Comprehensive Guide to Universal CityWalk in Hollywood

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If you’re looking for a fun, family friendly night out in Los Angeles or need somewhere to hang out after a theme park day, try visiting Universal CityWalk, located just outside the entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood. This outdoor area has restaurants, shopping, performances, and a slew of things to do! In this comprehensive guide to Universal CityWalk in Hollywood, I’ll be covering what to eat, things to do, and how to maximize your budget, especially because of hefty parking fees.

Looking for Universal Orlando instead? Click here.

Where is Universal CityWalk Hollywood?

Located just outside of Universal Studios Hollywood, the actual address of CityWalk is 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California.

Best way to get to CityWalk at Universal

Luckily, City Walk is central to two Los Angeles freeways, the 134 and the 101, so it’s easy to get to!

From the 134, take the exit for Cahuenga Blvd then take that south to Universal Hollywood Drive, where you’ll turn left and run into all the signage for the theme park and Citywalk.

From the 101, if traveling southbound, take the exit for Lankershim/Universal City then follow the signs to Universal. If traveling northbound on the 101, take the exit for Universal Studios Blvd and follow the signs!

Universal CityWalk Hours

They open at 11am and closing time varies depending on the time of year and expected crowd levels. It can be as early as 8pm or as late as 12am. Individual establishments may be open at different hours, such as the movie theatre, bowling alley, or restaurants.

What to eat at Universal CityWalk

One of the highlights of Universal CityWalk are all the dining options clustered in one location. You know I’m a fan of those (see: Grand Central Market LA)!

Here are some highlights:

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co – I know they’re located throughout the US but I’m still a sucker for good seafood, the absolute best strawberry lemonade, and fun alcoholic drinks! Plus their patio has a great view of the main thoroughfare.

Pink’s Hotdogs – This famous hotdog restaurant was created in Los Angeles (the original location is on La Brea near the tar pits). I recommend Pink’s for a taste of Los Angeles that is inexpensive! I recommend the chili dog.

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville – This restaurant is everywhere and for good reason. Margaritaville has some of the best tropical vibes with gourmet food and drinks. Try the Cheeseburger in Paradise, the It’s 5 o’clock somewhere maragarita, and the fish tacos! Yum!

Antojito’s Cocina Mexicana – I love the atmosphere in here. It’s always lively and they have some great Mexican staples. I personally love the taquitos appetizer as my meal! It’s delicious and affordable.

Voodoo Donuts – Originally from Portland, Oregon (one of the best foodie cities in the US), this popular donut chain has some crazy and delicious donuts! The Hollywood Cream donut is exclusive to CityWalk!

Buca di Beppo – Another one with many locations but some great Italian food nonetheless! Many of the dishes are family style, so it’s perfect for occasions.

VIVO Italian Kitchen – For a more upscale Italian option, VIVO is a great choice. I’ve been a couple times and always opt for the spaghetti bolognese. It’s a classic for a reason! The portions are large, too, so you’ll likely have some leftovers!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium – This steampunk themed restaurant features some delicious food and even more delicious desserts. They’re known for their over-the-top milkshakes, but I’ve found that I love their warm desserts too. Try their triple chocolate bread pudding and chocolate mousse! This restaurant replaced the Hard Rock Café and it’s right in the center. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

NBC Sports Grill & Brew – Even if you aren’t a sports fan, this restaurant has some great food. In fact, it’s one of my favorite budget hacks for visiting the Universal Parks. You can order some of the best, most inexpensive appetizers from NBC Sports Grill & Brew for a cheap, yet delicious meal. I’ve had their mashed potatoes, side Caesar salad, and corn bread for only $14!

Wasabi – Sushi fans, this one’s for you! I’m actually not a sushi person (I know, I know, I promise I try it every time).

Ben & Jerry’s – Always a great way to end an evening with some delicious ice cream!

Sparky’s Donuts – These mini donuts are perfect for a pick me up while you shop and enjoy the rest of what CityWalk has to offer!

There are too many choices to name so take a stroll and see what looks good. Don’t forget the second floor! There are escalators by the giant CityFood sign.

Shopping at Universal CityWalk Hollywood

CityWalk is full of different stores to explore with everything from brand name shops like Hot Topic to independent and unique shops like Nectar! Let’s get into it!

Universal Studios Store – So you didn’t make it to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or you ran out of time in the park to shop before closing. At CityWalk, you can still purchase wands, house robes, and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans.

