By Blair Chang
Marmont Manor: Minutes from the famed Chateau Marmont and with all the charm and serenity of an English countryside estate, this is the rarest of properties in Los Angeles. » View Listing
The Sunset Strip/ West Hollywood has quietly become the “It” place to live in Los Angeles over the past 5 years with the crown jewel being the “Bird” Streets. The celebrity quotient, sleek modern houses with jetliner views, as well as the proximity to great shopping and restaurants have aided in it’s appeal. Once a sleepy area, the Sunset Strip now rivals Malibu’s Carbon Beach for the highest price per sq foot in the city. Last year the highest recorded in Los Angeles took place on a newly constructed modern home on the former Ricardo Montalban estate. It sold for a staggering $39 million dollars.
A perfect day would be to roll out of bed at one of the three great hotels: The legendary Chateau Marmont, the modernist Mondrian or the urban chic SLS.
My first stop would be Urth Caffé for coffee on Melrose, followed by a stack of pancakes at the Griddle. After breakfast I’d head over to Runyon to work it all off. Runyon Canyon offers a unique canyon experience and it hosts many walkers and runners everyday. It truly offers some of the best views of the city.
My afternoon would consist of lunch at one of the many restaurants in the Sunset Plaza which offers countless choices such as Café Med, Les Petit Four, Clafloutis and Chin Chin. If none of those suit your palate, you can stop by Mel’s for an all American Burger, shake and fries. Lunch is followed by shopping at H. Lorenzo, Oliver Peoples and Westime.
For dinner I have several choices. Rivabella for Italian, and BOA for a great steak, or the old staples the Palm and Dan Tanas. After dinner I’d head to Laurel Hardware, the Tower Bar, Whiskey Bar or the Chateau Marmont for a night cap to end an amazing day.
