72 Hours in Los Angeles: Where to Shop, Eat, & Get Ready For a Big Night Out

I was at dinner the other night when a very nice woman approached me and said she was a fan of Cho & Tell…

I know I’ve been away for a minute… it’s been a busy month!

Just got back from a quick trip to Los Angeles, a city I love and hadn’t visited since before the pandemic.

Three years is a long time, and a lot has changed!

Sure, I still love my old haunts — nothing beats the ice cream sundae at Tower Bar.

But I was pleasantly surprised at how the retail and restaurant scene has evolved.

Obviously, you can’t hit everything in three nights, but I managed to get a good look around and wanted to report back on what I saw… the things I think are must-sees.

And, because this is Cho & Tell, you know I can’t resist a few insider tips…

Here you go…

If you’re spending 72 hours in Los Angeles…

HERE’S MY LIST OF THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP, EAT, AND GET READY FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT:

1. DRIES VAN NOTEN, 451 N. La Cienega Blvd:  Spanning 8500 square feet, the Dries Van Noten boutique in Los Angeles is the largest in the world and the only one in the United States. Not only is the selection second to none… both women’s and men’s… there’s a whole room devoted to archive pieces that are for sale. Dries lovers, rejoice!

2. HOLLOWAY HOUSE, 8465 Holloway Drive:  If you’ve been to Soho House in Los Angeles, you know it’s a vibe. Holloway House, owned by Soho House, is its newer, hipper, more casual cousin. Located on — you guessed it — Holloway Drive in West Hollywood, Holloway House has more of a diner feel, albeit a very chic one. Great place to work and take business meetings. Oh, and did I mention it’s a hotel, too? Members only.

3. ALFRED, 8428 Melrose Place:  Alfred does live up to the hype. This hip coffee joint on Melrose Place has been open since 2013, but somehow I never knew about it until recently. The vanilla latte — Alfred’s signature drink — may be one of the best coffees I’ve ever had. I got the iced version and finished it in under a minute.

4. SUNSET TOWER, 8358 Sunset Blvd:  Ok, I know — Sunset Tower is, by now, an L.A. institution. It’s still worth mentioning. Even after all these years, the Tower Bar restaurant is still one of the best rooms for people watching and food. I usually order the burger and always end with an ice cream sundae. Ask for the corner banquette in the front.

5. THE BROAD, 221 S. Grand Avenue:  Let’s just say I’m old enough to remember a time when the art scene in Los Angeles, well, sucked. Now, the museums in L.A. are some of the best in the world — LACMA, the Hammer Museum and The Broad, which exhibits roughly 2000 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s vast collection of postwar and contemporary art. The Broad exhibition to see right now — if you can get a ticket — is Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. You can thank me later.

⭐ INSIDER TIP ⭐

6. KNOCKOUT BEAUTY, 11724 Barrington Ct., Brentwood:  My friend, Cayli Cavaco Reck, is the brains behind Knockout Beauty, with locations in Manhattan, Bridgehampton, Locust Valley and Brentwood. When I landed in Los Angeles, my skin was, well, not in a happy state. I immediately texted Cayli and she squeezed me in for a signature facial the next morning. Lisa, the esthetician, is a magician. I was glowing for days.

7. BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE, 8461 Melrose Place:  Biologique Recherche’s famous face lotion (AKA toner) P50 has a cult following, so if you’re a P50 devotee, you’ll be happy to know there’s a Biologique Recherche spa on Melrose Place — the only one outside of Paris. When I mentioned that fact to the young woman at the front desk, she gave me some scoop — at the end of this year, a Biologique Recherche spa is set to open in SoHo… yes, you heard me… in New York.

⭐ INSIDER TIP ⭐

8. SALLY HERSHBERGER SALON, 760 N. La Cienega Blvd:  If you’re addicted to blowouts like I am, well, run don’t walk to the Sally Hershberger Salon on La Cienega. But only after you book an appointment with senior stylist, Paul Perez. Paul has been doing my hair in L.A. for at least 15 years. He is simply the best. $100. for a salon blowout, $200. for house calls. 

9. CO, 622 N. Western Avenue:  If you’re looking for something in the “quiet luxury” category, look no further than CO. It’s The Row, but more well priced. And as of Saturday, CO now has a store in Los Angeles. I left just before it opened, but I’ll be back in L.A. soon enough and will definitely stop in.

10. JUST ONE EYE, 915 N. Sycamore Avenue:  Every single time I go to L.A., I say I’m going to stop by Just One Eye. And then, I don’t. I’ve been saying that for 11 years. I finally made it this time, and it is a total feast for the eyes. The ultimate luxury multi-brand store. Here, you’ll find everything from Prada ready-to-wear to Savette handbags to Sidney Garber jewelry. There’s even a hair salon in the back!