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Los Angeles's close association to the rich and famous has long made it a major shopping destination, but in recent years the city has grown beyond just a locale for luxe clothing and accessories—although high-end goods will always be a cornerstone of L.A.'s retail scene. With a wealth of stellar vintage spots, purveyors of affordable on-the-pulse products, and an ever-growing number shops selling local, artisanal goods, there is truly something for every type of spender here.
No matter what it is you're shopping for, L.A.'s consistently sunny and warm weather also means you can often hunt for wares in the open air, whether it be at a flea market full of hidden treasures, or a street lined with boutiques to explore. As you stroll, good eateries are never too far away, and you can always find somewhere delicious to dine and covertly star-watch.
If in fact you are in the celebrity-studded city to catch a glimpse of a famous face or two, you may want to start at their mecca, Beverly Hills, where a bevy of major designers' outposts and impeccably curated stores cater to upcale clientele.
After getting your fix there, you can hop into your car and absorb the city’s other varied offerings, including down-and-dirty bargains in Downtown, dozens of well-designed boutiques lining Venice's famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard, or mint-condition vintage fashions in Los Feliz.
Hollywood vintage hunters and collectors love this hip open-air market. You're likely to find recycled rock T-shirts or some vinyl to complete your collection, in addition to antique furniture and quirky arts and crafts. This popular market is open from 9 am to 5 pm every Sunday—rain or shine—at Fairfax High School's parking lot and admission is $6 at entrance.
Known as the birthplace of Los Angeles, this redbrick walkway is lined with historic buildings and overhung with grapevines. At dozens of clapboard stalls you can browse south-of-the-border goods—leather sandals, woven blankets, and devotional candles, as well as cheap toys and souvenirs—and sample outstanding tacos. With the musicians and cafés providing the soundtrack, the area is constantly lively. Annual events include a tree-lighting ceremony and Día de los Muertos celebrations.
Remember when toys didn't require batteries or apps? This old-fashioned shop (for ages 10 and under) sparks children's imaginations with dress-up clothes, science-oriented gifts, picture books, and hand-painted wooden toys by brands like Poan and Haba.
A local fixture in Highland Park for decades, Galco's is in some ways a trip down memory lane, carrying more than 600 sodas—most of which harken back to the days when soda was a regional affair—and options from all over the world. They also have a collection of retro candies, a soda creation station with more than 100 syrups to choose from, and a selection of alcohol that would put most liquor stores to shame.
Among L.A.’s many farmers' markets, the Hollywood Farmers' Market is one of the most well-known. This family-friendly, open-air market, which has been around for more than 34 years, is also the city’s largest with more than 160 local producers and farmers touting their seasonal yields every Sunday. Start your day right and stop by to shop organic, locally grown produce, see live music, and sample some delicious California fare.
This self-described "tiny toy shop" fails to mention that it is also a beautifully curated jewel box of a tiny toy shop. Along with trendy toys, this sunny, well-organized space offers a wide range of kids' books, plushies, accessories, musical instruments, science and craft kits, scooters, puzzles, art, holiday cookie kits and seasonal decorations, and more.
The corner of Ventura and Coldwater—the former site of a legendary old Hollywood hangout called Sportsmen's Lodge—is hopping once again with the arrival of this sleek open-air collection of shops, restaurants, and wellness providers. After a stint in the hyperbaric oxygen pod, grab one of those extravagant Erewhon smoothies people are constantly talking about on social media and peruse the racks of athleisure at Vuori, Hoka, FP Movement, and Alo. After attending a Ikebana or fairy terrarium workshop at Rolling Greens nursery, sit under the redwoods (a holdover from the hotel's heyday) or alongside the water feature to enjoy nibbles from L.A. staples like Kismet Rotisserie, Sugarfish, Hi-Ho Burgers, Uovo, or Winston's Pies.
Silver Lake’s decent sized farmers' market is undeniably Silver Lake. Alongside growers’ tents selling their freshest harvests—either locally grown or certified organic, of course—are tables displaying healing crystals, vintage cassette tapes, and treasures from far-flung parts of the world like Ghana and India. There are also racks of secondhand clothing, and stalls cooking up something delicious and vegan.
You probably won’t find anything useful in the Time Travel Mart, and that’s exactly the point. From dinosaur eggs to robot milk, this is a store that touts the absurdly hilarious—all of which should bring back memories of your childhood and maybe a little bit of joy. That's because the store holds a secret: it’s really a fundraiser for the nonprofit 826LA, which tutors neighborhood kids in the back section. So buy something unnecessary but absolutely wonderful, for a worthy cause.
This mall that sits between Beverly Hills and Brentwood is home to dozens of great stores, restaurants, and a massive movie theater. The best options here include L.A.'s iteration of Eataly, the ultimate Italian market; Din Tai Fung, an award-winning dumpling house; and Shake Shack, the famous East Coast burger joint. Some unique stores include a Tesla showroom, a Peloton shop, and the new Venus et Fleur flower boutique.
Shopping malls and The Valley are forever linked thanks to Valley Girl and other iconic '80s flicks. If you feel your trip to the 818 isn't complete without a shopping spree, this is the best of those bastions of capitalism still standing due to a recent renovation, the best collection of high-end designers in town after Rodeo Drive (Balenciaga, Jimmy Choo, Bottega Veneta, Christian Dior, Hermes, Tiffany), a med spa, and L.A.'s biggest Nordstrom. The state-of-the-art movie theater has a bar and concessions delivered to your seat. Pinstripes offers bowling and bocce. Topanga Social, a huge food hall, is brimming with trusted local proprietors like Jinya Ramen, Amboy burgers, Katsu Sando, Slab, and singer Christina Milian's Beignet Box.
