Despite how underrated it is, Van Nuys remains an integral part of
Los Angeles. For one thing, it's one of the city's finest neighborhoods, offering a fabulous mix of suburban charms and urban excitement. This fairly vast district at the heart of the San Fernando Valley has many peaceful corners for a fairly quiet lifestyle, as well as several central spots where big-city living reigns supreme. Even Hollywood works here, often filming amidst its bright streets and indulging in its most luxurious attractions. It's no wonder many people have chosen to stay here!
Where is Van Nuys in Los Angeles?
Van Nuys enjoys a fairly central location at the heart of the San Fernando Valley. It may be a fair distance away from
LA's central neighborhoods, but it's by no means on the outskirts of town. The district itself is even surrounded by the Valley's notable areas. There's the North Hills to its north, Panorama City to its northeast, Valley Glen to its east, Sherman Oaks to its south, and Northridge to its northwest. Such a convenient spot has made Van Nuys a fairly covetable neighborhood in LA, arguably even more so than those downtown.
Is it Safe in Van Nuys, Los Angeles?
The answer to this is a little complicated. Generally speaking, yes, Van Nuys is a fairly safe part of town. It's far from the most dangerous area in Los Angeles, and even enjoys a certain level of peace compared to the rest of the city. With that said, however, there's also no denying that Van Nuys unfortunately has higher-than-average
crime rates in LA. Specifically, property crimes like theft are 5% higher here than the national average. This does cause considerable concern for locals in the area, but it doesn't necessarily mean that Van Nuys is a dangerous place overall.
What's The Vibe in Van Nuys, Los Angeles?
Van Nuys is as urban as can be at the heart of the San Fernando Valley. Its hectic, somewhat gritty, but overall exciting big city vibes are more reminiscent of Downtown LA than any of the Valley's famous suburbs. The variety of businesses nearby proves how diverse the place is, home to various international communities, professionals, families, and more. The neighborhood also has a tinge of Hollywood to it, especially since movie shots frequently happen around here. Don't be surprised to suddenly find your favorite actors filming a scene out on the streets of Van Nuys
Is it Expensive in Van Nuys, Los Angeles?
Yes, but that's mostly because
LA's living costs were already high to begin with. Since Los Angeles is notoriously expensive, it makes sense that many of its districts will be pricey too. But to say that Van Nuys is expensive may be a little misleading. There's no doubt the place has high costs, but it's in no way near as expensive as the likes of Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Hollywood Hills, and Pacific Palisades. Even the average rent in Van Nuys is much lower, at only $2,188.00 per month, while it's as high as $5,000.00 to over $10,000.00 per month in other areas.
What to See in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
While Van Nuys may have a scarcity of historic landmarks, this doesn't mean there are no notable sights to see here. The difference is that Van Nuys's most popular attractions tend to be lesser-known but just as fascinating. There's the Valley Relics Museum, for example, which chronicles the interesting past of the San Fernando Valley. The Japanese Garden, SuihoEn, on the other hand, offers a Zen slice of Japan at the heart of the neighborhood. The same goes for the equally beautiful Lake Balboa, especially in spring when the cherry blossoms bloom and give the spot a pretty pink glow.
What to Do in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
Anyone who has ever
moved to LA and settled down in Van Nuys knows that staying here offers an adventure every day. You can enjoy its big city conveniences and attractions, for one, from museums like The Getty or amusement parks like Universal Studios Hollywood. As an adrenaline junkie, you can also visit Beilenson Park and work out, go biking, and more. And if you prefer a more outdoor experience, there's nothing to stop you from escaping to the Santa Monica mountains for a nice hike, mountain-biking, or even camping on a long weekend. What's not to love?
The Best Restaurants in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
Don't underestimate Van Nuys's foodie scene just because it doesn't have any of
LA's Michelin-starred restaurants. Though such prestige would be fantastic, it's not the end-all and be-all of culinary excellence. Even more so since the neighborhood proves that you don't necessarily need such recognition to prove that it still has many amazing places to eat. Going to Van Nuys Boulevard alone will lead you to all sorts of awesome cuisines, from Gev's Kitchen's flavorful Armenian dishes to Ay Papa Que Rico's Cuban-American fusion menu.
Van Nuys has many amazing places to eat, including:
- Gev's Kitchen on Van Nuys Boulevard
- Chelo - Taste of Persia on Van Nuys Boulevard
- Ay Papa Que Rico on Van Nuys Boulevard
- Garcia Bros Cafe on Victory Boulevard
- Everytable on Sepulveda Boulevard
- Mercado Buenos Aires on Sepulveda Blvd
- El Cocinero Restaurant on Sepulveda Boulevard
- Costa Grande on Sepulveda Boulevard
- Chef M on Sherman Way
- La Corona Bar and Grill on Sherman Way
What to Know About Renting in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
As already mentioned, renting in Van Nuys may be generally expensive, but it's far more affordable here compared to the rest of the city. The average rent here is about $2,188.00 per month, which is not too far from LA's city-wide average. So while paying over $2,000.00 per month for a home is still costly in the grand scheme of things, it's not too different from
renting a luxury apartment in Los Angeles. You'll even thank your lucky stars that you scored such a place when you see how much it'd usually cost to rent in affluent areas such as Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, and the like.
From Hollywood to the Valley, Van Nuys has everything that has made LA the famous city it is today. Underrated though it may be, it's also one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles, arguably even more so than the city’s most famous districts.
