So long $15 cocktails. See ya, steep parking fees. Adios museum admission fees. We’ve brainstormed ways to tackle the best things to do in L.A. with a smarter (read: cheaper and easier) approach. Stick to these local life hacks to take advantage of L.A.’s thriftiest perks.
Here’s the gist: You can never park at a red curb, and white curbs are (almost*) always for passenger loading only. But green- and yellow-painted curbs are those inscrutable spots that people often feel too afraid to use.
* Pasadena (6am–6pm) and Burbank (8am–6pm) both have set enforcement hours for white curbs. However, there are so many caveats that it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a white curb where you can legally park.
A yellow curb indicates a loading zone in the daytime and free parking at night. Unless otherwise posted, the restrictions are enforced only during these hours (meaning, don’t park there during these times, but do park there outside of them).
Enforced from:
Los Angeles: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
Beverly Hills: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
Burbank: Daily 8am–6pm
Culver City: Mon–Sat 7:30am–6pm
Glendale: Mon–Sat 9am–6pm
Long Beach: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
Pasadena: Mon–Sat 6am–6pm
Santa Monica: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
West Hollywood: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
Unincorporated L.A. County: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
These short-term parking spots are typically limited to 15- or 30-minute blocks. Not every city uses green curbs—West Hollywood apparently does just fine without them—but for those that do, restrictions are enforced during these hours.
Enforced from:
Los Angeles: Mon–Sat 8am–6pm
Beverly Hills: Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
Burbank: Daily 8am–6pm
Culver City: Daily 7:30am–6pm
Glendale: Mon–Sat 9am–6pm
Long Beach: Mon–Sat 9am–6pm
Pasadena: Mon–Sat 6am–6pm
Santa Monica: 24/7
The iconic amphitheater doubles as a semi-secret county park. As long as the venue isn’t holding a performance (an admittedly rare occurrence from July to September), you’re welcome to park for free and stroll about the grounds as you please. Hike all the way up the hilly environs to admire the views or walk into the seating area where, chances are, you’ll see people working out on the stairs or, if you’re lucky, an open LA Phil rehearsal during the summer (these days vary, so call 323-850-2000 for a schedule).
And we’re not just talking about books. You can stream classic films and indie flicks on Kanopy, download e-books and audiobooks through Hoopla or OverDrive, take language-learning courses via Mango Languages and follow software tutorials on Lynda with a Los Angeles Public Library card. If you don’t feel like going to a physical library (though you should), you can apply for a library e-Card on the LAPL website. It grants access to the aforementioned online resources. You can also use your L.A. Public Library for free museum acces, though most of the participating institutions are already free—aside from the GRAMMY Museum and the Natural History Museum (which is also available with the same service via a County library card).
This classy Santa Monica spot’s half-off-till-7pm deal on its drink menu is already enticing enough, but the fact that you can get $7 cocktails on weekends, too, pushes it into destination-worthy territory.
Mon–Fri noon–7pm; Sat, Sun 11am–7pm; 50% off cocktails, beer and glasses of wine
Bacari’s regular happy boasts $5 beers and a couple of bucks off small plates (Mon–Thu 5–7pm, Friday 4–7pm), but the real steal is the 90-minute open bar. Available at all locations, $30 per person will grant you an unlimited hour-and-a-half of house wines, sangria and beer.
All night, every night; $30, with well drinks $35
K-town’s Colombian-Korean hot spot always feels like a party, and what’s not to celebrate with twice-a-day happy hour? Score a pair of empanadas or a plate of wings for five bucks, plus a bucket of Aguila for $20 or an aguardiente shot (Iberian-originating liquor) for $3.
Daily 4–7pm, Sun–Thu 11pm–1am
While the Broad, Hammer Museum, Getty Center, Getty Villa, California African American Museum and MOCA are always free, the following L.A. museums offer days sans admission fees.
The Autry Museum in Griffith Park: Every second Tue 10am–4pm
Craft Contemporary: Sun 11am–6pm pay what you wish
The Huntington Library: Every first Thu 10am–5pm with advance ticket
Japanese American National Museum: Thu 11am–5pm
LACMA: Every second Tue 11am–5pm. L.A. County residents Mon, Tue, Thu 3–5pm; Fri 3–8pm
Natural History Museum: Every first Tue (except July and Aug) 9:30am–5pm, L.A. County residents Mon–Fri 3–5pm
Pacific Asia Museum: Thu, every second Sun 11am–5pm
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum: Every first Tue (except July and Aug), every Tue in Sept 9:30am–5pm; L.A. County residents Mon–Fri 3–5pm
Skirball Cultural Center: Thu noon–5pm
Driving to the hilltop astronomical landmark often means parking nearly back on Los Feliz Boulevard or paying the parking rate of $8 to $10 per hour. And due to the spotty reception, you can forget about grabbing an Uber. Thankfully, a DASH bus route travels up the hill every day—even when the observatory’s interior is closed—from the Vermont-Sunset Metro station. If you’re still set on driving, we suggest parking for free on the residential streets of Los Feliz, grabbing a drink at Big Bar and then catching the bus on the opposite side of Hillhurst Avenue.
Mon–Fri noon–10pm; Sat, Sun 10am–10pm. Cash 50¢, TAP card 35¢.
Sure, we know: Your totally awesome friend sends you SAG screeners all the time, while your other buddy is always on the lookout for free advance showings. But for those of us who are line-averse or aren’t industry-connected, here’s where to watch new(ish) releases with single-digit ticket prices.
All day on Tuesdays, you can watch a movie for $5 at any AMC theater, as long as you’ve signed up for the free tier of their rewards program.
The comfy LOOK Dine-in Cinema in Glendale offers the same $5 deal on Tuesdays, sans the loyalty program requirement.
Though this Pasadena theater is pretty no-frills, it’s hard to beat daily matinees of last season’s releases for $5.50.
Skip the paid lots at Zuma and Point Dume and search for free all-day street parking between the two. Plenty of spots are available along the Pacific Coast Highway and among the ritzy neighborhoods farther up the Malibu coastline, but those beaches aren’t nearly as spacious as the one here.
Westward Beach Rd between Pacific Coast Hwy and Birdview Ave, Malibu
Free of the crowds in Venice to the north and the unsightly refineries south of Dockweiler, this astoundingly wide stretch of sand is rarely crowded and almost always has plenty of parking spots on Vista del Mar. Just try to ignore the planes departing from next-door neighbor LAX.
Vista Del Mar east of Napoleon St
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