West Hollywood (aka WeHo) is home to some of America’s most legendary destinations, with an unapparelled historical link to music, movies, architecture, design, fashion and culture. It also has restaurants, bars and clubs that attract the who’s who the world over, both for cutting edge cuisine and cocktails, and oh-so-cool surrounds.
And there’s never been a better time to visit, with the extremely walkable neighbourhood celebrating 40 years in 2024, and its legendary West Hollywood Design District turning 75. “For me, this is the hub to shop and to find new things. Everything is the latest, the greatest for high-end furniture, design, fabrics – anything you need. I design hotels around the world … but I always come back to West Hollywood,” says interior designer and WeHo local Gulla Jónsdóttir. Here’s where to get your fix when visiting this inspirational creative Los Angeles hub.
Culture and architecture in West Hollywood
Austrian-born American architect R.M. Schindler took LA by storm in the early- to mid-20th century, creating Modernist buildings that now define much of the city. Visit the MAK Center for Art and Architecture at Schindler House to explore three of R.M.’s landmarks, today home to a contemporary, experimental, multidisciplinary space dedicated to art and architecture.
Designed and built in 1927 by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, and restored by his grandson, Eric Wright, the iconic Lloyd Wright Studio and Residence is characterised by stucco frames and elaborate concrete blocks, as well as an interlocking design of stylised Joshua trees. Built in 1927, it served as both Lloyd’s personal studio and residence while he opened an office in LA.
Photography fans will not want to miss the Leica Gallery, a shrine to not only the German camera company, but also the world’s best snappers. Or stop at M+B Gallery for a contemporary art fix, where a rotating roster of up-and-coming talent is always inspiring.
Related: Walk this tour to discover architectural gems in West Hollywood –Walkable West Hollywood
West Hollywood’s design of the times
The West Hollywood Design District is a mecca for those with a finger on LA’s creative pulse, featuring more than 250 showrooms, shops, galleries, salons, restaurants and cafés.
From high-calibre interior design and cutting-edge couture to haute cuisine, trends start here. When it comes to furniture, expect stores from the likes of Baxter, Blu Dot, Boffi, Cosentino, Design Within Reach, Flexform, Knoll, Molteni&C, Poliform and Hästens, among so many others. Fashionistas, meanwhile, will want to make a beeline to Acne Studios, The RealReal and the ultimate in concept stores, Maxfield – where luxury and avant-garde fashion is presented in an eclectic mix alongside rare art and furniture.
Also in the Design District is the iconic Pacific Design Center, housing more than 70 showrooms dedicated to the very best in interior furnishings. You don’t even need to step inside this architectural gem to appreciate its significance – designed by Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke & Partners, the structure features a series of audacious buildings coloured in eye-popping shades of red, blue and green.
Eat and drink in West Hollywood
For a bird’s eye view of WeHo, make your way to E.P. and L.P. Rooftop and Restaurant, a glamorous aerie replete with al fresco firepits and stunning views over the Hollywood Hills. In summer, there’s a pop-up alfresco cinema under the stars. V Wine Room is named after the distinctive shape of its bar, housed in a historic building that was once Charlie Chaplin’s studio.
Tesse Restaurant may specialise in upscale French cuisine, but its design, courtesy of Preen, is inspired by California’s natural surrounds. The dining room is sleek and modern, with a striking teak bar, tan leather banquettes, patterned tile accents and a floating cork ceiling. Soulmate also takes inspiration from Mother Nature, with a colour palette that’s all dusty green and mustard yellow, and one of the most eyecatching wooden whale-bone structures we’ve seen holding up the ceiling. The food, meanwhile, is focused on southern Cali’s seasons.
Stay in style with West Hollywood
With 20 hotels available to consider in West Hollywood, there are few WeHo locations more covetable than Sunset Boulevard. It’s here – at the base of the Hollywood Hills and with sweeping views across downtown LA all the way to Santa Monica – that you’ll find 1 Hotel West Hollywood. This property was designed with sustainability in mind, featuring ethereal furnishings crafted from reclaimed Californian timber and the living ‘green walls’ and solar systems.
Meanwhile, high-design – think sculptural walls, dramatic feather chandeliers and bespoke furniture – unites with style at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel, a luxe destination within the Design District.
Visit West Hollywood
visitwesthollywood.com