Home to a plethora of luxury boutiques, galleries, restaurants and hotels, West Hollywood is the ultimate place to see and be seen. Perfectly positioned in the most walkable part of Los Angeles, this is the ultimate destination to shoulders with the beautiful people while exploring California’s most fashion-forward neighbourhood.
In partnership with West Hollywood Travel + Toursim Board
West Hollywood (aka WeHo) is home to some of America’s most legendary destinations. From the ‘rainbow crosswalk’ to the Sunset Strip, The Abbey to The Roxy Theatre, the Los Angeles neighbourhood boasts an unapparelled historical link to music, movies, architecture, design, fashion and culture.
It also has restaurants, bars and clubs that attract the who’s who the world over, both for cutting edge cuisine and cocktails, and oh-so-cool surrounds.
And there’s never been a better time to visit, with the extremely walkable district – not something LA is generally known for – celebrating 40 years in 2024. More than that, its legendary West Hollywood Design District is turning 75.
But don’t take our word for it. “For me, this is the hub to shop and to find new things,” says interior designer and WeHo local, Gulla Jónsdóttir. “Everything is the latest, the greatest for high-end furniture, design, fabrics – anything you need. I design hotels around the world … but I always come back to West Hollywood.”
PDC with DTLA Background
Culture and architecture in West Hollywood
Austrian-born American architect R.M. Schindler took LA by storm in the early- to mid-20th century, creating Modernist buildings that now define much of the city. Visit the MAK Center for Art and Architecture at Schindler House to explore three of R.M.’s landmarks, today home to a contemporary, experimental, multidisciplinary space dedicated to art and architecture. Pro tip: Download the digital guide prior to your visit to enjoy a self-guided tour.
The iconic Lloyd Wright Studio-Residence was designed and built in 1927 by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, and restored by his grandson, Eric Wright. Today, Frank’s organic architectural style is celebrated in a building characterised by stucco frames and elaborate concrete blocks; we love the interlocking design of stylised Joshua trees. The estate served as both Frank’s personal studio and residence while he opened an office in Los Angeles.
Photography fans will not want to miss the Leica Gallery, a shrine to not only the German camera company, but also the world’s best snappers. Drop in to browse eye-opening exhibitions. Or, stop at M+B Gallery for a contemporary art fix, where a rotating roster of up-and-coming talent is always inspiring. Artists on display range from Eliot Greenwald and Phil Chang to Kara Joslyn and Pat Phillips.
Poltrona Frau
West Hollywood Route 66 (left), Doheny (right)
West Hollywood’s Design District
The West Hollywood Design District is a mecca for those with a finger on LA’s creative pulse. Visit and you can explore more than 250 showrooms, shops, galleries, salons, restaurants and cafés. From high-calibre interior design and cutting-edge couture to haute cuisine, trends start here.
When it comes to furniture, expect stores from the likes of Baxter, Blu Dot, Boffi, Cosentino, Design Within Reach, Flexform, Knoll, Molteni&C, Poliform and Hästens, among so many others.
Fashionistas, meanwhile, will want to make a beeline to Acne Studios, The RealReal and the ultimate in concept stores, Maxfield. This is where luxury and avant-garde fashion is presented in an eclectic mix alongside rare art and furniture. Stop by to pick up exclusive pieces by Comme de Garcons, Givenchy, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Dries Van Noten and Moncler, among so many other upscale brands.
Also in the Design District is the iconic Pacific Design Center, housing more than 70 showrooms dedicated to the very best in interior furnishings. You don’t even need to step inside this architectural gem to appreciate its significance. The building was designed by Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke & Partners, and it features a series of dramatic buildings coloured in eye-popping shades of red, blue and green.
PDC Chair
Eat and drink in West Hollywood
For a bird’s eye view of WeHo, make your way to E.P. and L.P. Rooftop and Restaurant, a glamorous aerie replete with al fresco firepits and stunning views over the Hollywood Hills. In summer, there’s a pop-up cinema under the stars. Meanwhile, V Wine Room is named after the distinctive shape of its bar, housed in a historic building that was once Charlie Chaplin’s studio. You can order a wine or sake flight, with cheese and charcuterie on the side.
Tesse Restaurant may specialise in upscale French cuisine, but its design, courtesy of Preen, is inspired by California’s natural surrounds. The dining room is sleek and modern, with a striking teak bar, tan leather banquettes, patterned tile accents and a ‘floating’ cork ceiling. Settle in for a menu of deli snacks as well as inspired dishes like lobster sausages and bucatini with duck prosciutto.
Nearby, Soulmate also takes inspiration from Mother Nature, with a colour palette that’s all dusty green and mustard yellow. The interior also boasts one of the most eye-catching wooden whale-bone structures we’ve seen, holding up the ceiling. The food, meanwhile, is focused on southern Cali’s seasons. Order blue Caledonia shrimp on charred corn, perhaps. Or truffled flatbread with parmesan cream.
Sleep in style in West Hollywood
With 20 hotels available to consider in West Hollywood, there are few WeHo locations more covetable than Sunset Boulevard. It’s here – at the base of the Hollywood Hills and with sweeping views across downtown LA all the way to Santa Monica – that you’ll find 1 Hotel West Hollywood. This property was designed with sustainability in mind, featuring ethereal furnishings crafted from reclaimed Californian timber, living ‘green walls’ and solar systems.
Meanwhile, high-design – think sculptural walls, dramatic feather chandeliers and bespoke furniture – unites with style at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel, a luxe destination within the Design District. Perks include a courtyard pool, hosted evening social hour, custom-designed bikes to cycle around town and luxury Atelier Bloem amenities.
La Peer Hotel
Want more WeHo inspiration? Head to the Visit West Hollywood site visitwesthollywood.com