Neighbourhood Guide: Silver Lake

Neighbourhood Guide: Silver Lake

More lo-fi than some of LA’s glitzier neighbourhoods, creative enclave Silver Lake is a go-to for hip casual eats, inventive cocktailers and fashion-forward retail. Here’s where to eat, shop and drink in the neighbourhood – though be sure to avoid going before midday.

EAT

Any foodie worth their fish taco knows that Petit Trois and Trois Mec, from chefs Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo, are two of LA’s hardest-to-score tables, but not so mobbed is the trio’s unassuming Silver Lake outpost Trois Familia. This equally rave-worthy Mexi-French firecracker is like hokum for hipsters with its hash brown chilaquiles, smashed short rib burger, stellar brunch set and pared-back shed setting.

Or, for a modern update on trad Thai street food, join the queue outside Chef Kris' neon-tinged Night + Market Song. Stoic punters will have their long slog rewarded with all the tongue-singeing Isaan hits, from khao soi and hot pot soup to Panang beef curry and crab fried rice. Pair with an ice-cold Singha.

DRINK

Tucked next door to steak-frites go-to Café Stella, Gallic Bar Stella is a Moroccan-French hybrid of distressed plaster and raw brickwork, with white-jacketed bartenders pouring classic cocktails. Perch at the marble-top counter, kick back on the sofas in the colour-bomb Marrakech-tinged lounge or jostle for a prized alfresco spot on the lantern-lit patio.

SHOP

Super-popular Mohawk General Store is a local institution for tingle-fresh his n’ her fashion and lifestyle, spanning everything from jewellery by Hortense and Howlin’ knitwear, to charcoal soap, horn-and-wood kitchen accessories, ceramic tableware, and Mexican trinkets, plus arty coffee table tomes and lim-ed mags.

A few doors down, owners Kevin and Bo Carney have branched out with the more gent-centric Mohawk Man, also sporting a piping-hot edit of must-have labels like Engineered Garments, Dries Van Noten, Tellason, and Industry of All Nations. 

EXPLORE

If you happen to be in the nabe of a Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning, beeline to Silver Lake Farmers Market where among spotting local talents like Ryan Gosling and James Franco, you can browse racks of rare vintage clothing, jewellery, vinyl, and fresh fruit and flowers. An appetite-whetting array of street food stalls and coffee stands will keep you prepped and ready to pounce.

Trois Familia / 3510 Sunset Blvd / +1 323 725 7800 / lunch & dinner daily / troisfamilia.com
Night + Market Song / 3322 W Sunset Blvd / +1 323 665 5899 / lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat / no res / + branches / nightmarketsong.com
Bar Stella / 3932 W Sunset Blvd / +1 323 666 0265 / 6-11pm daily / cafestella.com
Mohawk General Store / 4011 W Sunset Blvd / & Mohawk Man / 4017 W Sunset Blvd / +1 323 669 1601 / 11am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun / + branches / mohawkgeneralstore.com
Silver Lake Farmers Market / 3700 Sunset Blvd / +1 213 484 4002 / 2-7.30pm Tue, 8am-1pm Sat