Los Angeles

Fun fact: While it is, in many ways, the heart of Los Angeles—featuring some of the area’s most ubiquitous locations, from the Sunset Strip to Chateau Marmont—West Hollywood is technically its own city. It’s also the center of all things gay in Los Angeles. Don’t miss the spectacular costumes (and ogling masses) of the Halloween parade.

Landmarks

• Case Study House #22 • 1636 Woods Dr
Pierre Koenig’s architectural triumph that sums up the whole spirit of late twentieth-century architecture.

• CBS Television City • Beverly Blvd & N Fairfax Ave
323-575-2458
Wanna be on The Price is Right? Come on down!

• The Chaplin Studios • 1416 N La Brea Ave
Charlie Chaplin’s charming English Tudor-esque studios, now the Jim Henson studio.

• Chateau Marmont • 8221 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-1010
Chic hotel where John Belushi died.

• The Cinefamily • 611 N Fairfax Ave
323-655-2510
Only the ticket prices will remind you that it’s the 21st century.

• Pacific Design Center • 8687 Melrose Ave
310-657-0800
Nicknamed “The Blue Whale” for obvious reasons.

• Pan Pacific Park • 7600 Beverly Blvd
323-939-8874
It’s a storm drain! We mean, it’s a park!

• Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs • 709 N La Brea Ave
323-931-4223
A line around the block; it’s that famous.

• Rock Walk • 7425 W Sunset Blvd
323-874-1060
Mann’s Chinese has John Wayne, the Rock Walk has Slash.

• Runyon Canyon Park • Franklin Ave & N Fuller Ave
Once Errol Flynn’s estate, now a very popular off-leash hiking trail.

• Santa Monica Blvd •
Santa Monica Blvd & N La Cienega Blvd
The heart of gay West Hollywood.

• Schindler House • 833 N Kings Rd
323-651-1510
A desert camp inspired this brilliant creation by architect Rudolph Schindler.

• Sunset Strip • W Sunset Blvd & N Doheny Dr
Its clubs are still the center of LA’s (bridge and tunnel) nightlife.

• Whisky A Go Go • 8901 W Sunset Blvd
310-652-4202
Music venue for legendary bands of yore.

Nightlife

• The Abbey • 692 N Robertson Blvd
310-289-8410
Mix, mingle, and make out in this West Hollywood gem.

• Andaz Lounge • 8401 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-1234
Raw vegetables and groundbreaking cocktails. Try a Mr. Plant.

• Bar 1200 • 1200 Alta Loma Rd
310-358-3720
So mellow, the star at your shoulder ain’t no thing.

• Bar at the Standard • 8300 W Sunset Blvd
323-650-9090
This trendy spot is anything but standard.

• Bar Lubitsch • 7702 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-1234
The vodka flows at this Russian bar.

• Barney’s Beanery • 8447 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-2287
A low-rent (but fun) LA institution.

• Club 7969 • 7969 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-0280
Ravers rejoice! This place is all about the dance.

• The Comedy Store • 8433 W Sunset Blvd
323-650-6268
See Jeffrey Ross’s signature. Two-drink minimum.

• Dominick’s • 8715 Beverly Blvd
310-652-2335
Entertainment industry hangout.

• Eleven • 8811 Santa Monica Blvd
310-855-0800
The newest swank-spot in boys’ town.

• Falcon • 7213 W Sunset Blvd
323-850-5350
Design-heavy restaurant with a smooth bar scene.

• The Fat Dog • 801 N Fairfax Ave
323-951-0030
Solid beer list and addictive spicy rosemary almonds.

• Fiesta Cantina • 8865 Santa Monica Blvd
310-652-8865
Sticky floor worth the best drink deals in town.

• Formosa Café • 7156 Santa Monica Blvd
323-850-9050
Train car drinks and rooftop bar. Avoid the food.

• Fubar • 7994 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-0396
Cutest gay hipsters west of Avenue A.

• Genghis Cohen • 740 N Fairfax Ave
323-653-0640
Acoustic music and Chinese food.

• Gold Coast Bar • 8228 Santa Monica Blvd
323-656-4879
Cheap, low-key gay bar.

• Here • 696 N Robertson Blvd
310-360-8455
Like an animated Hugo Boss ad, only gayer.

• Hollywood Improv • 8162 Melrose Ave
323-651-2583
Most of the big names stop here. Two-drink minimum, natch.

