A Day in Frogtown
Looking to play hooky? Frogtown in the place to do it.
In 1952, something happened in Elysian Valley that no one had seen before or since: after a wicked rainstorm, millions of tiny frogs (“toadlets”) emerged from the L.A. River and took over the streets, blanketing the yards, cars, and houses. Then they vanished. While there are still some operatic amphibians today, Frogtown’s streets are filled with cool coffee shops, wine bars, healing centers, cannabis dispensaries, dog parks, restaurants, taverns, and gaggles of people biking along the river.
1 CATALYST
Offering a great selection of edibles and pre-rolls, there’s always something new to find at this dispensary.
2 QUANTUM CLINIC
Start the day by taking a gummy and a float in a luxury water tank. As you drift off, this “spa treatment for your DNA” is the perfect way to get in a relaxing mood.
3 LA COLOMBE
It’s all about the canned draft lattes, a cold-pressed espresso with frothed milk: convenient, delicious, and stylish.
4 SPOKE BICYCLE CAFE
Grab a hemp-date banana bowl of granola and a locally roasted cup of Trystero Coffee, rent a bike, and cruise the L.A. River bike path.
5 TOAD GENERAL STORE
Tucked inside the sprawling cannabis-friendly event space, The River L.A., this well-curated shop includes a smattering of candles, lovely bits-and-bobs, gifts, beverages, candy, and the best Frogtown swag. Bonus: the Frogtown Gourmet Taco truck is parked there a few days a week.
6 WAX PAPER
Serving fanciful sandwiches named after NPR hosts like the Ira Glass, Lakshmi Singh, and Larry Mantle, delicious lemonades, creamy floats, and soft serve!
7 ELYSIAN VALLEY GATEWAY PARK
Enjoy a pre-roll and a sun-splashed nap in this scenic park.
8 TAYLOR YARD BRIDGE
Take in the breathtaking views on this neon-colored bridge, which was a former Union Pacific railroad maintenance yard.
9 FROGTOWN BREWERY
Opened in 2016, the independent brewery and taproom has outside and inside areas to enjoy refreshing pints such as Painkiller, a tiki-inspired IPA made with toasted coconut and pineapple notes.
10 SALAZAR
Housed in an old 1960s car repair shop, the Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant with desert-chic ambiance is known for dishes like the coctel de camarone (jumbo shrimp cocktail) and its breezy outside dining. Try the margarita on draft.
11 ZEBULON CAFE CONCERT
Take in some local music at this venue, bar, and restaurant. Ty Segall, Kim Gordon, Blanck Mass, This Heat, Oh Sees, Black Midi, and Lingua Ignota have all played at this hip spot.
12 JUSTINE'S WINE BAR
Relax with a glass of wine while nibbling on the best vegan food ever—pizza, fries, and the lovely fig salad—in this Paris-vibed, low light refuge full of cozy nooks.
13 FROGTOWN ART WALK
Run by the Elysian Valley Art Collective, thousands of art lovers will converge biennially to enjoy pop-ups, galleries, food, musical performances, and art installations.
