The Top 5 Reasons to Visit West Hollywood, California Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2022 • 4 min read
Surrounded by trendy hotspots in every direction—West Hollywood, California is the heart of Los Angeles and is rich in history. Visitors from all over the globe visit WeHo for its iconic destinations such as The Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Boulevard and for the Design District’s high-end shopping, eclectic galleries, and renowned restaurants.
Image courtesy of Visit West Hollywood
1. THE SHOPPING
As one of L.A.’s most famous streets, Melrose Avenue runs north of Beverly Boulevard and south of Santa Monica Boulevard—where the cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood meet, otherwise known as the intersection of posh and funky. As a prime destination for opulent home furnishings, magazine-spread-worthy fashions and celebrity enclaves, it’s a luxe shopping district of 200+ storefronts catering to the most discerning tastes. Melrose Avenue is all about strolling and shopping, so bring your wallet.
The Sunset Strip is where old-school rock n' roll meets modern, upscale luxury. Hedonism is the common theme on West Hollywood's world-famous section of Sunset Boulevard. The Strip is a fashionista's dream by day and a nightlife hub by night. The storied Strip is a 1.5-mile stretch that runs from Hollywood at Crescent Heights to the Beverly Hills border at Doheny Drive. Opened in 1924, Sunset Plaza has over 50 stores and more sprawled out over two blocks.
Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood, California
The colorful storefronts, such as Badgley Mischka, entice you by showcasing clothing, jewelry, toys and more; window shopping alone is a pleasure. Matched with high-end products that won’t disappoint and the chance to spot a movie star here or there, Sunset Plaza is a top place to go for your West Hollywood shopping experience.
2. THE ART
Opened in 2018, Maddox Gallery Los Angeles is situated in West Hollywood’s fashionable Design District. The vibrant art scene in Los Angeles’ Design District was the perfect setting for our first gallery stateside, which has quickly become a leading destination for modern and contemporary art lovers and collectors.
Maddox Gallery Los Angeles in West Hollywood, California
With more than 3,000 square feet of space and striking vaulted ceilings, the gallery’s generous size is the perfect showcase for large-scale artworks by trailblazing new voices alongside some of the most respected names in the world of art. Maddox Gallery Los Angeles has hosted exhibitions by both established and emerging artists, alongside collective bodies of work by internationally renowned contemporary artists, including Damien Hirst, Banksy, David Yarrow and RETNA.
Street art in West Hollywood’s Design District is equally impressive as inspiring. Throughout the neighborhood, blank walls become striking canvases. West Hollywood installs temporary artworks for 6 months to 3 years. You’ll want snap a selfie with these gems.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
A seasonal, shared plates restaurant located in the heart of West Hollywood on famed and trendy Melrose Avenue, Ronan features local produce, responsibly raised proteins, and delicious Neapolitan pizza. With an array of craft cocktails and a curated, rotating selection of hand selected natural and biodynamic wines, they are perfectly shared with friends and conversation. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying The Narrator—sophisticated as it is discerning, Ronan’s house martini is concocted with black pepper-infused gin, vodka, Cocchi Americano, and served with a grapefruit twist. Like a great book, this signature cocktail will delight your senses and leave you pondering, “What’s next?”
Ronan in West Hollywood, California
Ronan specializes in simple, yet bold dishes, combining ingredients sourced locally. Favorite dishes include Margherita Pizza Sub Burrata with San Marzano tomatoes, local burrata, basil, and pecorino, Señor Carrots with spiced yogurt, honeycomb and coriander, Crispy Chicken with olive pistachio pesto, fennel pollen, purslane, and mint, Sea Bass with summer panzanella—as well as Ode to Phillipe (French Dip Calzone) with rare roast beef, onion jus and hot mustard.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as house-made Gold Medal Ribbon Ice Cream, available in chocolate and vanilla, with a caramel swirl. You might even spot a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
The 6+ acre Virgina Robinson Gardens was developed over a period of 66 years. Many of the plant varieties were sourced by a professional botanist. More plant species can grow outdoors on the estate than anywhere else in the continental United States, much like most of the Los Angeles basin. Each theme garden offers a plant palette that can satisfy even the most discerning gardeners’ curiosity. The Front Meadow is planted with herbaceous California native plants, while the Great Lawn and Dry Border towers with Italian Cypress trees and a mixed herbaceous border with plants from all five Mediterranean regions of the world. The Display Rose Garden is glorious most times of the year, with hundreds of heritage roses in bloom, including the rare Eiffel Tower rose.
The Italian Terrace Garden at Virgina Robinson Gardens is laid out in a Neoclassical Italianate style. Various terraces and entertaining water features highlight this garden, dominated by Southern Magnolia, a grove of persimmons, and historic specimen trees, such as the largest Coral tree in California, a female Ginkgo, and a majestic Deodar cedar. The King Palm Forest is presumed to be the largest stand of King Palms outside of Queensland, Australia. 1,000 palm trees tower over you through a network of pathways on the forest floor. The space is cool and rejuvenating while affording views to the wildlife pond and waterfall.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
The MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Los Angeles is a contemporary, experimental, multi-disciplinary center for art and architecture housed in three architectural landmarks by the Austrian-American architect Rudolph M. Schindler. The 1922 Schindler House is a masterpiece. Incorporating both architectural and social theory, it unfolds formally, spatially and intellectually with a coherence unparalleled in early modern architecture.
The Schindler House in West Hollywood, California
The home, in which no two spaces are alike, while at the same time seamlessly integrating indoors and out, created “A Real California Scheme.” It was the shared vision of Schindler and his wife Pauline. The Schindler House became an architectural laboratory: it is the birthplace of the Southern California modernism we celebrate today.
The Fitzpatrick-Leland House in Los Angeles, California
Built in 1936, the mid-century Fitzpatrick-Leland House commands a strong presence along the slope of Laurel Canyon and Mulholland Drive, as the three-story terraced scheme captures the eye. The dramatic L-shaped home is filled with light-filled spaces and is a legacy as a historically significant work of architecture.
WHERE TO STAY IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Ideally located at the crossroads of Beverly Hills and central Los Angeles, The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills offers a tranquil urban oasis that epitomizes modern luxury for the most discerning guests. The award-winning hotel offers sumptuous suites which include oversized bathrooms with walk in showers, deep soaking bathtubs, and private balconies. Enjoy the expansive rooftop pool, private cabanas and unforgettable views of Los Angeles.