• House of Blues • 8430 W Sunset Blvd
323-848-5100
Big(ger) acts on the Sunset Strip.

• The Improv Comedy Lab • 8156 Melrose Ave
323-651-2583
Experimental offshoot of the Improv with sketch and stand up.

• Kibitz Room • 419 N Fairfax Ave
323-651-2030
Divey McDive Bar with lots of live music.

• Largo • 366 N La Cienega Blvd
310-855-0350
Jon Brion on Friday nights: a perfect LA experience.

• Laugh Factory • 8001 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-1336
Nightly comedy shows featuring local and mainstream talent.

• Lola’s • 945 N Fairfax Ave
323-654-5652
Birthplace of the apple martini.

• Micky’s • 8857 Santa Monica Blvd
310-657-1176
Drag queens and hot go-go boys every Monday.

• Molly Malone’s • 575 S Fairfax Ave
323-935-1577
The ultimate neighborhood pub.

• Mondrian Skybar • 8440 W Sunset Blvd
323-848-6025
Excuse me, you’re standing on my Manolos . . .

• Monsieur Marcel • 6333 W 3rd St
323-939-7792
Parisian wine bar in the Farmer’s Market.

• Plaza • 739 N La Brea Ave
323-939-0703
Drag queens and ranchero music . . . ay yi yi!

• Rage • 8911 Santa Monica Blvd
310-652-7055
Hard-bodied boys cram the soft-rubber dance floor.

• Rainbow Bar and Grill • 9015 W Sunset Blvd
310-278-4232
Those who rock will be saluted at this hairband hangout.

• The Roger Room • 370 N La Cienega Blvd
310-854-1300
Elegant drinks if you can get through the crowd.

• Rosewood Tavern • 448 N Fairfax Ave
323-944-0980
Get your Anchorman on with scotchy scotch scotch.

• Snake Pit Ale House • 7529 Melrose Ave
323-653-2011
Fairfax District’s version of a Hollywood dive.

• St Nicks • 8450 W 3rd St
323-655-6917
Great westside dive, complete with stocked jukebox.

• The Surly Goat • 7929 Santa Monica Blvd
323-650-4628
Westside beer-snob Mecca. They’ve always been nice to us.

• The Tar Pit • 609 N La Brea Ave
323-965-1300
Old-timey vibe and drinks. New-timey prices.

WeHo boasts some of the most cohesive and walkable mini-neighborhoods in town (e.g., Third Street west of Fairfax, the demographically amorphous area of Melrose between Doherty and La Brea, or Fairfax north of Beverly). You can generally avoid the Grove—one of those big, cookie-cutter shopping complexes—unless you’re there for the foods of the Farmers Market. Don’t miss the weekend movie + party events at the Silent Movie Theatre.

• The Tower Bar • 8358 W Sunset Blvd
323-654-7100
Restaubar in mobster Bugsy Siegel’s old pad.

• Troubadour • 9081 Santa Monica Blvd
310-276-6168
Legendary club where Tom Waits got his start.

• The Viper Room • 8852 W Sunset Blvd
310-358-1881
After Johnny fled to France, scensters say it lost its bite.

Restaurants

• Amalfi • 143 N La Brea Ave
323-938-2504 • $$$
Rustic, authentic Italian, good for groups.

• Andre’s Italian Restaurant • 6332 W 3rd St
323-935-1246 • $
Italian cafeteria complete with plastic flowers. Since 1963.

• Animal • 435 N Fairfax Ave
323-782-9225 • $$
Amazing dishes out of unheralded, and sometimes frankly gnarly, parts.

• AOC Wine Bar • 8022 W 3rd St
310-859-9859 • $$$$
Little plates, big wine selection, and savvy servers.

• Basix Café • 8333 Santa Monica Blvd
323-848-2460 • $$
Popular breakfast spot.

• Beverly Hills Juice • 8382 Beverly Blvd
323-655-8300 • $
Drink this juice. Your intestines will thank you.

• BLD • 7450 Beverly Blvd
323-930-9744 • $$$
Stands for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—so good you’ll want to try all three.

• Blu Jam • 7371 Melrose Ave
323-951-9191 • $$
Terrific brunch and coffee bar

• Bossa Nova • 7181 W Sunset Blvd
323-436-7999 • $$
Savory Brazilian dishes. Open til 4 am.

• Café Angelino • 8735 W 3rd St
310-246-1177 • $$
Flaky thin crust pizzas.

