Best Shopping in Los Angeles
Shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA
Recently, I’ve had a bunch of inquires about the best places to shop in Los Angeles. Whether you’re planning a visit to this gorgeous city, or you’re an Angeleno that wants to explore, here’s my list of the best shopping in L.A.!
RODEO DRIVE
Los Angeles’ most famous shopping area, and for good reason. All the upscale designer boutiques are located on this one stretch of palm-lined pavement. Running from Wilshire Blvd to Santa Monica Blvd, here’s where Chanel, Versace, Saint Laurent and the like reside, as well as a rush of tourists. You might catch a B-list celebrity, influencer, or stylist walking along the sidewalks hands full of shopping bags, but otherwise it is pretty similar to every other upscale shopping district in any other city. It’s worth a stroll and a photo, and if you like to shop, all the major designers are here, plus Saks and Neimans. The side streets hold less pricey name brand stores like COS and Intermix, plus a few smaller boutiques. 2 Rodeo has free 2 hour valet parking (enter on Dayton). Afterwards, you can visit the park along Santa Monica Blvd with a picturesque Beverly Hills sign, and you can also drive in the residential area between Santa Monica and Sunset and peer at some famous Beverly Hills houses.
BRENTWOOD COUNTRY MART • 225 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402
This is a small, unassuming shopping center in Brentwood, but if spotting a celebrity is your main objective, this might be your best bet because a ton of celebs live in the neighborhood. Plus, there are some really great shops here as well. Check out Goop (it’s actually really good) for Gwyneth Paltrow’s take on housewares and fashion, Broken English for a stunning selection of both modern and vintage jewelry, Capitol for a thoughtfully curated selection of chic designer pieces, and Doen for casual, feminine California dresses and tops. Farm Shop is an amazing restaurant to grab lunch (sit down and to-go options available), or chose a food stall and people watch at the picnic tables in the middle dining area. 10/10 outfit watching, too!
Shops along Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA
ABBOTT KINNEY
This street is a great place to start the day exploring Venice Beach. Start at Venice Blvd and walk towards the ocean, stopping along whichever shop grabs your interest. Here you’ll find: boho hippie clothing as well as a few well known brands like Vince and James Perse, cool shoes and sunglass stores, trendy homegoods, cannabis, lots of great restaurants, and a good look at the artsy vibe Venice is known for. While you’re in Venice, definitely try to squeeze in a stroll along the Venice Canals to admire the unique and quaint houses and gardens. There’s no shopping here, but it’s a worthwhile experience if you’re in the hood. You can continue your stroll along the Venice Beach boardwalk, where you’ll find artists selling their wares on tables or on the ground, street performers, and a plethora of interesting characters, all next to the wide sandy beach. Once you hit Venice Beach, you can walk, rent a bike or scooter and take the path all the way to Santa Monica!
MELROSE PLACE AND MELROSE AVE
Although this is basically the same street, these are two very different shopping experiences. Let’s start with the fancier one: Melrose Place. This is a short but very chic block of boutiques, think The Row, Balmain, and Isabel Marant, to name a few. It’s lined with big trees and nice storefronts, so it’s also a fashion influencer’s picture taking mecca. Around Melrose Place and walking along Melrose Ave you’ll find various other boutiques like The Real Real, Paul Smith (home of the pink wall, another famous outfit snapping spot), as well as lots of home furniture stores. Heading east on Melrose, you’ll run into Vivienne Westwood, Reformation, and the famous vintage stores Resurrection and Decades. Once you cross Fairfax, you’ll start to find less expensive, “sexier” boutiques, as well as lots of streetwear. American Vintage and Wasteland are both worth checking out for a cool collection of vintage (former) and designer second-hand (latter).
Fred Segal on Sunset Blvd
BEST SMALL BOUTIQUES
These stores are spread out over LA, but if you’re a die-hard shopper and eager to hit the best spots to score those hard to find designer pieces, these are your best bets:
FRED SEGAL: 8500 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 • Super trendy clothes, shoes and accessories for him, her, and home, with a focus on up-and-coming designers. I wanted to buy everything the last time I went in.
MAXFIELD: 8825 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069 • Iconic and super high-end. A special selection of all the rhinestones, feathers and just coolness in one place.
H LORENZO: 474 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048 • This location especially has a very avant garde selection.
MOHAWK GENERAL: 4011 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029 • Highly curated designer collection of designers sought-after by the fashion set.
DOVER STREET MARKET: 608 Imperial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021 • The best spot for streetwear and ultra-trendy picks.
SHOPPING MALLS
Not my first recommendations of places to shop, but LA does have a few standouts:
THE GROVE: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036 • Not for me, but it does contain the historic Farmer’s Market, a collection of food stalls and local fruits/veggies that people love.
WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067 • Eataly is here; plus, for a mall it’s outdoor and recently renovated, so it feels more like an island resort shopping experience.
THIRD STREET PROMENADE: 1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • All the stores near the beach, so definitely a tourist draw. It’s usually very crowded.
WHAT TO WEAR TO SHOP IN LA
If you’re visiting LA for the first time and are worried about what to wear to shop among the most stylish, don’t worry I’ve got you covered! First, don’t get too dressed up, people here love clothes and outfits, but it’s so sunny all the time a casual vibe makes the most sense. If you love the ease of a dress, opt for something in cotton or a breathable fabric, and voluminous. For seperates, I recommend a cool tank and oversized button down shirt over cropped wide leg pants or tailored shorts. You’ll need a comfortable shoe for all the walking and clothes trying on. I recommend a white sneaker for the utmost versatility, or a strappy sandal, Teva, or Birkenstock, all will pair well with a dress or separates. Don’t forget a hat and sunnies! A big fedora or a cute baseball hat will work. Of course, fashion folk are very specific, so here’s a selection of the above ideas to shop so you don’t go wrong:
