Studio City is an affluent neighborhood with picturesque residential streets located in the southeast area of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. It is named after what is now known as
CBS Studio Center, which dates back to the silent film era and was home to the filming of Seinfeld.
Residents can enjoy a short drive to
Warner Brothers Studios,
Burbank’s Walt Disney Studios, and
Universal Studios Hollywood directly west. Outside the admission gates,
Universal Citywalk has fun restaurants, unique shops, glow-in-the-dark bowling, nightclubs, and a large movie theater.
Studio City’s neighbor to the east,
North Hollywood, is filled with small theaters putting on a wide variety of shows every night of the week. The celebrated classical, pop, and jazz music of
The Hollywood Bowl is just a few miles south of Studio City. Nightlife in Studio City is more laid back than the bustle of
Hollywood or North Hollywood.
The Baked Potato is LA’s premier jazz venue.
The Ceremony Bar and the
Black Market Liquor Bar have unique menus with a relaxed lounge vibe.
Ventura Boulevard is a lively stretch of Studio City featuring retailers and local businesses, cafes, and restaurants. There are many sushi bars, with notables including
Sugarfish,
Asanebo,
Katsuya,
Iroha Sushi of Tokyo, and
Kiwami. There are also many upscale restaurants including
Granville,
Laurel Tavern,
Bistro Garden at Coldwater,
Firefly, and
The Bellwether. For a quick bite
Carney's–a historic fast-food shack in a vintage railcar–serves burgers, hot dogs, and fries.
Many of Studio City's shops are grouped at the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon, with fashionable options like
Brandy Melville,
Free People and
Mimi & Hy, among unique shopping gems like
DJ's Universal Comics.
Easy Access to the Great Outdoors
128-acre
Wilacre Park has woodsy hiking trails and panoramic Valley views. It’s on Fryman Road at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and is locally known as Fryman Canyon Park rather than by the official “Wilacre Park.” There’s a 3-mile loop that leads to the top of the
Hollywood Hills and provides dog-friendly amenities like doggie bags and water bowls.
Coldwater Canyon Park is adjacent to Wilacre Park. It contains an amphitheater and the headquarters for the conservation group
TreePeople. The
Studio City Recreation Center (commonly known as Beeman Park) has facilities such as lighted basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, unlighted tennis courts, a running track, workout equipment, and updated playgrounds.
Schools in Studio City
The sought-after schools in Studio City are
Carpenter Community Charter School,
Campbell Hall, and
Bridges Academy. Popular neighborhoods within Studio City are
The Silver Triangle,
Colfax Meadows,
The Donas, Fryman Estates, and
The Island.
Ideal Location
Located just 12 miles northeast of
Downtown Los Angeles and seven miles north of
Beverly Hills, Studio City is bordered on the north by
Valley Village, on the east by
Toluca Lake, on the south by
Hollywood Hills West, and on the west by
Sherman Oaks. Studio City has quick access to the 101, 134, 405, and 5 freeways.
Freeways can be avoided using Coldwater Canyon, Laurel Canyon, and/or Beverly Glen to get to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, and The West Side. From Studio City it’s a quick commute to popular attractions like
Venice Beach, the
Santa Monica Pier, and
LAX, all under 30 miles from town.