■ Sense of Escape ★★★☆☆
■ Reset Value ★★☆☆☆
■ Low Public Recognition ★★★☆☆
Sunset Strip, Los Angeles. Seeing billboards under the blue sky along Sunset Blvd. and visiting the sacred sites of rock music, feeling the atmosphere of California.
Los Angeles is a place I visit often. This iconic city on the West Coast of the United States has a certain kind of magic, and I started coming here as if I were drawn to it. It has been 35 years since I first set foot in the city. Even so, I keep coming back without getting tired of it. My first visit was in 1991, and I have visited about 15 times through 2026.
Los Angeles has many attractions, but the area that drew me in the most was the Sunset Strip. The Sunset Strip refers to about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) along Sunset Boulevard, which extends west from downtown, after it passes through Hollywood. Clubs, boutiques, restaurants, bars, theaters, and hotels are scattered along the street. The surrounding area is also an upscale residential neighborhood, so it feels a little snobbish, but rather than a tourist destination, it feels like a place where people actually live, and I find it surprisingly easy to fit in.
When I drive west along Sunset Boulevard, I reach Crescent Heights Boulevard, where there is a shopping area on the corner of the intersection. From here, the road starts winding from side to side, and this is where the Sunset Strip begins.
Listing some of the iconic places, I first come across the Chateau Marmont Hotel on my right. It is a favorite of celebrities and is known as the place where actor John Belushi died. A little farther on, I see the Sunset Tower Hotel, formerly the Argyle Hotel, on my left. It is also a favorite of celebrities, opened in 1931, and has an Art Deco style. Next, on my right, is the Hyatt Hotel, now Andaz West Hollywood. Musicians stayed here, and it became known as the Riot House because of their many wild acts. Then comes the Comedy Store, a comedy club.
As I continue, I cross La Cienega Boulevard, and the road starts going downhill from here. On my right, I see one of my favorite restaurants, Mel’s Drive-In. Beyond that is Sunset Plaza, an area filled with shops and restaurants. A little farther on, I see the former site of Tower Records on my right. It often appeared in movies and other videos, and Supreme, a clothing store, now occupies the site. On my left, I see Book Soup, a stylish bookstore.
From here, I enter the club area. First, I see the Viper Room on my left, followed by Whisky a Go Go on my right. Farther on, I see the Roxy on my right. Next to it is the Rainbow Bar & Grill, a bar and restaurant that Motörhead’s Lemmy used to visit in his later years. A little farther on, I come to the former sites of Gazzarri’s and the Key Club, and later, 1OAK, which has since closed. Beyond this point, the shops disappear, the road curves to the left, and I enter an upscale residential area. This is what is generally known as the Sunset Strip.
The first thing that catches my eye on this street is the billboards along the road. The billboards on both sides of the street give me a sense of excitement, making me feel, “I’ve arrived on the Strip.” They are mainly lined along the road from the beginning of the Strip to around the former Tower Records and Book Soup. Driving along the street while looking at the billboards under the blue sky feels good and gets me excited.
There are relatively many people walking around from Sunset Plaza to around the former Tower Records, as restaurants and shops are concentrated along the street. I enjoy sitting at a restaurant or cafe terrace in this area and watching people while looking out at the street. It is a fairly long walk, but walking from one end of Sunset Boulevard to the other allows me to get a feel for the atmosphere of this area.
Now, what is there to enjoy on the Sunset Strip? It has to be the “night.” Clubs are concentrated in the western part of the Strip: the Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, and the Roxy. The energy of the 1980s and 1990s is gone, but it is rare to find famous clubs along one street. To experience the nightlife and culture of Los Angeles, this is a place I would like people to visit. Here, when I say “clubs,” I mean music venues, not dance clubs.
In the 1990s, young people in unusual outfits walked along the street between Whisky a Go Go and the Roxy. Even today, when a famous musician is performing, people gather in front of the clubs, and the area becomes lively. Once, when I was standing in front of the Roxy, a young man came up to me and said, “If you don’t have a ticket, I’ll sell you one.” When I replied, “I have a ticket,” he asked, “Where are you from?” He then offered me the cigarette he was holding. It had a strong smell. “Want a smoke?” he asked.
If you are not interested in this kind of club or do not feel comfortable there, I recommend parking the car and taking a walk. I sometimes see people who look homeless around the clubs, but the surrounding area is basically an upscale residential neighborhood, and I do not get a sense that it is dangerous. Even at night, people walk around to visit restaurants and clubs, so I think it is enjoyable to walk around and watch them.
The clubs usually start after 8 p.m., so they generally reach their peak around midnight. I usually have dinner at a restaurant in Sunset Plaza and then go to one of the clubs. The restaurants at Sunset Plaza may look a little upscale, but they are not really formal, high-end restaurants. Some are surprisingly casual. When I eat at a restaurant terrace, people sitting nearby sometimes start talking to me, saying things like, “I’m going to Japan in two weeks. Do you know any good restaurants in Tokyo?” People can be quite casual and easy to talk to.
Now, one problem is how to get around. I have to come here by car, so I cannot drink alcohol. That is not much fun. So, I think it is better to stay at a hotel along the Sunset Strip. However, many of the hotels, such as the Chateau Marmont Hotel, Sunset Tower Hotel, and Hyatt Hotel mentioned at the beginning, are a little upscale. I have never stayed at any of these hotels myself.
So, let me introduce one option: the Best Western Sunset Plaza. I always stay here. Best Western is an affordable motel chain, but its prices are reasonable compared with the upscale hotels nearby, and above all, the location is excellent. Right next door is the luxurious Sunset Tower Hotel. Sunset Plaza and the club area beyond it are both within easy walking distance.
After enjoying live music at a club, I can walk back to the hotel while enjoying the scenery. The hotel has a wonderful courtyard. It would be great if I could get a room facing the courtyard. In the early 1990s, I could stay here for less than $100 a night, but now it costs more than $250. Parking used to be free, but now there is an additional charge of about $35 per night. When I see these prices, I think, “Wow, prices have really gone up.” Even so, it is still a valuable place to stay at this price and in such a great location.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the club area to the Best Western Sunset Plaza. I leave the club around midnight and start walking back, a little tipsy. On weekends, there are still people walking along the street. I watch them as I look at the shop windows along the road. On my left, I can see the lights from the luxurious homes on the hills. Feeling the night breeze, I can enjoy a relaxing night walk.
The Stahl House is located in an upscale residential area on the hills. Built in 1959, it is an iconic example of modern architecture and is open to the public. Located on a hill above the Sunset Strip, it features a stylish pool and a glass-walled house with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of Los Angeles. The house has been used as a filming location for movies and other productions, and I can get a feel for the style of the Hollywood Hills here.
The hills north of the Sunset Strip have tight security, and even if I drive around and simply park somewhere, people may suddenly appear and watch me, so I have to be careful. In that sense, the Stahl House is a valuable place to get a feel for the atmosphere of the hills. If you check in advance and allow some time, you can make a reservation. If you arrive by car, a parking space is reserved for you, so you do not have to worry about finding a place to park.
For more information about the clubs, please refer to my article in Rock Club.
Around 15 times visit since 1991, the latest visit in 2026.
Basic Information
■ Name of Place : Sunset Plaza
■ Homepag : Sunset Plaza
https://www.sunsetplaza.com
