First of all, get something to eat.

2008-07-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Breakfast.

Porta Via
424 N Canon Drive
(310) 274-6534
Good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Owned and run by Peter Garland who was raised in Beverly Hills. This place sometimes feels like an extension of the cafeteria at Beverly High, but with great fresh, organic food. There's tons of regulars of all ages and it seems like everyone knows everyone. One of the waiters even won 'The Great Race!'

Nate'n Als
414 North Beverly Drive,
(310) 274-0101
A family-owned deli that's been around forever. Great for celeb sighting. Larry King holds court here almost every morning. The waitresses are like family to their regulars. And those regulars treat them like royalty. They've been flown to Paris, taken out to many elaborate meals at the finest restaurants in town, and even left in wills. The best lox ever! Also -- whenever I have a cold, I get their awesome matzo ball soup and they deliver it ASAP. Click here for Nate'n Al's web site.

Lunch.

La Scala
434 N Canon Drive
(310) 275-0579
The ultimate lunch spot – can get awfully crowded, though. This place is the home of the best chopped salad ever. If you're craving a salad and don't want to deal with the scene, it's great for take out. So what's in the secret dressing, anyway?

The Cabana Restaurant
The Four Seasons Hotel
Great food and super relaxing. You feel like you're really on vacation -- Four Seasons style! And what else is better than that!? Click for the web site.

The Grill On The Alley
Pricey, always packed, always great. At lunch it's filled with agents and producers and there's usually a celeb sighting. Great staff and excellent crab cocktail.

Mariposa
In the basement of Niemans.
Great food, happening environment -- if you want to see rich women eat. It's actually really fun every once in a while!

Dinner.

Mako Restaurant
225 S. Beverly Drive (310) 288 8338
Asian fusion-ish. A little of everything. Steak, duck, sashimi, lobster, noodles. Everything is excellent. Mako was the former executive chef at Spago. Regulars often order the Omakase (whatever the chef brings). I love going to this great eatery on South Beverly, but I also think he's the best caterer in town. Mako himself comes to your house with his grill and makes mind-boggling lobster, steak and everything else. Guests will be BLOWN AWAY.
Click here for Mako's web site.

ALSO -- OPENING SOON is The Luau. This was Beverly Hills's hottest restaurant in the 70's. A Hawaiian theme and amazing fun. Mako is reopening it soon -- Lorree Rodkin has done the interior -- should be mighty happening.

Tagine
132 Robertson (310) 360-7535
Check this out: Babe actor Ryan Goesling owns a Moroccan restaurant called Tagine. It's very intimate – in fact, teenie tiny. But great food, and sometimes Ryan himself waits tables.
Click here for Tagine's web site.

Trattoria Amici
469 N. Doheny Drive (at Santa Monica) (310) 858-0271
Great Italian in a quiet, unusual location: a motel! Very good pizza, pasta. I also love picking up take-out from here. Click here for the web site.

Caffe Roma
350 N Canon Drive (310) 274-7834
GREAT Italian. it's euro-trashy, and fun. This place has been around forever but is now owned by the Ago group. Open late night. Excellent food and my kids love the pizza.
Click here for Caffe Roma's web site.

Wolfgang's Steakhouse
445 N. Canon (310) 385-0640
From New York restaurateur Wolfgang Zwiener. This Park Avenue steakhouse has hit BH, and people love it. Yes, it's noisy, expensive and crowded, but it's fun. The food is great and the desserts are out of this world. Click here for the web site.

Sushi Sushi
326 1/2 S Beverly Drive (310) 277-1165
Excellent, mellow and old school if want a change from the grooviness of the Katsuya types of places.

 Urasawa
218 No. Rodeo Drive (310) 247-8939
 Is it ever worth spending $300 to $400 (US) per person for a meal? Before you instantly say no, I strongly suggest you read the following 41-picture report from two young women with limited budgets who talked about going for 2 years and were glad they "finally" made the big splurge!!!

Late Night.

Urthcaffee
267 S. Beverly Drive
(310) 205-9311
Great hang out. Also open late. Really good, heathy food and great teas. For vegans, check out the chocolate cake. Click here for their web site.

Mr. Chow
Yes, it's been open since 1983, but it's still as happening as ever. The food is good (not great) and it's SUPER expensive. I really only like it as a late night choice (not that eating heavy Chinese food late at night is the least bit healthy.) It's really one of the only places open late in BH (11:30PM). It's also great for celeb sightings.

