Los Angeles delivers glamour in doses ranging from understated to over-the-top, depending on your neighborhood and budget. The City of Angels rewards travelers who know where to look.
Start in West Hollywood, where the energy pulses around Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. Book dinner at Republique, a French-Italian brasserie in Los Angeles that draws locals and visitors alike for its impeccable pasta and pastries. For cocktails, head to The Sunset Tower Hotel, where rooftop views stretch across the city and the crowd skews sophisticated rather than scene-y.
Spend your days exploring Griffith Observatory, perched in the Hollywood Hills. The vistas of downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign justify the hike. Entry is free. Pair this with lunch in Los Feliz, the neighborhood that spawned the Observatory, where independent cafes and vintage shops cluster along hillside streets.
Santa Monica offers a different flavor of Los Angeles glamour. The pier remains a draw despite crowds. Better: spend your afternoon at the Getty Center, a billionaire's art collection housed in a Richard Meier-designed hilltop campus. Admission runs free, though parking costs 15 dollars. The contemporary art collection rivals major East Coast institutions.
For overnight stays, the Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood merges luxury with intimacy. The 13-room boutique hotel books celebrities and those seeking discretion. Rooms start around 400 dollars nightly. Budget travelers should consider the Magic Castle Hotel, also West Hollywood, with mid-century charm and nightly rates from 200 dollars.
Spend your final evening in Venice Beach or Marina del Rey, watching the Pacific sunset from a waterfront restaurant. Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice delivers excellent dining and shopping without the Hollywood artifice.
Los Angeles requires a car or ride-sharing budget. The