Westchester is a neighborhood of Los Angeles on the West Side of Los Angeles County in Southern California. While it's not a part of Westchester, the community of Playa Vista is also covered in this article.
Understand
Westchester includes Los Angeles International Airport, whose runways and service facilities, along with the associated hotels and travel services, dominate the southern portion of the neighborhood. In contrast, the northern half is largely residential and retail. It is also home to Loyola Marymount University and the Otis College of Art and Design.
Get in
Thousands arrive in Westchester through LAX every day, but residents and visitors to Westchester, as in much of Los Angeles, typically travel by car. The primary connection to the freeway system is Route 405. This freeway experiences heavy daily congestion during commute times, and locals will sometimes opt for Sepulveda Blvd., Lincoln Blvd. (California Route 1), or La Cienega Blvd. as alternate access routes from the north and south.
Being home to LAX ensures a significant number of travel options are available to Westchester. The Los Angeles County MTA, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and Culver City Bus systems all have connecting routes to the airport and surrounding areas. Flyaway Shuttles, a bus service operated by LAX, provides a non-stop connection to the airport from Downtown Los Angeles, Westwood, and San Fernando Valley.
Neither Westchester nor the airport, strangely, have a direct connection to the Los Angeles Metro light rail system (though several solutions have been proposed). An airport shuttle service to the nearest metro station is available (see LAX for additional information).
See
- Ben Maltz Gallery, 9045 Lincoln Blvd (at Otis College of Art and Design), 33.95721°, -118.41740°, +1 310 665-6800. Tu-F 10AM–5PM, Th 10AM–9PM, Sa Su noon–4PM. An art gallery focusing on contemporary art and design at Otis College. Also features a lecture series on design topics that is open to the public. Free
Do
- Bowlero Los Angeles, 8731 Lincoln Blvd, 33.95788°, -118.41789°, +1 310-670-0688. Open until midnight or later every day of the week, the 32 lanes are the place to go when you need to get your disco-bowl on. The attached KJ's restaurant serves proper bowling alley food (sandwiches, burgers, chili dogs), and there is a full bar for those who need adult beverages when wearing rented shoes. Parking is limited in the front lot, but there is a large garage located in the rear. Prices are per person for two hours of bowling: $15 Su from 5PM to F 4PM; $22 F from 4PM to Su 5PM
- Westchester Recreation Center, 7000 W. Manchester Ave, 33.95847°, -118.41526°, +1 310 670-7473. M-F 9AM-9PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM. A large public park and multipurpose complex featuring a public pool and sports fields near Loyola Marymount University. Reservation required for picnic and barbeque areas.
- Westchester Golf Course, 6900 West Manchester Ave, 33.95831°, -118.41073°, +1 310 649-9167. An 18-hole public course adjacent to the Westchester Recreation Center. Its noisy neighbor (LAX) will never let you believe that you are playing Augusta, but the course is fun, well-maintained, and relatively inexpensive. This course can fill up quickly, so pay attention to tee times and reserve early if planning a round. $23, $29 on weekends, cart $20
- Loyola Marymount Lions, 1 LMU Drive, 33.96722°, -118.41599°, +1 310 338-LION. Sports teams of Loyola Marymount University, fielding NCAA Division I teams in 10 men's and 12 women's sports in the West Coast Conference alongside nine other private schools on the West Coast plus BYU in Utah. With no football team, the most followed sports are men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball. The athletic venues, the most prominent of which is Gersten Pavilion (basketball and volleyball), are clustered in the southeast corner of campus. The mapped location for this entry is the Lions Athletic Center, home to the LMU ticket office. Prices vary by sport
Buy
- The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, 6081 Center Dr, 33.97760°, -118.39065°, +1 310 641-8073. An outdoor shopping mall in Westchester. The mall is home to an upscale 18-theater Cinemark movie complex, Dave & Busters, Buffalo Wild Wings, and dozens of other shops and restaurants. 2015-06-27
- The Runway Playa Vista, 12746 W Jefferson Blvd, 33.9775°, -118.4165°. Opened in 2015, this commercial center within the Playa Vista community houses a 9-screen Cinemark theater offering VIP seating in barco-lounger style chairs with food & beverage service, a Whole Foods Market with an impressive variety of prepared items, and additional stores including CVS and smaller shops. 2015-06-27
Eat
- Humble Potato, 8321 Lincoln Blvd, 33.961987°, -118.421363°, +1 323 989-2242. M-F 11:30AM-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM. A Japanese take on the American burger joint. The Curry Burger and Chocolate-Avocado Shake are some of the new interpretations of old favorites.