Celebrity Authentics – This is a new store that sells authentic memorabilia signed by celebs as well as props used in the actual filming of your favorite TV shows and movies. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s still cool to see the life-size BB-8, Spider-Man, and Mjollnir.

The Los Angeles Sock Market – This store sells exactly what it says. Stop here for fun socks of all shapes, sizes, and designs!

Dodger’s Clubhouse Store – If you bleed blue, stop here for all your Dodger’s merch!

Nectar Bath Treats – This store was really cool! They had bath bombs, soaps, and scrubs in the shapes of foods (like donuts). And, you could create your own mask with either a cream, clay, or gel base and a bunch of natural add-ins like cacao, charcoal, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and more!

It’s Sugar! – This extravagant and colorful candy store has everything you could possibly want for sweets. Last time, I was there, they were doing a Stranger Things event, which was super fun! Caution: Some of the things in this store are for adults only.

Things From Another World – The nerd store! Rejoice! Here you’ll find, comics, figurines, board games, posters, and so much more fandom memorabilia! It’s very hard to walk out of here empty handed. They even carry Loungefly bags!

Raider Image – This one’s a little weird because it carries the most NFL Raiders merchandise found anywhere (seriously). However, the Raiders used to be a Los Angeles team, but are now owned, operated, and located in Las Vegas. I visit CityWalk Hollywood every time I’m back home in Los Angeles, and the store is still there…like a ghost of Los Angeles’ past.

Related read → Best Harry Potter World souvenirs on a budget (you can grab some of these outside the parks at the Universal store)

Things to do at Universal CityWalk Hollywood

See a movie at the AMC Theatre – Two words: reclining seats. My family saw Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker here and it was so luxurious! The seats were so comfortable and even when fully reclined, the seats in front of you didn’t block your view. If that’s not enough, seeing a movie will make the parking fee much cheaper! It’s all outlined in the Parking section below.

“Skydive” at iFly Hollywood – If you ever wanted to try skydiving but the idea of jumping out of a plane with a stranger doesn’t appeal to you, try indoor skydiving! This attraction simulates the free fall flying in a wind tunnel! You can also watch those flying from CityWalk!

Go bowling – Lucky Strike Bowling Alley is always a great option if you’re looking for something to do at CityWalk for a couple hours. It’s a bit hidden upstairs by Buca di Beppo, so check the map on the Universal app.

Play in the fountain – I’d say this is for kids, but my adult cousins have definitely played in the fountain before. This fountain is located right outside Abercrombie & Fitch and shoots water up from the ground. Kids can run through trying to dodge the water and the lights at night make it extra fun!

Catch a performance – I don’t think I’ve ever been to CityWalk when there has not been some performance of some kind. There are usually street musicians playing on one end of CityWalk while on the other there is a main stage for larger performances. We once arrived for dinner and a movie and Pentatonix was performing a free show!

Go for a drink – Okay, this one obviously isn’t family friendly, but CityWalk is actually a fun spot for those 21 and over making it the perfect post-theme park spot. The restaurants have some great drinks including Antojitos and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. Grab a margarita or spiked shake. I especially love how the nightlife vibe comes alive during Halloween Horror Nights!

Find the wings – Throughout Los Angeles and other big cities, wing murals are becoming increasingly famous…I even spotted some in Walt Disney World and now in Knoxville, TN! In CityWalk you’ll find HUGE wings on a purple backdrop created by Kelsey Montague in the #WhatLiftsYou series! You’ll find them by following the right wall of Toothsome Chocolate Emporium back toward Cinnabon and Buca di Beppo. Look to your left.

Parking at Universal CityWalk with Tips to Maximize Your Budget

While strolling through CityWalk is free, parking at Universal is not.

Entry before 6pm costs $25

Entry after 6pm it is $10

However, if you are visiting CityWalk to go to the movie theatre, you can get a rebate (or cash back) on your parking bringing the price down to only $5 for parking!

The most important part: when you first pull up to the parking ticket booths at the entrance, they’ll usually ask you if you’re doing anything in particular at CityWalk. This is your opportunity to say you’re seeing a movie (if you are, of course). They have to print a special rebate ticket for you to bring to the theatre. If you don’t tell them, they won’t always give you one.

Keep your rebate ticket, bring it to the movie theatre box office or inside at guest services and they will give you your rebate.

Alternatively, you can park in the surrounding neighborhoods and take an Uber/Lyft to and from CityWalk. Just remember where you park for your return trip!

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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