But First, Coffee. That Pink Wall. Rainbow murals.
There are some pretty famous West Holly photo spots, but this trendy, Instagram-worthy neighborhood has plenty of other gems worthy of a visit (both for fun and for bomb Instagram photos!)
Keep reading for my list of the best West Hollywood Instagram photo places, complete with addresses and tips for capturing stunning photos!
>> Got a question about West Hollywood photo spots that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
I live up in San Francisco but travel down to Los Angeles a couple of times a year to visit friends, soak up sunshine and see what’s new. When I’m not planning a chill Venice Beach trip, I’m usually running around West Hollywood or the Arts District hunting down the best murals and cutest coffee shops.
Or, like last trip when my friends and I road tripped to the Valley to find all The Office filming locations (now THAT was a fun day!)
West Hollywood Photo Spots (With Addresses!) For Fun Instagram Photos
West Hollywood has and always will be one of my favorite places in Los Angeles to take Instagram photos. There’s just so many colorful corners that scream “Southern California!” These are my favorite spots to visit with a camera and cute outfit!
Rainbow Gradient
Address: Corner of La Cienega Blvd & Sherwood Blvd
This mural is SO pretty! No matter what color you’re going for, you can find a corner of this mural to fit your feed’s aesthetics and branding. It’s best to photograph this mid-morning to avoid shadows. You can sometimes get lucky with street parking right across from it, too!
Fab Fit Fun Mural
Address: Oakwood Ave & La Cienega Blvd
This mural really stands out from the street. You can’t miss the colorful cacti and bold tones. It’s a Fab Fit Fun mural but plenty of spots along the wall aren’t branded and make for unique photos that I haven’t seen on Instagram before.
- PS interested in learning more about FabFitFun boxes? Check out my review here!
That Pink Wall (Aka Paul Smith Wall)
Address: 8221 Melrose Ave
Probably the most famous of all the West Hollywood photo spots that I’m sure you’ve seen on Instagram before. This is the only wall that’s guarded – that’s right. There’s security guards and everything here and they WILL kick you out if you try to use a DSLR camera. It’s phones only!
I’ve seen a girl do a full-blown photoshoot with an iPhone here so you can make it work, just plan ahead of time for using your phone. The top photo was taken on a cloudy day, when the wall looks darker. The bottom photo was taken on a bright sunny day, when the pink looks lighter.
Carrera Cafe
Address: 8251 Melrose Ave
Across the street from That Pink Wall is actually my favorite art installation in West Hollywood. This coffee shop changes out their murals every month or so, making the murals fleeting and extra special. If you see a mural you like on Instagram, basically RUN to this coffee shop before they swap it out.
- PS I’ve never gone inside but I hear they make sure Instagram-worthy coffees, too.
Alfred’s Coffee Melrose Place + Alfred’s Tea Room
Address: 8428 Melrose Place + 705 N Alfred St
Home of “But first, coffee” (it’s like trademarked and everything!) so it’s one of the top West Hollywood hot spots. There is actually Alfred’s Tea and Alfred’s Coffee both off Melrose Place just a couple of blocks apart.
Alfred’s Tea is usually less busy and is where you can find the pink walls that say “Can’t We All Get Oolong”. The coffee shop is an elective venue with just, so much going on for photos (you’ll have to see it in person!)
The Butcher, The Baker and the Cappuccino Maker
Address: 8653 Sunset Blvd
BB&C makes a great stop for a tasty brunch or just an Instagram-worthy coffee break. Make sure to order their rainbow latte – I can’t for the life of me remember the name on the menu but just ask for it!
Rainbow Crochet Mural
Address: Corner of Melrose Ave & North Laural Ave
Fairly new on the scene of West Hollywood Instagram spots (erected in early 2020 I believe!) This crochet rainbow mural is made out of yarn to form a couple of rainbows, heart and peace sign. I love how colorful yet simple this one is and it’s usually pretty empty!
Rawberri
Address: 8582 Santa Monica Blvd
I mean, just LOOK at this wallpaper! We came for the pink and green lattes for breakfast one morning and were treated to a cute, fairly empty cafe. Shout out to the cashier who not only whipped out her phone to show us photos of what each acia bowl & latte looked like, but gave ZERO fucks as we spent 30 minutes photographing up a storm in the cafe. It’s just so cute!
Rainbow Stripes
Address: 8304 Melrose Ave
This is a cute little spot with rainbow stripes and cacti. It’s right on Melrose but often gets overlooked for other nearby spots (like the Pink Wall.) It’s best to photograph this one in the afternoon or golden hour to make sure you avoid harsh light.
Pink Courtyard
Address: 8483 Melrose Place
My friend and I stumbled upon this place back when it was still under contribution in 2018. Now I believe it’s a chic courtyard for other stores. There’s tables and tons of flowers twisting their way up the wall and makes such a great photo spot, especially on cloudy days!
The Kassi Club
Address: 8422 W 3rd St
This is one of my favorite places to go in West Hollywood for dinner!! Some popular restaurants are kinda snooty in LA but the staff was all super nice and friendly. The food here is Mediterranean style and they have AMAZING cocktails. They have skylights to bring in tons of natural light which is perfect for photos!
Tip For Taking The Best West Hollywood Photos
- Drive a smaller car so it’s easier to find street parking! Trust me on this one.
- Keep an eye on the parking signs, as many have a 1 hour time limit for non-residents (so you have to set a timer and make sure you get back!)
- Usually I try to take photos in morning or evening to avoid harsh light BUT harsh light sometimes works really well in West Hollywood because it has that “California” feel. But, you’ll find less crowds if you go right away in the morning.
- When I go with girlfriends, we pack the trunk of our car with tons of outfits to change in between photoshoots, that way we have tons of different content to use for months even though we shot it all on one day!
- If you’re at a cafe or restaurant, ask the server what the most Instagramable dish is. It’s totally not weird to ask here in Los Angeles!
<div?I also recommend wearing really bold outfits with bold colors or styles so you really pop in front of murals. Really lean into the “SoCal aesthetic” and your photos will be a hit on Instagram!
Outfit ideas:
If you haven’t figured it out, attractions in West Hollywood are basically restaurants and shopping. (There aren’t a lot of things to do in West Hollywood if you’re full and on a tight shopping budget!) That’s why I love coming here with girlfriends and just running around (for free!) taking photos and splitting Instagramable coffees at cute cafes.
There are SO MANY more places in West Hollywood that make cute Instagram photos. The murals are always changing I feel like, sometimes a vintage car parks in the perfect spot, new restaurants pop up offering great wallpaper, etc.
I recommend using this list as a great starting point, but also build in some extra time to walk around and explore. See what catches your eye!
If you have any favorite West Hollywood photo spots that didn’t make the list, leave a comment below so everyone can see! If you have any questions, comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
