20240713_085605Beverly Hills sign (July 2024)

When one thinks of Beverly Hills, some words which come to mind are: opulent, flashy, and perhaps a bit snobby. Beverly Hills is, without a doubt, a famous neighborhood in Los Angeles, made popular through many films and TV shows that showcase a rich and frivolous lifestyle that one can only dream about. While living here may not be achievable for most of us, it’s definitely worth exploring while in LA.

Beverly Hills was originally used as a ranch in 1828 by Maria Rita Quinteros de Valdez, a ranchera who owned the Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas. After giving it off to American agricultural proprietors (who farmed lima beans) and later acquired by the Amalgamated Oil Company in search of oil in 1900 (and without success), Beverly Hills became a planned community in 1906. Its name comes from the Beverly Farms in Massachusetts, due to the hills throughout the city.

Originally, Beverly Hills had restrictive laws that catered to an all-white community– it was prohibited for non-whites and Jews to own or rent homes in the city. Not a great moment in the city’s history, but the restrictive laws became ineffective starting the late 1940s, when many black actors (including Ethel Waters) and Jewish businessmen began settling in Beverly Hills. It eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling (Shelley v. Kraemer) in 1948, which deemed racially-restrictive housing illegal. Since then, the city has become more racially-diverse, including a wave of Iranian immigration in the 1970s following the Islamic Revolution.

The city is located on what’s called the “Westside,” surrounded by other affluent neighborhoods like Bel-Air and the Hollywood Hills. Because of its prestigious reputation, Beverly Hills has been a popular backdrop for plenty of films and TV shows, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Pretty Woman and, my personal favorite, Troop Beverly Hills. It’s all about status and wealth in this city, as tourists come just to experience the overwhelming opulence throughout town.

*Also, I can’t emphasize just how iconic Troop Beverly Hills is as a film. It’s a cult-classic, and who wouldn’t want to jam out to “Cookie Time?”

Beverly Hills isn’t a place to stay for too long, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to Los Angeles. Besides strolling parts like Rodeo Drive and its parallel Beverly Drive, it’s more of a walk-through to get the overall vibes, to gawk at the abundance of high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and Prada and the occasional Bugatti racing through the streets. However, perhaps as a repeated and extended visit to LA, the city is worth spending at least a day in to understand it all.

I would start the visit with a quick pass-through of the Beverly Gardens Park, with the iconic “Beverly Hills” sign by the fountain. It is an ultra-popular spot for visitors to take photos, as a way to be welcomed into the city itself. Getting there early in the day is imperative, especially if you want a photo without any people– I can imagine that it gets swarmed later in the day!

20240713_085605I got here early enough to take a photo without any people!

Just a few blocks down is the iconic Rodeo Drive (pronounced “roh-DAY-oh”), considered one of the most expensive streets in the world. Although the total road stretches for two miles (3.2 kilometers), only three blocks of it are famous for their high-end stores. Luxury brands like Gucci, Versace, and Burberry are right next to each other, and one can’t help but window-shop and dream about affording these items some day.

20240713_084811Rodeo Drive

20240713_084147Two Rodeo Drive (see the European influence?)

Surrounding Rodeo Drive are several small streets with boutique stores and al-fresco restaurants to enjoy after a long day of shopping (in one’s dreams…). One of my personal favorite areas is the Beverly Cañon Gardens, a small green courtyard near the fancy, five-star Maybourne Hotel: there’s plenty of seating outdoors to enjoy a coffee to-go and to enjoy the vibes. Even better is that the Beverly Hills Public Parking is adjacent to it, which allows up to two hours free parking!

20240713_083301Beverly Cañon Gardens

20240713_081617Enjoying an einspänner and matcha donut in the courtyard

20240713_083244“Beverly Hills is beautiful”

Another worthwhile landmark to check out requires a bit of a drive away from Beverly Hills’s commercial hub– take your car on a drive up the winding and palm tree-studded North Beverly Drive (it will feel like a movie scene!) before a right turn on the equally-iconic Sunset Boulevard and through the sinuous residential streets to Greystone Mansion.

