Playa Vista

 

Once the headquarters of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes’ famed Hughes Aircraft Company, Playa Vista began as a swath of airfields, aircraft hangars, and factories designed to build Hughes’ wildest ideas, including the Spruce Goose, the largest aircraft in history. After attempts in the 1990s to revitalize the area, Playa Vista finally got its perfect rebrand in 2002, with a master plan for a sleek residential, commercial, and retail community. Today, this hip enclave joins Santa Monica and Venice as part of LA’s Silicon Beach and is a choice destination for businesses in the technology, media, and entertainment industries. Sporting a unique blend of creativity and of-the-moment start-up energy, Playa Vista works hard and plays hard.

Although the luxe condo buildings and sophisticated collection of boutiques and markets reflect the cosmopolitan vibe of Los Angeles, Playa Vista is, at its heart, a quaint village of communal living. Neighborhood events bring residents together in the perfectly manicured parks for movie nights and concerts, while sustainability and social responsibility are hallmarks of Playa Vista’s hip shops and bistros.

 

What to Love

• Highly walkable
• Built-in amenities 
• Silicon Beach tech hub
• Minutes from the beach

People & Lifestyle

Playa Vista’s built-in community means never having to brave LA traffic to get what you need. Whole Foods Market is within walking distance of the stylish Runway shopping complex, as is an impressive collection of boutiques and bistros. A well-known spot for family outings, you’ll often find residents getting ice cream with their kids, playing tennis, attending one of many community events, or strolling the beautifully manicured walkways and neighborhood parks.

 

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Sit out on the patio at SOL Mexican Cocina and take in the tropical beauty of Playa Vista. With a warm, rich design and a stunning menu of bold flavors, this scratch kitchen brings the best of Baja to Los Angeles. At Ritrovo, the stylish decor is almost as alluring as the sumptuous Italian classics. Gnocchi pesto, wood-fired pizzas, and gourmet tagliere stand out at this charming bistro, so grab a friend and settle in for an elegant lunch. Part art gallery, part upscale shopping complex, the uber-hip Free Market may well become your retail go-to spot. Steps from Google’s LA headquarters, this innovative market brings the retro shopping mall concept confidently into the social era. Stop in at Archive Atelier Collective for an impeccable collection of curated vintage designs, prepare for life under the California sun with straw hats and luxe skin products from Studio C, or treat yourself to the creamy confections from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

 

Things to Do

Known for lush landscaping and pristine parks, Playa Vista boasts 29 green spaces and over 47 acres of parkland. From music and movie nights in Concert Park to tennis and baseball in the Sports Park, Playa Vista is known as the place to play. The upscale collection of shops and services at the Runway offers plenty of ways to spend the day. Whether a matinee at Cinemark Movie Theatre is your preferred way to spend the afternoon, or a day of beauty treatments is more your speed, this chic complex has something for everyone. Spend Saturday mornings perusing the vibrant vendors at Farmer Mark, Playa Vista’s own farmers’ market offering an impressive array of organic vegetables, French pastries, artisan cheeses, and more. The annual Taste of Playa Vista supports local education and also offers residents the chance to kick back with friends, enjoy a crisp glass of pinot grigio, and snack on gourmet food from live-action chef stations.