Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the Western world.But it's also among the world's most d...

1. Insider Guide: Best of Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the Western world.
But it's also among the world's most diverse metropolitan areas and is the United States' second-most
populous city, with roughly 80 interconnected neighborhoods. Los Angeles county has almost
10 million residents.
Or, as Dorothy Parker once called it, "72 suburbs in search of a city."
From the cool-casual vibe of Santa Monica's Main Street to the Mid-City meccas of excess spanning
Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip, to the hipster's paradise of the East Side, Angelenos have a wide
range of tastes and options.
The catch?
Unless you like sitting in five lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic, you've got to pick your best of Los
Angeles priorities and plan accordingly.
Here's how to enjoy star treatment in the City of Angels -- with or without the celebrity checkbook.
Print and go -- Our traveler-friendly one-page guide here: Best of Los Angeles
Hotels
Luxury
Shutters on the Beach
Shark's-eye view.The hotel describes the vibe at Shutters as high
style but low-key, an appropriate mindset for experiencing Los Angeles.
With its proximity overlooking the Pacific Ocean and room appointments like John Robshaw
comforters, in-room libraries and whirlpool tubs, however, L.A. will have to work double time to lure
you out of your room.

2. Breezing through the double doors at Shutters feels like joining Oprah (and all of her favorite things)
at her estate in Montecito.
There's usually a roaring fire in the lobby lounge. Good thing, too: with the exception of the high
summer months (July through September), it's surprisingly chilly at the beach.
Shutters on the Beach, 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica; +1 310 458 0030; from $525 per night
Chateau Marmont
Opened as apartments during the Great Depression, the Chateau
had to convert to a hotel after two years in business.Rumor has it The Eagles Grammy Award-winning
"Hotel California" was inspired by this iconic chateau at the eastern edge of Hollywood's
Sunset Strip.
Dennis Hopper hosted wilder-than-wild parties here. Comedian John Belushi succumbed to a heroin
overdose in Bungalow 3.
"Touched with scandal and commemorated in literature," is how the Los Angeles Times put it.
Whatever. You'll feel like a celeb yourself as you ride the elevator straight from the garage to your
room, avoiding the front desk staff and the paparazzi.
The mojito at the always-fashionable Bar Marmont (where executive chef Carolynn Spence's menu
includes pork cracklins and pumpkin ketchup) might just be the best in Los Angeles.
Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; +1 323 656 1010; from $465 per night
The Peninsula Beverly Hills

3. The Peninsula's 193 rooms and suites were renovated in 2011.If
regular old five-star luxury doesn't cut it, there's always the Peninsula Beverly Hills.
Just don't expect a raucous party.
Discretion is the order of the day here. Quiet elegance abounds, with conveniences including
complimentary around-the clock-check in.
The Peninsula is so fancy, this writer once ordered a glass of Champagne at teatime and the waiter
automatically served Dom Pérignon.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills, 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; +1 310 551 2888; from
$515 per night
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Mid-range
The Viceroy
The Viceroy's Empire suite.There's barely enough time in the day
to explain why the Viceroy Santa Monica rocks.
It's a block from the ocean (and the above-mentioned Shutters on the Beach, at half the price).
Its modern, art-deco style channels everything sexy about the 1960s and 1970s with none of the

4. kitsch.
The rooms, which are decent in size, use plates as decor and somehow pull it off.
Basically, you get cooler just by being here.
The Viceroy, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; +1 310 260 7500; from $380 per night
Hotel Wilshire
Rooftop at Hotel Wilshire.Smack in the middle of a pedestrian
strip of Wilshire Boulevard, adjacent to Beverly Hills, sits the newly opened Hotel Wilshire.
The block isn't the sexiest, but the glass facade of this environmentally sustainable boutique
property goes a long way toward classing up the area.
Staff are friendly and accommodating. For convenience, the location is unbeatable -- you really can
get almost anywhere from here in 20 minutes.
Hotel Wilshire, 6317 Wilshire Blvd.; +1 323 852 6000; from $225 per night
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The Redbury
Book a higher floor if you're in search of peace; The Redbury sits
right next to Avalon nightclub.So you want a record player in your room to go with your "in-flat"
service from famed L.A. sushi den Katsuya? Sounds about right at The Redbury, a 2011 boutique

