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Topanga is an unincorporated community of Los Angeles County, surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Topanga has long been a getaway for artists and musicians, and it still retains a distinct bohemian flavor, which is complemented by the outdoor enthusiasts who have escaped the urban tangle to be closer to nature.

Get in

Topanga can be reached most directly by taking Topanga Canyon Boulevard north from Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, or south Route 101 from the San Fernando Valley. Old Topanga Canyon Road and La Tuna Canyon Road are also available, but are older and more indirect routes.

Get around

See

  • 1 Topanga Days, 11440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, . 10AM-7PM, Parade 9AM Monday. An annual music festival held over Memorial Day weekend. Not genre-specific, but tending toward classic rock and folk rock. Capped off by a parade, celebrating the community's counter-cultural roots, along Topanga Canyon Blvd. Parking and tickets are first-come-first-serve, so arrive punctually. $20. Child and Senior discount available..

Do

  • 1 Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, +1 310 455-3723. An eclectic outdoor theater in Topanga Canyon, featuring folk plays, Shakespeare, educational workshops, and concerts. Founded by actor Will Geer. June through October only.

Buy

  • 1 Jalan Jalan Imports, 525 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, +1 310 455-2254. 11AM-5PM. Not every visitor will be in the market for home decor, but jewelry other small pieces are available. Most importantly, this store is perhaps the exemplar of Topanga's local flavor. Asian objets d'art are displayed in an outdoor showroom, complete with natural waterfall.

Eat

  • 1 Inn of the Seventh Ray, 128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd, +1 310 455-1311. 11AM-10PM Mon-Fri, 10:30AM-10PM Sat, 9:30-10PM Sun. An idyllic (if pricey) outdoor dining experience beside Topanga Creek. All-organic menu featuring locally produced ingredients perfectly complement the adjunct new-age bookstore and shop that echoes Topanga's bohemian history. Main courses $25-$45.
  • 2 Canyon Bistro, 120 North Topanga Canyon Blvd, +1 310 455-7800. 11AM-9PM; 11AM-10PM Sat.; 10AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM Sun.. French / American Bistro located near where the old road joins Topanga Canyon Boulevard. On the pricey side, but the intimate setting and food quality one expects from Topanga mean you get what you pay for. Main courses $15-$25.
  • 3 Cafe Mimosa, 395 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, +1 310 455-4341. 6:30AM-5PM, 7:30AM-5PM Sun.. Small coffee shop south of "downtown" Topanga. Offers baked goods and a modest breakfast and lunch menu, and a small patio as well.

Drink

Sleep

Go next

  • Calabasas - A suburban community at the southwest edge of the San Fernando Valley.
  • Malibu - An exclusive coastal community and home to the rich and famous, and features miles of beautiful public beaches.
  • Pacific Palisades - An upscale, mostly residential community overlooking the ocean. The J. Paul Getty Villa museum is located here.
  • Santa Monica - A popular tourist destination with a famous pier and the 3rd Street Promenade shopping center.
Routes through Topanga
ChatsworthCalabasas  N  S  Santa Monica Mountains N.R.A.Malibu


This city travel guide to Topanga is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.