Beverly Hills and Brentwood
Top Experiences
- Shop on Rodeo Drive: Even if it's window-shopping, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience to watch the parade of diamonds, couture gowns, and Ferraris being fetishized.
- Stroll the Beverly Gardens Park: Pose for photos in front of the world famous 40-foot Beverly Hills sign or meander along the nearly 2-mile-long park to awe at the stunning foliage, calming water features, and one-of-a-kind sculptures.
- Watch a concert: Every summer, the Beverly Canon Gardens near the Maybourne Beverly Hills Hotel features a free concert series.
- See the stars: Celeb spotting is practically an art form in this city, and the streets of Beverly Hills hide them in plain sight. Head to the area's many five-star hotel bars and swanky eateries to catch glimpses of your A-list favorites.
Quick Bites
Nate 'n' Al's: A longtime refuge from California's lean cuisine, Nate 'n' Al serves up steaming pastrami, matzo ball soup, and potato latkes. 414 N. Beverly Dr. www.natenals.com
Pizzana: It would be hard to crown a winner of the best pizza in L.A., but any list would have to include the chef Daniele Uditi–helmed Pizzana made with a 65-year-old sourdough starter. 11712 San Vicente Blvd. www.pizzana.com
Sprinkles Cupcakes: Home of the cupcake ATM machine, Sprinkles serves up an afternoon sugar rush with red velvet, salty caramel, and triple cinnamon cupcakes right in the heart of Beverly Hills. 9635 S. Santa Monica Blvd. www.sprinkles.com
SUGARFISH: With set boxes labeled "Trust Me," SUGARFISH takes the decision-making out of lunchtime, with its quick sushi meals filled with perfect cuts of albacore, yellowtail, and more. 212 N. Canon Dr. www.sugarfishsushi.com
Getting Here
All main west–east roads in the city will get you toward Beverly Hills; Wilshire Boulevard is the easiest. It starts in Santa Monica, heads into Brentwood and continues east right into the heart of Beverly Hills. But traffic can be a nightmare, as it can be for L.A.'s other main artery, Santa Monica Boulevard, which also hits Beverly Hills and runs just south of Brentwood. For a smoother ride, try Pico or Olympic Boulevard, which both run roughly parallel a bit farther south.
In Beverly Hills, you can park your car in one of several municipal lots (often free for the first hour or two), and spend as long as you like strolling along Rodeo Drive. For street parking, bring quarters for the meter, or pay with a credit card. Parking on residential streets is often by permit only.
Planning Your Time
Let's be honest—in Beverly Hills, you're probably here to shop and do lunch, and this can easily take a whole day. Once you're all shopped out, you'll find a lively nightlife scene in the bars of the high-end hotels that are peppered throughout the neighborhood.
