Known for its sprawling mansions, thriving entertainment industry and palm-studded streets, Los Angeles is a natural celebrity habitat. Surrounded by such stardom, a photo opportunity could arise anywhere at any moment—from neon-lit cocktail bars to the local hair salon.
To give you the best chance of clapping eyes on Hollywood’s rich and famous on your next LA vacay, we’ve teamed up with LA Tourism—uncovering 10 of the top spots for celeb sightings. And remember: pics or it didn’t happen.
Musso & Frank
One of Hollywood's oldest restaurants, Musso & Frank has fed an impressive number of Hollywood icons over the years—and starred in an equally impressive number of its films. Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart and F. Scott Fitzgerald were all known to enjoy a martini or two at the polished wood counter back in the day, while these days it's said to be a favourite of Jack Nicholson, Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Park up at one of the cosy leather booths, keep your eyes peeled, and enjoy that old-Hollywood hospitality.
Franklin Village
Dubbed by locals as the new Hills, Franklin Village is known for its eclectic, arty shopping strips packed with bookstores, coffee shops and boutique grocers. The bustling, walkable streets give it a down-to-earth, neighbourhood feel—just with the Hollywood Sign as a backdrop. This laid-back vibe has drawn celebs like Kaia Gerber, Austin Butler and Amanda Seyfried, who you might spot perusing organic market cafes or hanging out at the go-to spot for Hollywood creatives, Birds.
Hollywood Roosevelt
Situated amongst the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt. Built in 1927, this hotel was once the home of Marilyn Monroe, and the host of the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony. While its luxury accommodation suites and elegant cocktail lounges have since been renovated, the hotel’s classic Golden Era glamour remains—and provides the perfect backdrop for brushing shoulders with celebs.
Runyon Canyon And The Hollywood Hills
This popular hiking trail weaves 4.3km through the Hollywood Hills, skimming past celebrity-owned estates and mysteriously high fences. Stars like Keanu Reeves, Jessica Alba and Leonardo DiCaprio are known to reside in these parts, so it’s commonplace to spot a VIP hitting the trail for a workout. But keep your eyes peeled—from beneath the big sunnies, baseball caps and track pants, they might be a little harder to recognise.
Nobu Malibu
Nobody heads to Nobu for a low-profile lunch. As arguably one of the most famous and exclusive restaurants in the country, it’s a magnet for celebrity diners—which is why paparazzi are constantly parked outside, waiting to score a snap.
Co-owned by Robert de Niro, Nobu put Japanese-Peruvian cuisine on the map in the mid-90s, and became the hotspot for ‘it girls’ like Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in the early ‘00’s. Famous faces aside, your biggest issue will be securing a table. Reservations are hard to come by and can only be made via phone call, up to one month in advance.
Dover Street Market
Inside this understated white warehouse lies a treasure trove of luxury labels and slick streetwear donned by Hollywood's fashion royalty. Grab a coffee and peruse Dover Street Market's 15,000 square-foot industrial space to pick up killer fits from Comme des Garçons, Gucci, Balenciaga, Raf Simons and Sacai. Rumour has it a swathe of stars have shopped between the market's four walls, from Naomi Campbell to Kylie Jenner, Frank Ocean and Pharrell.
Crossroads
The original Crossroads Kitchen is located on Melrose Avenue, but the hugely popular plant-based restaurant expanded to Calabasas—home of the Kardashian empire—in 2022.
Co-owned by Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, the upscale venue isn’t obviously vegan—but there’s no mistaking its role as a celebrity hangout. Kardashian viewers might recognise the restaurant from Barker’s surprise birthday party episode—where guests including Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox dined alongside the royal family of reality TV.
Palisades Village
The Pacific Palisades is the second most expensive zip code in Los Angeles—attracting VIP residents like Jennifer Garner, Adam Sandler, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Bradley Cooper and Anthony Hopkins.
And while most of us head to the local Westfield for a shopping trip, their go-to is Palisades Village—a beautiful outdoor shopping mall surrounded by manicured lawns, cascading fountains and paved walkways. There are loads of boutiques and fresh food retailers to browse while waiting to spy a celeb. But if all else fails, you can catch them on screen at Bay Theatre, which you’ll find within the Village complex.
Fanny's
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially has its own museum, celebrating the extraordinary impact of the film industry and Hollywood's glitzy heydays. While the museum regularly hosts events for cinephiles and Hollywood film industry folk, its opulent restaurant Fanny’s is a sublime spot to spy a film star laying low. Pull up at the bar for a stiff martini—who knows who you’ll end up sitting next to.
Madame Tussauds
Unwilling to leave your celebrity sightings to chance? At Madame Tussauds you’ll be guaranteed the opportunity to pose with your favourite stars—from on-screen sirens and sporting heroes to music legends like Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and Lil Nas X. For faster-paced thrills, check out the museum’s new Marvel Universe and Robot Riot—a 7D immersive laser game that takes participants on a mission to save the streets of Hollywood from alien robot invasion.
Ready to plan your star-studded adventure to LA? Chase those unscripted moments and unforgettable experiences that you can only find in Tinseltown—and find your perfect itinerary with LA Tourism.
Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with LA Tourism. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.
Images: LA Tourism, Runyon Canyon, Nobu Malibu, Dover Street Market, Palisades Village And Fanny's