2 Best Places to Shop in Los Angeles, California

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.

Magnolia Park Shopping District

Burbank

Melrose Avenue might be Los Angeles’s most well-known vintage shopping destination, but Burbank’s Magnolia Park Merchants shopping district gives it a run for its money. Spanning several blocks on Magnolia Boulevard with some stores on scattered side streets, this revitalized area of independent boutiques, self-care purveyors, cafés, and eateries has a small-town feel and easy parking that Melrose lacks. It's heavy on well-stocked vintage, thrift, and antiques shops—Junk For Joy, Best of Times Antiques, Studio Hope, The Holding Company, Chance Vintage, Yes Baby! (which has a secret arcade in back), The Blue Pig, Hive & Hanger (owned by a beekeeper out to educate the public), and Playclothes Vintage.

But there's also an occult apothecary (The Crooked Path), vinyl vendor (Run Out Groove Records), a sourdough bakery (Random Acts of Breadness), a collection of comic books and pop culture collectables (Blast From The Past), jewelers (Stay Home Friend), a horror and paranormal museum/oddities gift shop/bookstore/goth clothing boutique (The Mystic Museum), a throwback video store that holds screenings (Be Kind Video), and a plant nursery (Tansy). There's even a vintage and makers' mall with a cat-themed section and adoptable kittens in the window (Catnip Coalition).

Third Street Promenade

Santa Monica

There is no shortage of spots to shop everything from sporting goods to trendy fashions on this pedestrian-friendly strip. Outposts here are mainly of the chain-but-cool variety (think Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie), and in between splurging on books, clothing, sneakers, and more, shoppers can pop into one of the many eateries, watch street performers and artists do their thing, or even catch a movie at one of the theaters. Additionally, the chef-approved Farmers Market takes over twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday), and with the beach just a few steps away, the destination is a quintessential California stop.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

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