Girls Guide to Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California is a place you have to visit at least once in your lifetime. I have been lucky enough to live here for 5 years and visit many other times. This past February I decided to move back temporarily for a month to see if I still felt like it was home to me and explore the city again. Los Angeles is an amazing place to visit and below is my ultimate bucket list guide to what you should do while you’re here!

LA is a confusing city with many different zip codes that take you into different worlds. My personal favorite areas of Los Angeles are Venice and Beverly Hills. If you know me you know I’m basically a mermaid princess who loves shopping and obsessed with five star hotels, chic level 10 restaurants and the color pink. It is suspected that Beverly Hills is the most me but I feel the need to be directly on the beach and even though the shopping is incredible on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, I actually prefer a little boutique like what you can find on Abbot Kinney in Venice. I guess what I’m trying to say is I’d totally move back across the country if something in the middle of Venice & Beverly Hills existed. Whether or not I want to live here is still a question but I do know I always love a little trip to LA. Without further ado here is my guide to where you must go and what to do in Los Angeles, California.

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. When you’re visiting Los Angeles I recommend to do one part of you stay by the beach, in Santa Monica and Venice, and the other part of your stay in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. When visiting this spread out city of LA it’s good to know this to utilize your time properly. Here is what to do in each of the best parts of the city!

Beverly Hills:

The Beverly Hills Hotel- This hotel is quite literally the definition of iconic. I had the privilege of staying here and it is my favorite place. I know it’s expensive but it’s the type of the place that is worth it to spend the money even just for a special night of your trip. If you don’t want to stay you can make a reservation at The Cabana Club to experience the pink palace without spending the money on a room. You will not receive the same princess treatment that you do when you are staying as a hotel guest but it is still a great experience.

The Beverly Hills sign & Lilly Pond- The first time I ever came to Los Angeles my sister and I were Clueless. No pun intended. We drove around all night in a rental car searching to see the Hollywood sign. We put in the correct GPS location and we were literally looking everywhere for it and ended up giving up and settling for In n Out burger.I now know that this was very stupid of us as it does not light up. On our way back to the hotel we spotted the Beverly Hills sign which honestly I feel like is on brand for the Beverly Hills girl I became to be. We saw it at night and it actually did light up! It is better in the day though because you get to see the beautiful Lillies in the pond below it.

Rodeo Drive- To experience this place correctly there is mainly one thing that comes to mind- shopping. I’m going to start with the obvious and most famous shopping choice. This is the Avenue Montagne of Los Angeles. The chicest most desirable place on the west coast. Just window shopping makes you feel elegant and buying something here is an exceptional experience. I personally haven’t purchased anything on Rodeo drive but I have convinced my best friends visiting to and joined on the festivities of free champagne and being treated like a princess on the rooftop of Louis Vuitton.

Robertson Blvd- This street was popularized by Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in The Simple Life. Kitson is all over LA now but I recommend going to the original location on Robertson. Also while you’re over here please go to my favorite restaurant, The Ivy. The Ivy is what you think of when someone says “Hollywood” and you’ve never been to the real Hollywood. It emulates rich, celebrity, and ultimate chicness with it’s stunning flowers on every table, waiters in pink matching aprons, and upscale Californian cuisineI love this restaurant so much!

West Hollywood:

Visiting Hollywood as a tourist is a popular move but trust me when I say to avoid it and just hit West Hollywood. West Hollywood holds some of the most famous places like Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard. If you want to visit the Hollywood Sign, I truthfully think it’s a waste of your time to go out of your way to see it and would instead suggest to look out for it on rooftops in Weho. The best way to see the Hollywood Sign though would to act like local and go on a hike through the hills! Or even better you can horseback ride on the Hollywood Hills and see the sign and spectacular views. I did this once and it was incredible. Anyways, onto West Hollywood recommendations:

Comedy show on Sunset Strip- Seeing a comedy show is such a fun activity to do in LA especially because you may be lucky enough to see a great celeb. I got to see Tim Allen at the Laugh Factory and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

The Grove: This place is my favorite at Christmas time. They play the best Christmas music and it snows on the hour every hour. It’s also a year round destination with awesome shopping and great restaurants. They have a huge waterfall in the center and a movie theatre. They seem to always be playing Frank Sinatra tunes and I thoroughly enjoy it. If you’re looking for a restaurant here I would suggest my personal favorite Monsieur Marcel. This restaurant transports you straight to Paris with its French cuisine, staff and flags. They even have a store with so many Parisian finds, wine and cheese!

