This was published 2 years ago
West Hollywood, Los Angeles, travel guide and things to do: Nine highlights
The Pendry is one of West Hollywood's best hotels.
THE ONE HOTEL
If you're going to stay in West Hollywood there's some criteria to consider. Your hotel must have a roof-top pool, and a roof-top pool bar – The Pendry on Sunset Boulevard has both, and a Wolfgang Puck restaurant right beside it. There's free guitar hire and say the code word and a barman will spike your welcome drink. Set right on the Sunset Strip, expect your fellow guests to have some serious star power. See pendry.com/west-hollywood
THE ONE RESTAURANT
Since the 1960s, famed Italian restaurants like Dan Tanas were where the stars gathered. But it's 2022, now they prefer variations on the norm, like the first 100 per cent plant-based Italian restaurant in the US, Pura Vita. Set on Santa Monica Boulevard, this is the place to come for guilt-free cuisine set in a restaurant that looks more New York wine bar. Try the Black Magic Lasagne.
THE ONE GYM
The Dog Pound might just be the world's hippest gym with a client list of Hugh Jackman, Christy Turlington and Justin Bieber. You'll find protein shakes on arrival, and a boxing ring in the middle of its chic industrial space, so it has the street cred (though you really should have tatts to work out here) mixed with Kardashian star power. Getting fit should be the motivation, but it's the people-watching that'll blow you away.
See thedogpound.com
THE ONE SPA TREATMENT
Want a facelift, but not up for surgery? Then FaceGym is the treatment for you. A therapist will work out the 40 muscles of your face to tone, tighten and sculpt your facial muscles in 40 minutes. The treatment stimulates blood circulation and drains your lymphatic system so you'll look younger for at least 10 days. Guaranteed.
See facegym.com
THE ONE TOUR
The best way to see all of LA in a day is on a bike. Don't worry about LA's intense traffic - get out on an E-bike for a 51.5 kilometre tour that sets off from West Hollywood and takes you into Beverly Hills, past stars like Beyonce in their lavish Bel-Air mansions and out to the beach – cruising through Santa Monica and Venice Beach before returning via the little-known LA River.
THE ONE CAFE
Whoever said America can't brew good coffee never went to The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker on Sunset Boulevard. Here you'll find California's best lattes. Sit in the sun within a courtyard beneath the famous billboards of the Sunset Strip and soak in the vibe with an all-day brunch – don't miss the breakfast burrito with chicken-apple sausage, which comes with kale (of course, this is LA).
See bbcmcafe.com
THE ONE ROOFTOP BAR
West Hollywood is home to LA's best roof-top bars, and the hippest of them is the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel. Stare at LA's best views perched above a pool where LA's hottest bods are on display, then stick around till the sun sets and world-class DJs turn this into one of LA's best night spots, wall-to-wall with celebs.
See sbe.com
THE ONE WALK
West Hollywood is one of LA's only genuine pedestrian destinations – leave the rental car and bring your trainers. Everything is accessible because West Hollywood is only 4.9 square kilometres in size. For extra hiking points, walk 25 minutes north and take the 4.3 kilometre loop trail at Runyon Canyon Park for amazing views over the Hollywood sign.
See laparks.org
ONE MORE THING
West Hollywood is home to one of LA's most vibrant neighbourhoods and 40 per cent of its population identify as LGBTQ. It also offers the most active bar scene in California most are set on Santa Monica Boulevard and all are within walking distance.
Craig Tansley was a guest of West Hollywood Tourism.
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