Century City Center Stores and Restaurants (Century City) This is the most successful outdoor mall in the LA area. It has Nordstroms, Macy's and Bloomingdales and a 15-screen AMC multiplex. Being next to Beverly Hills and Bel Air, it's where the local residents shop...so, lots of celebrities.
Dan Tana’s (W. Hollywood) This beloved red-boothed Italian restaurant
(Here's their website) has been famous for its celebrity clientele since the 1960’s.
Giorgio Baldi (Santa Monica Canyon) This is a small restaurant with great food and celebs come here all the time. We won't mention names, but if you see them, try to act cool. Like you don't know them, right? LOL. And don't be too hungry as the portions are small.
(Here's their website).
The Farm of Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills). Known as a popular celebrity choice for upscale American fare for breakfast, brunch, or lunch during their busy schedules. (Here's their website)
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Hollywood). Founded in 1927 by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Louis B. Mayer, it hosted the first Academy Awards in 1929.
The Ivy (Mid-City/Robertson Blvd.). This restaurant is known for its colorful interior design, innovative cocktails, and its popularity with celebrity fans since 1983.
Melrose Avenue Shops (Hollywood). Once the epicenter of L.A.’s punk scene, it now hosts vintage fashion shops and trendy stores, like Fred Segal, and hipster cafés, like Urth Caffé.
The Polo Lounge (BH). This iconic bar in the Beverly Hills Hotel has been famous for star sightings for many decades, they still pop up here from time to time,
Rodeo Drive (BH). With luxury stores like Armani, Christian Dior, Gucci, Chanel, Valentino, Cartier, and Tiffany your chances may improve for spotting someone with a famous name.
Runyon Canyon Park (Hollywood). This popular hiking trail, located above Hollywood Blvd. is considered one of the best of Los Angeles. and known to locals as a good place for star sightings.
Los Angeles Culture
Barnsdale Art Park (Click Here). Overlooking the Hollywood Hills and the Hollywood Sign, this awesome location is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, built in the 1920s.
Getty Center Museum & Gardens (Brentwood). This renowned hilltop museum hosts European and contemporary artworks amid unique architecture and sunken gardens.
Griffith Observatory (Los Feliz). The site of this world-famous observatory and planetarium also offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails.
Huntington Library (San Marino). Besides the library, the Huntington includes an art museum, botanical gardens and research center focused on European and American art collections.
La Brea Tar Pits, Museum & Fossil Lab (Mid-City). A natural history site of actual tar pits that contain preserved wildlife fossils from earth’s Ice Age, and are still being excavated.
L.A. County Art Museum (Mid-City). Adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA has a vast collection of art and objects from around the world, including from ancient times.
Music Center for the Performing Arts (Downtown). One of the largest performing arts center in the country and the cultural center of L.A. County, it hosts artists in every genre of music and dance.
Natural History Museum (Downtown). The largest natural history museum in the Western U.S., with many fascinating specimens and artifacts from 4.5 billion years of earth’s history.
Peterson Automobile Museum (Mid-City). This spectacular museum on Wilshire’s “museum row” has three levels featuring automotive milestones, famous cars from films, and more.
Walt Disney Concert Hall (Downtown). Designed by architect, Frank Gehry, and home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra, it is considered one of the best Concert Halls in the world.
Classic Hollywood
The Beverly Hills Hotel. This pink and green Mediterranean-style world-famous hotel (and its Polo Lounge) has been closely associated with Hollywood’s elite for nearly a century.
Capitol Records Tower. The lobby of this 13-story music industry landmark exhibits an astonishing array of gold records spanning the entire history of rock and roll music.
Chateau Marmont. Built in 1929, its storied past includes residents like Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, and John Belushi, who was found dead in one of the bungalows in 1982.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The landmarked cemetery is where many of Hollywood’s most famous are buried: Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Estelle Getty, and Andy Griffith.
The Hollywood Sign. Built as an icon of the booming film industry of the mid-1920s, it originally said, “Hollywoodland.” Today it is an official LA cultural and historical monument and consider one of the best of Los Angeles.
Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood Wax Museum. Located next to the TCL Chinese Theater, this popular attraction exhibits 125 wax replicas of many of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
TCL Chinese Theatre (former Grauman’s Chinese Theatre). The “movie palace” of old Hollywood is famous for its large display of top movie stars’ hand and shoe imprints.
Walk of Fame. A historic landmark of over 27,000 sidewalk-embedded stone and brass stars with the names of classic and current entertainment celebrities.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour. This tour gives you a close-up look at the behind-the-scenes production and post-production operations of the movies and TV shows we love and are best of Los Angeles to experience.
Downtown Los Angeles
Angel’s Flight Railway. The world's shortest railway, called a funicular, opened in 1901 and has given more than 100 million rides on its hillside track.
