Los Angeles is often associated with big names and constant motion, but Calabasas feels noticeably quieter. Set near the Santa Monica Mountains, the city operates at a slower pace, and even during my short visit, everything felt calmer than what I’m used to. While much of Los Angeles keeps racing the clock, Calabasas quietly prioritizes ease and order, making everyday routines far less busy.
The Commons at Calabasas. Photo credit: Zuzana Paar.
Calabasas sits about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles in Southern California. Its position places it firmly within Los Angeles County while keeping it physically removed from the region’s busiest corridors. That distance influences the overall feel of the area, even before taking its size into account.
A distinct city within Los Angeles
Since incorporating as a city in 1991, Calabasas has maintained tight control over planning and local services. Over time, it developed a reputation for privacy and upscale living, becoming closely associated with high-profile residents in the surrounding area, including figures from film, television and music. With a population just over 23,000, daily life here sidesteps much of the constant rush found elsewhere in Los Angeles County.
Open space remains a priority
Much of daily life in Calabasas revolves around protected open land. One of the community’s top priorities is protecting natural areas which support scenic beauty, quiet and overall livability. Preserving what remains and securing additional land for that purpose continue to guide city decisions.
Calabasas favors setting land aside as large parks or protected zones rather than breaking it into smaller pieces. Certain sections carry development restrictions that limit building through legal tools tied to property deeds and conservation agreements.
The city also pairs preservation with thoughtful site planning that works with the landscape. That approach helps limit environmental strain from development while restoring land affected by earlier growth.
Well-maintained city parks
Families walk through neighborhood parks, couples meet for meals outside and residents head out for exercise before or after work in the area’s parks. One of the better-known state parks in California, Malibu Creek State Park sees regular use, while the nearby Leonis Adobe Museum adds context through a preserved adobe that links daily life to the area’s past.
Freedom Park stays open during daylight hours and offers walking paths along with casual recreation like tetherball. Bark Park serves dog owners with separate areas for large and small pets, drinking fountains, waste stations and turf designed for heavy use.
Creekside Park includes a T-ball field, basketball court and playground that fit easily into family routines. Grape Arbor Park provides shaded picnic areas that encourage longer stays. These parks function as third spaces for recreation, social time and finding joy outside of home and work.
Community within the gates
Gated neighborhoods are a big part of daily life in Calabasas. Inside these communities, residents have access to clubhouses, tennis courts and fitness spaces that keep everyday activities close to home.
City-run facilities extend that sense of connection beyond residential areas. The Calabasas Community Center serves as a central gathering place with a full gymnasium, open-play pickleball, basketball, volleyball, a weight room with cardio equipment and a regular schedule of recreation and enrichment classes. Programs cater to a wide range of ages and interests, which helps keep social life active throughout the year.
Support for different stages of life remains visible across the city. The Calabasas Senior Center offers adults 50 and older a place to stay engaged through activities focused on wellness, learning and connection. Families also benefit from city-partnered after-school care and seasonal camps, including summer programs built around sports, arts and hobbies.
Housing tied to development
Economic activity in Calabasas continues to grow alongside efforts to broaden housing access. New projects aim to strengthen local commerce while adding homes at different price points.
The Commons Lane plans to rework an existing shopping center into a combined residential and commercial destination. The proposal includes 80 multifamily homes, with a portion set aside for households with very limited incomes. More than 27,000 square feet of new retail and service space would remain part of the site, keeping it active throughout the day.
Housing expansion continues with The Park Apartments. The development adds 107 homes, including units reserved for low-income and very low-income residents. These projects aim to balance growth with housing options that serve different needs while keeping development within the city’s existing footprint.
Sustainable city life over spotlight
Calabasas stands apart from the broader image of Los Angeles through its scale and the way people move through their days. Parks, housing and city services are close enough that daily life stays centered within the community rather than spread across the region. What defines the city is not visibility or spectacle, but the steady pattern of routines that are contained and familiar.
Zuzana Paar, a co-founder of Food Drink Life, is a seasoned traveler and writer who has explored 62 countries and lived in St. Lucia, Dubai, Vienna, Doha and Slovakia. Her work has been featured on Fox News, New York Daily News, MSN and more; she has also appeared live on Chicago’s WGN Bob Sirott Radio Show. When she’s not discovering new destinations, she shares travel tips and insider insights to help others experience the world in a unique and unforgettable way.
The post Calabasas feels like a small town hidden inside Los Angeles appeared first on Food Drink Life.