5. addition to the revitalized Hollywood and Vine.
While the lobby is reminiscent of the black lodge in Twin Peaks, the sizable rooms themselves are
more bohemian than Lynchian, with homey appointments like in-room washers and dryers, four-poster
beds and vintage turntables with furnished records.
And with all the trappings of quirky-cool sophistication in such a famed location, no wonder it's
become a trend-seekers' mecca.
The Redbury, 1717 Vine St.; +1 877 962 1717; from $225 per nightÂ
The Figueroa
The Fig's Medina suite.The prices at this downtown home-awa-
-from-home could qualify as budget in L.A., but the atmosphere is pure luxury.
Located directly across the street from the Staples Center, even the most die-hard Lakers fans will
forget what's outside once they enter this place. The Marrakech Suite in particular feels like a hip,
young sultan's boudoir.
Odds are you'll see a famous face or 10, but nobody cares. Thankfully, everyone's too engrossed in
the libido-lifting atmosphere to stargaze.
The Figueroa, 939 S. Figueroa St.; +1 213 627 8971; from $148 per nightÂ
Budget
Beverly Laurel

6. Even on a budget, you can still lounge like an
Angeleno.Convenient and trendy with 52 rooms and a great downstairs diner (the Swinger burger is
fabulous), The Beverly Laurel is walking distance to art, shopping and drinking. It even has a lounge-able
pool.
Rooms are basic, but with a retro style that's admirable at this price point in this area.
Once you get past the people with handlebar moustaches and ironic T-shirts, that is. Unless you're
one of them. In which case, you'll be right at home.
Beverly Laure, 8018 Beverly Blvd.; +1 323 651 2441; from $119 per night
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Dining
Duplex on Third
Grilled peaches.Opened in July 2012, Duplex serves Anglenos
something they've longed for since Le Colonial closed a decade ago: a quality restaurant with an
equally fabulous bar in Mid-City.
Fans go apoplectic over the grilled peaches with di stefano burrata, grilled baguette pine nuts and
salsa verde ($12). The $14 Queen Bee (a fruity little concoction of Ketel One vodka, elderflower
liqueur, prosecco, pineapple juice, lemon juice and agave) could put a smile on even the sourest
puss.

7. The staff couldn't be nicer, making the scene upscale, but not pretentious.
If you can score a table in the sometimes-open upstairs lounge, you'll never want to leave.
Unfortunately, sleeping on the Duplex's insanely comfy couches is not an option.
Duplex on Third, 8722 W. 3rd St.; +1 310 276 6223; Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday-
Sunday: 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; expensive
Red Medicine
Ocean trout cured in sugar cane juice, daikon pods, grapefruit
marmalade, nasturtium and chicory root.At the tender age of 17, Chef Jordan Kahn was the youngest
man ever to have worked in Thomas Keller's famed kitchen at The French Laundry. Whatever he
learned there (or in his many ventures since), the results are almost indescribable.
But let's give it a shot:
The Heirloom Rice Porridge with eggyolk, hazelnuts, ginseng and Échiré butter ($17) is a life-changer.
The Coconut Bavarois with coffee, condensed milk, Thai basil and peanut croquant ($9) is hands-down
the best dessert this writer has ever tasted.
Red Medicine, 8400 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; +1 323 651 5500; open daily: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.;
expensive
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Gjelina

8. The patio at Gjelina.You can't go wrong at Gjelina. Unless you're
seated next to one of Venice's many trustafarian dilettante "artists."
Then again, he (or she) will probably be with a model. If not, you can always get the take-out.
Seasonal veggies and small plates are great for sampling a broad section of locally sourced
ingredients. The late-night menu sates munchies with sophistication -- even if you do go with the
pizza.
As hip as its name and industrial-chic decor suggest, Gjelina has proven staying power. Which is
more than can be said for that dilettante's date.
Gjelina, 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice; +1 310 450 1429; Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-midnight,
Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-midnight; moderate
Singapore's Banana Leaf
Mee Indo-style: pan-fried noodles served with two satay sticks
and topped with a fried egg.Consistently good, but often great, the fish curry and mee goreng
special at this walk-up in the middle of the historic Farmer's Market at 3rd Street and Fairfax
Avenue offers a satisfying way to spend 10 bucks. You might even get away for less.
More importantly, it's the only restaurant of its kind in all of Los Angeles.
While the stand doesn't serve alcohol, you can grab a beer or a glass of crisp white from one of the
Farmer's Market bars. On weekends from May through September there's live music.

