Studio City

Studio City is an area in the San Fernando Valley, just to the west of Universal City and about 12 miles NW of Downtown LA. As its name implies, Studio City arose to support the motion picture studios with affordable housing for their employees. Some of the studio's biggest stars, such as Gene Autry, lived in the hills of Studio City (more recently, George Clooney). Studio City flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s and has become a trendy, upscale neighborhood with great restaurants and shopping. Radford Studios and nearby Universal Studios are still major centers of film and TV production. Ventura Boulevard's "sushi alley" is home to perhaps the largest concentration of sushi restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Get in
U.S. Route 101 connects Studio City to Hollywood and Downtown LA, as well as to Interstate 405, which is the primary route to West Los Angeles and LAX Airport. Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Coldwater Canyon Boulevard traverse the Santa Monica Mountains and connect Studio City to West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, respectively.

Studio City is also accessible via the Metro Red Line subway (Studio City/Universal City Station), which connects Studio City to Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood, as well as North Hollywood, where you can transfer to the Metro Orange Line, which travels to Warner Center in the West San Fernando Valley. Ventura Boulevard is served by Metro bus routes #150, #240, and the (weekday only) Metro Rapid #750, which travel from the Studio City/Universal City Station to the West San Fernando Valley.

Get around
Ventura Boulevard is the main thoroughfare through Studio City. The most pedestrian-friendly stretch is located between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Whitsett Avenue. A landscaped walking trail follows the south bank of the Los Angeles River (just north of Ventura Boulevard), from Whitsett Avenue to Radford Avenue.

Eat
The majority of the restaurants in Studio City are located along Ventura Boulevard. The stretch of Ventura closest to the border with Universal City is LA's "sushi alley", with literally dozens of sushi restaurants. Those who aren't fans of raw fish will also find offerings to their liking in this area, as well as in other locations throughout the city.



Go next

 * Sherman Oaks - This neighboring city is home to stores, theaters, restaurants, and more attractions designed to tempt the shopaholic.
 * Universal City - Studio City's neighbor to the east is home to Universal Studios.
 * North Hollywood - Not to be confused with Hollywood, North Hollywood is a mostly-residential city that borders Studio City to the north.