This week, our neighborhood spotlight series takes us to Little Holmby & Holmby Hills. They may share a name, but each has its own distinct personality. Holmby Hills is grand and estate-driven, home to architectural icons (including the legendary Playboy Mansion). Little Holmby feels more intimate — tree-lined, close-knit, and the kind of neighborhood people rarely leave. What they share: tranquil streets just minutes from UCLA, Westwood Village, and Beverly Hills. Peaceful vibe, prime location. Here’s our insider’s guide to both.
CULTURE
Go For a Stroll: One of the virtues of living in this area. Wide, canopied streets lined with iconic architectural moments: Tudor estates, mid-century gems, Mediterranean villas, sleek contemporary builds. Now that’s what we call window shopping.
Hammer Museum: Free, world-class, and right in Westwood Village. The Hammer is one of those cultural gems Holmby residents get to casually claim as their neighborhood museum with rotating contemporary art, film screenings, and public talks.
Westwood Village: Historic single-screen theaters that still host real premieres, strollable streets, and solid dining close by. Westwood Village has had its chapters, but its proximity to Holmby is a genuine lifestyle perk.
UCLA Campus: One of the most beautiful university campuses in the country is literally next door. Gorgeous architecture, a botanical garden, Bruin athletics, world-class lecture series — it's a great neighbor, and the energy it brings to the area is real.
RESTAURANTS
Violet: A short distance from Little Holmby homes, Violet delivers a gorgeous outdoor patio perfect for al fresco dinners, plus a cozy, clubby Parisian-style interior with a stellar bar. Date night done right.
Clementine: A certified SBP favorite, and once you've been, you'll understand why. Exceptional pastries, even better sandwiches, warm and unpretentious in all the right ways. Go on a weekday morning if you can.
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe: Low-key setting, genuinely great food. Know what to order and it's a knockout: the Mezza combo, the eggplant delight, the combo grill. Locals have been quietly devoted to Sunnin for years, and for very good reason.
Plateia: Your insider tip: a legitimately good Mediterranean restaurant tucked inside UCLA's Luskin Conference Center — and most of the city has no idea it exists. Beautiful for indoor or outdoor dining. IYKYK.
STK Steakhouse: When the occasion calls for a great steak, strong cocktails, and a fun room, STK delivers. It fills a real need in the neighborhood's dining mix and never disappoints.
Tacos 1986: Proper Tijuana-style street tacos in Westwood. The birria quesatacos have a devoted following that is fully justified. Works at midnight just as well as it does at noon — which is really the highest compliment you can give a taco spot.
COFFEE & TREATS
Espresso Profeta: Genuinely some of the best coffee in the city is at Espresso Profeta. F. Ron’s must-order: the Cafe Nico with orange zest. Try it once and it becomes a habit.
Saffron & Rose: The gold standard in Persian ice cream, Saffron & Rose has been a neighborhood institution for years, dishing out unique flavors like saffron, rosewater, and pistachio.
REAL ESTATE
Now, let's talk real estate. The Holmby market is exactly what you'd expect: limited inventory, consistent demand, and homes ranging from grand Holmby Hills estates to the more intimate, equally special properties of Little Holmby. Here's what we have going on right now.
10386 Strathmore Drive
Now for sale, 10386 Strathmore Drive is Holmby Hills' definitive new construction estate: a 12,200+ S.F. gated compound on more than half an acre, with a detached guest house, saltwater pool, home theater, and a primary suite designed like a world-class retreat.
10749 Weyburn Avenue
Available for lease, 10749 Weyburn Avenue is a beautifully restored 1930s Spanish home in Little Holmby — reimagined in 2020 with original ironwork, stained glass, carved wood beams, and a landscaped backyard with outdoor kitchen. 5 bed, 6 bath, 4,259 S.F., within the Warner Avenue Elementary bounds.
229 Woodruff Avenue
And last but certainly not least, 229 Woodruff Avenue. Smith & Berg represented the buyer of this designer-crafted trophy home with hand-honed limestone floors, Venetian plaster walls, and private flat grounds. The ultimate warm contemporary.
SHOPS
Westfield Century City: One of the best malls in Southern California is five minutes away. Eataly, Nordstrom, Equinox, and a solid mix of everything else. Covers the bases without a trek across the city.
Beverly Hills (Right Next Door): Little Holmby practically borders Beverly Hills — Rodeo Drive, Robertson, all of it is right there when you want it. We saved BH for its own spotlight (it deserves it), but the proximity is a genuine Holmby perk.
Brentwood Country Mart & Montana Avenue: A short drive west and you're in one of the Westside's most pleasant browsing scenes. Boutiques, coffee, restaurants, a relaxed outdoor setting. Good for a weekend morning with nowhere to be.
BARS
The Polo Lounge (Beverly Hills): An LA icon, and practically in the backyard. The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel has been the go-to setting for Hollywood deals and celebratory drinks for decades.
Carmine’s: An LA institution since 1972 and a Rat Pack hangout with old-school Italian-American food, stellar martinis, and the kind of lived-in bar atmosphere that's increasingly hard to find. Century City-adjacent and beloved by the neighborhood crowd for good reason.
The Tuck Room: On Wilshire in Westwood, The Tuck Room is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with velvet, jewel tones, and a one-of-a-kind cocktail list. Lively without being loud, and great for happy hour or a full evening out.
SELF-CARE
Holmby Park: Sometimes self-care is just a stroll in the park. Holmby Park offers tennis courts, open lawn, and room to breathe. Easy to underestimate, hard to replace.
Equinox: Five minutes away and worth every minute. The full Equinox experience — great equipment, classes that actually challenge you, top-tier facilities. No excuses.
CorePower Yoga: Right in the neighborhood and reliably good. The heated sculpt classes have a devoted local following, and the instructors earn it.
UCLA Recreation: For those with UCLA affiliations, the Wooden Center is an incredible resource (pool, courts, fitness, group classes) steps from home. One of the perks of having a world-class university as your neighbor.
SCHOOLS
Warner Avenue Elementary School: Consistently rated among the top elementary schools in LAUSD, Warner Avenue is a major reason Little Holmby has such loyal residents. Strong academics, a tight-knit community, and the kind of school that quietly factors into home searches in a real way.
Fairburn Avenue Elementary: Another strong public option serving the Westwood/Holmby area. Well-regarded, community-supported, and a solid choice for families who want excellent public education without private school tuition.
Private Schools Nearby: Easy reach to some of the best private schools in LA — Brentwood School, Harvard-Westlake, Crossroads, Wildwood. Something for every age and philosophy, without a brutal commute.
UCLA (Your Neighbor): One of the best public universities in the world is literally next door, with lectures, performances, athletics, and cultural programming all within a short stroll.
ACCESS
Holmby's location is one of its most underrated assets. The 405 and 10 are minutes away, Beverly Hills is right next door, Westwood Village is within a few minutes, and Brentwood, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood are all a short drive in any direction. You're central to everything on the Westside.