9. Singapore's Banana Leaf, 3rd St. and Fairfax Ave., Farmer's Market; +1 323 933 4627; Monday-
Saturday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; budget
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The Grilled Cheese Truck
Triple Cream Brie with fresh peaches and thyme and a Prosciutto
crust.From tacos to lobster rolls to ice cream sandwiches and even Korean-Mexican fusion,
adventurous Angelenos can whet their taste buds at any of a number of mobile restaurants that
trawl the city.
Still, for many, The Grilled Cheese Truck stands alone.
With limitless variations on the childhood favorite -- each taken to its highest form -- there's even a
macaroni-and-cheese grilled cheese. (Drop microphone.)
The Grilled Cheese Truck, scheduled locations online; budget
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Nightlife
The Edison
The Edison is "dedicated to a resurgence of old-world style."Part

10. throwback to the art deco 1930s, part modern marvel of industrial chic, The Edison was once home
to L.A.'s first private power plant (hence the name).
Rooms vary in theme, but most boast dark corners that inspire salacious thoughts.
Leather club chairs, lush draperies and dramatic iron candelabras combine with factory steel in this
sexy, steampunk alternate reality. For cocktails try The Mistress ($14).
Reservations recommended.
The Edison, 108 W. 2nd St.; +1 213 613 0000; Wednesay-Friday: 5 P.M.-2 A.M., Saturday 7 p.m.-2
a.m.; expensive
La Descarga
Rum. Obviously.Walk through a wooden wardrobe and down a
spiral metal staircase for a night of rum cocktails and salsa music. Just dispense with the high heels,
else you may do the splits before you can hit the dance floor.
This Cuban-themed lounge is a cigar bar, but smokers are confined to one area near the rum-only
bar in back, so you won't leave smelling like a trash fire. Meanwhile, burlesque dancers on the
balcony will whisk you away to bygone Havana.
Reservations recommended. Jacket required.Â
La Descarga, 1159 North Western Ave., Hollywood; +1 323 466 1324; Tuesday-Saturday: 8 p.m.-2
a.m.; moderate to expensive
The Surly Goat

11. You'd be surly too.Like most anywhere these days, craft beer is
hot in Los Angeles, and the Surly Goat gets props for its 27 taps, central location and playful feel.
Maybe it's the accepting WeHo (West Hollywood) vibe, but everyone seems welcome here.
Happy hour from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Friday dissolves workday worries, so it probably soothes
jet lag, too.Â
The Surly Goat, 7929 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; +1 323 650 4628; Monday-Friday 6
p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m.-2 a.m.; budgetÂ
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Bar Centro at the SLS Hotel
Communal table at Bar Centro.Everyone in L.A. knows about The
Bazaar by José Andrés. The trouble is getting a table.
Skip the stress and get a taste of Andrés (arguably the most celebrated chef in Los Angeles of late)
in the lobby bar adjacent to Bazaar at the SLS Hotel.
The people watching is extraordinary, the whimsical Phillipe Starck decor wows and the liquid
nitrogen caipirinha stuns at $20. It's worth every dollar.
Prepared tableside, a cloud of freezing gas engulfs your server as he or she stirs. When it dissipates,
you're left with what amounts to a deceptively strong and smooth frozen caipirinhia, complete with

12. fresh herbs and a little wooden spoon.
One does the trick.
Bar Centro at the SLS Hotel, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd.; +1 323 246 5555; Sunday-Wednesday 6
p.m.-midnight, Thursday-Saturday 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; expensive
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Shopping
Melrose Avenue
Just a sample of the distinct Melrose shopping
experience.Melrose Avenue used to be the place to go for cheap and trendy fashion. While you can
still score some of that on the eastern flank of this two-mile stretch of Melrose (between La Brea and
Fairfax avenues), once you get closer to La Cienega Boulevard, look out! Everything comes at a
premium.
A few highlights from both sides: Golden Apple Comics (7018 Melrose Ave.; +1 323 658 6047) is the
place to feed your inner geek or amuse your 12-year-old. Lingerie shop Agent Provocateur (7961
Melrose Ave.; +1 323 653 0229) serves up saucy numbers to unleash that inner pinup girl. Decades
(8214 Melrose Ave.; +1 323 655 1960) puts couture T shirt printing artesia on consignment, making
the unattainable (somewhat more) affordable.
Melrose Avenue between La Brea Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard; budget to expensive
Abbot Kinney

13. Much of this area was once crisscrossed by canals in developer
Abbot Kinney's grand plan to make it the "Venice of America."Earlier this year, GQ selected Abbot
Kinney (named after the visionary developer and conservationist) in Venice as the coolest block in
America. It's definitely where culture meets commerce. And it's steps from the beach.
Unlike other hot shopping strips, many of the stores along Abbot Kinney emphasize variety over
specialization.
For instance, according to owner Nilou Ghodsi, Undiscovered (1104 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; +1 310 450
6431) carries anything you could want in a home. And, per Venice standard, occasionally exhibits
photography.
Meanwhile, when there is a singular offering, stores like Strange Invisible Perfumes (1138 Abbot
Kinney Blvd.; +1 310 314 1505), which bottles certified organic fragrances in-house, take perfection
to new heights.
Shop end of season (spring or fall) to hit sales.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard between Pacific Avenue and Washington Boulevard, Venice; budget to
expensive
Santee Alley
High-risk, high-reward shopping.While well-heeled Westsiders
may lack the patience, L.A.'s designers, hipsters and bargain-hunters know downtown's outdoor
shopping district, Santee Alley.