There are in insane amount of awesome restaurants in West Hollywood that I really don’t think you can go wrong. But here is a quick list of a few more of my personal favorites in the area. Norah, Little Next Door, Berri’s, and Henry’s.

Where to Stay: Le Parc at Melrose This hotel is an amazing spot for a girls trip or bachelorette party in an ideal location of West Hollywood near some of the best restaurants and going out spots. There’s everything you need and want to do in Weho in walking distance of the hotel. Alfred for your iconic LA coffee, Urth Cafe which is great for brunch, Catch for dinner and EP & LP for drinks on the rooftop! The hotel has a gorgeous rooftop pool with fun floats and incredible views. They also have a tennis / pickleball court on the roof. The rooms are all suite styles giving you plenty of room for you and your friends!

Venice:

Venice is an amazing place and a personal favorite with one big issue. The homeless situation here is horrible and you can be at a fabulous restaurant and right outside someone else is struggling. You see families laughing watching the sunset as a man is hiding under a sleeping bag right on the very same beach. It really makes me sad but I will say the homeless people do keep to themselves. It’s definitely an unsettling feeling walking out of my apartment and seeing a person in a tarp bag on the street but it doesn’t make me feel unsafe. I write this to keep your guards up and not to be alarmed when you visit this place that still has so much to offer.

Here’s a list of my favorite things to do in Venice Beach.

Venice Canals: It felt like a luxury to live right by them this month. I love to go on daily walks or runs here, watching the ducks and admiring the beautiful homes. The historic district is noteworthy for possessing man-made canals, built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney! Kinney sought to recreate the appearance and feel of Venice, Italy, in Los Angeles. They are truly breathtaking and a must see for anyone visiting Los Angeles. I hope to someday own a house on the canals.

Abbot Kinney: this is a mile long strip of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants in Venice Beach, California. This street is where you want to be, parallel to Venice beach and just a 10 minute walk to the boardwalk. I could spend day to night here shopping and going to restaurants. There are so many boutiques and many of them are in cute houses! Here’s a list of my favorites:

Principessa Venice - my personal favorite store in Venice. It carries iconic bohemian fashion and a purchase of anything in the store will have you feel like you belong here when you’re wearing it. I like to define Venice style as laid back chic bohemian and Principesa emulates the entire Venice vibe.

Tumbleweed and dandelion - If I could decorate my home with this entire vibe I would. Come here to check out the vibes, buy a candle, and take mirror pictures in the back patio.

Burro- Super cute store and the best stop for that perfect gift and card you’ve been needing to buy for someone special. Burro goods has amazing cards, candles, stationary, apothecary and more.

Abbot Kinney is also home to the best restaurants:

The Butchers Daughter- also seen in nyc, this is my personal favorite restaurant. The decor makes me nostalgic of Britney Spears door beads but in a bohemian twist. Order a cheese plate and enjoy their in house wines.

De Buena Planta- Vegan Mexican restaurant that is beyond! I loved the Tulum vibes here and the vegan quesadilla, vegetable platter and spicy margaritas were amazing.

Gjelina- Pizza party but make it fashion. This hot spot is seemingly the hippest place to eat out in Venice. The wood fired pizza is perfection and with the stylish rustic decor there is a photo opportunity in every corner. They also have a take away if you’re on the go.

The best spot for a girls night out are located by the beach right along the Venice Sign!

The Venice Sign is a site to see of it’s own. Come here for photos before you have an iconic night out with your girls at either Belles beach house, a tiki bar vibe that has you feeling like you just landed in Hawaii or the elite Gran Blanco which is where you’ll likely meet your future boyfriend.

Favorite Venice Coffee Shops:

Menotti’s, Little Lunch, Cha Cha Matcha, Alfred and Blue bottle.

Boat on Marina del Rey: This is technically a different town of LA but it is so close that I’m going to add it into your Venice plans. Take your trip with 360s boating company and sail away for sunset!

Where to Stay: The Kinney Venice Beach is located less than a mile from Abbot Kinney making it a perfect location in my book! The retro groovy vibes are so fun and eclectic and they have a fun area with ping pong and a fire place for guests to hang out at!

Santa Monica:

Santa Monica is known for its beaches, bike paths and the Santa Monica pier.

Santa Monica Pier- This is basically an amusement part on the water. The Pacific Wheel on Santa Monica Pier is a top recommendation of mine. This may sound childlike but the views on the ocean around Los Angeles from the top of the Pacific wheel cannot be beat.