Bradbury Building. An architectural landmark, this 19th-century Italian Renaissance office building is known for its extraordinary skylit atrium of walkways, stairs, and elevators.
The Broad Museum. This new LA museum is popular for its fun “Instagram-able” exhibits, like a mirror room and oversized table you can walk under. Admission is free with a ticket.
Hauser & Wirth Art Gallery. Modern and Contemporary art, and host to international cultural events in downtown LA’s vibrant Art District.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This surprisingly elaborate and opulent post-modern fortress-like structure has a lower level containing relics left by an early Roman saint.
Old Plaza District & Church. El Pueblo de Los Angeles at the end of historic Olvera Street is a popular 44-acre public park offering traditional music and dancing on weekends.
Olvera Street. This landmark street of authentic Mexican shops, food, and festivities in the oldest part of Los Angeles is between Main and Alameda Streets.
Biltmore Hotel. Opposite Pershing Square, it’s now called the Millennium Biltmore, famous for its frescoed mural ceiling, marble fountains, and massive wood-beamed ceilings.
The Santee Alley. The city’s premiere outdoor shopping venue with 150 stores in the heart of LA’s Fashion District, is open seven days a week and on holidays.
Union Station Terminal. Called “the last of the great train stations” in the U.S., it is considered an architectural gem, and walls bearing spectacular site-specific artwork.
Mid-City/West Hollywood
CBS Television City. This modern studio complex produces live and recorded TV shows like The Price is Right and Real Time with Bill Maher. Their gift shop is open to the public.
Original Farmer’s Market. Located on 3rd St. and Fairfax Ave., the Market’s many food stalls and sit-down eateries make it a popular choice for a quick lunch and people-watching.
The Grove. Love shopping? This upbeat, stylish, beautifully landscaped outdoor enclave of fashion-forward shops and great restaurants is also a prime location for celeb sightings..
Hammer Museum. Near UCLA in Westwood, their collection of the finest European and American art includes innovative contemporary works and a sculpture garden.
Canter’s Delicatessen. The most famous restaurant in the Fairfax District has been serving lox and bagels, corned beef and matzoh ball soup since 1931 and remains a local favorite.
The Groundlings Theatre. On Melrose in West Hollywood, this 100-seat theater offers wild sketch comedy and wacky improv. Alumni include many SNL cast and Emmy winners.
Holocaust Museum. Located in Pan Pacific Park, it contains thousands of historical records, and biographical and educational info. The shop has art and clothing from around the world.
Museum of Dream Space. A small museum on Beverly Blvd., its Innovative and interactive digital art exhibits provide unusual visual experiences and great selfie photo ops.
Pan Pacific Park. An open space with basketball courts, BBQ pits, kids' play area and indoor gym, picnic tables, and restrooms.
Sunset Boulevard. Famous for its nightlife, the boulevard is lined with bars, clubs, and legendary music venues like the Roxy Theater, Whiskey A Go-Go, and Rainbow Bar and Grill.
Hipster-Foodie Cafés
Botanica (Silverlake, LA). Healthful cooking that’s vibrant, creative and satisfying.
Craig’s (W. Hollywood). One of the most celebrity-packed restaurants in Los Angeles.
Huckleberry Café (SM). Fresh ingredients crafted into delicious breakfast and lunch fare.
Socalo (SM). Innovative and elevated Mexican cuisine-inspired yummy food and cocktails.
Gjusta (Venice). A great all-day deli-style eatery with a patio where cool people hang out.
M Café (Melrose). A pioneer in plant-focused food with a creative nutritious menu.
Metro Cafe (Culver City). Sustainable, locally sourced food in a friendly atmosphere.
The Rose (Venice). A celebrity chef creates amazing food you’ll love while star-gazing.
Tartine (SM). A delightful, always busy, French bakery with scrumptious goodies.
Urth Caffé (SM, Culver City). Good food, vegan and GF options, and heirloom organic coffee.
Santa Monica & Venice Beach
Abbot-Kinney Blvd. An eclectic collection of trendy boutiques, restaurants and galleries loved by foodies, celebrities and the hip residents of Venice Beach and Santa Monica is best of Los Angeles.
Historic Muscle Beach.Created in the 1930’s, it is credited as the birthplace of the physical fitness boom when its impressive gymnastics exhibitions were publicized in the 1950’s.
Montana Avenue Shopping. A family-friendly 10-block stretch of eclectic shops and restaurants: upscale fashion, accessories, gifts and furniture interspersed with coffee cafes.
Mosaic Tile House. A stunning landmark property in Santa Monica. Every inch of the home’s exterior is adorned with a variety of beautifully designed mosaic tiles is best in Los Angeles.
Venice Boardwalk. The beachside haven for LA’s bohemian culture, it offers a variety of food and shopping vendors amid music, street performers, roller skaters and skateboarders.
Santa Monica Pier. Built in 1909, the Pier has come to represent the heart of Santa Monica itself with great views, fun activities, lots of food and the nearby Pacific Park Ferris Wheel.
Santa Monica State Beach. This 3.5-mile iconic beach is separated from the city by Pacific Coast Highway and an ocean bluff (the palisades), beginning at the Santa Monica Pier.
Third-Street Promenade. In downtown Santa Monica, these car-free blocks are a shoppers’ delight with over 80 stores, restaurants, bars and an open stage for street performers.
The Venice Canal Historic District. These man-made canals with walkways and bridges in a residential area are amazing to see. Drive north down Dell Avenue or take a walking tour.
Venice Skatepark. This 16,000 sq. ft. skatepark is on the beach. It has two bowls, a snake run, and a street section with steps, rails and platforms. Open daily from 9 am to sunset make best of Los Angeles to see.
Beverly Hills/Century City
Beverly Hills Library. This beautiful library has an extensive collection of music, digital media and films, as well as a large collection of books on art and architecture.
Beverly-Wilshire Hotel. A legendary luxury hotel at Wilshire. and Rodeo Drive is now part of the Four Seasons Hotel group. It has appeared in many films, notably in Pretty Woman.
Celebrity Homes in Beverly Hills. Numerous celebrity-home tours offer options to walk, bicycle, Segway, ride in a bus, limo or helicopter to glimpses where the rich and famous live.
Century City Shopping Center. Owned by the Westfield Group, upscale Century City Center features 18 AMC theaters, 176 stores and 54 restaurants to serve and entertain shoppers.
Greystone Mansion & Gardens. Also known as the Doheny Mansion in Beverly Hills Trousdale Estates, this Tudor Revival mansion sits amid a lavish estate and English gardens.
La Cienega Boulevard. Some of the famous eateries of La Cienega legendary “restaurant row“ still going strong are: Spago, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, The Stinking Rose and The Ivy.
Bugsy Siegel House. The mobster who built the Las Vegas Strip and befriended many top film stars of the 1920’s, lived at 810 Linden Drive, B.H., where he was murdered in 1947.
The Peninsula Hotel. This opulent 5-star luxury hotel has gilded chandeliers, spacious guest rooms, a full-service spa and three gourmet restaurants, including The Rooftop Garden is best of Los Angeles to experience.
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. A dynamic cultural hub that brings world-class dance and musical performers and hit Broadway theater to Beverly Hills.
Will Rogers Memorial Park. A relaxing, beautiful botanical park with koi pond on Sunset Blvd., within walking distance to Rodeo Drive.
Malibu & LA County Coastline
Adamson House & Gardens. This Historic Landmark, an estate built in 1929 has been called The Taj Mahal of Tile for extensive use of ceramic tiles by Rufus Keeler of Malibu Potteries.
El Matador State Beach. Called Malibu’s ‘best-kept secret,’ has a parking lot on the bluff and picnic tables overlooking the Ocean. A trail down the bluff lead to stairs and the beach. It's a must see LA beach.
Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. Art collections are displayed in a "living with art house museum.” Guided public tours are conducted by appointment with the foundation.
King Gillette Ranch. A 588-acre ranch with unspoiled views of California’s archaeological and historic resources; designed by California’s Golden-Age architect, Wallace Neff, in the 1920s for the razor magnate.
Malibu Bluffs Park. Six acres of land where Malibu Canyon Road meets Pacific Coast Hwy with family-friendly attractions like a whale-watching station, playground and sports field.
Malibu Country Mart. The Mart is comprised of 67 high-end retail, dining, and service tenants housed in a mix of architectural styles with gardens, unique sculptures, outdoor dining and a playground.
Malibu Lagoon State Park. Where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean, the creek pools up to form the Lagoon. Dirt trails around the wetlands offer pleasant walks and bird-watching is best of Los Angeles to see.
Malibu Pier. A 780-foot historic landmark at the heart of Malibu’s surfing culture. It’s adjacent to Surfrider Beach with a 3-point break that offers rides of 300 yards or more. Also, drive down to the end of the parking lot, with the beach on your right. It's the scene of many shows and movies, in particular, the original "Planet of the Apes."
Point Dume Nature Preserve. The view spans Santa Monica Bay, north Malibu Coast and Catalina Island. A perfect place to watch California grey whales from December to mid-April.
Solstice Canyon Loop Trail. For heartier walkers, a 3-mile loop with great views of the coast and canyon, waterfall and garden in places on the trail starting from the Solstice Canyon parking lot.
