What are the best souvenirs to buy in Los Angeles? Unique souvenir ideas

“The best souvenir” to bring home from a trip is a relative term that holds as many meanings as there are tourists wandering the Earth. Pretty vague, right? The truth is, a unique souvenir is something that evokes a memory for you, a reminder of a feeling you actually felt while on that trip. Any souvenir worth its money must have the power to transport you back; it needs the qualities of a time-traveling artifact…

‍

Travel anywhere in the world, and you’re sure to find souvenir shops selling t-shirts and caps with the location’s name printed on them, key chains, small miniature statues of famous buildings, shot glasses and, let’s not forget, the worst offenders:magnets for your gorgeous fridge of course! These trinkets often have little actual value and will start collecting dust as soon as you return home. If you love any of these items, more power to you, no judgment here, the ultimate goal of any purchase is to bring you joy. For the rest of the travelers who want to achieve that happy feeling too, this list was designed for you. 

‍

Los Angeles is a city of makers, culture, and creativity, which means the usual plastic trinkets hardly capture its true spirit. From handmade crafts to culinary traditions and quirky collectibles, LA offers plenty of distinctive souvenirs that reflect its local flavor and history. Skip the generic snow globes and Hollywood keychains – here are some of the best unique souvenirs to bring home from the City of Angels, each with a story as vibrant as Los Angeles itself.

Hand-Painted Mexican Folk Art on Olvera Street

What it is: Brightly colored ceramics, textiles, and folk art handcrafted by local artisans.
Why it’s special: Olvera Street is the historic heart of Los Angeles and a living celebration of the city’s Mexican roots. Walking this open-air marketplace feels like stepping back in time. Stalls run by families (many descendants of the original 1930s vendors) offer traditional items like hand-painted Talavera pottery, woven serapes and blankets, tooled leather wallets, and Día de los Muertos figurines. Each piece is often handmade or hand-finished, giving you an authentic slice of LA’s Latino heritage.
Where to find it: Olvera Street in Downtown LA’s El Pueblo historic district. As you browse the narrow, brick-lined alley, you’ll find shops like Murillo’s and Casa California overflowing with folk art and souvenirs. Chat with the vendors – they’re happy to share the cultural significance behind their crafts. Whether you pick up a colorful tile or a festive skull ornament, you’ll be taking home a little piece of Los Angeles history.

Authentic Mochi from Little Tokyo’s Oldest Sweet Shop

What it is: Soft, chewy mochi (Japanese rice cakes) and manju filled pastries, made fresh daily.
Why it’s special: Little Tokyo in LA is home to Fugetsu-Do, a family-run confectionery that has been making Japanese sweets since 1903. It’s actually the oldest Japanese-American sweet shop in the United States, and it has survived over a century of history (including the World War II internment era) to keep sharing its confections. Their mochi come in classic flavors like sweet red bean or exotic modern twists like chocolate and peanut butter. Each bite is pillowy and not overly sweet – a perfect treat that reflects the blend of tradition and innovation in Los Angeles’s cultural tapestry.
Where to find it: Fugetsu-Do is located on First Street in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA. The shop’s quaint interior has vintage charm, and you can often see the current generation of the Kito family shaping the mochi by hand. Pick up a box of assorted mochi (they travel well for a day or two) or their popular rainbow dango sticks. Not only are you getting a unique souvenir, but you’re also supporting a landmark business that’s an integral part of LA’s history.

Oaxacan Mole Sauce from Guelaguetza

What it is: Rich, complex mole paste – a traditional Mexican sauce base – prepared from authentic Oaxacan recipes.
Why it’s special: Los Angeles boasts some of the best Mexican food north of the border, and mole is one of those iconic flavors you’ll crave after your visit. Rather than an ordinary bottled hot sauce, mole paste is a unique culinary souvenir. Guelaguetza, an award-winning Oaxacan restaurant in LA, produces jars of their signature mole negro, rojo, and coloradito. Each mole paste is made with dozens of ingredients (chiles, nuts, chocolate, spices) slow-cooked into a dark, flavorful concentrate. By taking home a jar, you can recreate an authentic Oaxacan mole sauce in your own kitchen – just dilute the paste with broth and simmer. It’s like bottling up a bit of LA’s vibrant food scene.
Where to find it: Guelaguetza’s restaurant in Koreatown has an attached boutique market where you can buy their mole starters, as well as other Oaxacan goodies (like chocolate for making Mexican hot chocolate). Alternatively, check local gourmet shops or the prepared food section of Grand Central Market downtown, which also sometimes carries fresh mole by the pound. The mole paste comes sealed in jars, ready to slip into your suitcase and transform your next dinner party with true Angeleno flavor.

