09 Sep 2019
HOTELS
- Luxe two-bedroom suites start at $1,250 USD per night
- Reservations can be made here
If you want to relive one of the most talked about movies of the past 12 months, look no further than L.A.'s famous Chateau Marmont where A Star is Born was filmed. In one memorable scene, Ally (Lady Gaga) gets ready for one of her rock shows in a luxurious suite at the iconic hotel. As she looks out of her window onto Sunset Boulevard, she is surprised to see her own face on a large-scale billboard.
If your budget doesn't allow you to stay at the Chateau, then you may prefer to go star spotting at their restaurant, a regular for some of L.A.'s most famous celebrities.
- Superior Guest Room starts at $539 USD per night
- Presidential Suite starts at $10,000 USD per night
- Reservations can be made here
The brainchild of Sam Nazarian, SLS Hotels has created a new paradigm in the luxury hotel experience that speaks to a global, sophisticated audience, and presents an alternative concept of luxury that revels in an unabashedly cheeky, modern spirit.
Located in Beverly Hills, the hotel offers service standards you would expect from a luxury hotel but with a serious injection of boutique style, creativity and fun. It boasts fantastical interiors by Philippe Starck and culinary arts from the imagination of Chef José Andrés. Once you experience it, you know.
Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown
- Club Intercontinental Suite starts at $819 USD per night
- Reservations can be made here
Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown is located in the Wilshire Grand building. Standing 73 stories tall in the core of Downtown's historic, entertainment, financial, arts, and sports districts, it is ideally placed at the heart of the revitalised, energy-charged urban centre of L.A. The hotel provides first-class hospitality that seamlessly intertwines with the fabric of the burgeoning Downtown area. Guests can also elevate their expectations with 360-degree breathtaking views of the legendary California sunset.
- Club Lounge Access, Junior Suite starts at $1059 USD per night
- Reservations can be made here
Immerse yourself in the glamour and sophistication of downtown Los Angeles from the moment you step inside this luxury hotel. Located at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles emanates the cinematographic luxury of a Hollywood film. Relax in airy guest rooms, see and be seen at the rooftop pool and sit down to dinner at WP24, the acclaimed restaurant with skyline views by Wolfgang Puck.
- Marilyn Monroe suite starts at $850 USD per night
- Reservations can be made here
Opened on May 15, 1927, The Hollywood Roosevelt has welcomed generations of VIPs, from legends of Hollywood's Golden Age to today's hottest stars. You're surrounded by Hollywood history throughout the hotel. The first Academy Awards were presented at a private dinner in the Blossom Ballroom; Clark Gable and Carole Lombard carried on their infamous affair in the penthouse; and Marilyn Monroe was staying in one of the vintage 1950s Cabanas at the time of her first professional magazine shoot, which took place at the hotel pool.
The 750 square-foot Marilyn Suite features a loft-style open floor plan and wrap-around balcony overlooking the Tropicana Pool. Gable & Lombard Penthouse is a 3,200 square-foot, three-level suite with a 1,200 square-foot outdoor deck that's tucked beneath the Roosevelt's iconic sign and boasts spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills and the iconic Hollywood Sign.
If you are lucky enough, book an appointment with tattooist to the stars, Dr. Woo, whose parlour titled 'Hideaway Suite' is situated in a pool-side parlour at the hotel. With a rumoured two-year wait-list, you can join his famous celebrity clientele list that includes: Miley Cyrus, Drake, Emilia Clarke, Cara Delevingne, Sarah Hyland and Frances Bean Curbain.
RESTAURANTS
- The menu ranges from $18 USD per dish, all the way up to $240 USD for their A5 blindly cut Wagyu steak
- Reservations can be made on the Yamashiro website
In a private location in the Hills, Yamashiro is an Asian Fusion restaurant that has a history spanning back decades. First completed in 1914 for the purpose of a private estate, Yamashiro was built to replicate a palace in China - which is no surprise when you see the garden that reportedly cost $2million alone to create. In 1920 the hotel was sold to become a '400 club', exclusive only to A-list celebrities. Today it is a famous location to film movies such as Memoirs of a Geisha, Blind Date, Playing God and Nocturnal Animals.
If experiencing a restaurant that has a history as wild as a Hollywood movie, Yamashiro is for you. The Asian Fusion restaurant features a sushi bar, robata grill and teppanyaki grill for those who want to have an interactive dining experience, or you can laze in the lounge and be waited on like a celebrity.
