Right through the heart of Beverly Hills sits one of the most expensive shopping districts in the whole world – Rodeo Drive. This three-block stretch of street between Wilshire and Sunset Boulevard is home to a plethora of luxurious stores and boutiques such as Armani, Gucci, Coco Chanel, Cartier, and Tiffany. It is also one of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity hotspots.
On your way to Rodeo Drive, I highly recommend that you take Sunset Boulevard so you can enjoy the sights of Beverly Hills’ prosperous residential neighborhood, not to mention the lush green of the trees lined up on both sides of the boulevard. As you drive there, don’t forget to be on the lookout for Beverly Hills’ historic landmark, the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Rodeo Drive’s reputation as a luxury shopping destination as well as a haven for extravagance often leads people into thinking that a truckload of money is required to make their visit worthwhile. On the contrary, one can actually go there and have a blast without shelling out a single cent. Even the parking is free – that is, if you take advantage of Rodeo Drive’s generous free 2-hour valet parking offered to all cars entering before 6 pm.
If you’re hesitant about visiting this three-block trip on account of not having enough money to burn, you can take comfort in the fact that the majority of tourists there do nothing but gawk at the upscale shopping district’s many fascinating sights and attractions, so ‘just looking’ is acceptable behavior on Rodeo Drive.
Located at the corners of Wilshire Boulevard and Dayton Way is a smaller section of Rodeo Drive called “Two Rodeo,” a luxury shopping district that caters to the more well-heeled clientele. As is the case with the entire section of Rodeo Drive, you are free to take a leisurely walk along Two Rodeo’s cobblestoned walkways and perhaps take some time to admire the opulent archways, lively fountains, posh piazzas, iron-wrought street lamps, and archaic brass fixtures that perfectly set off Two Rodeo’s classic European architectural designs. This more upscale section of Rodeo Drive is home to a wide variety of luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co., Versace, Lanvin, Vertu, CH Caroline Herrera, ETRO, and Stephen Webster. If you have the money to back you up, you’ll find Two Rodeo Drive an excellent place to indulge yourself for some extravagant shopping. After all, Rodeo Drive isn’t known as a shopper’s paradise for nothing.
And speaking of extravagant, do take the time to visit Bijan, a high-end fashion store recognized by many as the most expensive store in the world. How expensive? For starters, the average shopper in Bijan spends about $100,000 per visit. In order to shop at Bijan, you need to make an appointment in advance.
Rodeo Drive is a great place for fine dining as well, boasting upscale restaurants such as McCormick & Schmick’s, the sushi bar Urasawa, and 208 Rodeo. If you want a quaint and pleasant fine dining experience, I give 208 Rodeo my highest recommendation. This restaurant serves a wide variety of gourmet food inspired by cuisines from around the world. The view from the outdoor patio located on the second floor of 208 Rodeo also provides a great view of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Those who watched the film ‘Pretty Woman’ will recognize that hotel as the same spot where the characters portrayed by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere really kicked their romance into high gear.
If window-shopping is the most famous activity on Rodeo, then people-watching is not far behind at second place. It’s not in the least surprising considering that it’s the place where many world-famous celebrities come to shop and dine on a regular basis. And in case you aren’t lucky enough to spot a celebrity after all the hustle and bustle, you might still get a kick out of watching the well-to-do clientele go about their business. Of course, it goes without saying that you should do that in as non-intrusive a manner as possible.
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills has a myriad of interesting and peculiar attractions that it’s a crime not to bring a camera with you when you go for a visit. For example you might want to take a snapshots of the iconic Rodeo Drive sign. You can also pose for a photo under the 40-foot long Beverly Hills sign at Santa Monica Boulevard surrounded or do a picnic on the park grass near by.
On your visit, it is highly recommended that you take the Beverly Hills Trolley Tour. This tram ride offers a 40-minute tour through Beverly Hills where professional tour guides point out to tourists the city’s affluent neighborhoods, famous attractions, historical landmarks, and other points of interest. You can board the tram at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Payton Way, which runs once every hour starting at 10:30 am. Keep in mind that the trolley tour only accepts passengers from Tuesday through Saturday during the summer.
Every year on Father’s Day (third Sunday in June), Rodeo Drive plays host to a vintage car show called “Concours on Rodeo.” On this particular day, the street is closed off from traffic so that visitors can enjoy an exclusive display of luxurious and vintage automobiles. The event is bolstered by live entertainment and special appearances by celebrity car enthusiasts. Celebrities like Jay Leno and Tim Allen are known to be regulars to the show. Concours on Rodeo is free and open to the public.
If you are planning on visiting Rodeo Drive soon, it’s advisable that you do it on weekdays since most shops are closed on Sundays. Mornings are best if you want to avoid large crowds.
Let me know if you find this guide helpful or if you have questions or need suggestions on where to go. Just leave a note below and I will respond as quickly as possible.
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