Going to be in LA at the end of June for only three days. My first time out there so I want to make sure I hit all the highlights. Any suggestions?
Hollywood, Rodeo, Bev Hills, Universal etc. . .

Lakis,
I'd love to make a few suggestions, however, it may help if you post your interests and area you're staying in. Do you like museums? Architecture? Hollywood history? Amusement Parks?
Will you have your own car?

Thank you for replying.
Definitely into the Hollywood scene, Rodeo, Bev Hills & Universal. We are staying in Santa Monica. We need some ideas of things to do and restaurants to eat at.
I appreciate all of your help!

For your interests I would have gotten a hotel in Beverly Hills, which is much more central to those points than Santa Monica (FYI: BH is about 9 miles east of SM). Given the vastness of the LA metro area, you are luckily focused on a relatively tight bunch of attractions (still involving a bit of driving). Which hotel have you reserved in SM?

I'm assuming you have a car. Do you want restaurant recommendations near your hotel, or would you like the "hot spots" in the LA metro area (they're all over)? What kind of food do you like?

We are staying at the Channel Road Inn in SM. Looking for restaurants in that area maybe on the promenade and a fun, hip funky LA location.
Thank you!

There are a couple of restaurants in the vicinity of that lovely B&B, but that area is a little removed from the rest of Santa Monica. Which might be what you're looking for. You're a fairly long walk to the Third Street Promenade (almost two miles). Your closest major street is Pacific Coast Highway, which you will cross to get to the beach (it's right there), which turns into I-10 a mile or so south. I'm curious: How did you come to choose the Channel Road Inn? It's a very left-field choice.

Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi is down the street, and IS quite good, but also quite pricey. It gets a celeb clientèle, so you might be waiting in line with stars (and EVERYONE waits in line). Caffè Delfini is nearby and also very good (and expensive). Other places around there are mediocre, IMHO.

A fun place on the Promenade that's actually good is Monsoon, a Pan-Asian joint just south of Banana Republic. Great food, leisurely but friendly service. There's an Italian joint south of there called Trastavere that's good as well. I can't think of any other places I'd break a sweat to go to on the Promenade. There are some outstanding eateries not far from the Promenade, including Ocean Ave. Seafood (affiliated with the Water Grill in downtown LA and several stellar restaurants in Long Beach, the group's headquarters), I. Cugini (great Italian), El Cholo (wonderful, fun Mexican), Michael's (one of the first Cal Cuisine restaurants in the world), etc. Chinois on Main is still good, and for an offbeat destination restaurant, how about Joe's on Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach? Wonderful place.

"Scene" eateries in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood would include (of course) the Ivy, Koi, Matsuhisa (less so than in past years, but still great if you like sushi), and Spago Beverly Hills (which is exciting again thanks to a new head chef).

Girafe in Santa Monica is good, close to the Promenade. Fresh food, good wine list, a nice scene and buzz, although service can get a bit slow when they are packed (get reservations now).
I have several stories that I could tell about celebrities I've sat near at places in Santa Monica. Usually it doesn't impress me much, but the time that Pierce Brosnan sat down at the table next to me for lunch at the more casual place at Shutters (not One Pico, the other one- I am blanking on the name right now) was one that got my attention. I have no idea what I had for lunch that day...

RJW- Thank you for the wonderful insight to all of those great restaurants. I am a little star struck so I hope I see someone while I am out there. As far as the Channel Inn- Mom and Dad stayed there and they loved it and it's a must in the Karen Brown guide. Any ideas for sightseeing- Hollywood walk of Stars, should I take a Bev Hills tour?, Universal. First time out there and only 4 days to do it all. I don't want to do everything so please recommend the highlights.

EMD- Thank you so much for your insight too. Please feel free to share any star stories.

Universal is a theme park, albeit one on the grounds of an actual working movie and TV production studio. If you want a better, more authentic experience, you might want to head to the Warner Bros. studio tour (Burbank).

There's quite a bit of film and TV location work being done here on the Westside, but you can't count on seeing "stars" there.

My celeb sightings have been out of the blue for the most part (Dustin Hoffman crossing the street with me-- well, he IS from Santa Monica!; Jamie Lee Curtis in a SM parking structure with her kids; Barbara Bain of "Mission: Impossible" at a Sundance script reading in WeHo). Rodeo Drive can yield results (Neil Diamond dining at Il Fornaio!).

Must-sees? The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a point of history, and you might luck out and see a new one dedicated-- but Hollywood itself is pretty grimy and run-down, even despite the Hollywood/Highland entertainment complex. Still, the neighborhood is worth a couple of hours (and the Hollywood sign is visible from anywhere). You must spend some time on the beach in SM, of course. A spin through Beverly Hills, including drinks at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, is practically compulsory. The Getty Center (Westside) is architecturally stunning, as is Disney Hall downtown. LA's a tough area-- so much to see, and I'm still exploring after 19 years living here. Anyone else want to take a crack at the "must-sees"?

Oh-- and a tour might be a good idea. You can get a better orientation to the city, along with some fun history. I see the buses creeping their way along streets all over the city, so you'll have lots of choices. The Inn can hook you up, I'm sure.