Taking a Los Angeles tour and seeing amazing places like Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood Walk of Fame can make you feel like you’re a celebrity in your own right, but that feeling disappears and is instantly replaced with shock and excitement when you randomly run into your favorite A-List actor or LA sports star. Since LA is packed with celebrities, you’re bound to at least run into someone famous just by casually walking around town or visiting a 5-star club or boutique, but if you’re really determined to run into as many celebrities as you can while visiting The City of Angels, then read our blog to find out where to see celebrities in LA!
Where to see celebrities in LA:
It doesn’t get more Hollywood than the iconic Chateau Marmont. This luxury hotel perches on the hillside above Sunset Boulevard and has long been a bastion for the most famous celebrities to lodge, dine, and take refuge from the hustle and bustle. You don’t have to reserve a room to enter this exclusive world; the restaurant is open to the public and actors can frequently be seen “taking a meeting” on the garden patio over lunch. Pull up a chair, order a salad, and casually glance around the other tables. If you don’t want to waste your time trying to find where to see celebrities in LA, then this is where you’ll want to go. There’s a good chance you’ll recognize a face or two—but don’t even think about snapping a photo of them. The Chateau has (and enforces) a strict no-camera policy.
Hollywood mainstay, the hotel on Hollywood Boulevard oozes old Hollywood glamour and you can almost hear the walls talking about all of the famous people that have stayed there. The Hollywood Hotel has several bars and restaurants–including a poolside bar—where celebrities come down from their suites to meet for drinks and dinner. Order a drink at the bar in the lobby, sit back, and see who walks by.
Don’t let the name fool you: The Grove is more ‘outdoor mall’ than ‘market’, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a farmer there. You’re much more likely to run into a celebrity shopping at one of the many upscale retail stores, or eating lunch al fresco. The Grove also hosts family-friendly activities – particularly around holidays – that stars bring their kids to. You might spot a familiar face or two at the adjacent Farmers Market, as well. The Grove is located where the historical farmers market once was, and a small part of it still remains. Stars are often seen strolling the market, buying flowers, and looking oh-so-down-to-earth.
The Studio City Farmers Market is actually a real farmers market. Located in close proximity to the homes of many stars, celebrities are often spotted here on Sunday mornings—so much so that the paparazzi are usually camped out nearby. With a petting zoo and pony rides for kids, plus dozens of vendors with fresh fruits and veggies, health-conscious stars and their families frequently make this market part of their weekend routine. Best of all, you can do your own shopping and enjoy the sunshine while scanning the crowd for famous faces. The market is open every Sunday, all year round.
There’s a reason TMZ is often staked out at the airport: they know the odds are in their favor to spot a celebrity arriving or departing. Look for a herd of paparazzi with their cameras and you’ll likely be sighting the celebrity they’re waiting for. If you get tired of waiting, take a break and check out the Airport Arts Exhibition Program at LAX with works on display in several terminals. And if hanging out at the airport all day doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, you can get there a little early the day you fly and hope to get lucky.
–Shauna Murray
2/28/2019