• Canter’s Deli • 419 N Fairfax Ave
323-651-2030 • $$
Classic deli with swinging lounge attached.

• Chateau Marmont • 8221 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-1010 • $$$$
Celeb-heavy scene, cuisine-light menu.

• Chaya • 8741 Alden Dr
310-859-8833 • $$$$
Great food in a schmoozy setting.

• Comme Ca • 8479 Melrose Ave
323-782-1104 • $$$
Great classic French brasserie fare in hip setting.

• Dan Tana’s • 9071 Santa Monica Blvd
310-275-9444 • $$$$
Old H’wood glamour . . . if you can get a table . . .

• Dialog Cafe • 8766 Holloway Dr
310-289-1630 • $$
Lunch spot with salad bar. A little on the pricey side.

• Ed’s Coffee Shop • 460 N Robertson Blvd
310-659-8625 • $
Home-cookin’.

• Fish Grill • 7226 Beverly Blvd
323-937-7162 • $
No-frills, super-fresh fish.

• Flavor of India • 9045 Santa Monica Blvd
310-274-1715 • $$$
Dolly Parton likes the chicken tikka masala.

• Fogo de Chao • 133 N La Cienega Blvd
310-289-7755 • $$$$
An orgy of meat cooked Brazilian churrasco-style.

• The French Crêpe Co. • 6333 W 3rd St
323-934-3113 • $
Even the crepe snobs love it.

• French Quarter • 7985 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-0898 • $$
Food for everyone, especially night owls.

• Gardens of Taxco • 1113 N Harper Ave
323-654-1746 •
Odd little fixed-price institution with verbal menu.

• The Golden State • 426 N Fairfax Ave
323-782-8331 • $$
Bang-up burgers. Try the curry ketchup.

• Greenblatt’s • 8017 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-0606 • $
Kosher deli and wine shop.

• The Griddle Café • 7916 W Sunset Blvd
323-874-0377 • $$
Brunch with the stars—of the WB.

• Hamburger Mary’s • 8288 Santa Monica Blvd
323-654-3800 • $$
LA’s worst kept secret.

• House of Blues • 8430 W Sunset Blvd
323-848-5100 • $$$
Saucy Cajun. Try Sunday’s Gospel Brunch.

• Ikemen • 1655 N La Brea Ave
323-800-7699 • $
Good dip-style ramen with unexpected flavors . . . and, oddly, fries.

• Irv’s Burgers • 8289 Santa Monica Blvd
323-650-2456 • $
Classic burger joint. NFT fav.

• The Ivy • 113 N Robertson Blvd
310-274-8303 • $$$$
Broker a deal over traditional American fare.

• Joan’s on Third • 8350 W 3rd St
323-655-2285 • $$
Foodies can eat-in or carry out.

• Joey’s Cafe • 8301 Santa Monica Blvd
323-822-0671 • $$
Fresh and delicious breakfast and lunch

• Jones • 7205 Santa Monica Blvd
323-850-1726 • $$
Cozy eatery with a nice menu.

• La Conversation • 638 N Doheny Dr
310-858-0950 • $$
Popular and trés mignon brunch and lunch bistro. A good place to eat and be seen.

• La Paella • 476 S San Vicente Blvd
323-951-0745 • $$$
As authentic as you’ll find this side of Barcelona.

• Le Pain Quotidien • 8607 Melrose Ave
310-854-3700 • $$
Classy French sandwich shop.

• Little Next Door • 8142 W 3rd St
323-951-1010 • $$$
Delightful French food with a great brunch and pastries.

• Los Tacos • 7954 Santa Monica Blvd
323-848-9141 • $
Cut your hangover off at the pass with the best Mexican in WeHo.

• Lucques • 8474 Melrose Ave
323-655-6277 • $$$$
Chez Panisse-style cooking in LA.

• M Cafe • 7119 Melrose Ave
323-525-0588 • $$
Contemporary macrobiotic. Only in LA.

• Millions of Milkshakes • 8910 Santa Monica Blvd
310-652-1118 • $
Like if DQ only served Blizzards and had vegan options.

• Murakami Sushi • 7160 Melrose Ave
323-692-1450 • $$
Good, relatively cheap sushi, but skip the rice-heavy bowls.

• Night + Market • 9041 Sunset Blvd
310-275-9724 • $$
Thai street food. More good than gimmick.