A Time Capsule Postcard

With FuturePosts, you can create a custom postcard online using your own photos, add a personal message and schedule it to be delivered at a later date, whether it’s next month, next year or even a decade from now. FuturePosts keeps everything we love about traditional postcards while bringing them into the digital age. Your futurepost is still a tangible keepsake following the classic postcard format with a large image on one side and a personal message framed by colorful borders on the other. Most importantly, it still arrives in your mailbox, not your inbox.

Instead of letting your best travel photos fade into digital clutter, why not transform them into a unique souvenir? Turn them into a postcard, creating a personal time capsule for yourself or a loved one to receive in the future. One of the benefits of designing a time capsule postcard with FuturePosts is that the message on the back of the postcard takes on a deeper significance, becoming a letter to your future self, capturing your thoughts, dreams and emotions in a single moment frozen in time.

Every day, travelers search for the perfect souvenir, often settling for generic trinkets. Why not choose something more meaningful? Make a thoughtful choice on your next trip. Choose nostalgia. Choose something with lasting value. Choose FuturePosts and create your own personalized time capsule, a beautifully crafted postcard featuring your photos and words, delivered at your chosen future date. Skip the ordinary souvenirs and futurepost your travel memories today!

Pumpkin Bread from the Monastery of the Angels

What it is: A moist, spiced pumpkin bread loaf, handmade by cloistered nuns, along with other baked treats like peanut brittle.
Why it’s special: Tucked in the Hollywood Hills, the Monastery of the Angels is an unlikely source of foodie fame. Yet locals know it for the heavenly pumpkin bread that the Dominican nuns have been baking and selling for decades. This isn’t your average bakery quick-bread – it’s extraordinarily tender, fragrant with cinnamon and nutmeg, and topped with crunchy walnuts. The recipe has a divine reputation (some say it’s the best pumpkin bread ever), and buying a loaf supports the small monastic community. It’s a unique intersection of LA’s cultural quirks: a quiet spiritual retreat in the middle of glitzy Hollywood, funding itself through beloved baked goods.
Where to find it: The monastery is located on an unassuming street near Hollywood Blvd. You can visit their tiny gift shop (often open mornings and afternoons) to purchase the pumpkin bread, homemade candies like peanut brittle, and occasionally jams or other seasonal treats. They’ll box up your loaf for travel – it keeps fresh for several days. If you visit around the holidays, be prepared for lines of locals stocking up. Taking home this sweet slice of Hollywood history will surely be a conversation starter (and a delicious one at that).

Colorful California Ceramics by Bauer Pottery

What it is: Ceramic bowls, plates, vases, and planters in vibrant retro colors, handmade in a historic California style.
Why it’s special: Few things say “California” like the cheerful pottery designs of Bauer. The original J.A. Bauer Pottery Company was founded in Los Angeles in 1909 and became famous mid-century for its bright, solid-glazed dinnerware that added a pop of color to many Californian homes. The company’s vintage pieces are collector’s items today. Fortunately, Bauer has been revived and produces new ceramics following those classic designs and molds. Think bold red pitcher jugs, sunny yellow salad bowls, cactus-green flower pots – functional art that embodies Southern California’s sunny optimism. Each piece is crafted in limited batches, making it a meaningful keepsake rather than a factory-made souvenir.
Where to find it: Bauer Pottery operates a showroom in the Frogtown/Glassell Park area of Los Angeles (open on weekends), where you can browse their latest offerings or score discounted seconds. You can also find selections of Bauer ceramics in some museum gift shops and upscale home goods stores around LA. Whether you choose a single ceramic ring dish or a set of coffee mugs, you’ll have a stylish memento that brings a bit of Los Angeles design history into your home.

Handmade Art and Jewelry from Local Artisan Boutiques

What it is: One-of-a-kind art pieces, jewelry, home décor, and accessories made by Los Angeles artists and makers.
Why it’s special: Los Angeles’s creative community is massive – and you can take a piece of that creativity home by shopping at boutiques that specialize in locally made goods. Unlike generic souvenir shops, these stores carry items like delicate earrings crafted from reclaimed materials, hand-poured candles scented with California botanicals, custom prints and artwork depicting LA neighborhoods, quirky ceramics and sculpture, and small-batch apothecary products. Each item has a personal story and supports an independent artist, making your souvenir both meaningful and ethical. Plus, you’ll find things that are truly not sold anywhere else.
Where to find it: Check out Mindful Nest, a beloved gift shop with locations in Burbank (and formerly Santa Monica and Highland Park). It’s essentially a gallery of local artisans – you might discover fun jewelry made from Scrabble tiles or beautiful blown-glass ornaments. Another spot is Poketo (in Little Tokyo and Culver City), which features modern art-minded gifts by LA designers. Pop-up markets and craft fairs like Unique LA (if your timing is right) are also treasure troves of local design. By seeking out these artisan boutiques, you ensure your memento – be it a handmade necklace or a print from a neighborhood photographer – genuinely reflects LA’s creative soul rather than factory assembly lines.

