A carnival atmosphere reigns on this popular pedestrian-only strip (see Third Street Promenade), especially during the summer months. Upscale chains such as Club Monaco and Anthropologie dominate, with a few bookstores and old-timers including the Puzzle Zoo toy store thrown in.
Between 7th & 17th Sts, Santa Monica
You’re likely to bump into celebrities in the upscale boutiques on Montana Avenue. It’s fun peeking at the clothes, home furnishings, beauty products, and exercise gear favored by fashionistas.
Once an ancient crumbling historic district, Old Town Pasadena was given a makeover in the 1990s. Today, Colorado Boulevard and its side streets offer pleasant shopping in mostly mid-priced chains and specialty stores.
A stroll along this fabled Los Angeles shopping street is a must. All the big names in haute couture have staked out their turf on Rodeo, including Ralph Lauren, Armani, Balenciaga, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, and Versace. For better prices, walk just two blocks east to Beverly Drive.
Between 3rd St & Beverly Blvd
Price tags are steep at the boutiques on this ultracool two-block stretch, but you may be browsing next to celebrities such as Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Aniston. Part of the mix are cutting-edge LA designers.
Tattooed 20-somethings buy vintage clothing, clubwear, and jewelry in stores between La Brea Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. West of Fairfax is a designer enclave and the Pacific Design Center is more about trendy home furnishings.
A laid-back yet sophisticated string of one-of-a-kind boutiques (with the odd chain store thrown in), Main Street makes for a fun shopping experience with plenty of cafés for people-watching. On Sundays, catch the farmers' market.
Between Venice Blvd & Main St
The pint-sized stores here teem with character, not to mention characters. This is Venice, after all: laid-back, hip, and plenty artistic. Fans of 1950s furniture, New Agers in search of aura-enhancing elixirs, and gift shoppers will find all that they want.
Between Olympic Blvd & 12th St, Downtown
Bargain hunters will love this pedestrian-only lane, the busiest in the Fashion District and the center of LA’s garment industry. In a setting reminiscent of an old bazaar, vendors hawk cut-rate clothing, accessories, and luggage. Alas, fakes are not uncommon, so beware.
Between La Cienega Blvd & Fairfax Ave, W Hollywood
Between the Beverly Center and the Original Farmers Market, this shopping strip is a mile-long and is one of the hippest in LA. The bounty ranges from gift stores such as New Stone Age to local LA-made fashions at Maison Nathalie Boutique.
310-394-5451
Frank Gehry-designed mall with great food courts.
310-854-0070
Upscale retail assortment within a fortress-like facade.
323-900-8000
Outdoor mall with mock streetscape and fountains (see The Grove at Farmers Market).
818-240-9481
Dedicated mall-crawlers will love the 250 mostly mid-priced stores.
1-800-782-8888
Over 250 boutiques have made this mall – one of the largest in the US – an international shopping destination.
310-553-5300
Elegant shopping area with boutiques and valet parking.
626-795-8891
Trendy Pasadena “urban village” with 50 stores, a movie theater, new Hyatt hotel and condos.
323-467-6412
Choose between 70 stores and 25 restaurants beneath the Hollywood Sign at this outdoor mall in Tinseltown.
818-783-0550
Indoor mall that prides itself on outstanding service.
213-955-7150
Fun architecture, great food, and a colorful farmers’ market on Thursdays.
3.149.255.162