It’s no secret that Los Angeles is utterly brimming with diversity and creativity, so why not take the time to discover and rediscover local and unusual spots, even if they fall a little outside of the city’s edge? Every corner offers a new adventure, from tiled gems to enchanting structures based on fairytales. That beign said, here are some of our favorite weird and wonderful hidden gems in Los Angeles.
1. The Sunken City
The Sunken City in San Pedro, one of the most intriguing hidden spots in Los Angeles, is an abandoned neighborhood that slipped into the ocean due to unstable cliffs in the 1920s. Now a scenic coastal ruin, it invites visitors to explore its unique, photogenic landscape, a favorite for photographers and adventurers seeking an unusual experience.
📍Location: San Pedro, CA 90731
2. The Japanese Garden
Explore one of the hidden places in Los Angeles at this breathtaking authentic Japanese garden. Blending aesthetics and philosophical ideas, it creates an explosion of natural fragrances and sights. It features three different gardens to create one surreal experience. Begin with the Zen meditation garden, then wander along the Chisen or “wet-strolling” garden and end at the Shoin Building with an authentic tatami-mat teahouse.
📍Location: 6100 Woodley Ave, Lake Balboa, CA 91406
3. Santa’s Village
Santa’s SoCal hood is a true holiday adventure throughout the year and one of the loveliest hidden L.A. gems Around 65 years ago, the Big Guy in the red suit set up camp in Lake Arrowhead and turned it into a Christmas wonderland complete with gingerbread homes, giant candy canes, a grand old sleigh, a gleaming tree, and faux alpine dwellings.
It’s one of the original theme parks on the West Coast and after all these years, it’s still as magical as it was then.
📍Location: 28950 CA-18, Skyforest, CA 92385
4. Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens
The Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens, one of the hidden places in Los Angeles, is a stunning Renaissance-style mansion built in 1910 that opens its doors for public tours, meditation, and spiritual events. Originally constructed by Secundo Guasti, one of California’s leading winemakers, this historic home reflects a rich legacy… Guasti even established a town named after himself!
📍Location: 3500 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
5. Pyramid Lake
Soak up the sun and scenic beauty of the cuty and Los Padres National Forests near Castaic, California, one of the most impressive hidden gems of Los Angeles. It’s a popular place for outdoor folks thanks to the endless recreational activities.
Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek forms the Pyramid Lake (a reservoir). It’s located in the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests near Castaic, California. In case you were wondering, it takes its name from the unmissable pyramid-shaped rock carved out by engineers building the Old Highway 99.
📍Location: 35800 Camino Del Lago, Castaic, CA 91384
6. Saint Vincent Court
Missing Europe? Well, luckily, there are hidden gems in Los Angeles that will “take you there”. With small pockets dedicated to recreating life in Italy. St. Vincent Court alleyway is made up of colorful shopfronts, cobbled brick paving, and charming cafes. It’s home to an eclectic mix of delis, cafes, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants, jewelry shops, a flower shop, and a tiny espresso bar.
📍Location: St Vincent Ct Los Angeles, CA 90014
7. The Venice and Long Beach Canals
The Italian getaway that won’t leave you bankrupt and still has all the charm you could ask for. Both the Venice in L.A. and Naples canals in Long Beach have drawn inspiration from Venice, Italy’s stunning aquatic networks. In Long Beach, you can even take a trip on a gondola to rediscover this quirky and bucolic (not so) hidden gem in Los Angeles.
📍Location: Venice, CA 90292
8. The “Witch House” of Beverly Hills
Why travel to another city when you can discover hidden gems in Los Angeles on a storybook adventure? This whimsical “Witch House” brings fantasy to life through flawless attention to detail. Wandering past this stretch of the Beverly Hills neighborhood and stumbling upon this surreal architectural fantasy, you might think you’ve accidentally landed up in Disneyland.
