BEST OF --Las Angeles
 

My wife and I will be in LA in March for our first visit. We want to stay in a great central location, go to the best restaurants and party at a entertaining dance club (with a stage show?). We are in our mid 30's and like classy upscale clubs. We are considering jumping to a few locations like Carmel, Santa Monica, and Hollywood during our short but busy trip. Any help appreciated.

Forget Carmel--wont work in a shorty.

Will you have a car or do you require a hotel that is walking distance to clubs and restaurants?

I don't get "jumping" to a few locations. Hollywood and Santa Monica are in both in LA and only a short drive from each other. Check Digital City for the bars/nightlife etc. places. Some of the clubs in Hollywood and West Hollywood are for the younger crowds, so I'd be careful what you pick. Beverly Hills would be good for upscale clubs. Good luck.

I'd suggest you stay at the Mondrian, so you can gain access to Skybar. The only other way is if you are under contract with a film or music company.<BR>Also in the midst of the Sunset clubs, and you can have a great dinner at Asia de Cuba.

Sorry about being so vague about jumping around. My wife wants to stay in the LA area for 2-3 days then travel up the coast on a scenic route to the Carmel area to stay overnight for one night then return the next day. We will not get a rental till that day and would like to stay in a central area where we can walk to things for a couple of days. Then we are going to stay one day near Venice Beach. Then the travel day. Is the Sky Bar outside and will the weather be a problem?

I haven't been to the Skybar yet, but believe it's indoor/outdoor. Weather shouldn't be a problem -- all outdoor seating in L.A. has heating lamps, making it sometimes very warm. If you're going to be in Venice, you might try Lilly's on Abbott Kinney (outside, patio -- yets, heat lamps!) for a nice French meal. While upscale, trendy, you can bring your baby -- all the former yuppies now have babies and small children, and we tend to drag them everywhere. (We are also smart enough to take them outside immediately when they get cranky so as not to bother others!).<BR><BR>As for the one night up to Carmel &amp; back, you will spend most of the time in your car. From S.M. to Carmel by way of the 101, it will take you 6 1/2 hours (we did this last weekend). The coast route on the 1 (from San Luis Obispo up to Carmel) has, on occasions, taken upward of 10 hours. More if it is rainy, and I wouldn't advise doing this in the rain. By the way, the driver will not get to see much, because you must pay a lot of attention to the road, which is windy and in some places, single lane with opposite traffic change-overs due to construction, causing long delays. If you have to push it like this, I'd still add an extra day, take 101 up to the 68 Monterey Peninsula cut-off, then drive down to Carmel, and the following day, take the 1/2 drive along the coast (same coastal views, less time, good road) down to Big Sur and back. Stop there at Nepenthe for lunch. That mini-trip will take, with lunch, about 2 1/2 hours, and you will get to see the incredible shore line.<BR><BR>Carmel is a neat little town; you probably see more dogs than kids, but there's a lot of kids. Most of the restaurants are great.

Thanks for the information. Is the Standard in Hollywood in a good walking/central location?

I believe I answered this in your other post. The Standard is actually in West Hollywood. There are a lot of restaurants and bars near it on Sunset in that area. Some of the bars near there are Bar Fly, Bar Marmount, Bel Age Hotel Bar, Fenix at the Argyle, Saddle Ranch, Skybar at the Mondrian, Whiskey Bar. You can also grab cabs easily and if so inclined, take the 2 or 3 bus on Sunset to Hollywood and browse around there at Highland &amp; Hollywood which has shops &amp; restaurants and the Hollywood Walk of Fame is right there. Have fun.

If you're going up the coast to Carmel, you should plan to spend a good day (or more, if possible) in Santa Barbara. You'll love it.