Neighborhood Guides

How to Spend a Full Day in Frogtown (Los Angeles)

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Did you know Frogtown (a nickname for Elysian Valley) is named after the influx of toads the neighborhood used to experience every summer? One of the tinier neighborhoods in LA, Frogtown is full of creativity and charm that you’ll get to soak up on this leisurely itinerary.

Getting To Frogtown

  • Metro: The closest bus routes are the 93 and 182, which stop just a few blocks from breakfast, but the 296 is also within walking distance.
  • Driving: Parking tends to be capped at 2 hours on the main streets, so check side streets like Gilroy St for an all-day spot.
  • Driving/Biking: To make this an all-day biking adventure, park at North Atwater Park and take the L.A. River bike path south toward Frogtown. At the first bridge, cross to the west side of the river and continue south into the neighborhood.

Spending your Morning in Frogtown

  • 9:15am: Start slow with a leisurely breakfast at a bike-themed cafe, 10 Speed Coffee.
  • 9:45 am: Walk or Bike South along the LA River Greenway Trail, stopping by Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park for a quick stroll. Continue South on the greenway for about 20 minutes total.
  • 10:15am:  Arrive at Spoke Bicycle Cafe and rent a bicycle ($15 for the first hour, $10 for every additional hour) to enjoy the greenway’s bike path. If you already have a bike with you, then use this as a fuel station to get a lil snack before you head south to arrive at your next destination.
  • 10:30 AM: At Elysian Valley Gateway Park, exit the greenway and you’ll find yourself right at the doorstep of Forager Crafts. If you plan your day in advance, book a craft workshop with Little Green Arts Studio ($75+) and browse the goodies for sale (workshops are typically 11 AM on Saturdays)

Spending an Afternoon in Frogtown

  • 1:15pm: For a light snack, munch on a little something vegan at Just What I Kneaded right around the corner from your workshop.
  • 1:45pm: Check out the cute shops in the area like The Juicy Leaf, Toad General Store (on the bike path), and singulier &.
  • 2:30pm: Continue to ride your bike along the L.A. River to get a little workout in. Then when you’re ready to stop, head north back to Spoke Cafe for a drop off (if you rented a bike).

Planning your Evening in Frogtown

  • 3:30pm: Stop by Lingua Franca for a drink and bite to eat. Happy Hour on the weekends is from 3:00 - 6:00 PM, so enjoy ordering something from that menu.
  • 5:30pm: Peel off the greenway at Gilroy St and head down the block to Frogtown Brewery for a drink or two. 
  • 7:00pm: Walk the 5 blocks West to catch a show at Zebulon ($20+). Shows are usually at 7 or 8pm and on Fridays & Saturdays, stick around for the free 10pm dance parties. When you’re ready, get home safely!

Tips to spending your day in Frogtown

  • Total walk time: 55m
  • This itinerary can be done Saturday-Sunday, or Thursday-Sunday without the craft workshop.
  • We recommend purchasing workshop tickets for Zebulon and Little Green Arts Studio in advance. Workshops typically start at 10 or 11am on weekends.
  • Bring a bike lock with you if you plan to rent/bring your bike!
  • For an extra adventure, take a kayak tour of the river with LA River Kayak Safari.

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