SWEETS

Madame Chocolat
Amazing chocolate, made on the premises. Order a cappuccino and a chocolate spoon, dip the spoon in the cappuccino and let the chocolate melt in your mouth -- Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Teuscher Chocolates & Café
What makes this Teuscher so special is that you can drive up and order and espresso. A great little hang, with a few tables.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
This place single-handedly started the cupcake craze. Delicious.

sno:la yogurt : beyond frozen yogurt
In this crazy time of Pinkberry madness, this is, I think, is a better alternative. It's not so sugar-y like Penguins, but not as tart as Pinkberry, with many more options. It seems a lot healthier than Pinkberry. Everything is organic and they tell you their ingredients. They are earth-friendly, too -- using biodegradable flatware.

FRITTELLI'S :: Gourmet Doughnuts & Coffee
Delicious homemade doughnuts in a very inviting location.

Paulette Macaroon
Yeah -- this place only sells fresh baked macaroons!

Where to stay and what to do.

2008-07-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

HOTELS

Avalon
9400 West Olympic Boulevard
(310) 277-5221
If you want small, boutique-y, hip and cool, check out the Avalon. Click here for their web site.

Beverly Wilshire: A Four Seasons Hotel

9500 Wilshire Boulevard

(310) 275-5200
If you want fancy and more expensive, these days I like the Four Season Beverly Wilshire. Since being taken over by The Four Seasons, this place has gone way up hill and I think an awesome choice. Take advantage of their free chauffeured Maserati or Rolls Royce. Pop down to Wofgang's Steakhouse, or check out The Avenue for great food. You almost feel like you're in New York. You can walk everywhere. I love it. Click here for the web site.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

9641 Sunset Boulevard

(310) 276-2251
If you want old school ( with modern amenities, of course), a great pool scene, cool restaurants (The Stools in the basement for breakfast and lunch, and The Polo Lounge for lunch and dinner), there's a new bar scene in the lobby and also tennis courts, if that interests you.
Click here for the web site.

SHOPPING

There's of course, Barneys, Neimans, Saks and all of the places on Rodeo Drive. I hardly go there. The places I love are:

THE CHEESE STORE OF BEVERLY HILLS.
This is the ultimate cheese shop. Adults freak over this tiny store on Beverly Drive. Kids freak out too: 'cause it's so smelly! You can smell the cheese from outside. I have a running joke with my kids that if they're bad, they'll get a time-out in this place.

JILL ROBERTS
My favorite boutique in BH. The best lines, nice girls that work there, sometimes some cool stuff for the kids.

WORKING OUT.

THE SPORTS CLUB/LA
Much smaller and therefor more intimate than the sister club on Sepulveda. This place has great classes, equipment, trainers, and a spa. Nice lockers rooms with only a wet steam – not dry. I like this place a lot, and I sometimes even come here to get away from the family and just take a nice long shower. Everything is super clean + a nice, plush towel. There is a snack bar slash restaurant, but I never go there -- it's on the opposite side of the entrance and somehow not so inviting. One of the best classes is Shreadmill. Check out the teacher, Felix – he's got his own youtube channel: Click here.

Richard Slimmons Studio
Yes, you're reading this right -- Richard Simmons has a studio on one of my favorite streets in Beverly Hills, Civic Center Drive. Richard still teaches here and his classes are packed – the other classes super mellow but very effective. It's a very simple studio, with easy parking and I really love it. Check out Richard on Letterman:

SPAS

The Four Seasons Beverly Hills
For me nothing beats the Four Seasons.

Thibiant Beverly Hills Day Spa
The other place I like for massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

Need a car wash??
Beverly Hills Hand Wash
427 N Crescent Drive (310) 274-0885
The killer thing about this place is that you are having lunch at La Scala or Porta Via you can park here, get your car washed for under twenty bucks and save five bucks from valet parking. It's a block away from those restaurants, they do a great job. A total no-brainer.

Go to a park.
Coldwater Canyon Park
1100 N Beverly Dive (310) 550-4625
My favorite. Very clean, easy parking, peaceful. There's even a stream for the kids to play in.

FASHIONOLOGYLA
342 N. Canon
The Build a Bear experience, but with clothing, perfect for girls between four and twelve. The idea is to pick a garment, design it on a computer. Decorate with sequins, rhinestones, charms and iron-ons. Then at the end you do a mini fashion show and have you photo emailed to you and screened for the store. They do birthday parties and it's a totally happening experience.
NOTE: Kids love the sushi bar next door -- Luckyfish -- it's conveyor belt-style and pretty good.
Click here for the web site.

Take a hike.
Believe it or not there's GREAT hikes in Beverly Hills. I like to go to Franklin Canyon. There's lake to walk around (the opening to "The Andy Griffith Show" was shot here!) and a nice mountain to hike up. Click here.

MUSEUMS
The Paley Center for Media
(formerly The Museum of Television and Radio)
465 North Beverly Drive (310) 786-1025
Wanna go check out the pilot for "The Monkees" or any other show ever?!
Click here for the web site.

Jill's Guide: Beverly Hills

First of all, get something to eat.

Where to stay and what to do.