• Petrossian • 321 N Robertson Blvd
310-271-6300 • $$$$
Little nibbles of caviar and other conspicuous bites.

• Quality Food & Beverage • 8030 W 3rd St
323-658-5959 • $
Dog-friendly brunch hangout.

• Real Food Daily • 414 N La Cienega Blvd
310-289-9910 • $$
One of the healthiest-tasting restaurants in town.

• Robata Jinya • 8050 W 3rd St
323-653-8877 • $$
Get the spicy ramen or the tasting menu. Slurp!

It sounds like a terrible marketing cliché, but this area really does have something for everyone (unless you hate fun). You can grab your pooch for a hike in Runyon Canyon, check out the great author events at Book Soup, or scope out music at the notorious venues of the Sunset Strip (and keep an eye out for the West Hollywood Jesus wandering the streets). Looking for food or drink? Brunch is at BLD, burgers with a delightful drawing are courtesy of Irv’s, and Comme Ca’s penicillin is a cocktail worthy of poems.

• Saddle Ranch • 8371 W Sunset Blvd
323-656-2007 • $$
Late-night chophouse with a mechanical bull.

• Singapore’s Banana Leaf • 6333 W 3rd St
323-933-4627 • $
Where the President of Singapore chows down when in LA.

• Son of a Gun • 8370 W 3rd St
323-782-9033 • $$$
Seafood rebels. The shrimp toast is mandatory.

• Sweet Lady Jane • 8360 Melrose Ave
323-653-7145 • $$
Decadent desserts to die for.

• Swingers • 8020 Beverly Blvd
323-653-5858 • $
Classic late-night diner, both loved and hated.

• Tart • 115 S Fairfax Ave
323-556-2608 • $$$
Farmer’s Daughter restaurant offers down-home food for WeHo types.

• Taste • 8454 Melrose Ave
323-852-6888 • $$$
Trendy Cali-fusion, Melrose-style.

• Tiago Espresso Bar + Kitchen • 7080 Hollywood Blvd
323-466-5600 • $
Chorizo breakfast burritos, good coffee, and standard lunch fare.

• Toast Bakery Cafe • 8221 W 3rd St
323-655-5018 • $$
Great for celebrity spotting while you brunch.

• Urth Caffé • 8565 Melrose Ave
310-659-0628 • $$
All organic lunch place, plus coffee and sweets.

• The Village Idiot • 7383 Melrose Ave
323-655-3331 • $$$
Bustling British pub with surprisingly good food.

• Vinoteque • 7469 Melrose Ave
310-860-6060 • $$$
Small plates, big wines.

Shopping

• Agent Provocateur • 7961 Melrose Ave
323-653-0229
Sexy undies annually contribute to Hollywood’s baby boom.

• American Apparel • 802 N San Vicente Blvd
310-659-0373
Simple clothing: sweatshop-free, but still scandalous.

• American Rag • 150 S La Brea Ave
323-935-3154
Trend-setting designer and vintage looks at a price.

• Anya Hindmarch • 118 S Robertson Blvd
310-271-9707
So many fancy bags. Plus some dresses.

• Beauty Collection • 8951 Santa Monica Blvd
310-858-8838
Eclectic beauty supply.

• Beige • 7274 Beverly Blvd
323-549-0064
Colorful boutique with an impressive designer palette.

• Ben Sherman • 8500 Beverly Blvd
310-657-3400
Tailored contemporary duds for those with a British persuasion.

• Blick Art Materials • 7301 Beverly Blvd
323-933-9284
Corporate but comprehensive. Good selection of art magazines.

• Bristol Farms • 7880 W Sunset Blvd
323-874-6301
Upscale grocery. Newest and biggest of its kind.

• Crate & Barrel • 189 The Grove Dr
323-297-0370
There’s never too many crates or barrels on your registry.

• Decades • 8214 Melrose Ave
323-655-1960
Discover the history . . . and future . . . of fashion.

• Denim Doctors & Hollywood Trading Company • 7383 Beverly Blvd
323-964-0080
They’ll sell you vintage jeans or fix the ones you’ve already got.

• Denmark 50 • 7974 Melrose Ave
323-653-9726
Stare-worthy Danish mid-century furnishings.

• DNA • 8000 W Sunset Blvd
323-882-8464
Shhh . . . this tiny designer outlet is a big secret.

• EM & Co. • 7940 W 3rd St
323-782-8155
Well-curated fashions from local and international designers.

