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Los Angeles's close association to the rich and famous has long made it a major shopping destination, but in recent years the city has grown beyond just a locale for luxe clothing and accessories—although high-end goods will always be a cornerstone of L.A.'s retail scene. With a wealth of stellar vintage spots, purveyors of affordable on-the-pulse products, and an ever-growing number shops selling local, artisanal goods, there is truly something for every type of spender here.
No matter what it is you're shopping for, L.A.'s consistently sunny and warm weather also means you can often hunt for wares in the open air, whether it be at a flea market full of hidden treasures, or a street lined with boutiques to explore. As you stroll, good eateries are never too far away, and you can always find somewhere delicious to dine and covertly star-watch.
If in fact you are in the celebrity-studded city to catch a glimpse of a famous face or two, you may want to start at their mecca, Beverly Hills, where a bevy of major designers' outposts and impeccably curated stores cater to upcale clientele.
After getting your fix there, you can hop into your car and absorb the city’s other varied offerings, including down-and-dirty bargains in Downtown, dozens of well-designed boutiques lining Venice's famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard, or mint-condition vintage fashions in Los Feliz.
One of the best independent bookstores in the country, Book Soup has been serving Angelenos since 1975. Given its Hollywood pedigree, it's especially deep in books about film, music, art, and photography. Fringe benefits include an international newsstand, a bargain-book section, and author readings several times a week.
Cinephiles have long descended upon this iconic 70-plus-year-old shop that in addition to stocking tons of texts about motion picture history offers film fans the opportunity to pick up scripts, posters, and photographs from Hollywood's golden era to the present.
A neighborhood bookstore through and through, Skylight has excellent sections devoted to kids, fiction, travel, and food; it even has a live-in cat. The space also hosts book discussion groups, panels, and author readings with hip literati. Art lovers can peruse texts on design and photography, graphic novels, and indie magazines at Skylight's annex a few doors down.
With an off-the-beaten-path collection of new and used literature, a café catering to freelancers and freethinkers, and a back patio that showcases singer-songwriters, Stories Books and Café is an authentic reflection of Echo Park. Readings, signings, and other events are a regular occurrence.
Philippe Starck designed the Taschen space to evoke a cool 1920s Parisian salon—a perfect showcase for the publisher's design-forward coffee-table books about architecture, travel, culture, and photography. A suspended glass cube gallery in back hosts art exhibits and features limited-edition books.
For over 30 years, Iliad not only has been selling used books but has been a set piece on a number of TV shows and movies, including Lethal Weapon 3. But with a collection of 150,000 books of all genres, including a solid selection of graphic novels, it’s worth a visit just to peruse the aisles and find your next favorite novel.
Southern California's oldest and largest independent bookseller is justly famous for its great service. A newsstand, café, literary-themed wine bar, and stationery store add to the appeal, and it's a favorite with locals for its on-trend, eclectic gift selection. A regular rotation of events including trivia night, kids' story time, author meet and greets, crafting sessions, discussions, and more get the community actively involved.
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