Los Angeles family guide
Things to Do in Silver Lake with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Silver Lake on the map
📍 Where Silver Lake is
Silver Lake sits in Los Angeles, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~9 mi / 15 km). It's roughly 3 mi (5 km) from Downtown LA and 114 mi (184 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Local restaurants in Silver Lake
Cafe Tropical
A 50-year-old Cuban bakery-cafe on Sunset Blvd; order the cubano sandwich and guava-cheese pastelitos with a cafe con leche. Casual and easy with kids.
Pine & Crane
Fast-casual Taiwanese known for dan dan noodles, beef roll, and three-cup chicken. Counter-order format and quick service make it very family-doable.
Bacari
Venetian-style Mediterranean small plates; the truffle fries and crispy Brussels are crowd-pleasers.
Local shops in Silver Lake
Sunset Blvd Nursery
Family-run plant nursery with cacti, succulents, houseplants, and ferns.
Plant Material
Ecologically focused nursery specializing in California native plants, with garden sculptures, chimes, and sun catchers.
Potted
Well-known indie garden shop for pots, planters, and outdoor decor.
Seasonal & outdoors near Silver Lake
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Silver Lake.
More Los Angeles family guides
Silver Lake family FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where can families eat in Silver Lake?
Local, family-friendly spots in Silver Lake include Cafe Tropical, Pine & Crane and Bacari — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Silver Lake guide cover?
Our Silver Lake family guide includes 3 local eats and 3 local shops — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.