Silver Lake
Silver Lake is a hilly Eastside neighborhood of Los Angeles built around the Silver Lake Reservoir, known for its modernist architecture, public staircases and a busy stretch of Sunset Boulevard. Here's what to know whether you're visiting or thinking of moving, with full drives so you can see the streets for yourself.
Last updated November 2026 · Sources
At a glance
- Part of
- City of Los Angeles, LA County
- Size
- About 2.75 square miles
- Population
- About 30,000 (recent estimate)
- ZIP codes
- 90026, 90039
- Freeways
- US-101 to the south, I-5 and the end of SR-2 to the east
- Rail
- Metro B Line at Vermont/Sunset, just west in East Hollywood
A short history
- Ivanhoe first
The area was first called Ivanhoe, after Walter Scott's 1819 novel. The upper basin, Ivanhoe Reservoir, dates from 1906.
- A reservoir and a name
Work on Silver Lake Reservoir began in 1907 under William Mulholland. It was named for Herman Silver, a city water commissioner, and the neighborhood took the name from the lake.
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- Disney on Hyperion
Walt Disney's first studio stood at Griffith Park Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue, where a Gelson's market is today. Disney still uses the Hyperion name.
- The Music Box Steps
Laurel and Hardy hauled a piano up the 133-step stairway between Vendome Street and Descanso Drive in The Music Box (1932), which won an Academy Award. The steps were officially named for the film in 1995.
- A modernist landmark
Architect Richard Neutra built his own home and studio on Silver Lake Boulevard in 1932. The Neutra VDL Studio and Residences is now a National Historic Landmark open as a house museum.
Silver Lake today
- The reservoir is the center of things: a walking path loops around it, with a recreation center and dog park alongside.
- Sunset Boulevard is the main commercial street, lined with independent shops, cafes, bars and music venues around Sunset Junction.
- Up the hills, the streets are a mix of 1920s Spanish-style houses, mid-century modern homes and small apartment buildings, connected by dozens of public staircases.
- In October, Laurel and Hardy Park hosts the annual Music Box Steps Day across the street from the stairs.
From the driver's seat
Our drives show a neighborhood of short, steep climbs and sudden views. The streets above the reservoir twist and narrow quickly, while Sunset Boulevard below is busy and stop-start. Watch the sunset and cloudy-day drives back to back to see how much the light changes the hills.
If you're visiting
- Silver Lake Reservoir
Walk or jog the path around the water, with the hills and the Downtown skyline beyond.
- Sunset Junction
The busiest stretch of Sunset Boulevard for independent shops, coffee and casual food.
- Music Box Steps
Climb the 133 steps on Vendome Street where Laurel and Hardy hauled their piano in 1932.
- Neutra VDL Studio and Residences
Richard Neutra's own modernist home on Silver Lake Boulevard, open for tours on set days.
- The public staircases
Dozens of old stairways link the hillside streets; they make a good self-guided walk.
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Getting there: The nearest Metro stop is the B Line at Vermont/Sunset, about a mile west; buses run along Sunset. Street parking on Sunset is metered and fills up on weekends.
Preview it: Silver Lake at SunsetHours, prices and seasons change, so check before you go.
If you're moving here
Cost snapshot
Figures are area-wide estimates from listing sites and change monthly. Check current listings before you decide.
Getting around
Silver Lake is easier with a car, though Sunset Boulevard is walkable and served by Metro buses. The closest rail is the B Line at Vermont/Sunset, about a mile west, with direct trains to Hollywood and Downtown.
Need Silver Lake on film for work?
Realtors, relocation consultants and brands can license our footage or commission a drive of a specific street, route or time of day.
Watch it: drives through Silver Lake
5 drives
No. 00612:21Sunset Boulevard to Dodger Stadium
No. 01021:48Silver Lake at Sunset
No. 01216:03East Hollywood to Echo Park
No. 02026:26Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Atwater Village on a Cloudy Day
No. 02228:51Silver Lake to Frogtown at Sunset
Jump straight to it
Find a landmark- 3:01Glendale Boulevard / Silver Lake in Echo Park Hillside StreetsPlay
- 0:32Sunset Blvd Overpass - entering Silver Lake in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 0:56Effie St - Silver Lake Hills in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 1:50Steep section of Effie St in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 4:35Downtown Los Angeles skyline view in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 5:41Silver Lake Reservoir & Pedestrian Path in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 10:04Silver Lake Meadows in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
- 11:40Silver Lake Dog Park in Silver Lake at SunsetPlay
See all 10 moments in Find a landmark
Short drives nearby
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Quick answers
Where is Silver Lake?
Silver Lake is a hilly Eastside neighborhood of Los Angeles built around the Silver Lake Reservoir, known for its modernist architecture, public staircases and a busy stretch of Sunset Boulevard.
What is the population of Silver Lake?
Silver Lake has a population of about 30,000 (recent estimate).
What is there to do in Silver Lake?
Top things to see include Silver Lake Reservoir, Sunset Junction, Music Box Steps, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences and The public staircases.
How do you get around Silver Lake?
Silver Lake is easier with a car, though Sunset Boulevard is walkable and served by Metro buses. The closest rail is the B Line at Vermont/Sunset, about a mile west, with direct trains to Hollywood and Downtown.
How much does it cost to live in Silver Lake?
Median home value: $1.46M (Trulia, April 2026). Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,181/mo (Apartments.com, April 2026).
Can I see what Silver Lake looks like before I visit or move?
Yes. Somewhere Drive has 5 full 4K drives through Silver Lake with no narration, including Sunset Boulevard to Dodger Stadium.
Sources
- Silver Lake, Los Angeles (Wikipedia)
- Neutra VDL Studio and Residences
- The Music Box Steps (Historical Marker Database)
- Music Box Steps Day (Eric Brightwell)
- Silver Lake home values (Trulia)
- Silver Lake rent trends (Apartments.com)
This guide describes places, streets and history, not who lives here. Spot an error? Email hello@somewheredrive.com.
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