Connecting in LA: Where the Wi-Fi is
So you've got an Aiport-enabled MacBook or PowerBook (aka wi-fi enabled laptop) or a handheld that does wi-fi — and you're out and about in LA and need the net. Here's a list of some places you can get your fix. If you're still trying to figure out what Airport (aka wi-fi) is, check out Wi-Fi Planet.
 This page quotes personal recommendations, lists places I know, and also lists other directories you can use to search further.
Another source for listings, most likely more comprehensive than mine, is WiFFfreeNet.com.
Note: The logo to the right is the official logo of the Wi-Fi Alliance. It denotes places that serve wi-fi and are affiliated with the alliance.
Providers
Wayport is the provider of service to many hotels and airports. (Maybe they are the reason why it costs to get wi-fi in some hotels even though others are able to provide it free.)
AT&T — some places seem to be Wayport roaming, others charge, and others are free. Here's a map that lets you find the AT&T locations. I've pre-selected LA, but you can search yourself.
Cities with Free Wi-Fi
Culver City — its downtown is one big hotspot
 The area is about a square mile from Trader Joe’s on Culver and Ince going 5 blocks west to the edge of the Sony Pictures campus at Washington and Hughes. This includes Town Plaza, an outdoor performance and gathering spot; a public park, the Culver Hotel, and numerous outdoor cafes and retailers. I love the area.
Culver City's site. Hotspot info. [Sept 9, 2004]
Long Beach — the original LA area downtown hotspot
No time to put up the details but Pine Street downtown is all free wi-fi and has been for all of 2003.
Locales with Free Wi-Fi
Apple Stores
Not great to hang out it and you can't have a cup of coffee, but chances are good that you'll get a signal sitting outside of any Apple store. If there are benches outside or another good location that can be pretty cool. I'm told at the Grove in LA you can sit in the Barnes & Noble coffee shop and use Apple's wi-fi.
EZ Lube — but...
their website is useless for finding out about it. I can find no mention. I have not tried them but I read it somewhere. Makes sense; keeps you busy while you wait. (HInt to companies: if you can't find a place in your site to note wi-fi due to poor site planning, you can always stick it in your FAQs.)
H&H: Hollywood & Highland Center
Corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Avenue. The Center Court, where people hang out and you can also enjoy free concerts, has free wi-fi. I have not tried it yet but they tell me there is no sign-up needed. About the H&H Center.
Pershing Square - Downtown LA
ExperienceLA works with the City of Los Angeles to bring wi-fi to LA. There are 2 spots now. You need to sign up though, and there may be limitations to what you can access. Access is limited to 3 consecutive hours per day. Read about it at ExperienceLA.com's dedicated page. There's a link you'll follow to sign up.
Van Nuys Civic Center - San Fernando Valley
ExperienceLA works with the City of Los Angeles to bring wi-fi to LA. There are 2 spots now. You need to sign up though, and there may be limitations to what you can access. Access is limited to 3 consecutive hours per day. Read about it at ExperienceLA.com's dedicated page. There's a link you'll follow to sign up.
Lithium Cafe & Gifts — Hollywood
5634 Hollywood Blvd, 90028 — 323-462-8181
It's just east of Wilton (west of Western) about 8 blocks east of Vine, on the south side of the street.
The host, Mike, is very nice. There's great artwork (real award-winning cloisonné by the owner's mother). There are games to play as you sit at any of the tables and couches. (Amazing wood inlaid Backgammon set.)
There's also a good, very inexpensive Thai restaurant a block east so you can make an evening of it.
And, of course, there's totally free wi-fi that's simple to access.
Come on in, have a coffee or fancy tea while you work online. Mike will say a friendly hello, let you know he's there for you, then you're on your own to work hassle free.
This is my personal recommendation. [Sept 19, 2004]
Miracle Mile area, Wilshire, by LaBrea
Backdoor Boba, 5484 Wilshire Blvd. — (323) 933-4020
Corner of Wilshire & Dunsmuir (3 blocks west of LaBrea). It's in the alley at the back of that building. Free wireless, no password required. Open for both lunch and dinner.
Area resident Liz writes: It has "the best iced-blended mocha I've ever had (beats Starbucks by a country mile -- made with stronger espresso and very high quality vanilla ice cream with prices on par). They also have all manner of coffee concoctions, lots of fruit juices, smoothies, shaved ice and a nice little menu of sandwiches and other food items.
It's pretty small...one comfy couch...lots of magazines to read...one chess table ready for play...a bunch of outdoor tables. [Oct 18, 2003]
Update: Pat Saperstein, author of a blog called Eating LA posted a very nice review of Backdoor Boba on May 16, 2005.
Yes, since January 2005, all Holiday Inns have free wi-fi. To me, that's a great reason for choosing Holiday Inn.
[accurate as of Sept 2007]
Locales with Wi-Fi for rent
Barnes & Noble, powered by AT&T
Free to people who have the higher-speed AT&T DSL. (3,000 and up)
Check locations using the AT&T hot spot location listing.
[accurate as of Sept 2007]
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, powered by AT&T
Free to people who have the higher-speed AT&T DSL. (3,000 and up)
Check locations using the AT&T hot spot location listing. Price per session = $3.99/2 hr.
[accurate as of Sept 2007]
Hertz — but...
their website is useless for finding out about it. I can find no mention. Their Customer Relations number is 888-777-6095.
[accurate as of Sept 2007]
Wi-Fi Directories/Listings
- The Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory is a listing of hotspot locations that offer Free Wireless Internet Access. Here are the FreeSpot Directory California listings.
- WiFinder.com provides a searchable listing of wi-fi locations
- jiwire.com, provides searchable listing of Wi-Fi hotspots around the world, with maps and driving directions. There are also reviews, guides, project articles, and a terms glossary so you can more about 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Bluetooth, AirPort, and Centrino.
- Wi-FiHotSpotLIst.com is another searchable listing. Here you can even enter your street address and choose to find locations within 1,2, 5, or 10 miles. (Wow, there are 7 within a mile of my home!) Of course you can search using broader standards. My thanks to author Gerri Miller for this link.
Note: it didn't see my search criteria using Safari until I used the User Agent [a debug menu feature] to tell the server I was MSIE 6 for Windows; that's typical.
- You can also do an area code search at Google. Go to local.google.com. Enter Wi-Fi or wifi in the first field, the desired area's ZIP code in the other. When results are returned you can also click the links at the top to search within 1, 5, 15 or 45 miles. You'll get name, address, map, etc, but not the wi-fi details.
Other Resources
Southern California Wireless Users Group
A group that serves the wireless information needs of individuals and businesses.
Warchalking.org
Warchalking is the practice of marking a series of symbols on sidewalks and walls to indicate nearby wireless access. That way, other computer users can pop open their laptops and connect to the Internet wirelessly. It was inspired by the practice of hobos during the Great Depression to use chalk marks to indicate which homes were friendly.
Disclaimer: I am in no way tied to any of the places I mention here and am in no way responsible for your experiences with them.
This page was last updated at 10:29 PM on Monday, September 10, 2007
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