Book Soup
Visit one of the last independent bookstores with a Hollywood pedigree to discover books about film, music, art, and photography.
8 Best Places to Shop in Los Angeles, California
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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.
Alias Books East
Among the artisanal foods and buzzy restaurants lies the long-standing used bookstore Alias Books, which specializes in rare books with a heavy emphasis on academia, the arts, and classic literature. Swing by and fall in love with some hyper-specific titles, all of which are in great condition, while waiting for your table at the next-door cafés to be ready.
The Iliad Book Shop
Long before BookTok existed—for 38 years to be exact—Iliad has been building its 150,000-strong collection of used books, including a solid selection of graphic novels and rare tomes, and moonlighting as a filming location. Its aisles, home to lovable shop cats Zeus and Apollo, and exterior can be seen in numerous TV shows and movies, including Lethal Weapon 3, American Horror Story, and S.W.A.T.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Larry Edmunds Bookshop
Cinephiles have long descended upon this iconic 87-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.
Skylight Books
A neighborhood bookstore through and through, Skylight has excellent sections devoted to kids, fiction, travel, and food. 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.
Stories Books and Café
Stories Books and Café has persevered through all of Echo Park's growing pains, continuing to be the mainstay for local booklovers. The unconventional bookstore features an off-the-beaten-path collection of new and used literature, a café with ample work space, and a back patio that showcases live performances and readings.
TASCHEN
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.
Vroman's Bookstore
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, and author meet and greets gets the community involved.
