Guidebook for West Hollywood
Drinks & Nightlife
The owners have kept this iconic hotel just as it was decades ago. The garden is lovely for drinks, dinner and celeb spotting.
353 locals recommend
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset BlvdThe owners have kept this iconic hotel just as it was decades ago. The garden is lovely for drinks, dinner and celeb spotting.
It's just around the corner so you can walk. It's got a buzzy new patio off the street.
55 locals recommend
Taste on Melrose
8454 Melrose AveIt's just around the corner so you can walk. It's got a buzzy new patio off the street.
This is a bit too far to walk, unless you're up for a stroll through WeHo. It's got a very scene-y happy hour. It's always busy for breakfast, lunch, dinner but the bar is the point of it all.
191 locals recommend
Cecconi's West Hollywood
8764 Melrose AveThis is a bit too far to walk, unless you're up for a stroll through WeHo. It's got a very scene-y happy hour. It's always busy for breakfast, lunch, dinner but the bar is the point of it all.
The Abbey is justly famous. It's been a favorite gay bar in WeHo forever. Sit inside or out and do check out the crowd. The Abbey was one of the first gay bars to openly welcome straight people. They've even hosted Liz Taylor!
471 locals recommend
The Abbey
692 N Robertson BlvdThe Abbey is justly famous. It's been a favorite gay bar in WeHo forever. Sit inside or out and do check out the crowd. The Abbey was one of the first gay bars to openly welcome straight people. They've even hosted Liz Taylor!
Food Scene
This is my top pick for a very special dinner. Dark enough for romance, casual enough for a group, the food is justly famous.
It's easily walkable
38 locals recommend
Lucques
8474 Melrose AveThis is my top pick for a very special dinner. Dark enough for romance, casual enough for a group, the food is justly famous.
It's easily walkable
Mel and Rose is a family owned and run wine shop with a little deli in back with a patio. The selection is excellent and prices are varied.
8 locals recommend
Mel and Rose
8344 Melrose AveMel and Rose is a family owned and run wine shop with a little deli in back with a patio. The selection is excellent and prices are varied.
Sweet Lady Jane has been creating wedding cakes for brides, turning out the best pastries in the neighborhood. Locals gather for coffee sitting at tables in and out of the shop.
107 locals recommend
Sweet Lady Jane Bakery
1631 Montana AveSweet Lady Jane has been creating wedding cakes for brides, turning out the best pastries in the neighborhood. Locals gather for coffee sitting at tables in and out of the shop.
This tiny shop sells, wine, cheese and assorted dry goods. It's great for a quick bite or a more leisurely dinner, if you like.
14 locals recommend
Froma on Melrose
7960 Melrose AveThis tiny shop sells, wine, cheese and assorted dry goods. It's great for a quick bite or a more leisurely dinner, if you like.
Sightseeing
It sounds hokey but almost everyone who's never been here asks to go. Drive by, if you like, and see the Elvis impersonators, "Star War characters" and "Disney Princesses" entertaining the crowd.
Another sort of hokey idea, though I swear it's fun, is taking one of the bus tours. They'll drive you by stars homes, through Hollywood and down Rodeo Drive as well as iconic sites.
1913 locals recommend
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset BlvdIt sounds hokey but almost everyone who's never been here asks to go. Drive by, if you like, and see the Elvis impersonators, "Star War characters" and "Disney Princesses" entertaining the crowd.
Another sort of hokey idea, though I swear it's fun, is taking one of the bus tours. They'll drive you by stars homes, through Hollywood and down Rodeo Drive as well as iconic sites.
You don't have to go all the way downtown to pick up a ZipCar. There's a location within walking distance. When you make your reservation ask about the station in West Hollywood.
7 locals recommend
ZipCar
633 West 5th StreetYou don't have to go all the way downtown to pick up a ZipCar. There's a location within walking distance. When you make your reservation ask about the station in West Hollywood.
Parks & Nature
This is a local favorite. You can go far and high or just take a stroll and come back down. No one judges.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller AveThis is a local favorite. You can go far and high or just take a stroll and come back down. No one judges.
Entertainment & Activities
This neighborhood is the fertile delta of comedy clubs. Perhaps the most famous, and the best for audiences and comics is the Comedy Store. (This info from my favorite Trader Joe checkout guy, who's a comic too.)
225 locals recommend
The Comedy Store
8433 Sunset BlvdThis neighborhood is the fertile delta of comedy clubs. Perhaps the most famous, and the best for audiences and comics is the Comedy Store. (This info from my favorite Trader Joe checkout guy, who's a comic too.)