• Ethel Boutique • 8236 W 3rd St
323-658-8602
Great women’s clothing, indie brands.

• I. Martin Bicycles • 8330 Beverly Blvd
323-653-6900
They cater to both serious racers and the training wheels crowd.

• Jet Rag • 825 N La Brea Ave
323-939-0528
Vintage; Sunday is $1 sale day in the parking lot.

• Kiehl’s • 106 N Robertson Blvd
310-860-0028
No more mail-order. NY-fave beauty products.

• Kitson • 115 S Robertson Blvd
310-859-2652
A retail Cliffs Notes for what stylish Angelenos are buying this minute.

• Kitson Kids • 116 N Robertson Blvd
310-657-0450
Stylish adults aren’t born—they’re made. Start here.

• Kitson Melrose • 8590 Melrose Ave
310-855-9635
A retail Cliffs Notes for what stylish Angelenos are buying this minute.

• Kitson Men • 146 N Robertson Blvd
310-358-9550
Clothes so comfortable the guys might not even notice how hip they are.

• Kitson Studio • 142 N Robertson Blvd
310-360-0051
Kitson’s smaller, trendier outpost. Fewer distractions, sharper focus.

• Light Bulbs Unlimited • 8383 Beverly Blvd
323-651-0330
Every bulb under the sun.

• Madison • 8745 W 3rd St
310-275-1930
Beautiful clothes for beautiful people.

• Mama’s Secret Bakery • 8316 W 3rd St
323-424-3482
Pieces of fabulousness, all for sale.

• Marc Jacobs • 8400 Melrose Pl
323-653-5100
Marc Jacobs has arrived. Say “hi” to Winona if you see her.

• Mashti Malone’s • 1525 N La Brea Ave
323-874-0144
2,500 year old Persian ice cream.

• Melrose Trading Post • 7850 Melrose Ave
323-655-7679
Get your bartering on and benefit boho teens’ school.

• Milk • 8209 W 3rd St
323-951-0330
Stylish fare, but prepare (yes) to be milked.

• Necromance • 7220 Melrose Ave
323-931-2997
Morbid and eclectic, this boutique sells taxidermy and natural curios.

Lean in to catch the latest hushed gossip and receive pitches at Lucques. Meanwhile over on Fairfax, Animal has rock stars in the kitchen and the dining room, while a few doors down historic Canter’s Deli rocks the cheesecake and the self-published Guns ‘N Roses memoirs. It’s not true that Orson Welles ate 18 hot dogs in one sitting at Pink’s but we dare you to match the feat.

• Plastica • 8405 W 3rd St
323-655-1051
All things trendy and plastic. So LA.

• The Pleasure Chest • 7733 Santa Monica Blvd
323-650-1022
Our cleanest, best managed, most famous sex shop.

• popKiller • 7503 W Sunset Blvd
323-874-7731
Vintage rock shirts, polka dot panties, whatever.

• Pulp • 456 S La Brea Ave
323-937-3505
For people who still write letters (or wish they did).

• Rehab Vintage Interiors • 7609 Beverly Blvd
323-935-8438
Industrial furniture for steel lovers.

• Revival Vintage • 7403 Beverly Blvd
323-933-3708
Curated vintage clothes and doodads.

• Ron Herman • 8100 Melrose Ave
323-651-4129
There’s something wrong with selling peasant skirts for $308 dollars.

• Russh Mode • 352 S Robertson Blvd
323-920-6738
One more temple for the cult of denim.

• Sam Ash Music • 7360 W Sunset Blvd
323-850-1050
Like the nearby Guitar Center, but far less intimidating.

• Samy’s Camera • 431 S Fairfax Ave
323-938-2420
The only place to go to for cameras in LA.

• Solomon’s Hebrew and English Bookstore • 447 N Fairfax Ave
323-653-9045
Everything from seder plates to menorahs.

• Susina Bakery & Cafe • 7122 Beverly Blvd
323-934-7900
Not just a bakery . . . yummy chocolates, focaccia sandwiches, and beautiful cakes.

• TenOverSix • 8425 Melrose Ave
323-330-9355
A whole store dedicated to shoes, jewelry, bags (etc.)

• Trashy Lingerie • 402 N La Cienega Blvd
310-652-4543
Trashy, yes, but they also sell high-quality custom-fitted lingerie.

• Trina Turk • 8008 W 3rd St
323-651-1382
Resort wear from one of LA’s most beloved designers.