Beverly Hills is located in California and surrounded by Los Angeles, also known as ‘The City of Angels’. It has, for the longest time, been home to celebrities, A-list movie stars, fashion designers, producers, and some of the wealthiest entrepreneurs around. The restaurants and shops cater to that clientele, so this is a great place to go if you’re looking for a first-class experience. It has some of the best theaters, hotels, and gardens anywhere. Wondering how best to spend your one day in Beverly Hills? Read on to find out!
Plan your trip to Beverly Hills
1. What’s the best time to visit Beverly Hills?
2. A few facts about Beverly Hills
3. One day in Beverly Hills itinerary
3.1. Start with a great breakfast
3.2. Next, go shopping
3.3. Take a trolley tour
3.4. Visit Cupcake ATM
3.5. Enjoy some great architecture
3.6. Soak up some culture on Museum Row
3.7. Visit actual tar pits
3.8. Have dinner at a famous restaurant
3.9. Experience nightlife on Sunset Strip
4. Where to stay in Beverly Hills, California
5. Day trips from Beverly Hills
6. Extra tips for visiting Beverly Hills
What’s the best time to visit Beverly Hills?
If you want the best possible weather, you should go either in the spring or the fall. However, if you’ll be spending a lot of time around Rodeo Drive and prefer it at its prettiest, Christmas is the time to go. On the same note, don’t go on Sunday if you’re planning to shop on Rodeo Drive, as all the shops will be closed. Also, if you’d rather not find Beverly Hills busy, don’t go during Pride Week in June, as West Hollywood can get really crowded around that time and the crowds have a tendency to spill over into Beverly Hills.
A few facts about Beverly Hills
The area that would become Beverly Hills was first discovered by Gaspar de Portola on the 3rd of August, 1769. He found it by traveling along natural trails that roughly follow the course of modern-day Wilshire Boulevard. The area was settled almost 60 years later, in 1828, by Maria Rita Quinteros de Valdez and her husband. They turned the 4500-acre property into a ranch where they grew lima beans and named it Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas.
Eventually, the prospectors digging for oil here found something else that would prove to be a far more valuable commodity in California: water. By 2013, the population of the town had grown to nearly 35,000. It became the home of actors, producers, fashion designers, and other prominent members of the Hollywood entertainment industry. Often referred to as “90210”, which is a reference to one of the zip codes in the area, Beverly Hills is host to Rodeo Drive, a shopping district with most of the world’s luxury brands, as well as other sights.
One day in Beverly Hills itinerary
Start with a great breakfast
Get your day started with breakfast at Polo Lounge if you are up to celebrity standards. Or you can enjoy a localized taste at either The Farm of Beverly Hills with localized American delicacies or enjoy an old-fashioned coffee shop style breakfast at Nate ‘n AI’s.
Next, go shopping
Go for shopping at Rodeo Drive. If money is not an issue, you can come out of here with great luxury brands. If it is, you can enjoy one of the best window shopping experiences you will ever have.
You can also visit Dayton Way, Brighton Way, Department Store Row, and Beverly Drive, just off Rodeo drive, where you will see great designer brands. There are also lots of shops in West Hollywood’s Design District.
Take a trolley tour
The Beverly Hills Trolley, located at Payton and Rodeo Drive is excellent if you want to take in as much of Beverly Hills as you can. The tour lasts 40 minutes and is quite informative and fun.
Visit Cupcake ATM
The Sprinkles Cupcake Bakery which works like a bank with an ATM is a great place to snack at as you continue your tour. This ATM isn’t dispensing cash, but fresh cupcakes all day, every day. The ATM stands two blocks west of Rodeo Drive, at 9635 S Santa Monica Boulevard.
Enjoy some great architecture
After that, visit the West Hollywood which hosts the Pacific Design Center, and has a rather impressive exterior in red, green, and blue. There are also lots of contemporary shops specializing in furniture and design. These are excellent places to buy statement pieces for your interior. Note, however, that many of them only open Monday through Friday.