The Providence L.A
- Seating starts at approximately $225 USD PP
- Reservations can be made here
The Providence L.A. is a two-star Michelin-rated fine dining restaurant serving delicious gourmet seafood. If dining at a Michelin restaurant is on your bucket list, take it that next step and book the private Chef's table at The Providence. The private chef's table is a small glass dining room just for your table where you are situated in the kitchen, watching Michelin magic happen first hand. You will be able to interact with kitchen staff and get the chance to speak with Chef Michael Cimarusti when served each dish.
- Chef's Counter at Somni starts at $265 USD per head
- Somni x Geist Collab dinner starts at $495 UDS per head
- Reservations can be made here (all reservations are currently sold out)
Opened in 2018 and situated inside SLS Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection hotel, Somni, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, is dedicated to providing a truly exceptional dining experience. A 10-seat chef's counter faces a bespoke exhibition kitchen, where a team of 12 chefs creates an unparalleled 20-plus-course tasting menu right before guests' eyes. The restaurant is available for private events and bookings.
TRAVEL
- Ferrari Spider costs approximately $2,200 USD per day
- To look through the luxury cars and to book click here
Many visitors to L.A. associate the city with beach-side road-trips and getting around in Instagram-ready style. Those in the know including celebrities, professional athletes, royal families, local business owners and travellers across the globe - head to Black and White Car Rental. The licensed car rental provider offers standard, luxury, and exotic cars with 3 locations in the heart of Hollywood, LAX and Beverly Hills. Founded in 1994, they have been recognised for providing excellent customer service, competitive deals on standard cars, and for carrying the newest model luxury and exotic vehicles.
- Sun Coast yacht starts at $15,293 USD per charter
- Bookings can be made here
You'll cruise the Pacific like a mogul when you charter the Luxury Liners Sun Coast, a 145-foot yacht that can hold up to 12 guests and features two main salons, a huge bow that's perfect for partying or sunbathing, four staterooms, two indoor dining areas, three outdoor deck dining areas, multiple flat screen TVs, surround sound system, Jacuzzi, helipad, gym and more. To add to the experience, private chefs and bartenders are available to create custom food and drink menus. From its home harbour in Marina del Rey, the Sun Coast can be chartered to cruise within the bay or just outside the breakwater of Marina del Rey. She is also available to charter north towards Malibu or across to Catalina Island.
- Flights start at $249 USD and go up to $599 USD depending on the package
- Book helicopter flight here
Sit in a soaring lap of luxury during an exclusive two-hour helicopter tour with Orbic Air. Sip on champagne as you take in breath-taking aerial views of L.A.'s finest sights, from Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, and Dodger Stadium to Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Downtown L.A. skyline, and coastal enclaves like Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades. Feeling bold? Opt for one-on-one ground instruction and the chance to fly the helicopter during the tour. Land like a royal on a rooftop helipad overlooking the city or a mountaintop above Malibu's stunning beaches.
Interesting fact: up until 2014, L.A. had a law in place for four decades whereby high-rise buildings had to have a mandatory helicopter landing pad. This was abolished in 2014, however there are many still there, providing an interesting visual to see, and unique landing opportunities right in the heart of the city!
- Annual membership fee starts at $4,500 USD
- Membership options are here
The Private Suite is a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It typically takes 2,200 footsteps from car seat to plane seat. For members of The Private Suite, it's a mere 70 footsteps. Members of The Private Suite don't have to wait in crowded lines because private TSA screening is done in the building. The Private Suite team also handles ticketing and luggage. Members spend their pre-flight time in private suites, each with its own bathroom, food service pantry, a two-person daybed, and a runway view of aircraft landing and taking off. When it's time to board, Private Suite members are driven in a BMW 7 Series sedan across the tarmac, Head-of-State style, directly to their aircraft. And best of all, there's no annoying paparazzi around.
EXPERIENCES
- Contact The Whaling Club here
Like many celebrity parties, exclusive parties in L.A. are a common night out. For those who have this on their bucket list but aren't an A-lister, we've found an exclusive invite-only cocktail party that you (might) be able to go to. The Whaling Club is one of LA's most exclusive invite-only pop-up cocktail parties held monthly in the home of owner Dan Scott, GM of Son of a Gun (seafood restaurant in L.A.). To get on this exclusive invite-list is almost impossible unless you know someone. Each month, Dan serves his A-list guests with unique cocktails combined with ingredients that are (almost) impossible to even get in the US.
The Staples Centre Private Suite
- Private suites range between $2,500 - $6,000 USD depending on what game/concert is on and the desired package. You can book a private suite here
- Courtside seats start at $2,700 per game (price varies depending on teams playing)
The Staples Centre in L.A. is one of the most popular venues for basketball games where you can see A-listers front row cheering on their team. Everyone has a basketball game on their bucket list when visiting L.A., but if you want to do it in style, the Staples Centre offers private suites for those who want to impress and entertain their guests.
