Outfit Details:
Top | Jeans | Heels | Sunglasses | Hair Scarf | Lipgloss in shade “sugar sugar”
Where to stay:
– The Jeremy Hotel – This is where Clayton and I decided to stay most of our trip. It was honestly the PERFECT location if you are looking to stay in Hollywood. Everywhere I wanted to go was within a 15 minute uber ride! The hotel is absolutely gorgeous, with a very modern, cool aesthetic. They have an incredible rooftop pool with killer panoramic views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. The staff was very friendly and incredibly helpful with anything we needed. I highly recommend this place!
– The Beverly Hills Hotel – Now if you’re looking to spend a little extra money, this is your place. If I had to describe The Beverly Hills Hotel in one word it would be iconic. It is a frequent location for many celebrities and has been a “home away from home” for past presidents, and fashion icons such as Marilyn Monroe, the Olsen twins and the Kardashian clan. This is actually where we stayed when Clayton proposed five years ago, so it always brings back the best memories when I’m there. Clayton’s parents treated us to a night at the hotel for our anniversary, and it was just as amazing as I remembered. The service is absolutely top knotch, and definitely what you would expect for a 5-star hotel. What I love most about the hotel is first off, it’s pink. No explanation needed. But throughout the hotel you will find the distinctive banana leaf print that has come to be a symbol of the hotel (and one I LOVE). The rooms are luxurious, like everything else in the hotel. They have some incredible restaurants I will touch on later on, and a gorgeous pool with private cabanas and underwater music. It is definitely an experience of a lifetime and well worth every penny!
– The Kimpton Everly – When I came back with the girls, we stayed at the Kimpton Everly in West Hollywood. I know I’m raving about each of these hotels, but all three really were AMAZING. From the moment we pulled up, the staff went above and beyond to accommodate everything we needed. They gave us a room with a stunning view of the Hollywood sign and I honestly wish you guys could have heard us scream when we walked in. I was blown away by the spacious lobby and sitting room, which included The Conservatory Room where you could sit and enjoy a cocktail before heading out on the town. They also had a rooftop pool which was GORGEOUS, just go ahead and look at the pictures online! The ONLY bad thing I would say about this hotel is the location is a little further out than the other two, so it definitely took us longer to get places. It wasn’t bad by any means, but 5 miles in LA can easily take 30 minutes, so just keep that in mind!
Where to eat:
A tip based on experience – I would definitely recommend making a reservation everywhere. A lot of these restaurants require reservations, but even if they don’t, you will be waiting for quite some time. I don’t always like being on a tight schedule while traveling, but these places are 100% worth it. I’ve only included the restaurants I love for that reason!
• The Ivy: This might just be one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve ever been to and the service is incredible! From the moment you walk in, you are treated to a complimentary glass of champagne (YES PLEASE!). Everywhere you look you will find the most beautiful, colorful flowers that are sure to make all your Instagram picture dreams come true 😉 It’s a little pricey, but definitely worth it. They also give you some delicious homemade cookies when you leave. I actually went here for brunch with both Clayton and the girls, so it’s definitely a top recommendation in my book!
My recommendation: Crispy goat cheese filled zucchini blossoms, The Ivy Gimlet (SO GOOD!) and the Cajun Bloody Mary.
• The Polo Lounge: I would say this is the hottest restaurant in LA. The Polo Lounge is located in The Beverly Hills Hotel and has been the favorite spot for generations of stars and Hollywood deal-makers. It is very fancy, but so cool to experience the history that has taken place there.
My recommendation: Farmers Market Salad, Wagyu Burger and The “Think Pink” – add jalapeño
• Cabana Cafe: The Cabana Cafe is located by the pool at The Beverly Hills Hotel. You can enjoy a relaxed meal in the LA sunshine with a picture-perfect view of their gorgeous pool. If you don’t stay at the hotel, I would definitely recommend stopping in for breakfast or lunch (but be sure to make a reservation ahead of time).
• Catch: From the second I saw this restaurant I was dying to go. Unfortunately when I went with Clayton, we got busy and ended up missing our reservation. By the time I tried to book for my trip with the girls, they didn’t have any availability. So learn from my mistake and book your reservation far in advance. This place is GORGEOUS! You walk in and there are flowers everywhere (just look it up – you’ll see what I’m talking about)!! I was not going to miss my chance again, so we went there for some pre-dinner drinks one night. I have heard amazing reviews about the food, so I will definitely put it on my list for the next time I visit.
• The Ivory on Sunset: This little gem is located within walking distance of The Jeremy Hotel in the Mondrian Hotel and is SO cute! We sat outside and enjoyed an incredible view of the city while we ate lunch.
My recommendation: Cheese Board
• Villa Blanca: This was Kailey’s pick because it’s one of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants. Since I’ve never seen the show, I didn’t really understand the hype at first. But honestly guys, this restaurant was DELICIOUS! It is super quaint and located right off Rodeo Drive. It’s half indoor, half outdoor and we were luckily blessed with the most gorgeous weather. We had such a great night laughing over cocktails and Mediterranean/Italian inspired dishes that definitely satisfied our tummies.
