The most famous small city in the world is a shopper’s paradise; Culver City is south, Westwood is west.  

Beverly Hills is the storied land of bougainvillea and Bentleys, palms and posh mansions, a five-square-mile enclave known for its glamorous lifestyle. You'll find virtually every designer line worth its logo, and the world's most beautiful baubles, on Rodeo Drive. Its Walk of Style was inaugurated in 2003; recent inductees were Donatella and Gianni Versace.

High-profile residents such as Jack Nicholson carry on a tradition begun by silent-screen stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks; Nicholson owns his home and that of his late neighbor Marlon Brando. To the west are more massive estates. Bel-Air is known for its mansions, Century City for business and shopping, Westwood for its historic movie theaters and UCLA. Culver City is enjoying a renaissance.

Rodeo Drive
The unparalleled collection of fashion shrines—Armani, Badgley Mischka, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and so on—continues to outdo itself.

King of red-carpet baubles Harry Winston is in a three-story flagship location; thanks to Winston, Cartier and De Beers, Rodeo is also home to some of the most beautiful jewelry in the world. Glass dressing rooms at Prada's stunning boutique turn opaque when used; Michael Kors is across the street.

The shops of Two Rodeo Drive, such as Versace, are on an Italianate cobblestone street; the patios at 208 Rodeo and McCormick & Schmick's are perennially popular. To the north is the Rodeo Collection; retailers include La Perla and shoe wiz Stuart Weitzman. Rodeo Drive Walk of Style inductees include the Versaces, Armani, fashion photographer Mario Testino and his colleague Herb Ritts.

Golden Triangle
Rodeo Drive is but one street in a retail area known as the Golden Triangle, bordered by Crescent Drive and Wilshire and Little Santa Monica boulevards. The city offers nine designated parking areas with an hour of free parking ($2 flat fee after 6 p.m.).

The area abounds with cafes, salons, day spas, shops and galleries. This is where you find Wolfgang Puck's flagship Spago, and where stylists José Eber and Frédéric Fekkai keep The Beautiful People beautiful. The Richard Meier–designed Paley Center for Media (formerly Museum of Television & Radio) attracts lovers of architecture as well as media.

Just east, on Rexford Drive at Santa Monica Boulevard, is the Spanish Renaissance–style City Hall. Sculptures dot the surrounding lawns.

Wilshire Boulevard
Here reign retail's grande dames: Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York. (Agents munch at Barney Greengrass, on Barneys' fifth floor.) Wilshire Boulevard is home to Burberry and Southern California–based St. John Knits. Pretty Woman was filmed at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, built in 1928 at Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Hilton, at Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, hosts the Golden Globe Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences features changing exhibits in two galleries.

The Mansions
Beyond the Golden Triangle, north of Santa Monica Boulevard, are the stunning mansions and manicured grounds of the tree-lined residential neighborhoods. The largest homes are north of Sunset Boulevard; adjacent Bel-Air and Holmby Hills feature some of the most magnificent estates in the world. The Beverly Hills Trolley Tour offers tours of public art and significant architecture on Saturdays. The sprawling 1927 Greystone Park and Mansion has been the setting for scenes of more than 20 films including The Big Lebowski and The Witches of Eastwick. The hillside grounds offer sweeping city views.

Century City
Century City is home to 20th Century Fox Studios and Westfield Century City, a pleasant outdoor retail center anchored by Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The complex's $150-million renovation added more than a dozen new retailers, a state-of-the-art, 15-screen cinema and an elegant food court. Exhibits at the Museum of Tolerance, just east of Century City, include Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves, featuring Billy Crystal and Maya Angelou.

Culver City
Motor Avenue runs from 20th Century Fox south to Sony Studios. Downtown Culver City continues its explosive growth with new galleries, theaters and restaurants. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is in its fourth season; the Actors' Gang is at the Ivy Substation theater. Restaurants including BottleRock and
Tender Greens and the quirky Museum of Jurassic Technology are nearby. The historic Helms Bakery buildings, at Helms Avenue and Venice Boulevard, house design stores including the mammoth H.D. Buttercup, Jazz Bakery music venue, and pan-Asian eatery Beacon. On Washington Boulevard, Wilson wine bar debuted in the Museum of Design Art and Architecture, and Surfas Restaurant Supply & Gourmet Food added a very casual cafe. Downtown Culver City has wireless Internet access in public spaces.

Westwood Village
The density of historic buildings and cultural offerings in Westwood Village and on the UCLA campus is remarkable—and Westwood may be the movie premiere capital of the world.

The collection at the Hammer Museum includes works by Rembrandt and van Gogh; changing exhibits feature contemporary works and installations. The Hammer recently unveiled its Billy Wilder Theatre. Marilyn Monroe and other stars are buried at the nearby Westwood Village Memorial Park. The Geffen Playhouse is in a newly renovated 1929 landmark theater. New works and smaller shows are staged at the Geffen's intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. UCLA's performing-arts venues include Royce Hall, Schoenberg Hall and Freud Playhouse. Access UCLA's Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at Hilgard and Le Conte avenues; the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden includes Rodin's The Walking Man and 80 other works. The UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History offers exhibits about peoples and religions.

South of Westwood village, straddling Westwood Boulevard, is Westside Pavilion, a trilevel retail center anchored by Nordstrom. The mall unveiled a spectacular Landmark cinema.

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