The Hollywood Bowl is all that and more. The crowd is friendly, but attentive to whoever is playing. It's a geniune LA experience to listen to your favorite music (from the Phil to Van Halen) as the sunsets.
The last few years, we've been taking Uber, because the parking can be tricky
1407 locals recommend
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdThe Hollywood Bowl is all that and more. The crowd is friendly, but attentive to whoever is playing. It's a geniune LA experience to listen to your favorite music (from the Phil to Van Halen) as the sunsets.
The last few years, we've been taking Uber, because the parking can be tricky
Essentials
Gelson's Market is literally around the corner. Don't be fooled by "Market." It's a full size grocery store.
653 locals recommend
Gelson's Market
2725 Hyperion AveGelson's Market is literally around the corner. Don't be fooled by "Market." It's a full size grocery store.
This is one of the city's best TJs. Because it services both Beverly Hills and WeHo, the flowers are out of this world as is the selection of food. Take a look at their cheese selection -- very well priced as are the wines. It's walkable from the apartment.
1811 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
11976 Ventura BlvdThis is one of the city's best TJs. Because it services both Beverly Hills and WeHo, the flowers are out of this world as is the selection of food. Take a look at their cheese selection -- very well priced as are the wines. It's walkable from the apartment.
Also easily reached on foot, this CVC is large, so there's not too much you can't get here. Band Aids, Gin, lottery tickets. You name it.
514 locals recommend
CVS
1747 N Cahuenga BlvdAlso easily reached on foot, this CVC is large, so there's not too much you can't get here. Band Aids, Gin, lottery tickets. You name it.
The bus stop that will take you West (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Beach and all points in between is around the corner on Santa Monica Blvd.
The bus stop going East is just opposite (Hollywood, Downtown) in front of the West Hollywood City Hall
7 locals recommend
Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica BoulevardThe bus stop that will take you West (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Beach and all points in between is around the corner on Santa Monica Blvd.
The bus stop going East is just opposite (Hollywood, Downtown) in front of the West Hollywood City Hall
Shopping
If malls are your jam this outdoor mall offers entertainment for kids, movie theaters and, of course, shopping. It's not far, but maybe more than you want to walk.
The Beverly Center is even closer. It's been around longer and is in the middle of a renovation, but it serves the purpose.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrIf malls are your jam this outdoor mall offers entertainment for kids, movie theaters and, of course, shopping. It's not far, but maybe more than you want to walk.
The Beverly Center is even closer. It's been around longer and is in the middle of a renovation, but it serves the purpose.
This monolithic building is the center of what is now called the WeHo design district. Besides the showrooms in the Center, there are furniture stores and galleries scattered around the neighborhood. I'll help you with specific stores if you like.
95 locals recommend
Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose AveThis monolithic building is the center of what is now called the WeHo design district. Besides the showrooms in the Center, there are furniture stores and galleries scattered around the neighborhood. I'll help you with specific stores if you like.
It's absolutely impossible to list all the great shopping in this neighborhood. I started with Fred Segal, because it's nationally known for setting trends.
Nearby are countless clothing boutiques, antique shops and galleries. Let me know what you're interested in seeing and I'll help you plan your day.
99 locals recommend
Fred Segal
8500 Sunset BlvdIt's absolutely impossible to list all the great shopping in this neighborhood. I started with Fred Segal, because it's nationally known for setting trends.
Nearby are countless clothing boutiques, antique shops and galleries. Let me know what you're interested in seeing and I'll help you plan your day.
This Farmer's Market is relatively small but it's bustling on Sundays with fresh produce, handmade wares and all kinds of food stalls.
It's set on Melrose Place which is lined with some of the poshest shops on the West Coast.
42 locals recommend
Melrose Place Farmers Market
8400 Melrose AveThis Farmer's Market is relatively small but it's bustling on Sundays with fresh produce, handmade wares and all kinds of food stalls.
It's set on Melrose Place which is lined with some of the poshest shops on the West Coast.
This is a small street full of the poshest shopping in Los Angeles. It's only one small group of shops. There are so many others, it's hard to list them all. The guidebook has some, but email or call for other suggetions.
168 locals recommend
Melrose Place
Melrose PlaceThis is a small street full of the poshest shopping in Los Angeles. It's only one small group of shops. There are so many others, it's hard to list them all. The guidebook has some, but email or call for other suggetions.