The Continent meets The Strip at Sunset Plaza

September 22, 2012

Photo of the Sunset Strip courtesy of Reg Natarajan on Flickr Creative Commons

WEST HOLLYWOOD, USA – Sidewalk cafés peddling delicate French pastries and strong Italian coffees. Designer boutiques crammed with European labels. A fashionable crowd of Europeans, jetsetters, and celebs. Are you somewhere on the Riviera? Nope, you’re on the Sunset Strip.

Most know of “The Strip” as nightlife central, but at Sunset Plaza–a leafy shopping area lined with chichi boutiques and posh open-air eateries–the action happens by daylight. The little district seems to borrow its sensibilities more from the refinements of Cannes than from the excesses of the hard-partying clubs and gargantuan billboards just down the street.

But that’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of see-and-be-seening that goes on here. The area is a favorite of celebs–just follow the trail of paparazzi to find the nearest one. And the labels that have set up shop here are just famous as the marquee stars who patronize them: you’ll find the likes of Calypso, Nicole Miller, and Zadig & Voltaire. Stores like H. Lorenzo stock an assortment of the hottest European and American brands. For pampered tots, there’s Sunset Kids. High-end homewares, shoes, and accessories can also be found.

If you’re looking for a girls’-day-out lunch and shop, Sunset Plaza is the ideal place. I like pairing a leisurely browse with lots and lots of café breaks! Go Euro-style with Italian spots like Café Med or French-y bistros like Le Petit Four and Clafoutis.

And if you’re preparing for a night out on The Strip, Sunset Plaza is a convenient one-stop-shop. After choosing a slinky new dress and killer heels from one of the many boutiques, settle into one of the comfy chairs at Jessica Nail Clinic for a mani & pedi, get coiffed at DryBar, or sit for a bespoke makeup session at Blushington. The Strip scenesters are sure to think you’ve just blown in from Monaco.

Read more about Sunset Plaza in our Los Angeles Guide.

Sunset Plaza
8623 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
(1) 310-652-2622
Website
Map

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Los Angeles.

Rachel Levin contributed to this post.