The Vinyl District Is Hollywood’s Next Coolest Neighborhood

Nestled between Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard, the Vinyl District is among the most iconic neighborhoods of Hollywood. While it’s just a few minutes away from the city’s main tourist district, it exudes a whole different vibe. The District aims to present the music industry’s cultural and historical core in a whole new perspective — from what seemed to be a place where tourists simply go to a party and see the handprints on the Walk of Fame, to a center of hospitality, nightlife, and culinary arts. The past couple of years has seen Hollywood’s Vinyl District undergo a metamorphosis, reshaping the neighborhood with a slew of new boutique hotels, rooftop lounges, and gourmet restaurants.

Dining in Vinyl District

Among the culinary destinations of this Hollywood neighborhood is Grandmaster Recorders. Boasting square footage of 15,000, it is a gastronomical haven that carries a strong connection to the area’s musical history. 

The venue was previously home to a silent movie theater as well as a former recording studio where all-time favorites such as David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, and Kanye West made music between the early 70s up until 2016. Songs from that period of time are the only ones you’ll hear at Seventy One Studio & Bar, which was once the control booth of the recording studio.

A narrow entryway adorned with vinyl records and other vintage items leads to the spacious restaurant that serves a fusion of Australian and Italian cuisine. Grandmaster Recorders features an open kitchen where culinary geniuses Monty and Jaci Koludrovic work their magic.

Another one of the Vinyl District’s lavish destinations that makes it to the list of Michelin star restaurants in Los Angeles is Mother Wolf, an Italian restaurant dreamed up by interior architect Martin Brudnizki. The name is a homage to Rome’s symbol that depicts a female wolf with Romulus and Remus. Located on the premises of the Citizen News building, this opulent restaurant is acclaimed chef Evan Funk’s “ode to Rome”. A theatrical kitchen combined with antique columns and red leather banquettes creates a transportive atmosphere that alludes to Roman aesthetics. 

Hinting at the entertainment industry’s return to Hollywood, the opening ceremony of the restaurant featured the Netflix premiere of Kanye West’s documentary, Jeenyus, a Kanye West Trilogy. The building that houses this temple of Italian cuisine is a reimagined Art Deco masterpiece that was formerly the printing house of the Hollywood Citizen-News, the first liberal newspaper of Los Angeles. A walking distance away from Mother Wolf is Superba Food + Bread Hollywood in the 1920s landmark which once housed the famous Cat & Fiddle. This French-style brasserie offers gourmet dishes in a relaxing atmosphere that draws inspiration from 1920s Paris and Fauvism.

We can’t forget the iconic Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard, a 102-year-old restaurant that served the likes of Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Harrison Ford. This historic eatery recently opened four new spaces for intimate dining, the first additions since 1955. The new dining areas maintain the same architectural and interior elements that characterize the existing spaces, carrying the rich past of Musso & Frank Grill into the future.

The District’s growing potential also encouraged Sicilian chef Enrico Merendino, Japanese chef Yoshuyuki Okuno, and 2019 James Beard award-winning chef Tony Messina to open Magari, a fusion restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. Not so far away is renowned chef Nancy Silverton’s The Barish, a chophouse belonging to The Hollywood Roosevelt.

Hotels of Vinyl District

The revival of the Vinyl District initially began in 2015 when Mama Shelter Los Angeles opened its doors. Next to where the Hollywood Farmers’ Market Takes place every Sunday, this boutique hotel is a comfy haven in the midst of a vibrant city. Let’s not forget its award-winning rooftop that boasts a 360-degree vista of the city. From the Hollywood sign to South Bay and Westside, that view has it all. And when it’s time to grab a bite, hungry guests can rejoice as Mama Shelter L.A. has options for vegans and meat-lovers alike.

South of Sunset on Cahuenga Boulevard is the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, a sleek yet eccentric hotel with an ornate lobby featuring the Hollywood Glam style but with a contemporary twist. Everything about the interior hints toward the glitz and glamor of the city, aiming to make its guests feel like Hollywood stars. Should you find yourself in this extravagant hotel, make sure to have a look at the geometric stained glass wall of the I | O Rooftop. And if you happen to be traveling with your furry buddy, you’ll be glad to know that Godfrey Hotel is a pet-friendly space.

The same architect behind the Godfrey, Steinberg Hart, brings to you the Thompson Hollywood, a luxury boutique hotel with a modernist setting. Besides 190 high-end guest rooms and 16 suites, the hotel features a rooftop swimming pool overlooking a panoramic view of Los Angeles. After taking a dip in the pool, you can indulge yourself in French cuisine at chef Lincoln Carson’s Mes Amis brasserie.

Another one of the District’s blossoming hotels is Tommie Hollywood, a tribute to the area’s feel-good vibes of decades past. The hotel contains 212 small guest rooms including seven suites. What the rooms lack in space, however, they make up for in a charming fusion of form and function, tastefully tied together with beautiful artwork. Downstairs, the lobby features an eclectic coffee bar and inviting communal workspaces. Tommie is also home to Ka’teen, offering its guests a taste of Mexico from the hands of chef Wes Avila.