Get Your Hollywood Swagger On at These Trendy L.A. Hot Spots!

Published on Wednesday, January 19 2011

Written by Super User

Los Angeles is where Hollywood happens. All of the glitz and glamour that you see on our Website is made possible due to the City of Angels. We really have it all here -- beautiful weather, beautiful people, beaches, mountains, suburbs, cities, the entertainment industry -- you name it! In fact, Los Angeles oftentimes makes several reputable lists of travel destinations around the world.

With Spring Break coming around the corner and the summer coming near, we at Young Hollywood decided we would inform you as to the places to go in Los Angeles. That's right, we are going to give a travel little travel guide as to where and what you should check out when you visit!

HOTELS:

Four Seasons Los Angeles - Four Seasons is our number one pick. Of course, Young Hollywood actually has a Studio space in one of the suites at The Four Seasons located on Doheny Drive. This five-star hotel is located right on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills and is a nice stroll away to the famous Rodeo Drive. The hotel includes many beautiful suites including two enormous presidential suites both located on the sixteenth floor of the hotel. The hotel is also equipped with a fabulous modern Italian restaurant called Culina, which is super sleek. If swimming in the world class pool has made you work up an appetite, you can also check out the Cabana Restaurant, which offers a variety of options to soothe your hunger.

Chateau Marmont - We are sure you've heard of this hotel in the tabloids, and that's because it is the place to be! The hotel itself takes you out of Los Angeles for a second and makes you feel like you are living in a castle. The hotel is full of interesting, fashion-forward people, so be prepared to dress your best. The hotel has a restaurant which is a sort of garden terrace which serves French-Californian food. The hotel is located on the famous Sunset Boulevard just steps away from all of the chaos and fun on the Sunset Strip. It is conveniently located on the edge of West Hollywood, being a quick cab ride into Hollywood.

Petit Ermitage - If you're on a budget, the Petit Ermitage is the place to stay, because it is in fact one of L.A.'s best kept secrets. The hotel has a cute "boutique" feel and excellent service. Located in West Hollywood, it is close to both Beverly Hills and The Sunset Strip. The hotel has a rooftop pool that is typically reserved for guests or their exclusive club members. The rooftop pool is definitely a cool spot with a view that overlooks all of Los Angeles. On Sunday nights, hotel guests can enjoy a private screening of a movie on the rooftop pool area as well; how cool is that? Be sure to try the cookies at the front desk, they are to die for!

RESTAURANTS:

 Katsuya - Katsuya is a Japanese restaurant located in Hollywood run by the infamous SBE company. The sushi is out of this world, and the scene is Hollywood trendy. While the food is great, if you're old enough you can also enjoy their specialty cocktails, which are some of the best in town; The Burning Mardarin is one of our favorites. Katsuya also has some great specials, so check their Website periodically to see what deals they're offering.

Urth Cafe - If you're an "Entourage" fan, you've probably seen the boys at Urth Cafe a few times! This little cafe is always in business and packed with some of the trendiest people in the city. The cafe utilizes their own premium organic coffee and also boasts many tea options. Their lattes often come out with interesting designs made with the steam for those dining in-house, and they also have yummy boba tea drinks! If you're hungry, have no fear, Urth Cafe has a full menu with many delicious sandwiches and salads.

Moonshadows - If you get the chance to go to Malibu, checking out Moonshadows is a must. The restaurant offers seafood as well as a view of the ocean. That's right, Moonshadows is located on the Pacific Coast Highway and the restaurant overlooks the Pacific. It's a great place to go to an relax and soak up the amazing ambiance.

Villa Blanca - You might have heard of this destination because it is owned by Ken Todd and Lisa Vanderpump from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". The restaurant is swathed in white tablecloths and is full of European decor that offers patrons the lush Beverly Hills dining experience. The menu is diverse and fresh and offers Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean options, all of which will make your mouth water. The candlelight and impressive wine list make this a romantic destination but is also a see-and-be-seen destination.

M Cafe - The M Cafe restaurant has two locations, one on Melrose right outside of Hollywood, and another in Beverly Hills right off of Rodeo Drive. The restaurant is completely macrobiotic and extremely healthy, but also very good! The Melrose location draws in an interesting crowd while the Rodeo location brings in shoppers in need of a snack. The Big Macro is a healthy alternative to a McDonald's Big Mac, and while it is entire vegan, it is really good; try it with their fries and homemade ketchup!

Cafe Med - This little Italian restaurant is located within the Sunset Plaza area. Sunset Plaza boasts name restaurants as well as shopping, but this is our main pick. Cafe Med offers delicious Italian cuisine. We highly recommend the pizzas and pastas. Sit outside and people-watch -- we promise you'll see tons of the beautiful ones!

