Neighborhood Series: Spending the day in Toluca Lake & Beyond, a full day itinerary

A favorite among the more lowkey celebs, even Amelia Earhart lived in Toluca Lake for some time. Known as the most chichi area in Burbank, the neighborhood’s namesake lake is actually privately owned by the surrounding homes and only accessible to owners and their guests (chichi indeed). Although you can’t go see the lake, you can take a Zillow-enhanced walk to daydream about which house you’d buy if you had a few mil to spare. If you do live there, drop the tea and the tips in the comments! If you don’t, we hope you enjoy this lowkey itinerary to explore the neighborhood.

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Getting There

• Metro: Take the B (red) line to Universal, then take the pink route (weekdays) / 222 bus (weekends) North to Riverside / Pass.
• Driving: Park at Lakeside Shopping Center just North of Toluca Lake. For all the good citizens and rule followers, don’t worry, you will be patronizing the shopping center spots!

Morning

• 10am: Start your day at Bea Bea’s for breakfast. Technically a few of our early stops aren’t in Toluca Lake’s official boundaries, but they’re right next door and in this case, the matcha pancakes are worth bending the borders. 
• 10:45am: Walk 7 minutes South on N Pass Ave then turn left onto W Riverside Dr (your north star for the day) where you’ll find Lou, The French On The Block. Waiting in line is worthwhile for what is widely regarded as the best croissant in Burbank. Grab a coffee while you’re at it!
• 11:15am: Take your treats on the go for the 11 minute walk over to Warner Brothers for a 11:30am studio tour ($76). The tour lasts one hour but you’ll want to spend some time exploring the unguided areas and the gift shop as well. If you miss the 11:30, there are tours leaving every 30 minutes so just catch the next one!

Afternoon

• 1:15pm: Walk back West for 15 minutes along Riverside to Bob’s Big Boy for lunch. This historic restaurant was built in 1949 and has seen many a celeb come through; it even has a “Beatles booth” where the famed musicians sat in 1965 after they requested to eat at a “real American diner.”
• 2:15pm: Get ahead of the post-lunch sleepies with a quick 1-block trip to Priscilla’s Gourmet Coffee Tea & Gift. The blueberry vanilla iced coffee is a perfect option to sip away the afternoon.
• 2:45pm: We can’t be the only masochists who relish a residential stroll in a swanky neighborhood. You’ll want to focus on the area between Clybourn Ave and Forman Ave, and South of Moorpark for the nicest spots. Pull up Zillow to enhance the experience.
• 4:30pm: When you’ve had enough snooping through the neighborhood, make your way over to Foreman’s Whiskey Tavern, where you can try one of their famous whiskey flights ($20+). If you’re not a big whiskey fan, don’t fret! Try a cocktail or a tasty snack instead.

Evening

• 5:30pm: If you’re not feeling silly yet, you will soon! Pop over to Spin The Bottle Wines right next door to try a few wines by the glass.
• 6:30pm: Sober up across the street at your next destination, Korean-American fusion restaurant Hungry Crowd. We’ll warn you - there is indeed often a crowd of hungry people waiting for a table here, so if the wait is too long consider Prosecco Trattoria right next door for excellent Italian food. 
• 7:15pm: Start the 14-minute walk back to Lakeside Shopping Center - we recommend walking back East on Riverside rather than the route Google Maps suggests (it’s a little sketchy). On the opposite side of the shopping center from Bea Bea’s you’ll find The Roguelike Tavern. You may be skeptical of a bar in a strip mall, but trust us on this one. Between the trivia and karaoke, the “puzzle box” experience, and the D&D vibe, it’s a local favorite. 
• 8pm: We hate to say it, but hop in your car and drive over to Universal Studios or take the pink route/222 bus back to Universal. Head up to City Walk - if your sweet tooth is calling, we recommend a stop at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. The steampunk theme is unique, and the milkshakes are elaborate. Order one at the counter downstairs and enjoy it as you meander through City Walk. Most things at City Walk close at 9pm, so we recommend catching a 9:15 movie at the AMC ($24+). Don’t forget to validate your parking at the theater so it’s only $5!

Tips

• Total walk time: 1h 27m (+ however much “extra” exploring you want to do in Toluca Lake and City Walk)
• This itinerary can be done Tuesday-Sunday. The only thing that requires planning is the WB tour, which you may want to reserve in advance depending on the season. Otherwise, the times are all just suggestions. Enjoy at your own pace!
• There are 3 bars on this itinerary. Please drive (or rideshare) responsibly!
• The Gary Marshall Theater hosts productions during their season, August-April. If you’re visiting during these months check their schedule to catch a show!
• If you love Halloween but can’t afford those pricey jump scare tickets, trick or treating in Toluca Lake is epic. The neighborhood goes all out on home decor and spooky front yard experiences.

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