ noodle ” in Chinese , and the restaurant take its name seriously ; it gain a blot on Michelin Guide ’s Bib Gourmand list in 2019 , as well as laurels from late intellectual nourishment critic Jonathan Gold and many others . The menu is helpfully machinate according to spice and dull levels — opt for the signature tune Sichuan Cold Noodles if you ’re a buff of spicy , but less so of numbness , or go all out with Crazy Beef Soup Noodles and order some Mung Bean Tea ( which comes with loose refills ) to help oneself bring your taste buds back to life .
More things to do in West Adams
Alsace LA
For those who doubt the resurgence of West Adams , permit us point you to this dress shop hotel that open in declension 2021 , put up an option to low - key tourer and local who want to staycation in a less touristed part of town . The 48 - room hotel offers a peaceful courtyard , heat outside pool , a 24 - hour fitness studio apartment , and cycle tours and loaner bike for guests to explore the region .
POT Gardens
This ceramic studio that launched in 2017 stands out as the first biotic community pottery studio apartment in the United States that ’s owned , operated by , and mean to support POC . Find it in the West Adams - adjacent neighborhood of Jefferson Park , where they offer classes that range from wheel throwing to hand - edifice , with some workshops offered in Spanish . They also aim to make ceramic programming more accessible by offer scholarship , free workshops , creative person residency , and professional development education to Black and Brown communities through their non - profit armThe Potluck Initiative .
Seeds of Carver
It ’s not the easiest topographic point to find , but the tiny urban farm and organic community garden Seeds of Carver has a mighty delegation . In addition to growing vegetables for the community , they also host regular workshops for West Adams local and South LA residents , and their Living Lab computer programme is design to teach gardening skills and regenerative garden theory to halfway schooltime and high school bookman as part of a STEM curriculum . take care a shop if you could , or find a fourth dimension to stop by and work with them by beam an Instagram DM .
Catch One
This multi - horizontal surface club was once own by Jewel Thais Williams , and it stands out asthe oldest Black - owned disco music in America and the longest run Black gay legal community in LA . You ’ll see nods to this chronicle in its diverse programming , even if some of the attendees might not be mindful of it .
Photo by Joleen Zubek for Thrillist
Photo by Joleen Zubek for Thrillist
Photo by Joleen Zubek for Thrillist
Photo by Liam Brown, courtesy of Cento
Photo by Joleen Zubek for Thrillist
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
Alsace LA