Xi'An - Usually it's the Japanese restaurants that are upscale and the Chinese restaurants that are the dives, but not this place! Xi'An is located just two blocks away from Rodeo Drive and features a wide variety of Chinese cuisine options. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and you can rest assured that you will have a nice meal here. Be sure to get the dumplings as an appetizer!

Spago - Spago is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, so expect nothing but the best! The restaurant offers American cuisine and, to say the least, sets the standard for it. It is truly the best of the best. Located in Beverly Hills, this is a restaurant where you are encouraged to dress up! So, ladies, put on a nice dress, and, men, wear a jacket because you should be looking as high class as possible at this fine dining establishment.

BOA - BOA is a trendy steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard. The interior is fresh and exciting, truly phenomenal. It is a great spot if you plan on checking out hot spots SoHo House and Trousdale (SoHo House is just upstairs). While BOA specializes in steaks, they also prepare amazing salads that are made right in front of you. There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a private room for special events such as birthday parties.

NIGHTLIFE:

SoHo House - Being an exclusive club with only three American locations (New York, Miami, and L.A.), SoHo House is the place to be... that is, of course, if you can get in. In order to gain entrance to this establishment, you need to either be with a member or have a membership of your own. SoHo House takes up the top two floors of the 9200 Sunset building. With everything from a bar to a private screening room, this is one of the most talked-about destinations in L.A. If you go up to the roof, you can see one of the very best views in all of Los Angeles. It's also not strictly a nightlife destination; on most days, it opens at 8AM! Expect to run into celebrities and all of the movers and shakers in Los Angeles at this hot spot.

Trousdale - Right across the street from SoHo House, Trousdale offers the ultimate nightlife experience in L.A. The crowd is fashionable, beautiful, and knows how to party. The club was opened by nightlife connoisseurs Guy Starkman, Darren Dzienciol, Brent Bolthouse, and Jen Rosero. This dream team, combined with a great location in West Hollywood on the border of Beverly Hills, draws in a super chic clientele. Their back room adds another level of exclusivity with a highly filtered crowd of worthy patrons.

Hemingways - A cute little lounge in Hollywood that is perfect for a quiet evening with a few friends. Unlike the other clubs mentioned, Hemingways is much more tame. The establishment itself is named in honor of Ernest Hemingway and the bookshelf decor and typewriters give it that feel. There are drinks named after the famous author's books as well -- try one!

SHOPPING:

 Maxfield - Maxfield is one of the best stores in L.A. if you can afford it. This high-end retail boutique gives Barney's a run for their money! There are tons of great lesser-known designers as well as the old faves like Dior, Chanel, Lanvin, Hermes, Prada, etc. Every piece is unique, and you can tell that whoever buys for them has one of the best eyes for style we have ever seen. If you want to get similar products for a cheaper price, you can also try Maxfield Bleu!

Opening Ceremony - Opening Ceremony has other locations in New York and Tokyo, but the one in L.A. happens to be in Charlie Chaplin's father's old dance studio. Located on La Cienega, Opening Ceremony offers lots of great designers for both men and women. You can choose from Alexander Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier, Commes Des Garcons, and a lot more. Expect to find several unique pieces here.

The Grove - The Grove is a beautiful outdoor retail space offering many stores that you would expect to find in a typical mall. There's a Nordstroms, Barnes and Noble, Apple store, Anthropologie, Victoria's Secret, Zara, and much more! With a breezy ambiance, you can enjoy the fountain outside that shoots to music playing throughout the shopping center as well as take a ride on the trolley. There's a legendary Farmer's Market at The Grove with every possible food option you could imagine! If shopping isn't your thing, you can also catch a flick at the movie theatre.

Melrose - Melrose Avenue west of Crescent Heights has tons of great shopping. From Fred Segal to Alexander McQueen to Marc Jacobs, you can be sure to find some great pieces on Melrose.

Robertson - Robertson Boulevard is a place in which numerous celebrity photos have been taken. The famous Ivy restaurant is located on Robertson as well as some great shopping. Chanel, Kitson, D&G, All Saints Spitafield, Intermix, Reiss, Alice & Olivia, and more can be found on this street.

Los Angeles has plenty of other great things to do. From Universal Studios to Venice Beach, there's plenty to occupy yourself in this wonderful city. We took the liberty to inform you of some one the less touristy things you can do here, but by all means, do it all. If you feel like just walking around Hollywood Boulevard and looking at the stars, go for it!

- Tyler Biddle-Barrows, YH Staff

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