Shopping & Beauty Rodeo Drive Guide

As iconic as the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive continues to attract tourists, celebrities and serious shoppers to this three-block den of decadence. Characterized as upscale or snobbish—depending on perspective and tax bracket—Rodeo Drive offers split personas: It's a shopping mecca for the rich and famous (and their stylists) and a window-shopping tourist trap.

Notably Chic

Rodeo's old-school luxury got a youthquake of modernity with the opening of some remarkable stores.

Prada Epicenter

More avant-garde art gallery than boutique, Prada's third Epicenter features mannequins that are visible through portholes in the floor, a stairway sprouting legs, and changing room walls that go from clear to opaque with a single touch.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors brings classic style to a street known for vulgar excess. And versatile? Kors sold the same dress to Carmen Electra, Park Avenue princess Nan Kempner and TV presenter Molly Sims.

Dolce & Gabbana

In June 2004, Dolce & Gabbana gave its women's store a mate by opening its first stateside men's store. The Adam to the store's Eve is equipped with a VIP private fitting room equipped with a wet bar for celeb clientele. Martinis with your suit, Mr. del Toro?

Gucci

Although Tom Ford has descended from the Gucci throne, the label continues to define sartorial sexiness. The boutique itself is stark and heavily guarded, adding to its luridness.

Versace

With its new redesign, the House of Versace's Rodeo Drive store is as bright and sleek as Donatella's hair.

Classics

Some things never go out of style.

Tiffany & Co.

Did you hear? The company is chucking its signature baby-blue color for fuchsia. Just kidding. Classic to the point of being vanilla, Tiffany is still the standard when it comes to designer diamonds, sterling silver jewelry, and upscale household accessories. The three-story boutique adds a New York-style haven to this very West Coast address.

Ralph Lauren

With its signature Polo shirts, which have seen a rise in popularity with the resurrection of the '80s preppy look, Ralph Lauren continues to embody the socialite lifestyle of the have-mores.

Theodore

The last independently owned store on Rodeo, Theodore has evolved beyond its early notoriety for hot sales girls to a haven for avant garde designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Alexander McQueen and People of the Labyrinth. The store also offers sportswear from Plein Sud to Theory—and was one of the first stores to carry Seven jeans before everyone had to have a pair.

Cartier

The newly renovated two-story Cartier store is filled with classic designs and eye-popping, red carpet-worthy jewelry. The new bridal collection is enough to make any girl hear wedding bells.

Louis Vuitton

Thanks to Creative Director Marc Jacobs, the French luxury house has offered modern interpretations of its signature handbag styles from artists like Stephen Sprouse and Takashi Murakami. But the classic LV logo bags and luggage will always be in style among Beverly Hills housewives and their trendy daughters.

Stay a While

Don't be down and out on the streets of Beverly Hills. There are plenty of legendary and boutique hotels to rest your head on and around Rodeo Drive.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Yes. This is where Richard Gere paid Julia Roberts $3,000 to be his Pretty Woman. Even if you are not a hotel guest, you can indulge in afternoon high tea in the Lobby Lounge before heading back for more Rodeo shopping.

Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive

Leave the Bentley behind—this hotel is on Rodeo itself.

Beverly Hills Hotel

It'd be hard to overestimate the historical importance of this hotel, it's the Hotel California as pictured on the Eagles' album cover. Nicknamed the "Pink Palace" for its exterior, the hotel houses a new spa by La Prairie; the much-older Polo Lounge, a well-cased out Rat Pack stomping ground; and a pool that Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford once graced.

The Crescent

This hotel would impress any out-of-towner in need of plasma-screen TVs and deluxe Italian linens, but the Dodd Mitchell-designed Boe restaurant also draws locals.

The Peninsula

Designed in the manner of an elegant private residence, the award-winning Peninsula Beverly Hills is a highly personalized luxury hotel catering to everyone from top celebs to the everyman (as "everyman" as it gets in Beverly Hills, anyway).

Eat

The old-school Hollywood hang-outs within olive-throwing distance of Rodeo drew the Sinatras of their day—and still attract today's starlets.

Mastro's

Mastro's embraces classic steakhouse traditions as warmly as it welcomes the moneyed clientele that frequents it.

Spago Beverly Hills

With executive chef Lee Hefter, Wolfgang Puck plays the starring role at his multi-million dollar set/restaurant, welcoming many guest stars, special appearances and, of course, extras.

Nate 'n Al Delicatessen

This Jewish deli has remained the same since 1945, becoming a local landmark and a home away from home to everyone from Larry King to Mike Myers.

La Dolce Vita

This classic Italian mainstay was the restaurant of choice for the Sinatras, the Reagans, and the Douglases. With places like Chasen's and Perino's long gone, it's one of the last bastions of old-school dining in LA.

Mr. Chow

Hollywood has been chowing down on healthy Chinese food here since 1974. Today such tabloid fodder as Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Wilmer Valderrama, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been seen and photographed at the restaurant. Actual eating was never chronicled but speculated to have happened.