Self-Guided Tour of Westwood in Los Angeles with Fun Facts and Best Photo Ops

One of the most popular places to eat in Westwood, Cafe Chez Marie is the first eatery in the US to incorporate French, Moroccan and American cuisine into its menu. But it’s not just the food that’s a big hit. The cafe is housed in an original 1930s French Normandy cottage and it really is one of the most charming settings in the whole city.

The second largest temple belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, the Los Angeles California Temple is a cool building to see even if you’re not religious. Built in the Modernist style, it’s made from a mix of white Portland cement and crushed quartz, giving it a shiny appearance. The statue of the angel Moroni which sits atop the church can be seen for miles around.

While you may think that LA is all about celeb-spotting in the flesh, if you want to see the really big names of the yesteryears, head to Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. Some of Tinseltown’s biggest celebrities have been lain to rest here, including Marilyn Monroe, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa and Truman Capote.

Founded by industrialist Arnold Hammer in 1990, the Hammer Museum is the place to go for modern art. Whether you’re interested in photography, design, installations, or comic art, you can be sure that the Hammer Museum will have something for you. Best of all, it’s free to enter!

One of the neighborhood’s iconic landmarks, the Fox Theater is one of the leading movie premiere theaters, having hosted a huge number of premieres in its almost 90-year life, including Shrek, all the Harry Potter movies, Independence Day and Venom. With its legendary art deco Fox sign, Spanish Mission-style tower, and carved winged lions, it’s an impressive sight to see.

Whether you want to stroll around and admire the wonderful flowers and plants or simply find a spot to sit and relax, the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens is one of the most serene places in Westwood. It is highly recommended that you take the self-guided tour, which will help you spot some of the best plant specimens in the gardens, such as the weeping myrtle from Western Australia and the dragon tree from the Canary Islands.

Located on the UCLA campus, the Fowler Museum is a fantastic museum specialising in world art, ethnography and archaeology. Here you can see artefacts from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, both past and present. Displaying everything from animal figurines to Mexican ceramics, you will definitely leave the Fowler Museum feeling like you have learned something new.

One of the most impressive sculpture gardens in the whole country, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden is home to amazing pieces by some of the world’s top sculptors. Matisse, Rodin, Arp, and Miro all have examples of their work on display, plus the five-acre garden makes for a pleasant stroll.

As one of the world’s biggest arts centers, the Getty Center has some amazing exhibitions to check out. From European and American art both past and present to stunning architecture, it’s really not hard to see why the Getty is so famous around the world. Also check out the beautiful gardens, which never look the same twice!
You should be aware that you will need to take a taxi to get to the Getty Center. Opening hours are 10am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 9pm on Saturday. As it’s such a huge complex, you’ll need around two to three hours to see everything. Because of the distance, it’s an attraction you would probably think about visiting only if you have the energy.