Weekend at UCLA: What to do, see and eat

Whether you’re a new student, proud parent, or alum, the back-to-school season is worth celebrating. And there’s no better place to do that than in the towns and neighborhoods surrounding UCLA, where cheap eats, student energy, and iconic LA hotspots can turn a start-of-school weekend into a full-on destination getaway.

“UCLA is one of the most beautiful college campuses,” says Kale Woods, a coach for UCLA’s Elegant Bruinettes, a new dance team modeled after the dancelines at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She appreciates the campus’ mix of modern and historical architecture and the “unparalleled beauty in its outdoor spaces.”

The start of school lines up perfectly with those warm late-summer days. Woods loves wandering campus to see “students sitting on the grass and studying with their friends. Just like the typical LA lifestyle, everyone is outside soaking up the sun.” Her favorite hangouts around campus are in front of Royce Hall (“and inside by its pillars/arches”), the top of Janss stairs for the beautiful view, and the gothic Kercheff Hall.

Westwood is an easy walk from campus and is packed with cafes, restaurants, and shops. Plus, Woods notes, the neighborhood is “close to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and not too far from the airport.”

Ready to plan a whirlwind weekend? Here’s what to do, where to eat, and where to stay near UCLA this back-to-school season.

Pick up a fun artsy student vibe both on and off campus.

If you haven’t been on campus since the days you were racing late to class, bedhead and all, treat yourself to a few hours of exploration. Take a walking tour of the Gardens of UCLA (pick up a map at Luskin Hotel), stroll through five landscaped acres at the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, check out global culture at the Fowler Museum or sports history at the UCLA Hall of Fame, and of course shop through the UCLA store for college gear or grad gifts. (We are entering sweatshirt season after all.)

For an accessible off-campus experience—and a survey course on two thousand years of art—explore this massive museum packed with top-tier artists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Rembrandt. With all those masterpieces, it’s a bit of a shocker that The Getty is most famous for its exterior. But the architecture is iconic, the gardens are elegant, and the sweeping views of downtown LA are truly incredible. Entrance is free, but you need a reservation. Parking is $25 per car or take the 761 bus from campus.

Get to know a new generation of artists at this UCLA-affiliated museum just off-campus in Westwood. You’ll find a collection of contemporary (and historic) art and fantastic free public programs. Current shows include an extensive survey of intaglio prints and Sanford Bigger’s massive, 25-foot-tall bronze sculpture, weighing in at over seven tons. This is also home to Lulu, a Michelin-recognized restaurant affiliated with chef and food activist Alice Waters, which is head and shoulders above most museum cafes.

What is college life without its legendary snack attacks? But no need to revisit your days of study hall potato chips and microwave nachos. You can do better on this Venice Beach walking tour. Guides not only fill your plate with delicious neighborhood bites like empanadas, crispy fish tacos, quesabirria, and açai bowls, they also give you a full education on the local culture and history behind it.

Dig into student faves or splash out on celebratory meals.

It was a revelation the first time I devoured an ultra-affordable and legit delicious Diddy Riese cookie as a broke college kid. It’s one of Tripadvisor's top dessert spots in LA and still a college-student staple, specializing in 75 cent cookies and tasty ice cream cookie sandwiches. The long but cheerful lines are a small price to pay for freshly baked bliss.

Feed your inner college student or celebrate the next gen with a slice of Lamonica’s NY-style pizza. This beloved Westwood hole-in-the-wall has delivered a primary food group to decades of UCLA students, serving meal-sized slices for under $5. Go classic with pepperoni, get fancy with ricotta-spinach, or start a controversy with BBQ chicken.

This chic little bistro in the heart of Westwood gives major Parisian energy, but the way the sunshine hits the charming courtyard and the rooftop terrace is all SoCal. Try French classics like steak frites, vegetable pistou, and poulet roti, and celebrate graduation with a full bar. If your grad isn’t ready to ditch school just yet, Violet has its own cooking classes, plus a shop for cooking supplies and special ingredients.

Located on an unassuming stretch of Westwood Boulevard across the street from a CVS, Emporium Thai may not be much of a looker from the outside, but on the inside it’s an award-winning restaurant that packs a punch. Faves here include pan-fried noodle dishes including pad thai and drunken noodles, Southern curry (an old family recipe), and The UCLA Curry, a pumpkin curry with a following.

This fine-dining Japanese restaurant is owned by Vincent Hsieh, who has been elevating Japanese cuisine in LA since the ‘70s and who mentored big-name chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa. Everything here—from the flowers to the napkins to each piece of sushi and sashimi—is beautifully arranged. If you really want to go all-in for a back-to-school celebration, the nine-course prix fixe kaiseki is exceptional.

Forget roommates and bathrooms down the hall, these stays offer luxe details and fresh design all close to campus.

Luskin may be on-campus, but it’s a far cry from dorm life. This large conference hotel has 254 rooms decked out with super comfy mattresses, Pima cotton linens, luxe toiletries, and cozy bathrobes. There’s an on-site restaurant, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center. Plus, the on-campus location is exceptional for accessing UCLA’s museums and performance spaces—and, if you’re tired of walking, there’s even a campus shuttle.

Palihotel’s stylish mix of mid-century modern and Euro design makes it feel like you’re staying at your chicest friend’s vacation house. And from the Diptyque bath products to the attractive in-room SMEG mini-fridges, everything here feels highly curated. Plus, it’s less than a 10-minute walk to campus, just a two-minute walk from the Hammer Museum, and right next to Westwood’s restaurants and cafes.

This new, all-suite boutique hotel offers a mix of studios, one-bedroom suites, and industrial-chic live-work lofts that average 650 square feet. Suites have cherry hardwood floors, marble bathrooms with chic subway tile accents; plus kitchenettes, en-suite Bosch laundry machines, and convertible sofas for more sleeping space. With soundproof windows, organic pillow-top mattresses, and Fili d’Oro linens, it’s hard not to sleep well. Plus, the Westwood location (right around the corner from the Palihotel) is super convenient.

If you want to dial up the vacay energy, the W has you covered. The pool is the perfect chill backdrop, with cabanas tricked out with sofas, TVs, outdoor dining tables, and complimentary water and sunscreen. Rooms and suites are airy and artsy, plus there’s a poolside restaurant and bar, onsite steakhouse, and Living Room Bar. It’s within walking distance to campus and Westwood, and practically across the street from the UCLA Botanical Gardens.

The UCLA Guesthouse is a non-profit that offers on-campus accommodations for families of students, visiting scholars, campus visitors, and UCLA Med Center patients. Rooms are comfortable but not fancy, rates are generally pretty affordable, and there’s free breakfast plus Wi-Fi and a swimming pool to sweeten the deal.