📍Location: 516 Walden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
9. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
This ornate Hindu temple may seem like it’s in an ancient Indian city, but it is, in fact, right up the road in Chino Hills. It’s one of five traditional Hindu temples in North America, it is absolutely magnificent, worth visiting and one of the most incredible Los Angeles hidden gems
📍Location: 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709
10. Heritage Square
Why escape the city when you can escape the decade at the grounds dedicated to preserving Victorian-era structures and traditions? Heritage Square and its Gothic architecture offers a mysterious adventure into a completely different time as well as being a brilliant lesson in history. The place is a museum and has also been a movie location for movie blockbusters like Legally Blonde.
📍Location: Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St
11. Buena Vista Street
How could we not include the obvious but surreal world of Buena Vista Street? The quaint street beam with old-world charm immediately transports you to a simpler time reflecting Walt Disney’s early years in SoCal.
📍Location: Buena Vista St, Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim
12. Victoria Beach
The famous Victorian Pirate Tower on the north end of the beach goes into full fairytale mode at sunset. While it’s not quite in L.A., this magical spot is filled with wonders, from the beautiful houses and tide pools to the reefs. There are also tons of activities to keep you busy, like kayaking, volleyball, and tennis. There’s both paid and metered parking available along the Pacific Coast Highway.
📍Location: Laguna Beach, CA 92651
13. Farou Food
14. Hsi Lai Temple
15. Garden of Oz
When you follow this yellow brick road, you won’t land up in Oz. Instead, you’ll find yourself in a mosaicked oasis filled with lush greenery… One of the most amazing hidden gems in Los Angeles. This Oz-inspired garden in the Hollywood Hills is a magical place created by local wizard Gail Cottman. Guests that are lucky enough to have a key will get a taste of Gaudi’s tiled gems in Barcelona.
📍Location: 3040 Ledgewood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
16. Echo Park Time Travel Mart
Travel to a different dimension and dabble in futurist engineering at this forward-thinking haven of creativity and imagination. Every year the “time scouts” and “creative cohorts” delve deep into the future to bring you an entire emporium of fascinating products of the future. The result is a convenience store offering incredible books authored completely by students and published by Barnacle & Barnacle Publishers.
📍Location: 1714 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
17. Lummis Home
LA’s Lummis House, AKA El Alisal, one of the most unique hidden gems in Los Angeles, was built by eccentric journalist Charles Fletcher Lummis over 100 years ago. Stone by stone, Lummis built the 4,000-square-foot craftsmanship home over 13 years, resulting in the head-turning castle-like structure in Montecito Heights. The house is now a lesser-known museum open to the public.
📍Location: 200 East Avenue 43, Los Angeles, CA 90031
18. Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine
Paramahansa Yogananda founded Lake Shrine as part of the Self-Realization Fellowship in 1950. The sprawling, peaceful lake environment is home to cascading waterfalls, meditation gardens, a hilltop temple, and an ashram. If the environment itself weren’t a testament to the Lake Shrine’s hallowed reputation, a portion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes is actually encased here in a thousand-year-old Chinese stone sarcophagus.
📍Location: Lake Shrine 17190 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
19. The Hindu Temple in Malibu
Constructed in the early 1990s in classic South Indian architectural style, the Hindu Temple in Malibu is dedicated to the Hindu deity Venkateswara. This tranquil temple stands out among Malibu’s attractions, providing a distinctive cultural experience that combines coastal beauty with opportunities for meditation, spirituality, and appreciation of architecture.
📍Location: 1600 Las Virgenes Canyon Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302
20. Catalina Casino
One of the most historic and hidden places near Los Angeles is found on Catalina Island. Upon arrival, it’s almost impossible to miss the enormous building overlooking the shore that immediately draws your attention. The Catalina Casino boasts a rich history, having hosted many of the world’s elite over the decades. For snorkeling enthusiasts, the nearby Casino Point Dive Park is a premier destination for underwater adventures.
📍 Location: 1 Casino Way, Avalon, CA 90704
21. Greystone Mansion
Honestly, the Greystone Mansion is not much of a hidden gem in L.A. Known as the most familiar house you’ve never visited, it has been a filming location for more famous movies than almost any other home! Today, the mansion serves as a public park and is frequently used for filming and special events. Several productions contribute to the upkeep and renovation of the mansion.
📍 Location: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Edited by Sofía Delpueche.