Where to eat, drink and explore in Echo Park

The neighborhood’s namesake and centerpiece, this former reservoir lives on as a family-friendly destination worthy of its bold backdrop: the Downtown skyline amid the lotus flower blooms, fountains and the Lady of the Lake statue. You can push your way through the lake in a pedal or swan boat ($13 per hour) or stroll around the path that hugs its borders. Swing by Piknik, the revived boathouse restaurant, for some Scandinavian-inspired fare.

Dodger Stadium (alternatively known as Chavez Ravine) has been home to the Dodgers since 1962, which in this age of spiffy new stadiums actually makes it the third-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. Its charms—enhanced with recent renovations—are best seen from the inside, with a Dodger Dog in hand; the zigzag outfield shades and hexagon scoreboards are the perfect foreground for a sunset against the San Gabriel Mountains. And don’t worry if you’re visiting during the off season: The stadium still offers daily tours for just over $30.

Music-lovers flock to this often-jammed duo of clubs for all flavors of indie, dub reggae and electronica. The temperature can rise to uncomfortable levels when it’s crowded, although the back patio offers sweet relief. The big, low-slung Echoplex sits underneath the Echo, where you’ll find recurring dance parties as well as touring artists who draw bigger crowds.

The pillowy, Detroit-style slices at this spot just off Sunset Boulevard are so good that they’ve landed toward the very top of our list of L.A.’s best pizza. As you might expect, that also means chef Aaron Lindell’s wild creations have a line to match. But not to worry: The always-packed pizza place now taked limited reservations.

The dozen or so towering Victorian homes that line Carroll Avenue collectively form one of the most picturesque spots in the city. The wooden turrets and shaded portraits feel frozen in time, calling back to a post-Spanish, pre-Hollywood way of life that feels like a secret part of L.A. history. That is, until you realize it’s the backdrop of some of the silver screen’s most iconic features, including Chinatown, as well as The Fast and the Furious films and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

L.A.’s oldest park, founded in 1886, is big and beautiful but tends to get a bad rap. Admittedly, some things here have fallen by the wayside, but among the palm tree groves and hilly hikes, you’ll find great views of the Valley, Downtown, the Hollywood Hills and Dodger Stadium. While you won’t find the park’s viral rope swing anymore, you can still find another photogenic spot along the northeast portion of Angels Point Road: a ridge of slender, super tall palm trees with the stadium and skyline in the background.

Taquero Walter Soto’s Echo Park taco trailer is not only super popular, but it stands among the city’s very best taco spots—particularly for the perfectly tender mesquite-grilled meats and just-bubbled flour tortillas. The weekday menu brings Sinaloa-style specialties tripitas and tostadas, but weekends spotlight Sonora-style grilled meats, some of the most flavorful in L.A.

Stories Books and Cafe is a funky, cozy spot off Sunset Boulevard, with new and used titles packed floor to ceiling. There’s a little cafe in the back with good coffee and fresh food, and an outdoor patio popular with the freelance crowd. If you’re looking for an obscure title, chances are they’ll have it here. There’s also a good selection of gift-y things such as greeting cards, coloring books, magnets and mugs. Regular events include readings, signings and open mic comedy nights.

At first glance, the inside of this storefront resembles any other market in the area—but look closer and you’ll find a collection of funny time travel curiosities that one needs in order to visit the past and future, from Barbarian Repellent to Primordial Soup In a Can and a whole bunch of books. What’s going on? The market is a ruse: Everything in it is indeed for sale, but the store is actually a front for 826LA, a nonprofit organization which tutors kids ages 6 to 18 (you’ll find some of the kids’ written pieces in the shop).

Whatever you want to call it—restaurant, bar, arcade—Button Mash has created a category all its own in L.A. Burgers, wings and noodles comprise the bulk of the menu at this neighborhood hang, while Estrano’s Diego Argoti assembles a more daring menu at Poltergeist. The drink menu includes a unique list of beer and wine, which you can peruse before you hit the many arcade machines from the ’70s to ’90s.

Founded and curated by Shepard Fairey, creator of the OBEY street art series and Barack Obama’s iconic “Hope” campaign poster, Subliminal hosts exhibitions by established and emerging artists at its Echo Park base—think everyone from Apex and Andrew Holder to Tim Armstrong and Mark Mothersbaugh, as well as work by Fairey himself.

Like so many of us, Touko Laaksonen simply fell in love with L.A. when he first visited in the late ’70s. And as the Finnish homoerotic artist began to stick around more often, he increasingly called this Echo Park Craftsman home. It also became a gathering place for fellow influential figures in the gay visual arts, including Robert Mapplethorpe and John Waters. A few years before his death, “Tom of Finland” (as he would sign his striking black-and-white pieces) and house owner Durk Dehner hatched the Tom of Finland Foundation, with the house as the headquarters for his archives as well as a safe space for artists who’ve been discriminated against for pursuing erotica. Ever since, the historic monument has hosted tours, exhibitions, art classes and an annual cultural fest.