Soak up some culture on Museum Row
You can visit Museum Row between Fairfax and Curson, along Wilshire Boulevard as the afternoon wears on. Here you will find the Petersen Automotive Museum and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA.
Both are worth checking out. Petersen, in particular, is quite popular, and to more than just car nerds.
Visit actual tar pits
While in the area, you can also go to the Le Brea Tar Pits and check out Page Museum, which houses fossilized Ice Age animals, including dire wolves, woolly mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers. The actual tar pits are open to the public, and you will get an opportunity to see life sized sculptures of Ice Age animals whose skeletons were found there. You will even get to check out some of the excavation sites.
Have dinner at a famous restaurant
You can enjoy dinner later at any of Beverly Hills famous restaurants. Mr Chow offers great Chinese cuisine. You can also enjoy steak at Mastro’s or satisfy your seafood craving at Spago.
Experience nightlife on Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip has the Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, and lots and lots of nightclubs! Be careful, though, the hottest, most coveted spots can be very difficult to get into. In fact, the exclusivity of the most popular night clubs is matched only by how fast they go in and out of vogue.
Where to stay in Beverly Hills, California
Waldorf Astoria
9850 Wilshire Boulevard , Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA 90210
If you’re looking for luxury accommodation in Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria is really hard to beat. An amazing view from your balcony, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and even a hairdresser await you here. You’ll be pampered like there’s no tomorrow.
Plaza la Reina
10850 Lindbrook Drive, Westwood, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Plaza la Reina is not exactly in Beverly Hills, but since it’s in Westwood Village, it’s very close to it, so you don’t have to worry. Each room has a kitchen with all the equipment, safe and a coffee machine, plus there’s a great rooftop lounge for you to enjoy. Have fun!
Mayumi
5630 Sawtelle Boulevard, Culver City, Los Angeles, CA 90230
Need a budget-friendly hotel in Beverly Hills? Mayumi is just that and so much more! Comfortable beds, great breakfast, exceptionally clean rooms, friendly staff… You won’t regret booking a room in this lovely little hotel!
Hampton Inn and Suites
888 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, El Segundo, CA 90245
If you want a place close to the airport and Beverly Hills alike, Hampton Inn and Suites has got you covered! A coffee machine, hairdryer and free toiletries are there for your comfort, and you can even arrange an airport shuttle to pick you up or drop you off. Oh, and there’s an indoor pool here, too!
Day trips from Beverly Hills
Staying more than one day in Beverly Hills? You may want to explore the surrounding area, then. Here are the best options for a day trip!
Los Angeles
The most obvious choice has to be Los Angeles. If you have the time it’d really be a shame not to explore this great city. Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, downtown LA… There is so much to see and enjoy.
Malibu
Fancy a day at the beach? Get yourself a car and head to what is probably the most famous beach in the US. Then simply relax and enjoy the sun. This is vacation at its very finest.
Ojai
If you want to get away from the city and enjoy a bit of fresh air, Ojai is your ideal destination. Hiking trails, vineyards, spas, golf courses… everything you need to recharge your batteries is right here, in this lovely town.
Extra tips for visiting Beverly Hills
– Remember that shops on Rodeo Drive close on Sundays.
– 40% of Beverly Hills’ residents are gay, according to the West Hollywood Visitors’ Bureau. Not only is it the very home of Gay Pride, but also an opportunity for visitors to see how city inhabitants of different sexual orientations can thrive together.
– Driving in Beverly Hills is quite difficult, as traffic jams are many and crowded. It’s often faster to park your car someplace and just walk.
– Beverly Hills is quite friendly to pets, especially dogs. Many shops are even made just for shopping for your dog, and there are lots of parks and outdoor dining spots.
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Rod Stone
Rod Stone is a marketing consultant and a content writer at SuperiorPapers. He writes professional advice columns at various blogs. Rod also writes his guides and reviews with students and educators.