Adams Hill - Glendale, CA Area Guide

Adams Hill began as a part of Rancho San Rafael, a large ranch that was originally given to Don Jose Maria Verdugo, a Spanish soldier. After his death, the land was passed on to his children, who built the Catalina Verdugo Adobe - Glendale's oldest building. Residents eager to learn about their town and country's history can visit the "Oak of Peace," where local leaders met to discuss surrendering to American forces. The subsequent Treaty of Cahuenga ended fighting in Alta California brought about by the Mexican-American War. Over time, Don Jose's land was divided, and by the 1880s, the area now known as Adams Hill experienced significant growth.

The Adams Hill area was originally a part of a city named Tropico but later became a part of Glendale in 1918 after an election was held to annex it.

Residents and visitors can enjoy the Spanish Colonial Revival style homes that were built during the 1920s and 1930s still stand in the neighborhood today.

The Library Connection located in Adams Square brings culture and art to the Adams Hill neighborhood. It hosts a multitude of activities and events, such as exhibitions and poetry events, and allows you to reserve meeting rooms.

For a taste of authentic Armenian barbecue, pull up to Hamlet's Kitchen, a casual pit stop serving up the juiciest pork chops in Adams Hill. If you're looking for something to really fill your belly, try the specialty krajik pork fresh off the charcoal grill alongside some grilled veggies. Pick up your Middle Eastern lunch from this table-free establishment to dine on the go, or enjoy a picnic at nearby Palmer Park.

Adams Kabob House, a Mediterranean-style restaurant, lies in Adams Hill. Popular menu selections include chicken lula kabab, hummus, beef shish kabab and beef lula kabab. Choose to dine in, or take advantage of the option to order online and grab your food to go.

For nightlife, you can head in town or to larger areas, such as Hollywood. Giggles Night Club remains a popular local night spot located in Glendale. It not only serves as a popular Latin club, but it also hosts live musical performances and shows. It boasts two dance floors, an outdoor patio that smokers can utilize and seven full bars. You can also check out Complex, a Glendale bar that has live shows and karaoke nights, or The Griffin, a relaxing bar in nearby Los Angeles that provides an outdoor patio and a fire pit. Local bars include Hookah Lounge, Cha Cha Lounge and Glendale Tap.

Adams Hill offers many methods of transportation. Many people travel via automobile, but public transportation also remains a popular option. LA Metro buses service this neighborhood, and there is also a train station located in the area. Unfortunately, there aren't any bicycle lanes in Adams Hill, but the community does have sidewalks. You can call and arrange for a taxi or catch an Uber - excluding peak times, waits range between 5-10 minutes.

Adams Hill has a few parks located in or near the community. The Adams Square Mini Park offers a nice area for families to enjoy. Despite being small in size, the park still provides picnic tables, benches, a playground for children and an open lawn for multipurpose use.

Another park in the Adams Hill area is Carr Park. Like the Adams Square Mini Park, this park also comes equipped with picnic tables and a children’s playground, but it also has a basketball court for an added recreational option. Palmer Park offers yet another option for you and has basketball courts, picnic areas, a children’s play area and a wading pool.

The cost of living in Adams Hill tends to be lower than the rest of the city of Glendale. The average rent in the Adams Hill neighborhood is about $1,850 compared to $2,200 in the rest of the city.

If you like to have an occasional drink, the cost to grab a beer during happy hour at a local pub, such as Verdugo Bar, sets you back only $2. To catch the public transportation to downtown Los Angeles, plan on paying $7 for a day pass, which is more cost efficient than paying individual fares.

The Glendale Galleria serves as the premier shopping mall within close proximity. This mall has four anchor stores: Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Target, and JC Penney. This mall boasts over 200 specialty stores, including Boss by Hugo Boss, Pac Sun, J. Crew, and the Disney Store. The mall also hosts different events throughout the year, such as free story time for kids 10 years old and younger and Cinema Sunday, where you can enjoy watching a movie while chef’s prepare film-related dishes at home specialty store Pirch.

The Americana at Brand acts as another local shopping venue located in Glendale. This upscale atmosphere provides many options for shopping, dining and entertainment. It even has a full-size movie theater. The outdoor shopping community has over 70 retail shops and also has condominiums and apartments. Specialty stores include Calvin Klein, BCBG Maxazria, H&M and Urban Outfitters.

There are no big name grocery stores in Adams Hill, so you have to travel outside of the neighborhood into Glendale to shop at stores that include Ralphs and Vons. If you love Spanish and Cuban food or just want to make a specialty meal, you can check out El Mambi Market, which sells popular Spanish and Cuban food products. The Glassell Park Farmers’ Market also provides nearby shopping and can be found just a few miles away in Los Angeles.