Discover Which L.A. Neighborhood Matches Your Personality

From Malibu to Downtown, learn more about the sprawling city of L.A. and its amazing neighborhoods and know which one matches your personality

There are many reasons for people to go to Los Angeles: an affinity for celebrity lifestyles, a diverse terrain of sand, city, and sea, an array of global cuisine, and, of course, nearly perfect weather year-round.

But beyond its obvious appeal, the heart of the City of Angels lies in its neighborhoods: sprawling pockets of life with completely different landscapes and culture.

So let’s discover together which one of those famous neighborhoods matches your expectations.

Malibu

Travel Personality: You prefer luxury with the ocean as your backdrop over high-rise cityscapes. Typical surfer vibes and power sushi lunches characterize this seaside city along California’s glittering Pacific Coast Highway.

What to Do: Sip wine and see the exotic animals at Malibu Wine Safari, or get lost in the jutting rock formations at Paradise Cove Beach. Fitness lovers can hike Tuna Canyon and Ocean View Trail, or wander the loop of the 2.5-mile Corral Canyon.

Where to Stay: Luxury lovers who value discretion should look no further than Nobu Ryokan Malibu. The recently opened 16-room property, modeled after minimalist Japanese inns, is a calming hideaway along the frenetic highway just outside.

Hollywood

Personality Type: Whether Central, West, or North, each pocket of Hollywood has a completely different feel. Head to Central Hollywood for an unexpected architecture adventure, North for lesser-known vintage and modern gems, and West for a buzzing nightlife and trendy eats.

What to Do: In Central Hollywood, explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, located within Barnsdall Art Park, or Stahl House, Pierre Koenig’s mid-century modern masterpiece.

Where to Stay: For cocktails, views, and quintessential Hollywood crowds, stay at the recently opened Dream Hollywood. With interior design by architecture firm Rockwell Group, the property features 178 guest rooms with iconic mid-century design and plush upholstery, an 11,000-square-foot rooftop pool, and five restaurants. Its central location draws nightlife-seeking crowds in the heart of Hollywood.

Venice

Travel Personality: Beach cool meets urban bohemia in this quirky hub. If you look for art and eccentricity, come to Venice. You will certainly leave with a fun story to tell.

What to Do: Entrepreneur Abbot Kinney modeled Venice after the Italian city on a series of wetlands. In the Canal Historic District, an aquatic traverse runs alongside gorgeous homes in a residential neighborhood and should not be missed.

Caroline Riddell Designer: A Warm Approach

Where to Stay: Hotel Erwin has recently renovated its 119 rooms, thanks to designer Sally Breer. Accommodations include funhouse mirrors, and its wicker chairs are a nod to the 1970s and Venice’s eclectic energy. Don’t miss the property’s always popular rooftop bar, High, where you can catch ocean waves in the distance.

Downtown Los Angeles

Travel Personality: You love to keep your ear to the city—its energy, culture, and pace. Travelers with a passion for high-rise art deco buildings, a growing culinary scene, and a bit of grit, look no further than what locals call “DTLA.”

What to Do: Looking for a history lesson? Go on a underground adventure with Cartwheel Art Tours to uncover L.A.’s miles of tunnels used during the Prohibition era. Art lovers: head to L.A.’s contemporary art haven, MOCA, or the trendy Broad museum.

Where to Stay: For 360-degree views of the city, luxury accommodations, and rooftop pool, head to the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles. For an extra level of intimate service, reserve club lounge access. In addition to meal presentations throughout the day, every Friday and Saturday, guests can meet a local curator for an art tour.