Where to shop in L.A.
A city guide on the best shopping, eating, and places to hangout at in Los Angeles.
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Welcome back to the SNL City Guide series, where I curate the best shopping, eating, and hanging out experiences all in one place. In today’s guide, we’re going to the west side to explore the hidden gems and must visit spots of Los Angeles.
I’m big on driving with the windows down, listening to music, all while doing random side quests throughout the day. It can be as simple as starting the day with a coffee from the local hot spot to get a pulse check on what the culture is radiating at the moment, swinging by my favorite shops, stopping by along the way to say hi to a couple of friends, and ending the night with a meal at some new spot someone recommended.
That’s the beauty of L.A., it’s the perfect place to cosplay slow living. The city is massive, with hidden gems spread all across the city. Having a car when you visit is essential—because nobody wants to end up with a hundreds of dollars in Uber bills. People say that traffic is always bad, and I don’t necessarily think that’s true. If you’re someone who enjoys driving around, then you will not find this to be as a major inconvenience as many might say.
Alternatively, you can minimize your need to travel far distances if you position yourself in the right neighborhoods. My favs are: Larchmont, Silver Lake, and Echo Park… classic. If you’re looking to cover some serious distance on your trip, Larchmont is probably one of the best positioned places you can stay in. Here you’re equally distanced to West Hollywood or the Arts District—both great areas for solid shopping and eating.
These are just some basic suggestions. The beauty of LA is there’s always something going on somewhere. So get lost and figure out your areas as you explore through the city.
Below you’ll find my full guide to Los Angeles. It features the clothing shops I visit when I’m in town, bookstores—I’ll be sharing one of my favorite bookstores in the world that you have to go to—food and drink spots, and some stuff in between that’s worth the experience.
Here’s a quick round-up of some of my must go to spots, with a full list that you can sync directly to your Google Maps at the bottom of this letter.
DOUBLE RL
Nothing like a Ralph Lauren experience to start your trip right. There’s something about shopping at the Double RL location in Melrose that gives me that California vibe that I’m looking for everytime I’m in town.
What used to be a former mechanic’s garage is now Ralph’s world.
No but for real, what’s amazing about a Ralph in-store experience is the ability to get lost in the merchandising. Organized chaos makes you dig and look around the corners of the store to discover clothes that are tucked away in corners not displayed anywhere else in the store.
Located at 8150 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles.
La Brea is a great spot for some classic streetwear stores and cafes that are all on the same block:
Stussy - 112 S La Brea Ave
Metalwood Studios - 128 S La Brea Ave
Union - 110 S La Brea Ave
Stone Island - 101 N La Brea Ave
Neighborhood Cafe - 133 S La Brea Ave
Carhartt WIP - 136 S La Brea Ave
Y3 Concept Store - 138 S La Brea Ave
ARCHITECTURE BOOKS
Listen, I know your girl has probably seen Community Goods and now wants to go see what the hype is all about. The truth is, I haven’t been by there without seeing a lineup of what feels like hundreds of people waiting to get their latte. I know you’re not interested in waiting, and neither am I, so go across the street and enjoy some small bites and coffee while browsing an archive selection of art and photo books over at Architecture Books.
