Girls Guide to Los Angeles
Welcome to LA! For those of you who have dreamt of this trip for as long as you can remember and live for the California dream I have decided to put together a guide to make your trip run smoothly. From where to go, what not to do, the best places to see, and tips that everyone needs to know. LA is a confusing city with many different zip codes that take you into different worlds. My guide is designed to give you a gist of what you are getting into from place to place and where to go to make the experience most enjoyable.
Beverly Hills:
Fabulously, I spend most of my time here. I live here and work here and I truly feel so blessed to say that. To experience this place correctly there is mainly one thing that comes to mind- shopping.
Rodeo Drive: I’m going to start with the obvious and most famous shopping choice. What can I say? The Avenue Montagne of Los Angeles. The chicest most desirable place on the west coast. Just window shopping makes you feel like a royal.
The Grove: This place is my favorite at Christmas time. They play the best Christmas music and it SNOWS on the hour every hour. I die. But it’s also a year round destination with awesome shopping, cute cafes (Laduree my personal fav) and awesome restaurants. They seem to always be playing Frank Sinatra tunes and I thoroughly enjoy it.
After shopping, Beverly Hills is next known for restaurants.
There are so many amazing ones and heres my favs:
208 Rodeo- This is the first restaurant I ever went to in LA on my first visit and still my all time favorite. It is in the ideal location. Just at the top of the famous fountain facing the Four Seasons Hotel. This spot makes me feel like I’m in NYC and in Los Angeles at the same time, which basically means for me, the ultimate dream.
The Ivy Beverly Hills- This place is so good that I list it for both Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Here is where you can see what I mean about how two zip codes in California are different worlds. This same restaurant has many different things about it that makes me love it differently in each location. The Beverly Hills location is more Vogue than beachy and the spot where a modern Marie Antoinette dines for solely tea.
The Henry- Think Paris chairs, LA crowd, and great vibes. This place is one of my favorite spots for after work drinks and a perfect date spot. It’s a part of my version of the Golden Triangle, with Blue Bottle and The Ivy surrounded.
Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel- $$$$$ Worth. Every. Penny. You know it, you’ve seen it, you need it.
West Hollywood:
Norah: 8279 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
Walk down Melrose Ave.- My advice would be to map to Urban Outfitters. Once you’re here you will be close to all the shops that Melrose is known for. My favorites are Seven Boutique, LCD, Timeless Boutique, Paper Doll, and last but not least Style Delivers.
Go to Sunset for a comedy show! I’ve gone to a few, always a good time and a fun thing to do.
Norah: The best spot for a Saturday brunch! We had so much fun here and the drinks were amazing. My personal favorite was the strawberry champagne one showed here:)
Live like a reality TV star- Pump, Sur, TomTom, you love to hate the Vanderpump’s and here are the best places to act like them or even see them.
Live like a local- Immerse yourself in everyday Los Angeleno things like going to Blue Bottle and gorging in Acai Bowls at Backyard Bowls and hit up Kreation and got to Erewhon! Erewhon is heaven for anyone who cares about health and become one of my favorite places and truly a huge reason why I could never leave LA… that would mean no more Erewhon!!! It’s ONLY in LA. NYC needs to figure it out.
The Hills:
Suburbia with absolutely 0 cell phone service and beautiful views. Grab a bottle and try to find a look out spot. I’ll update this when I find an address but you’re probably fine with just driving around til you find one, it’s fun but I always get car sick. A real life roller coaster. If you have ever been to Lugano, Switzerland, it feels like that. Lol. I feel like you haven’t but had to say it. If you can find a house party up here. You’ll feel like you’re on that episode of Gossip Girl when Serena is working in LA and brings weed to her actor client. You remember!!
Manhattan Beach:
If you are from the East Coast I know you love a good beach town. Manhattan Beach is the definition of this. It’s charm is truly everything and it makes you feel at home. Walk around and shopping is my favorite here. The cute family owned boutiques and amazing people working there makes me want to someday set up shop here too. There are cheese shops, clothing boutiques, ice cream creamery’s, and antique shops all in a walkable community. Amidst all of these quaint places my all time favorite, Free People, giving me life. At night the bars are super fun and it’s the best place to meet an athletic guy, assuming that’s your type too.
As I am writing this in a coffee shop a man just looked at me and said “I’ve gotta get out of L.A.” And I learned that he has been here for less than 24 hours and wants to get out. LA definitely is not for everyone, and that’s OK. LA is a unique place. Many times I literally say and think I live in another country. However, I think I can officially say I understand LA completely. And it’s not only because I can finally read Overheard LA posts and relate to almost all of them.
xx Julie