LOS ANGELES—Award-winning author of five Naughty Travel Guides, Sienna Sinclaire recently relocated to the Los Feliz area and has been having fun exploring the neighborhood.
As the expert naughty travel guide writer, she adds to her Naughty Travel Guide collection by sharing her favorite things about the unique, small village, its storied history and the mystery and intrigue of this idyllic hamlet treasure nestled within bustling Los Angeles.
Fun Facts About Los Feliz:
• Original landing place of the modern movie industry
• Housed the very first film studios with Prospect Studios and Monogram Pictures in the 1920s
• Mickey Mouse was born in a garage on Kingswell Avenue
• Disney’s first animation studio was located on Vermont Avenue
Sienna’s Favorite Spots
• Jumbo’s Clown Room
If you're looking for some naughty fun in Los Feliz, then Jumbo's Clown Room is the place for you. It's a strip club, but called a bikini bar because they don't take their clothes off. And because there's no nudity, they allow alcohol. This strip club is different from others, in that's it's more of a hangout spot for both men and women. A lot of the strippers are burlesque performers, fire dancers, sword swallowers and more. And many of the customers are regulars and good friends with the dancers. Make sure to get their early as it's a very small venue and the place gets packed. Get their too late and there will be a line outside. This is definitely one of the best strip clubs in LA because it's so much fun and the girls really work the pole and are a great time.
• Dresden
Established in 1954, the Dresden is a legendary, old school restaurant and lounge that has been featured in countless films, including "Swingers" and "That Thing You Do." Featuring a delectable menu of classic American and Continental cuisine, an evening at the Dresden is a romantic and classy step back in time. Subtle lighting casts a warm glow over the beautiful, soft white booths that surround the main dining room as you relax into the comfort of a rich and decadent meal. After your romantic dinner, you can step into the lounge to catch Marty and Elaine’s superb jazz show – an absolute rite of passage for anyone coming to Los Angeles.
• The Sit Down
The Sit Down is an amazing little gem tucked quietly off of Hollywood Blvd that sports a beautiful hidden patio and garden in the back, perfect for outdoor dining, drinking and people watching. An incredible menu featuring a variety of pastas, pizzas and tasty sandwiches, The Sit Down is a perfect casual destination for a lunch or dinner date. Comfortable and unpretentious, this restaurant has a laid back, neighborhood kind of feel where dogs are welcome and drinks are BYOB. A wonderful addition to the growing Los Feliz neighborhood, the Sit Down is an absolute must for your tour of great, local dining.
• Figaro Bistrot
A favorite among locals, the Figaro Bistrot is a stunning spot, featuring full service breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a mouth-watering bakery packed with fresh breads and desserts and a full bar. An incredibly Parisian experience in the heart of Los Feliz and surrounded by amazing boutiques and Skylight Books next door, the Figaro offers a remarkably romantic ambience with its French antiques and iron chandeliers. Sitting outside on the sidewalk patio is perfect for reveling in the Frenchness of it all and great spot for people watching as celebrities, screenwriters and other locals venture to enjoy the decadence that only the Figaro can offer.
• Rockwell
Located in the quaint heart of Los Feliz Village, Rockwell Table and Stage is one of the best supper club, stage and show experiences you can find in town. Truly unique, Rockwell offers an exquisite menu, full bar and an absolutely stunning outdoor patio dining area. A great place for a naughty night out, they feature a variety of burlesque and cabaret styled shows sprinkled in amongst cool jazz performances and other local theatrical gems.
• Desert Rose
A beautiful patio with stained glass rose sculpture and shimmering fountains of water make for a pleasurable and romantic outdoor dining experience. A menu of California Mediterranean cuisine and an expansive wine list offer an amazing array of options for tickling your taste buds at this Los Feliz favorite on Hillhurst Avenue. Casual yet classy, the Desert Rose is an ideal destination for a dinner date or as a venue for a larger group of friends and one of the best kept brunch secrets in town.
• Home
A bonafide staple for locals and a steady draw for visitors to the area, Home is indeed where the heart is. A rich menu of contemporary classic American cuisine offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in a rustic, cozy environment with plenty of space to stretch out and get comfortable. Home is a reliable choice for tasty comfort food served by a friendly and accommodating staff. Nighttime is a great time to come and enjoy the atmosphere on the patio outside with the dim lights and fire glow, snuggling up to your date under the heaters during those rare chilly California evenings.
