The most famous shopping street in Los Angeles is Rodeo Drive, off Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Those without hefty bank balances can still go window-shopping at jewellery stores like Harry Winston and Tiffany’s or the flagship stores of all the designer names, from Gucci to Tommy Hilfiger. At the end of Rodeo Drive are larger department stores, such as Barney’s and Saks.

Not far away is the Beverly Center, a favourite shopping mall of the stars, and Century City Shopping Center, an outdoor shopping plaza; both with branches of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as speciality shops.

For eight blocks from Coldwater Canyon to Laurel Canyon, in Studio City, Ventura Boulevard offers the celebrities’ favourite shopping. They have been spotted in the smart shops, which include home decorating shops, exclusive designer boutiques and trendier younger designers, some high street clothes shops. Prominent shops include the Indian Art Center, which has been selling Native American arts and crafts for almost 40 years and was one of the first places to do so; also The Big Easy is the place for cigar smokers. Ventura Boulevard also has many trendy restaurants.

Next to the famous Farmers Market, Third and Fairfax Streets, is The Grove. During the day, the upscale centre, with fashionable boutiques and department stores like Barney’s and Nordstrom, is filled with tourists, but in the evening it has been known to close to accommodate the famous.

Westwood Village, adjacent to the UCLA campus, is easier on the wallet and has a range of inexpensive shops. Melrose Avenue, between Highland Avenue and Doheny Drive, is lined with 20th-century antique shops and trendy fashion boutiques like Red Balls (featured in the opening credits of the TV show Melrose Place). La Brea Avenue, off Melrose Avenue, has more hip boutiques and vintage clothing stores, including the huge American Rag.

The Silver Lake area, on the border of Los Feliz and Hollywood (Vermont Avenue and Sunset Boulevard), is dubbed the ‘Soho of LA’. It has stalls and boutiques selling stylish vintage and retro clothing.

Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade is a pedestrianised mall that runs for several blocks and is lined with shops and outdoor cafes. At one end is Santa Monica Place, an indoor mall with department stores and boutiques. You can find chic shopping nearby on Montana Avenue, between Seventh and 17th Streets.

Downtown has various shopping complexes and gallerias, including the highly recommended Grand Central Market on South Broadway, offering a cornucopia of fresh foods, fruits and vegetables. In the Jewelry District (Hill Street between West Fifth and West Seventh Streets), visitors can find good bargains, while the Fashion District is a real shopping experience (a 56-block mix of wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers selling merchandise at discounts). The Downtown Property Owners Association has maps detailing public transportation routes, the dates of sales and where to find designer merchandise.

The kitsch shops along Hollywood Boulevard are best for the inevitably tacky souvenirs. And the Hollywood & Highland Center not only houses the Kodak Theatre (the Academy Awards venue) but a host of shops including Virgin Megastore.

Shopping hours are generally 0900-1800 although malls close at 2100/2200. Sales tax of 8.25% is not reclaimable.

© 2006 Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd. Disclaimer

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