Above: Photo by Alex Gudino via Unsplash
In 2021, we spent a month at an Airbnb in the LA neighborhood of Silver Lake, located in the eastern part of the city just north of the downtown area. In addition to a plethora of good eats – of which, Bowery Bungalow, Pine and Crane, Courage Bagels and Sqirl were our favorites – there is also a nice variety of shopping to be had as well.
We returned to the area recently for a short visit, and I stumbled onto a few more cool finds. Here are some of my favorites, starting from the northern end of Sunset Blvd and moving south:
Secret Headquarters (Website)
A fun store packed with comic books and graphic novels, worth a browse even if you are not a big comic book fan!
Undefeated (Website)
Sneakers, sneakers, and more sneakers. Extensive men’s collection, with a few offerings for women and children as well. I used to live near the SF outpost, and would often see long lines for sneaker drops back in the day.
BYREDO (Website)
Warning: these candles are expensive. However, I was gifted a Byredo Cotton Poplin candle that not only smelled lovely, but had the cleanest, even burn. So on the bright side, you can feel confident that you will burn and get the scent out of every ounce of their $90 candles. I am also a fan of their Bibliotheque scent, which evokes a woodsy, wintery vibe.
Supergoodie Silverlake
So… I am not entirely sure why there are two locations, with two websites, just a few blocks apart. But both have a nicely curated selection of women’s clothing, with a few men’s pieces as well. Definitely recommend checking out both spots, as they have pretty different collections!
Golden Age
If you are on the hunt for vintage denim, look no further. The walls are lined with racks of jeans, jackets, and tops, all in various weights and shades of denim. In the middle of the store, you’ll also find a rack full of vintage band t-shirts. One of the few stores in this list with a significant men’s section.
Wildfang (Website)
One of my new favorite brand discoveries! All of their pieces are gender neutral and can be worn by anyone. And as of August 2022, they are also officially climate neutral certified. I picked up this fun patterned twill blazer and extra soft denim shirt, both currently on sale.
Candid Home (Website)
A home decor goods store with lots of small knick knacks that are much easier to transport if you’re visiting from afar.
The Gorky (Website)
Last but certainly not least – I randomly stumbled upon The Gorky and am so glad I did. They have an amazingly curated collection of both pre-loved designer clothing, with some new pieces scattered throughout. Neutral lovers and color collectors will both love this store.
Bonus:
Cafe Tropical
Once you’re done shopping, take a break at this neighborhood Cuban cafe that has been in the area since 1975. They have a wide selection of Cuban pastries, sandwiches and coffees. Our favorite was the guava pastelito, and the cafe helado (with condensed milk) was a nice pick-me-up.
Bodega Park
Located just across the street from Cafe Tropical, Bodega Park is a Korean coffee and sandwich spot reinvented itself during the pandemic. The Puro Misugaru Black Sesame drink is delicious (and caffeine-free), and I really enjoyed their take on a tuna sandwich – lightweight and balanced with greens.
