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West Hollywood is one of LA's most colorful and exciting neighborhoods to visit. Sandwiched between Beverly Hills and Hollywood, West Hollywood is home to much of LA's nightlife, club scene including the swanky clubs celebrities visit, trendiest restaurants and shopping and LA's world renown LGBT community. West Hollywood can be dissected into two parts. The Sunset Strip-a 2 mile strip on Sunset Blvd that is full of night clubs, shops and dining as well as lights and glitter and the LGBT area on Santa Monica Blvd between Doheny Drive and La Brea Blvd.

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SUNSET STRIP

The Sunset Strip is a legendary two mile section of Sunset Blvd that begins at Sunset and Doheny and curves through West Hollywood to Sunset and Fairfax. On weekend nights this strip comes to life with fancy cars, lights, glitter and glam. A long Hollywood history, the Sunset Strip has played host to the hangouts of such stars as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Today, all along the strip you can find people dressed to their best and sporting the latest fashions. On the busy weekends it is difficult to drive the strip. There is such an influx of visitors-the strip comes to a complete gridlock. On either side of the strip are a collage of night clubs that have hosted and conceived some of the biggest music acts ever. They include the Whiskey A Go Go, Rainbow Room and Key Club.

 

In addition there are many famous hotels along the strip, from the Standard Hotel which has an amazing poolside bar overlooking all of LA, Chateau Marmont to the Mondrian (also home of the famous Skybar) and Argyle (aka Sunset Tower) to name a few. Perhaps the most famous hotel along this stretch is the Hyatt-now known as the Andaz. This hotel has played host to a variety of rock stars and famous people from Led Zeppelin who rented as many as six floors of the hotel in the 1970s to Keith Richards dropping a TV out the window.

 

The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood offers a variety of fun and hip dining options. Saddle Ranch, right next door to the Andaz (formerly the Hyatt) is home to some serious BBQ. In the center dining room is a mechanical bull where every hour patrons take their turns to see if they have what it takes to not fall. Further to the east is Carneys where you can get a $3.00 hotdog and drink and dine inside of an old railway car! Also on the Strip is Ketchup, an All-American yet very LA/Hip venue and Mels Diner-featured in a variety of movies including American Graffiti.

 

Next to the Andaz is the world famous The Comedy Store. Opened in 1972, this has been one of the biggest hot spots in the world in which new comedy acts have been discovered. Johnny Carson was one of the first comedians to perform here as well as Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr and Rodney Dangerfield to name a few.

 

The Sunset Plaza area of the Sunset Strip is the location of many shopping opportunities. Stores range from high end boutiques to more budget-but still hip outlets like H&M. This strip along with the shops has many dining options, which during the day play host to a variety of outdoor seating options. It is here you can choose from Italian to fine Chinese and enjoy the scene as Porches, BMWs, Ferraris and Mercedes cruise the strip along with predominantly LA locals walking the sidewalks in search for that perfect outfit.

 

The Sunset Strip comes most to life in evenings after 9pm, with neon lights, flashy billboards and gridlock traffic. The police patrol this area very heavily so use caution when driving through the area-in particular on weekend nights.

 

Santa Monica Blvd

Santa Monica is the other prominent strip that runs parallel with Sunset Blvd. through the heart of West Hollywood. It is on Santa Monica Blvd that visitors will encounter one of the most high profile gay and lesbian districts in the world. The LGBT area of West Hollywood begins at Doheny Drive and extends to about Fairfax. The area is unmistakable with its rainbow flags planted in the center divides and many bars and clubs that line the strip that usually have all men sitting out or dancing inside. Click Here for the complete LA LGBT Guide.

 

For complete map and guide to West Hollywood hotels and hotels on Sunset strip, Click Here.

 

PARKING

Parking is notoriously tough on the Sunset Strip. Unfortunately there are only two options, both are going to run you about 10 to 15 bucks. They are either Valet or find a lot that charges to park, again about 15 dollars. There are meters along the strip but finding a spot that is open is virtually impossible. In addition, the traffic is so grid locked in the region that there is often not time, nor room to successfully navigate a good parallel parking routine. Do not park on any of the side streets. Out of all of LA, West Hollywood by far is the most heavily regulated by parking zones. Every street that branches off of Sunset requires a permit, and you can be towed if not heavily fined by not adhering to these zones.

 

GETTING TO WEST HOLLYWOOD

FROM LAX: Take La Cienega Blvd north (make left off of Century Blvd) and follow about 14 miles all the way up to Santa Monica Blvd.

FROM BEVERLY HILLS/SANTA MONICA/WESTSDIE: Take Santa Monica Blvd east from any of these areas. To get to Sunset Strip, make a left of Doheny Drive.

FROM HOLLYWOOD: Take either Sunset Blvd, Melrose or Santa Monica Blvd west.

FROM SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Take Laurel Canyon Blvd from Ventura Blvd in Studio City over the hill. Make a right at Sunset Blvd.