Perks include VIP early access, your very own attendant, two preferred parking passes, and access to the exclusive San Manuel Club (where guests can experience a bar and buffet dining away from the crowds).
Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles
- Prices range from $235 for the one-hour Cayenne Off-Road experience to $2,500 for the Accelerated GT3 RS Program, a four-hour advanced car driving session that will push you to your limits
- Book the experience here
Located in Carson, the Porsche Experience Center (PEC) is a 53-acre venue with a four-mile driver development track, state-of-the-art driving simulators, a retail store with exclusive PEC branded merchandise, and fine dining at Restaurant 917. Inside the 50,000 square-foot building, which is also the new home of Porsche Motorsport North America, guests can get an insider's look at historic Porsche race cars and the workshop team. Drivers can pilot the latest Porsche models through eight different driving modules.
VIP Experience - Universal Studios Hollywood
- VIP Experience starts at $299 per person
- Book the experience here
Take your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood to the next level with the VIP Experience. Tour the movie industry's busiest sets in a special trolley (golf cart) and access areas not open to the general public. Visit actual sound stages where blockbuster movies and TV shows are filmed. Explore the Property Department, home to thousands of set pieces and decorative items used for film and television production. Enjoy VIP privileges with escorted priority access to all rides and attractions, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™. Expert VIP guides will immerse you in the past, present and future of Universal's world-famous Backlot. Your VIP guide will take you straight to the front of the line at all rides and find you the best seats at all shows. Other perks include valet parking and VIP entry to the park, a light breakfast in the exclusive VIP lounge, and a gourmet lunch in the private VIP dining room.
SPA TREATMENTS
- Garden to Glamorous Seasonal Scrub is $260 USD for 80 minutes
- Red Carpet Radiance is $305 USD for 80 minutes
Travellers can treat themselves to The Ritz-Carlton Spa, located within the glamorous hotel in Downtown L.A. It offers a variety of innovative therapies, including the Garden to Glamorous Seasonal Scrub, which incorporates ingredients harvested from the hotel's rooftop garden. The luxury day spa is the largest in Downtown L.A. Spanning 8,000 square feet it includes treatment rooms, a couple's suite, a co-ed sanctuary, separate lounges with eucalyptus steam rooms and cold-plunge showers, a hair salon as well as a boutique.
- Facials start at $150 USD and goes up to $1,000 USD
- Book a facial here
Hotel Bel-Air's famous Spa by la Prairie is visited by stars such as Jennifer Aniston who swear by their treatments. You can spoil yourself with facials starting at $150, but if getting a real celebrity treatment is on your bucket list, the Signature Valmont Facial - Vitality of the Stars for a cool $1,000 will give you that celebrity glow.
- Hyperbaric treatment is $250 USD an hour
- P50 Body Polish treatment is $225 USD
Ciel Spa by Pearl Recovery Retreat and Wellness is a haven of tranquility, located within the elite SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. It is a place of escape reminiscent of a celestial dreamscape, with luxurious spa treatments from the best therapists in the world. Feel relaxed and at ease among the warm, white tones and billowing curtains throughout the 5,000 square foot space.
SHOPPING
The concierge at Westfield Century City (located across from Sephora) is on call and ready to assist with transportation, restaurant reservations, and gifting needs. International travellers can use LanguageLine, a three-way video interpretation service in more than 200 languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. For exclusive access there's The Private Suite, dedicated to celebrity and VIP services, complete with a secure private entrance and elevator. The Private Suite provides direct entry to Century City's restaurants, theatres, and Westfield's retail experience of more than 200 boutiques. They even have a dedicated dog park for the pampered pooches! If only Australia's Westfield Shopping Centres were so glamorous!
Beverly Center is a monolithic eight-story shopping centre located at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, between La Cienega and San Vicente boulevards. Luxury stores include Balenciaga, Burberry, Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Versace, to name a few. After a few hours of shopping you can treat yourself to a luxury dining experience with restaurants such as Cal Mare and Akira Back Steak.
Melrose Place
On two leafy blocks adjacent to West Hollywood's Design District is a collection of luxury boutiques including Santa Maria Novella, Marni, Bottega Veneta, The Row, Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier, and Mansur Gavriel. Share a photo of a beloved pet (cat, dog, bunny—you name it) within the ivy-clad walls of Irene Neuwirth (ireneneuwirth.com), a fine jewellery boutique located across from the charming Alfred Tea Room, and the jeweller will create a hand-carved pet-portrait ring painted with crystal quartz and set with precious and semi-precious stones. A yellow-gold version of such a ring, with .15 diamond carats, is priced at $8,930.
For more information please visit https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/.
