If anywhere needs an area guide, it’s Los Angeles. LA county famously has 88 cities within it – which means there’s no one ‘must-visit’ area. Travel writer Mark Ellwood zooms in on the best neighbourhoods in the city.
Beverly Hills
Welcome to LA’s swankiest district, characterised by upscale boutiques, infamous hotels and that exclusive 90210 postcode.
Stay
First opened in 1955 by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, The Beverly Hilton was destined to be a celebrity hotspot from the outset, with regular visitors including Elizabeth Taylor. It’s also hosted the glitzy Golden Globe Awards for more than five decades at its famous International Ballroom. Enjoy the star treatment at one of the hotel’s nearly 600 rooms and be sure to relax and refresh at the renowned Aqua Star Pool, Beverly Hill’s largest.
Snap a selfie with Robert Graham’s Torso sculpture – the area’s unofficial mascot – you’ll find it on the intersection by cobblestoned Via Rodeo
Eat
Head to the original Spago, the first outpost in celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s sprawling empire and a Michelin-starred temple to the modern Californian cuisine which Puck helped shape – see how by sampling one of his signature smoked salmon and crème fraîche thin-crust pizzas. Chef Scott Howard’s new Citizen is a refreshingly relaxed alternative to its somewhat stuffier neighbours around this part of town. Dawdle on the patio over crispy jidori chicken and raw oysters, or sidle up to the bar pick your favourite from mixologist Josh Goldman’s impressive, tiki-heavy cocktail list.