14. Comprised of more than 150 stalls, this Fashion District market forces buyers to wade through some
garbage to find the gold.
But there is gold, if you take the time to find it.
Otherwise, just have a taco, and take in a Los Angeles that few tourists ever see.
Santee Alley between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, and Olympic Boulevard and 12th Street;
Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; budgetÂ
Attractions
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Glare from the Hall reportedly warmed nearby condos by more
than 48 degrees Farenheit until its surface was dulled.Whether or not you're into the L.A.
Philharmonic, head downtown and check out the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Not only is it otherworldly to behold, its design makes it one of the most acoustically sophisticated
concert halls on the planet.
Children under six are not admitted to performances.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave.; +1 323 850 2000
Hollywood Bowl

15. The Hollywood Bowl is the largest naturally formed outdoor
theater in the United States.Whether you're in a box at the front or up in the benches of the
nosebleed section, when the sun sets, there's something magical about the Hollywood Bowl.
Parking is a test of conviction, but if you spring for a lot down on Hollywood Boulevard and walk to
and from the venue, you'll save time in traffic and log an interesting stroll.
Most seats allow you to bring your own food and beverages, including wine and beer, so call to
check.
Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; +1 323 850 2000Â
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Paradise Cove
Paradise Cove is a beach, a café and ... a trailer park?Unlike
the vast sands of Zuma or Santa Monica's popular Will Rogers State Historic Park, the beach at
Paradise Cove feels private and small. Like a little slice of the Mediterranean in Malibu, complete
with chairs and wait staff courtesy of the Paradise Cove Café.
There, dishes are big enough to split and mimosas are made with Perrier Jouet. Get four hours of
parking for $3 with restaurant validation. Otherwise, it's $30. Ouch.
Paradise Cove, 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; +1 310 457 2503; moderateÂ

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The Good Life
Aside from the weather, one of the best things about living in L.A. is the ability to access celebrity-level
amenities on a regular schmo's budget. What does that mean?
Angelenos know how to feel fabulous at affordable prices. It all comes down to how you look and
your mode of transportation. (Sort of.)
Here's how to fame up your game without breaking the bank, local style.
You gotta spend money to spend money.Start your
transformation by visiting a style consultant. Michele Liberman (aka The Shopping Friend) helps
locals and tourists achieve a personal, flattering signature look at affordable prices. You can even
take her shopping with you.
Michele Liberman, The Shopping Friend, +1 917 297 3875; from $100 per hourÂ
Meanwhile, hair to rival any Kardashian can be yours for a pittance at one of L.A.'s  blow-dry bars.
Can't get in to the perennially popular DryBar? Stylists at local secret JM Blowdry (whose services
Time magazine rated one of the eight most opulent in this year's Academy Awards gift bags)
transform tresses and do makeup.
JM Blowdry, 9410 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills; +1 310 860 1880; $35 for a blowout
London style comes to Tinseltown. Likewise, for a shave, haircut,

17. facial and whiskey on the rocks, The Shave Beverly Hills is a stateside take on London's gentlemen's
emporiums. Get the latest sports scores or read the business section while you relax in upscale
grandeur.
The Shave Beverly Hills, 230 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills; +1 310 858 8281; services from $25
Now that you look like a local, why not get around like one? Luxury transportation is readily
available whether you want to travel by land, sea or air.
Rent your car of choice from Imagine Lifestyles. A Range Rover Sport will set you back $375 per
day, while there are four types of Ferrari, starting at $1,495.
Imagine Lifestyles, 7510 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1438, Hollywood; +1 323 310 3365
Don't expect to get her into top gear on L.A.'s roads.Across town,
Captain Alex at Paradise Bound Yacht Charters runs sunset cruises from the Ritz-Carlton Maria del
Rey starting at $110 per person for a two-hour sail (six-person minimum).
Paradise Bound Yacht, 4375 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey; +1 310 578 7963
Not romantic enough? A relaxing, private gondola tour of the Venice canals (get it, Venice?) can be
yours for $140 per couple courtesy of Gondolas Amore.
Gondolas Amore, 14045 Panay Way, Marina del Rey; +1 310 736 7301Â

18. We recommend avoiding even the airspace above the 405
Freeway.Finally, if you're feeling flush, Blue Star Jets of Beverly Hills runs round-trip VLJ (very light
jet) transportation between L.A., Las Vegas and San Francisco starting at just under $5,000.
Pushing it? Perhaps. Unless you get "discovered" while in town.
Blue Star Jets, 400 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 412, Beverly Hills; +1 310 277 7827