- Kanpai, 8325 Lincoln Blvd, 33.9619712°, -118.42139°, +1 310 338-7223. Small sushi bar with a large menu selection, and a special late-night ramen menu. Prices vary widely, so meals can be had anywhere between 'mid-range' and 'splurge' categories. $15-30, higher for specialties
- KC's Cafe, 8320 Lincoln Blvd, 33.962243°, -118.420979°, +1 310 348-9697. M-F 9:30AM-10:30PM, Sa Su 10AM-10:30PM. Coffee shop and creperie near Loyola Marymount campus.
- Pann's Restaurant, 6710 La Tijera Blvd, 33.978252°, -118.370486°, +1 323 776-3770. The building is regarded as an outstanding and well-preserved example of 1940s-googie-style architecture. Visitors may recognize the restaurant's iconic look from the movie Pulp Fiction. Beyond its Hollywood connections, Pann's is an authentic example of the American diner, and the menu is known for its breakfast selection.
- Truxton's Bistro, 8611 Truxton Ave, 33.95959°, -118.39361°, +1 310 417-8789. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-10PM. A neighborhood American-style bistro and bar that works a variety of different ethnic influences into its menu. The atmosphere is laid-back and the prices are reasonable for full-service dining. Main courses $12-18
Drink
- Melody Bar, 9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd (Across from the In-n-Out Burger), 33.95372°, -118.395667°, +1 310 670-1994. M-F 10:30AM-2AM, Sa Su 9AM-2AM. A used-to-be-a-dive bar, and although still cultivates a kitschy image, this place has taken a turn for the trendy when it changed ownership a few years ago. The atmosphere is loud and lively. Six different flavors of mac-and-cheese.
Sleep
- Courtyard Los Angeles LAX/Century Boulevard, 6161 W Century Blvd, 33.945839°, -118.39283°, +1 310 649-1400.
- Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, 5985 W. Century Blvd, 33.9459°, -118.3888°, +1 310 642-7500. Starting at $145
- Embassy Suites LAX - North, 9801 Airport Blvd, 33.946867°, -118.386644°, +1 310 215-1000. Offers free 24-hour shuttle service.
- Holiday Inn LAX Airport Hotel, 9901 La Cienega Blvd, 33.94627°, -118.370724°, +1 310 694-5151. Offers free 24-hour airport shuttle.
Stay safe
- Westchester's pedestrian-compatible residential northern areas vary greatly from the area surrounding LAX. Century Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd. experience heavier traffic volumes and a larger than average number of buses and high-occupancy vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution if navigating these areas on foot.
- The east side of Westchester, particularly along La Cienega Blvd., where the district borders Inglewood, has a higher crime rate than is typical for the area. The violent crime rate has fallen, but petty crime and robbery are still above normal levels for the region. Travellers should not feel discouraged from visiting, but should exercise higher caution when in this area.
Go next
The cities and neighborhoods that border Westchester include the following:
- Culver City - Westchester's neighbor to the northeast is the home of Sony Studios. Culver City has undergone a rebirth, and has very impressive restaurant options.
- Marina Del Rey - The "Marina of the king" is Westchester's northern neighbor, and is home to a vast number of restaurants, hotels, and the Ballona wetlands.
- Playa Del Rey - Located northeast of Westchester and adjacent to LAX, Playa del Rey is home to extensive beaches and a variety of dining options.
- El Segundo - Home to Dockweiler State Beach, Westchester's southern neighbor provides numerous dining and lodging options.
- Hawthorne - Bordering Westchester to the southeast, Hawthorne is home to several aerospace companies including SpaceX, and is an option for those needing lodging near LAX.
- Inglewood - A rough neighborhood that borders Westchester to the east, Inglewood is home to sites that include the landmark Randy's Donuts.