Innovative, individual West Hollywood is the birthplace of L.A.’s trends.

West Hollywood measures less than 2 square miles wedged between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, yet it's packed with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, clubs and theaters. The population celebrates ethnic and lifestyle diversity, combining hipsters, immigrants and senior citizens; it's accepting of virtually everyone. The city includes the legendary stretch of Sunset Boulevard called the Sunset Strip, chic Sunset Plaza, trendy Melrose Avenue and stylish Robertson Boulevard. Pacific Design Center anchors an area designated the Avenues of Arts and Design. Santa Monica Boulevard is one of the liveliest stretches of historic Route 66, thanks to its thriving gay community. The CityLine (25 cents, 800.447.2189) runs Mon.–Sat. along Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards.

Sunset Plaza
Upscale boutiques line Sunset Boulevard between La Cienega and San Vicente boulevards; find free parking behind the storefronts. Browse the collections at D&G, Calypso, frock star Leona Edmiston and at the three H. Lorenzo shops. A lively outdoor cafe scene includes Le Petit Four and Café Med. You'll find platinum pampering at Ole Henriksen and Jessica Nail Clinic.

Sunset Strip
When the sun goes down, the action is on Sunset Boulevard between Doheny Drive and Crescent Heights Avenue.

The Strip is historically the city's entertainment locus, with clubs such as the Roxy, Whisky a Go-Go and Rainbow Bar boasting performances by the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Bruce Springsteen. The Hyatt West Hollywood was famed for its rock clientele: Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Guns N' Roses bunked here. Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, John Wayne and Errol Flynn lived at the art deco landmark Sunset Tower Hotel, built in 1931. The mood at Tower Bar, an elegant restaurant and bar, fits right in at the historic hotel. A pianist in tails plays at the baby grand.

The party goes on. There's the dimly lit Viper Room and the Key Club's weekly tribute to '80s rock, Metal Skool. The faux ramshackle House of Blues books name acts and hosts a rafter-raising Sunday Gospel Brunch. Comedians including David Letterman and Robin Williams got their start at the Comedy Store. Glamorous Skybar at the Mondrian admits hotel guests automatically; also at the hotel is the restaurant Asia de Cuba. Bar Marmont, adjacent to Chateau Marmont, is dreamily chic.

Design District
The Pacific Design Center, at San Vicente Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, is at the center of the city's Avenues of Arts & Design; the district includes some 300 galleries and showrooms along Melrose Avenue and Beverly and Robertson boulevards. The center—itself distinctively designed—is a haven for interior designers and decorators offering upscale furnishings. It's also home to the cubiform MOCA Gallery (satellite of downtown's Museum of Contemporary Art) and Wolfgang Puck's new Design Cafe.

Melrose Avenue
If Europeans influence L.A. on Sunset Plaza, L.A. influences the world on Melrose Avenue. It's home base for the hip, where the trends begin.

Choices range from supercool consortium Fred Segal and upscale Maxfield to Wasteland for vintage wear and Adidas Originals for limited-edition sneaks. Diane Von Furstenburg and Paul Smith boutiques add to the panache.

Find some of L.A.'s best live comedy at the Improv and the Groundlings Theatre. Foodies head to Suzanne Goin's Lucques or Govind Armstrong's Table 8. The buzz is at Melrose Place, home to the Marc Jacobs and Marni boutiques.

There's more hip shopping around the corner on La Brea Avenue.

Robertson Boulevard
The sensibilities of Melrose Avenue and Rodeo Drive meet on Robertson Boulevard, where boutiques Madison, Lisa Kline and Kitson are as hip as they get. Beauty boutiques include Kalologie, Lola and Kiehl's.

Unwind at a number of upscale eateries and nightspots including Michel Richard, the Abbey and the Ivy, whose patio is a favorite with celebs.

3rd and Beverly
West 3rd Street and Beverly Boulevard are first-rate destinations for boutique shopping and upscale dining between Robertson Boulevard and The Grove.

The two streets bracket the multistory Beverly Center anchored by Bloomingdale's and Macy's. H&M and a California Welcome Center are on site.

A hip restaurant row on Beverly Boulevard includes Angelini Osteria and Grace; upscale boutiques include Beige and designer Eduardo Lucero's atelier.

Fashion-forward boutiques on West 3rd Street east of the Beverly Center include Scout L.A., Aero & Co. and Satine. The Flight 001 and Zipper shops—and kitschy El Carmen bar—add to the street's colorful character.

Foodies head to Joan's on 3rd and Cook's Library, and dinner meccas A.O.C. and Ortolan.

Farmers Market/The Grove
Historic Farmers Market offers some 100 open-air produce stalls, shops and restaurants at Fairfax Avenue and 3rd Street. There are plenty of nooks in which to while away an afternoon, including a crèperie, a wine bar and a shop specializing in hot sauces. It's hugely popular among locals.

The Grove, a retail-dining-entertainment center inspired by a grand old downtown, features stained-glass street lamps and a trolley, a popular multiplex movie theater and retailers including American Girl Place, Nordstrom, Michael Kors and Marciano. Rising stars and starlets are often spotted on weekends. Annually, The Grove tallies more visitors than Disneyland!

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