Architecture-Inspired Jewelry from Walt Disney Concert Hall

What it is: Elegant jewelry and accessories influenced by Los Angeles’s iconic architecture and art.
Why it’s special: Museum and concert hall gift shops in LA are goldmines for distinctive souvenirs, often designed by local artists. One standout example is the jewelry inspired by the Walt Disney Concert Hall. This Frank Gehry-designed landmark is all sweeping stainless-steel curves, and the on-site LA Phil Store carries pieces that echo that design. Imagine sterling silver earrings or cuffs that mimic the Hall’s flowing silhouette – wearable art that subtly says “Los Angeles” to those in the know. These items are more than just jewelry; they’re little pieces of LA’s architectural legacy. And because the designs are exclusive to the venue, you won’t find them in generic shops.
Where to find it: The LA Phil Store is inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles (and also accessible online). In addition to Gehry-inspired items, the store features music-themed gifts, LA-themed art prints, and even Hollywood Bowl memorabilia. Another great stop is the Getty Center or LACMA museum stores, where you can find artisan jewelry and decor influenced by their art collections. Picking up a souvenir here means you’re taking home something curated with an artistic eye – perfect for lovers of art, architecture, or music who want a classy reminder of LA.

Pop Culture Collectibles: Vintage Vinyl and Hollywood Memorabilia

What it is: Old-school records, movie posters, and film memorabilia that celebrate LA’s entertainment history.
Why it’s special: Los Angeles is the entertainment capital, so what better souvenir than a piece of its movie or music legacy? Skip the mass-produced Oscar statuette replicas and dig a little deeper. For music fans, a visit to Amoeba Music in Hollywood (the world-famous record store) lets you flip through vast selections of vinyl, including albums from legendary Los Angeles bands. You could snag an original pressing of a Doors record or a cool Amoeba t-shirt or tote bag – a badge of honor for any music lover. On the film side, places like Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Hollywood specialize in vintage movie posters, studio photographs, and even old film scripts. Imagine taking home an original lobby card from a Golden Age film, or a poster of your favorite movie that was actually printed decades ago – a far cry from the reprints sold on Hollywood Boulevard. These items carry the aura of LA’s entertainment history and are conversation pieces for any collection.
Where to find it: Amoeba Music is on Hollywood Boulevard and is an experience in itself – wall-to-wall music in all formats, plus film and TV merch. They often have sections for local artists and classic West Coast punk, rock, and hip-hop records. A few blocks away, Larry Edmunds Bookshop has been operating since the 1930s and is a treasure trove for film buffs; the staff can help you find memorabilia related to specific actors or movies. Additionally, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures store offers high-quality film-related souvenirs (like limited edition artwork and Oscar-themed gifts) curated by the Academy. Bringing home a vinyl LP or a vintage poster not only gives you a cool collectible, but also a tangible connection to LA’s pop culture DNA.

Time-Traveling Trinkets from the Echo Park Time Travel Mart

What it is: Whimsical, tongue-in-cheek merchandise for “time travelers” – think robot milk, Viking odorant, or a dinosaur egg – sold in a fictional “convenience store” for time adventurers.
Why it’s special: This might be LA’s quirkiest souvenir shop. The Time Travel Mart looks like a convenience store, but the products on its shelves are delightfully absurd: cans of Mammoth Chunks, bottles of Universal Love (for robots who want to feel), even a Time Traveler’s license. Each item is a clever nod to science fiction and history, often with hilarious packaging. It’s the kind of souvenir that will make your friends laugh and say, “Only in Los Angeles!” What makes it even better is that all proceeds support 826LA, a nonprofit that helps kids with creative writing – so your impulse purchase of Viking-grade “Ax Body Spray” actually benefits a good cause. The store embodies LA’s offbeat humor, creativity, and philanthropic spirit all at once.
Where to find it: The Echo Park Time Travel Mart is on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park (and there’s a sister location on the west side in Mar Vista). Step inside and don’t be shy about exploring the shelves – half the fun is reading the product labels and jokes. You can pick up small, easy-to-pack items like futuristic postcards, “Lost Civilizations” maps, or tins of primordial soup. It’s an ideal stop for a truly unique gift that screams Los Angeles whimsy. (After all, how many people can say their LA souvenir came from the year 1985 and the year 3010?)

‍

Los Angeles is a city of endless variety, and its best souvenirs reflect that diversity. Whether you’re savoring a century-old recipe, supporting a local artist, or indulging in a quirky fantasy, each of these items tells a story about LA’s neighborhoods, history, and creative energy. By seeking out these unique mementos, you’ll return home with more than just a souvenir – you’ll have a genuine piece of Los Angeles’s heart.

‍