My recommendation: Prosciutto & Burrata, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Crème Brulée
• Osteria Mozza: This was one of my favorite date night spots when I came with Clayton. We arrived a little early to our reservation, so we decided to sit at the Mozzarella Bar instead of waiting for our table, and man am I glad we did! We were able to watch the chef’s prepare all different meals complimenting their cheese in one way or another. We decided to start with the mozzarella and prosciutto tasting which was DELICIOUS! Our waitress was an inspiring actress who made our entire experience incredibly memorable with lots of laughs. What more could you ask for: your handsome hubby, good wine and great food!
My recommendation: Mozzarella di Bufala Tasting, Goat Cheese Ravioli
• Laurel Hardware: This is honestly probably the best restaurant I’ve ever been to in my life, and that says a lot. It is SUCH a cool spot with super trendy vibes and a laid-back atmosphere. They have a tapas/family style menu and everything we ordered was absolutely incredible. I really would rank this place a 10/10!!
My recommendation: Lollipop Sprouts, Wild Mushrooms Pizza, Himachi (TO DIE FOR) and “The Gangster” – add jalapeño
• Lemonade: I’m sure you guys have heard of Lemonade before, but if you haven’t it’s a great quick lunch option! You don’t need reservations here, and there are several locations all over California. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a healthy option, but don’t have a lot of time. They also have a ton of different types of lemonade (duh) which are SO YUMMY!
• The Deck/Driftwood Kitchen (located in Laguna Beach): ah I absolutely LOVE these restaurants too! These are actually two different restaurants: The Deck and Driftwood Kitchen. When I came here with Clayton we actually just had a drink at The Deck. It’s located right on the beach and is AMAZING during the day if it’s good weather. When I came back with the girls, we actually had a reservation at Driftwood Kitchen (which is the same place, just located inside) but once we saw how gorgeous the weather was we decided to eat at The Deck. I have heard great things about Driftwood Kitchen, so I guess it just depends on personal preference and how the weather is! We sat right on the edge by the water and enjoyed some delicious cocktails over lunch. The entire time I was wondering why the heck I don’t live in California…
What to do:
Besides eating and drinking, and eating some more, what is there to do in LA?! Well, there’s shopping, of course. Rodeo Drive is another iconic place that is a MUST for anyone traveling to Los Angeles. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to walk up and down the street and window shop at the most high-end designer stores. Clayton had the best time looking at all the fancy cars you see parked on the street. Lifestyles of the rich and famous 😉
Another thing I highly recommend is driving down to Laguna Beach. I honestly think the next time I go to Los Angeles I’ll stay in Laguna Beach instead. It is SO DANG DREAMY! One of our best guys friends lives a little outside Laguna, so Clayton and I had to go spend a day with him when we were there. It’s a MUCH more laid back vibe than LA, with gorgeous beaches and quaint shopping. The girls and I also drove to Laguna and visited the Ritz Carlton which was one of the prettiest resorts I’ve ever seen in my life. If any of my friends want to get married there I totally approve.
Transportation:
If you’re looking to do a lot around Los Angeles, I highly recommend getting a rental car. With the amount you’ll spend on Ubers, it’s worth it to have the convenience of your own vehicle. We picked up the new Lexus RX to drive around town and it was such a great car! It was luxurious and incredibly spacious (which was well needed for 4 girls with LOTS of luggage). The girls kept raving about how smooth it drove, especially when we got stuck in LA traffic heading home from Laguna Beach (it took us TWO HOURS!!!). If you’re in the need of a new car, you must check out this beauty.
Tip – call ahead and ask your hotel how much valet cost per night! You don’t want to be shocked when you show up.
If you’re ever looking for a photographer in LA, I highly recommend Jessi Burrone. Kailey introduced us and I am so glad she did! Jessi is an absolute angel. She is the senior editor & lead photographer for Lauren Conrad, and works under her personally, but is one of the most humble girls I’ve ever met. Her work is absolutely INCREDIBLE and I was so thankful I had the opportunity to shoot with her. She joined us for dinner one night and I was so glad I got to know her on a personal level as well as working with her professionally. She has an eye for photography and you can tell it just comes so natural to her. If you’re ever in the area and want to do a shoot with your husband or friends, I highly suggest reaching out to her!
Whew, that was a lot! But LA is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world, so I wanted to make sure I covered everything. I can honestly say these were two of the best trips I’ve ever been on, and I am so thankful for the incredible memories I made that will last a lifetime. Have you guys been to LA before? What’s your favorite “hot spots”? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Shop Kailey, Hailey and Tayler’s looks here:
Photography by Jessi Burrone
*This post was created in collaboration with Lexus. All opinions & product selections are my own.
Jessi Burrone says
Aw love you girls so much!!! Come back, or better yet, its my turn to visit!