See the best of LA in a weekend. Avoid all the touristy stuff and spend your weekend like an in the know A-Lister. Fall through summer is the best time to visit, but anytime is a good time to travel to this sunny city on the coast.
Arrive in Style Take a flight into Los Angeles International (LAX), it’s the one you always see paparazzi snap of celebs in chic outfits and sunglasses quickly exiting from. LA is a valet town and if you want to look the part you should rent a luxury car, like Black Range Rover or Mercedes sedan to look the part. If you order an Uber, make it a black of course. LAX has a very efficient ride-share option to get you to your car service called LAXit. If you have an A-lister budget and you plan on returning to LA frequently, you might want to consider becoming a member of the private P/S club. They will send a chauffeured sedan, directly out of the airport runway and straight out of the airport to your hotel like a real celebrity. It’s as close to flying private without flying private as you can get.
Where To Stay In LA Beverly Hills is a great base as it’s pretty centrally located and affords you a true luxury hotel experience in a tranquil super upscale area. These are my top choices: SLS Beverly Hills, 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Peninsula Beverly Hills, and Chateau Marmont. Sam Rockwell and Lesley Bibb call Chateau Marmont home whenever they are in town.
Eating like an A-Lister
A morning coffee run is a must. You can stop by the Dunkin Donuts in Santa Monica and pick up Ben Affleck’s favorite iced latte or go a bit more upscale and grab a cappuccino Alfred in Beverly Hills. They also have an outpost in West Hollywood that always has paparazzi camped out in front. Another option is Verve in West Hollywood which is a favorite morning stop for Hailey B. and Kendall.
Lunch at Shutters on the Beach is a luxury hotel on the beach in Santa Monica is a popular brunch or lunch option among LA’s actors, actresses, and agents.
The patio at Chateau Marmont feels like a movie and there’s almost always someone there. Spago in Beverly Hills and Craig’s in West Hollywood have pulled in A-list crowds for years, and both still do The food is way better at Spago, but Craig’s may win when it comes to packing in the familiar faces. Reservations in LA are always a must!
Dinner at Nobu in Malibu. It’s a bit of a drive from Beverly Hills and reservations are a must, especially if you want to sit outside overlooking the Pacific. Be careful in the parking lot to not run over the paparazzi who might be there if Kim K or JLo happen to be dining there!
After lunch head to the beach to take a walk on the beach and check the celebrity homes and the ultra-exclusive members-only offshoot of Soho House, Little Beach House which is right next door. Malibu public beach entrances are a bit hidden but there is an access point between homes, right next to the home at address 22664 Pacific Coast Highway. You will see a gate and a ramp that leads to the beach. You may bump into Matt Damon, Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Aniston, or one of the many other celebrities that have homes in Malibu.
Crossroads Kitchen is a favorite celeb spot and features upscale vegan dining from Oprah’s former private star-chef Tal Ronnen.
Crustacean in Beverly Hills is another one to consider as it features over-the-top beautiful decor, food, and clientele.
You can grab a cocktail at the bar at Beauty & Essex, the West Coast iteration of the famous NYC spot, inside the Dream Hotel in Hollywood. The lounge has been frequented by A-listers like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Selena Gomez, and The Weekend.
Go Hiking — Because Everyone Goes Hiking in LA!
Most head to either Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon, if you are not up for a full-blown hiking adventure you can opt to take a car to the top and just walk down! You may pass any number of A-listers walking by like Channing Tatum, Justin Beiber, or Taylor Swift.
Take a Bike Ride on the Beach
Rent a bike in Venice, home to Julia Roberts and Kate Beckinsale, and Pink has been spotted jogging on the boardwalk here and taking a ride along the coast through Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades. You may see Arnold Schwarzenegger or Kate Hudson peddling by or Owen Wilson on a skateboard. Look right as you pass private beach clubs like the Jonathan Club or Bel-Air Bay Club and you may see Hollywood heavyweights spending quality downtime with their families. Jennifer Garner used to push her kids on the swings here.
Surf Like A Local
Surfing in Malibu Malibu Mako’s offers experienced ocean lifeguards, pro surf instructors, ocean athletes, and educators are committed to providing the best surfing experience. You will be up on that board like Brody Jenner in no time!
Shop til’ you drop
The Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills attracts a mix of tourists, Angelenos, and of course celebrities. Harry Styles, Reese Witherspoon, and Megan Fox have all been spotted shopping in Beverly Hills. Fred Segal on Melrose Ave has been a celebrity hotspot forever. Gwyneth Paltrow, John Legend, Reese Witherspoon, David Beckham and Taylor Lautner are some of the A-Listers spotted there recently. Westfield Century City is also a great shopping destination to shop AND people watch. Located adjacent to Beverly Hills, the Robertson Boulevard shopping district in West Hollywood is well-known for celebrity sightings and the paparazzi that stake out nearby The Ivy. For even more excellent shopping and celebrity sightings, head to the Grove. This premier shopping destination includes top brands, designer boutiques, fine dining, and regular events. You’re bound to pass by a celebrity or two while shopping!
Get Pampered like You Are Heading to the Oscars
Ole Hericksen’s Spa in trendy West Hollywood is a tranquil sanctuary, known for ultimate luxury and is no secret to stars like Charlize Theron and Halle Berry. If you are looking to do more than just relax during your “spa” time then definitely make an appointment with Dr. Ourian at Epione’s. He’s is responsible for Kylie Jenner’s beautiful pout. Need a trim and a quick blowout? Head to Chris McMillan at The Salon in Beverly Hills his clients include Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Diane von Furstenberg, and Courteney Cox. There are countless things to do in LA, but if you want to spend the weekend like a true A-Lister, it’s all about avoiding the popular tourist spots and hanging like a local. I definitely recommend taking the time to make plans and reservations a least a month in advance and if you can’t get a table at Nobu or another hot spot, ask if you can eat at the bar!
Safe travels!
