The best picnic spots in Los Angeles

It’s easy to forget you’re still in Los Angeles as you trek through the mix of native chaparral and landscaped paths that cover Griffith Park. Where else could you encounter canyons, caves and coyotes in the middle of a city? Griffith is also home to a number of fantastic picnic spots, including in the Crystal Springs area, at the Old Zoo, on the Griffith Observatory’s front lawn and along Fern Dell (where you can grab a bite from the Trails). If you’re up for a hike, head to the hidden Amir’s Garden in the Valley side’s Mineral Wells area.

If you’re willing to pay for parking, you’ll be rewarded with this wide and rarely crowded patch of sand and surf. You can repel up and down the beach’s namesake rock face or take an idyllic hike along its summit. With all of the parking spots only steps from the sand, Point Dume is the perfect place to pack a picnic for a beachfront meal as seals and dolphins frolic in front of the sunset—just watch out for those hungry seagulls.

Take the time to walk around the dusty garden trails and rocky adventure areas of this Westlake and Echo Park spot. But the real star here is its grassy central field, with perfectly framed views of the Downtown skyline and a half-dozen dedicated picnic areas around its perimeter.

Hancock Park—not to be confused with the affluent neighborhood of the same name—sits atop a literal mine of goo-soaked prehistoric bones. This free park sits between LACMA and the oily animal trap better as the La Brea Tar Pits. The green expanse between the two institutions is picnic and dog-friendly, and overall a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors within a stone’s throw of L.A. cultural icons.

With the onset of summer concert season comes an L.A. rite of passage: picnicking at the Hollywood Bowl (you can also picnic when there’s not a show, it’s just a little less memorable). The iconic amphitheater is a sublime place to see a show, but Hollywood Bowl regulars know that wining and dining outdoors before a show is the key to making the experience that much more memorable. Make sure to brush up on the Bowl’s alcohol policy before you go (wine and beer are fine, but only at LA Phil-produced events), as well as this handy map of all the picnic spots.

This one takes commitment. Drive about 40 minutes up Angeles Crest Highway and onto Mount Wilson Red Box Road and you’ll reach the observatory. Take a short walk from the parking lot to the shaded Skyline Park pavilion (also home to the Cosmic Cafe on weekends) and you’ll be rewarded with a lunch spot from 5,700 feet up. The one caveat: You can only access the parking area seasonally, typically on Saturdays and Sundays from April through September between 10am and 5pm, and through November until 4pm.

Roll out a blanket on the front lawn of the Hollyhock House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s finest hilltop homes. The views of Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory are fantastic from here, especially at sunset. Now if only the summertime Friday night wine tastings would return, this spot would be perfect.

The slow, lumbering mission to turn Downtown L.A. into a vibrant cultural hub got a lift when Grand Park officially opened to the public in July 2012. Dotted with fountains, picnic lawns and plenty of nooks from which to sit and people-watch, Grand Park is a bright urban oasis that proves the city has a sense of romance. Roll out a blanket on the southern event lawn or take a seat at one of the many bright pink benches.

L.A.’s hilltop acropolis took 13 years and a billion dollars to complete, but the end result is a remarkable complex of travertine and white metal-clad pavilions. Its relative inaccessibility—you need to ride a monorail up to the museum—is more than compensated for by the panoramic views, from the hills and the ocean in the west all the way around to Downtown in the east. You’ll find proper picnic tables down the hill at the tram station as well as an outdoor cafe, but we highly suggest sitting on the sloping Central Garden-adjacent lawn instead.

Carved into the hills above the Hollywood Reservoir’s walking paths but below a turnout of sightseeing vans, this grassy field feels like a dog-friendly Shangri-La. You don’t have to have four legs to enjoy the scenery, thanks to a small playground, shaded picnic benches and one of the most fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign.

A former reservoir turned public recreation area, the historic Echo Park Lake has become 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 boat or stroll around the path that hugs its borders. Either way, make sure to bring along some snacks.

The former home of writer, cowboy philosopher, trick-roper and the first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills has been maintained as it was in the 1930s. The 186-acre grounds give access to some good hikes and breathtaking ocean views, alongside picnic tables and grills.

Some of the majesty of past Olympics has faded, but Exposition Park still stands as one of L.A.’s most significant institutions. The most charming section of the USC-adjacent property resides in the fragrant Rose Garden. Rest in one of the gazebos or take a stroll around the central fountain, all the while admiring its beautiful brick neighbors, like the Natural History Museum.

This huge Culver City-area park contains a lotus pond, fishing lake and sand volleyball court. But the urban oasis really establishes itself with more than seven miles of walking and hiking trails through Baldwin Hills, with views of almost every corner of L.A. You’ll find eight picnic rental shelters and 100 picnic tables throughout the park—though we’re all for just spreading out a blanket.

You can explore exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but this spot’s real treasure is its stunning vista of the Pacific. You could roll out a blanket on the limited grassy areas, but we suggest snagging a picnic table as close to the seaside cliff as possible. The Interpretive Center’s small amphitheater is also a great spot to sit, snack, chat and watch whale migrations.

Balboa is a large family-friendly park known for its beautiful lake and serene picnic spots. Summers can get a bit toasty in the Valley, so stick to the springtime for a picnic; you’ll also be rewarded with a view of the park’s stunning cherry blossom bloom.

Just south of the Arroyo Seco’s most famous tenant—the Rose Bowl—this 62-acre park provides a scenic green space for locals and out-of-towners alike. Set against the stunning San Gabriel Mountains, you’ll find plenty of grassy open space along with shade underneath the park’s mature trees. Just remember to check the UCLA football schedule before heading there on a Saturday in the fall.

This parking lot turned park is a thoughtfully designed ocean-adjacent oasis that harbors a playground, meadows, small waterfalls and walking paths and a pair of conch-like wireframe lookouts by the Pacific. You’ll also find tons of benches, ledges and grassy fields perfect for a picnic.

In addition to shaded play areas and a slew of activity centers at this South Bay park, you’ll find a picnic area with plenty of tables and barbecues, as well as three gazebos. At the center of it all is a large pond, home to ducks and geese.

We won’t stop you from picnicking here on any given weekend if you’re into such a macabre outing, but we’ve included this Hollywood cemetery for its Cinespia screenings. It isn’t summer in L.A. until hoards of movie-lovers flock to Hollywood Forever toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. It’s an L.A. rite of passage; just be sure to arrive early.