Bike Paths- One of my favorite things to do in LA is biking along the beach. It’s what I miss most when I’m away from the city and it’s so fun to bike from Santa Monica to Venice on the beach side path.

Where to Stay:

Fairmont Miramar- My number one choice on where to stay in Santa Monica would be Fairmont Miramar. This hotel is a 5 star hotel with impeccable staff, amazing amenities and home to The Bungalow! The best going out spot in LA. I feel like a lot of my friends are planning bachelorettes right now and I would highly recommend Fairmont Miramar as a bachelorette hotel destination of the west side. It’s in an ideal location right on the water, minutes from the Santa Monica pier and amazing restaurants. They even have a complimentary car service taking you to nearby destinations.

Where to Eat:

Ivy at the Shore- Yes this is on my blog twice it’s that good! They have a location in Beverly Hills and a location in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica location may be even better than the Beverly Hills location. The pink details stay but in coastal form with sailboats, and beachy keen decor. Oh, and they have the best red velvet cake that I have ever tasted.

Coast- Located in one of my favorite hotels Shutters on the beach. There’s something about Shutters that feels like home to me. It gives us of New England cottage charm vibes and I love to sit on the deck here and enjoy a glass from their chic champagne bar as I gaze across at the beach views.

Calabra- Located in Santa Monica Proper Hotel this restaurant has Mediterranean and California cuisine with vegan options. The breathtaking interior design of the hotel by Kelly Wearstler is a site to see on your way up to this restaurant rooftop. The rooftop views of the ocean are superb and there’s a tropical vibe here that feels like you’re in another country.

Lanea- Such a cool vibe and a lower scale than the rest of the places I mentioned. Great your wallet but still a fun night out. They have a Mexican band performing outside. I got the Vegan Tacos, chips & guac and the spicy margarita and everything was SO good.

Elephante- This chic restaurant is known for it’s elevated Italian dishes in a lounglike setting right on the ocean. Not only is it a great dinner spot but it turns into kind of a going out spot too.

Onto, where to go out.. My blog includes one and only one place to go out specifically, The Bungalow. This will always be the best night out on the west side! The weekend hot spot. Come during the day for perfect amount of LA sunshine and good vibes. But come at night to meet and mingle with 20s and 30s of LA.

Malibu:

Rent a convertible and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu should be on the top of your Los Angeles bucket list. The feeling is like no other and an experience you’ll never forget!

My advice for what to do in Malibu is to grab a blanket, hoodie, wine, cheese and crackers and have yourself a peaceful day taking in the breathtaking views. Take a moment and gaze at the ocean listening to Miley Cyrus’s infamous song. If you do decide to check out a restaurant while you’re here my number one choice is Nobu, located right on the water. They have incredible sushi and amazing lychee martinis.

What’s funny about LA is that a lot of things you should do when you visit are the kind of things that people who live here do all the time. I think it’s because Los Angelenos have popularized a lot of things that aren’t anywhere else. Although you can go to a farmer’s market in any city the one in LA feels more special to travelers and even me. The most popular coffee shops and grocery stores are only in Los Angeles. I sometimes joke that if NYC had an Erewhon my decision of where to live would have already been made. I’m sure TikTok has already given you your insiders list to what you must do while you’re here but don’t forget to spend $20 on the Hailey Bieber Smoothie at Erewhon and get the “world famous vanilla latte” at Alfred.

I also would like to take to time to recommend some beauty and wellness spots to hit it Los Angeles.

Blair Waldorf says it best when she states “Los Angeles is a layover for plastic surgery not somewhere you live.” I feel like the appropriate place to get Botox, facials or cosmetic treatments done is in LA. I went to Naked MD in Santa Monica for my first ever Botox treatment and I highly recommend!

We’re girls, so you know that a spray tan makes you feel 100% better. I highly recommend starting your LA trip with a spray tan at Sugared and Bronzed. I promise you this will be the best spray tan of your life. I have gotten so many spray tans and my favorite coloring of a spray is here! They have locations all over LA including Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood an Beverly Hills.

Lastly, I recommend going to Artha in West Hollywood for the ultimate wellness day of cryotherapy, saunas, cold plunge/floats and a cryofacial. The hot and cold pressure of the cryofacial cured my hangover in the best way possible and I suggest this the day after a fun night out!

All in all Los Angeles is a fabulous place to visit and you won’t regret a trip here, especially if you’re using this guide!!

xoxo,

Jules