Lay of the Land
Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood still draw shoppers and sightseers, but a new generation of talented young transplants has helped transform Hollywood and Downtown into exciting and navigable playgrounds.
The Beach: Venice has the canals. Santa Monica, the shopping (we’re partial to Montana Avenue). Malibu, the legendary beaches with low-key fish-fry shacks.
Beverly Hills: The 90210 has more luxury emporiums than any other U.S. zip code.
Culver City: This once industrial neighborhood is now a thriving design district.
Mid-City: Come here for the shopping meccas of Melrose and La Brea, the Farmers’ Market, and the museums on Wilshire Boulevard.
Hollywood: Tacky-touristy by day, the formerly seedy neighborhood blossoms after dark thanks to high-design hotels and nightclubs.
Silver Lake and Echo Park: Head to this area for local fashion, vintage shops, and the best music venue, the Echoplex.
Downtown: A loft boom and new hotels (the Ace Downtown is expected in fall 2013) have fueled a sophisticated foodie scene.