• Alcove
The Alcove is housed in two of the oldest houses in Los Feliz – a Spanish duplex built in 1916 and a Craftsman cottage built in 1897. With an incredible patio, packed every day of the week, the Alcove has been one of the trendiest and hippest dining destinations in Los Angeles for over a decade. The classic American menu is popular for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a great first date locale but also perfect for the morning after. This is definitely one of those places to see and be seen.
• Good Luck Bar
Red lit lanterns and strong, if not unusual tropical drinks being served underneath the dim, dim lights, the Good Luck Bar has been a favorite with Angelino bar crawlers in the know for decades now. A haunt for the cool and the hip, this classy little hide away is the perfect locale to indulge your appetite for all things cool and kitschy.
• Vista Theatre
The Vista Theater originally opened on October 9, 1923 and has been going strong ever since. A historical landmark and truly impeccable fixture of Hollywood movie viewing, the Vista remains popular to this very day. For those of you who wish to transport yourself back to the golden era of movie magic while being able to enjoy contemporary films, the Vista is an absolute must.
• Los Feliz Theater
A beautiful old movie theater in operation since 1934, the Los Feliz Theater is a grand way to catch a wonderful film in a living piece of Hollywood History. The theater offers movie goers the rare chance to experience a film in great vintage style and serves as a thriving monument to what makes Los Angeles and Los Feliz so unique.
• Cheetahs
Stepping into Cheetahs is like taking a trip back in time to 1970s Los Angeles, but in the best possible way you could imagine. Sexy, tattooed girls dance and twirl in a glitzy-grunge, pole dancing frenzy and really, really know how to make you feel comfortable. Having a full bar because it’s not totally nude makes Cheetahs even hotter. A dirty old man and hipsters paradise all at the same time, Cheetahs is a great night of naughty fun the old fashioned way: with hot strippers and cold drinks. The naughtiest establishment in the Los Feliz area, Cheetahs is definitely not to be missed!
• Hotel Covell
A quaint and charming, small boutique hotel featuring five rooms, each designed with its own unique and artistic aesthetic, the Hotel Covell has quickly become one of the most popular places to stay in the Los Feliz area. Set in a convenient and fantastic location with quick access to all of LA’s hippest neighborhoods and trendsetting shops and restaurants, the Covell is the perfect destination for a naughty escape. Simple, smart and decked with an array of amenities designed for your ideal comfort, each suite is like staying in your own private apartment. The Bar Covell, the hotel’s spectacular wine and beer venue is a destination in its own right, serving up an incredible mix of style and class.
• Co-op 28
A great little trendy vintage shop located at the southernmost end of Los Feliz Village that offers a ton of unique handmade gifts and interesting vintage items. They also offer cheeky pinup books, cups and photos along with naughty holiday cards and so much more. A great place to stop and check out the local wares, the Co-Op definitely has something for everyone. If you’re looking for that extra special piece for your home, or simply need to grab a unique gift, Co-Op is worth checking out on your shopping tour of Los Feliz.
• Otherwild
This store is definitely all about girl power. Most of the items are for women and feature everything from boobie cups to rugs, towels, pillows, coat hangers and more. Otherwild was created as a space that not only serves a retail purpose but is designed also to bring creative people together to showcase workshops, apparel, jewelry and art with a distinct emphasis on handmade items and exploring the visions of its artists and craftspeople. Otherwild is a place where you can be free to be yourself and find that same spirit in the delightful items on display and another great place to find those unique naughty items.
• Skylight Books
A brilliant, naughty little book store in the heart of Los Feliz on Vermont. They offer tons of different types of books but in the back, tucked away in the corner they have a section of Erotic Fiction and Art, featuring books about watching porn, anal sex to titles like The Ethical Slut. A neighborhood favorite for years, it’s a terrific place to bring a date and explore the tremendous selection offered here, but most importantly to explore the great naughty selection to be found.
• Wacko
A super fun store in Los Feliz, filled to the brim with random stuff, Wacko is great for gag gifts or that hard to shop for person and there’s truly something here for everyone including naughty books, gifts and art work. And the attached art gallery hosts naughty and provocative art shows. Perfect for everything naughty!
Sienna hosts private walking tours of Los Feliz, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and more. For more information and to book a tour, visit NaughtyLosAngeles.com.
