LA Star Spotting
From:
Jill Daniel
89 days 10 hours 35 minutes ago
People often come to L.A. for two good reasons: to be a star or spot one. We can’t help you with the former, but we can tell you where to go to envision being far more than a wannabe.--Jill Daniel
1. The Peninsula Hotel
9882 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
310-551-2888
L.A. celebrities love taking meetings and going to parties at The Peninsula—and the out-of-town celebs make this a #1 choice for overnights. In the heart of Beverly Hills at Little Santa Monica and Wishire Boulevards, you might spot Kim Cattrall, Richard Lewis, Sting, or Mercedes Ruehl. Regardless, we can practically guarantee that if you linger long enough you won't leave the Peninsula without recognizing someone famous. Our best star-spotting tip: Have afternoon tea (you can get way spending less than $50) which is right off the lobby enabling you to see who comes in and who goes out. Or dine at the rooftop pool garden (see above). Reservations are a must.
pool cabana dining
2. A Votre Sante13016 San Vicente Blvd At 26th St., Brentwood
310-451-1813
This Brentwood Healthy Eatery attracts star couples Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgeon, and other health-conscious L.A. celebs who like the many vegetarian and vegan menu options. While you’re checking out the star scenery, don’t miss their delectable turkey Bolognese pasta or the veggie burger with grilled onions and tahini dressing.
3. Montana AvenueBetween 7th and 17th Streets, Santa Monica
The retail stretch of Montana Avenue is the shopping mecca for celebs in Santa Monica. Supermodel Amber Valletta, Brooke Shields, Barry Manilow, Tea Leoni, and others can be seen strolling, laden with purchases, from one great boutique to the next. Spend the day and you just might try on shoes next to Kyra Sedgwick at the II Primo Passo, where stars play footsies with their shoe fetishes. Or you could have a latte with Gwyneth at Café Luxxe.
4. City Bakery in Brentwood
Hidden in The Brentwood Country Mart, at 26th and San Vicente, Brentwood
310-656-3040
Want to know where girlfriends Laura Dern and Meg Ryan meet for breakfast? This is the spot--and the place for a good, down-to-earth celebrity chat, morning to night. The simple, gourmet eatery, an off-shoot of the NYC location, offers gourmet-to-go and simple, order-at-the-counter, take-your-table-number, and pick your seating first-come, first-serve. Appealing to the lowkey celebs who like high-style for their discriminating palates, some celebrity favorite munchies include the pretzel croissants and burrata omelette.
5. Urth Caffe
8565 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood
310-659-0628
Paris Hilton, Cameron Diaz, Anthony Hopkins, and others stop here for coffee (it's organically grown and addictive) and first-rate salads and sandwiches. The best times to star spot are mornings and midafternoon.
6) BOA Steakhouse
In the Grafton Hotel, 8462 West sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
323-650-8383
This A-lister surf-and-turf restaurant in West Hollywod's Grafton Hotel lets you rub tables with such star carnivores as Jodie Foster, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, and Hillary Duff. Its sister Santa Monica location is known as popular hangout spot for David Arquette, Gisele, and Whoopi Goldberg.
7. The Ivy on Robertson
113 N. Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood
310-274-8303
The all-time greatest sure thing for celebrity sightings, this West Hollywood restaurant designed to look like a country cottag has hosted Former President Bill Clinton, Bianca Jagger, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta, and other head-turners. Resident paperazzi who hang out just beyond the patio dining's picket-fence promise that anyone ready for their closeup will get it here. No wonder The Ivy is a regular backdrop for tabloid tell-alls. Reservations are essential.
8. Whist at The Viceroy Hotel1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
310-260-7511
Drop by for this hotel's Taste of Tuesdays, a poolside small plates offering in cushy cabanas throughout the summer, to spot regulars such as Carson Daily, Avril Lavigne, Frankie Muniez, Robert Downey Jr., Matt LeBlanc, Elizabeth Shue, Dennis Quaid, and Jason Schwartzman.
9. Blue on Blue at The Avalon Hotel
9400 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills
310-277-5221
Another favorite for dining poolside with the stars is Blue on Blue’s restaurant at the Avalon Hotel. A chic boutique accommodation that many tourists never discover, it's been frequented by Christina Ricci, Ryan Phillipe, Eric McCormack, Seth Green, Cheryl Hines, Kimora Lee Simons, and Rick Fox. There are equally tasty sightings on the plates since there's “Bistro Burger” night; a detox-retox Sunday afternoon menu featuring hangover cures, healthful smoothies, and spa-style beverages; and the ever-popular “kick the blues” weekday happy hour from 4pm to 7pm.
10. Real Food Daily
414 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood
310-289-9910
This organic, vegan restaurant puts the hip in what could’ve been considered a hippie establishment were it not for its primo locations, modern décor, and stellar menu items. On La Cienega Boulevard, and in Santa Monica, the 3-for-3 establishment brings in fans of Madonna, and Ellen Degeneres and Portia. Try the French Country Garden salad of Roasted baby beets, sauteed squash, cucumber, radish, tofu cheese croquettes, spinach, arugula, and herb flax oil dressing.