20240713_085831Iconic palm trees on N Beverly Drive

Built in 1928, the Greystone Mansion was a gift from Edward L. Doheny, an oil tycoon, to his son Ned Doheny and his family. However, four months after the family moved into the home, Ned was killed in a murder-suicide by his secretary, Hugh Plunkett. Lucy, the wife and now-widow, continued to live in the home until 1955 before selling it to estate developers. The mansion was almost considered to be demolished in 1963, but the city of Beverly Hills acquired it in 1965, thus saving it, and today is now a historic landmark open to the public. Visitors are free to walk around the well-kept gardens and admire the mansion’s Tudor Revival architecture. Once a month, Greystone Mansion is open to inside tours, and one can enter to see the lovely interior of the Doheny home– I was fortunate to visit during the holiday season, when the mansion was decorated in festive cheer!

20241221_132250Greystone Mansion grounds

20241221_132634At the gardens

20241221_132804Tall hedges (popular for photoshoots!)

20241221_131618Foyer of Greystone Mansion during the holidays

Overall, Beverly Hills is synonymous with the filthy-rich, and one can evidently see it in many pockets of the city. Even if it is a place far-removed from the reality of everyday residents in the rest of Los Angeles, it nevertheless is a symbol of a status and success in the big city, and it is a world renown place to take a gander and live like a celebrity– even if only for a day.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a good day! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

53 thoughts on “Lost in LA: Beverly Hills”

  2. Still waiting for a film star to invite me. Might be a long wait…but in any case, my agenda is soooo full….. so there! (Well ….. I at least I was able to enjoy your post.)

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  3. An often overlooked aspect of BH is that, instead of red, the fire hydrants are painted silver. I’d recommend looking for the Wedding Cake house and the witches’ house (can’t remember what it’s actually called).

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      1. We used to drive by the houses in the late 80s. I think they’re pretty close to each other. I learned about the hydrants when I took the TMZ Tour (expensive but really fun!).

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  7. We went on a little walk around Rodeo Drive when we visited LA and it felt like being in a theme park ahah! I didn’t know we could visit some mansions, that seems so coool! I think it is quite unusual in Europe to have this high concentration of such wealthy houses, shops and street), so it was definitely a surreal experience!

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    1. True, Rodeo Drive does feel like a theme park– surreal, indeed! LA is such a huge city (and county) that there are pockets of wealth throughout, BH included. BH has plenty of mansions, and I hope you can visit BH again to see them!

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  9. Such a well-rounded and insightful post! I love how you captured Beverly Hills beyond the glitz—sharing its history, complex past, and iconic spots like Greystone Mansion really adds depth. The mix of luxury shopping, scenic drives, and hidden gems like Beverly Cañon Gardens makes it clear why it’s a must-see for any LA visitor. Also, big yes to Troop Beverly Hills — total cult classic vibes! Thanks for the great guide, Rebecca.

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  10. I will probably go to Beverly Hills only if I have an ample amount of time to spend in LA. But it’s interesting to see how this part of the metropolis is like through your photos.

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    1. I agree! BH isn’t a must-see if it’s your first time in LA, but even a drive-through (perhaps on your way to other places in West LA), is worth a go. There’s so much to LA that BH only scratches the surface! Hope you can come visit some day 🙂

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  12. A lovely guide to Beverly Hills Rebecca. It was very quiet when we visited and surprisingly no-one was at the iconic sign on the afternoon we were there, think it was off season. I haven’t heard of the manor house but it looks really beautiful so I’ll remember it for a return visit if we head back that way!

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    1. Thanks, Marion! Interesting that not many people were in BH in the afternoon– perhaps visiting off-season was the right call! There are some hidden gems in this opulent city (Greystone Mansion included), and I hope you can return to LA to check it out!

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    1. Indeed! BH is a rich and vibrant neighborhood worth exploring in LA. It’s always fascinating to learn about the history of the different places in the city (and county). Thanks for reading, Darlene!

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  14. This is such a wonderful guide to Beverly Hills, Rebecca. I would be very happy to stroll through the streets, admiring the architecture and exploring the Golden Triangle district. I love the look and the feel of the Greystone Mansion grounds as they seem to offer beautiful and well-manicured gardens, scenic views of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, and a chance to experience a peaceful oasis in a busy city. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Thanks, Aiva! BH is a lovely little part of LA, but best explored early or off-season for less crowds. I hope you get to come over to LA to check it out for yourself! 😊

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    1. Indeed! BH has a fun vibe to stroll around, enjoy a coffee or brunch, and otherwise dream about affording the high-end clothing and jewelry on Rodeo Drive. Thanks for reading, Elle 😊

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  18. Hollywood in Trump’s America is a fading glory of yesteryear. Even the film industry is dying due to a lack of patronage. It’s sad but at the same time, witnessing the dismantling of ostentatious wealth is probably a good thing.

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    1. I probably have to agree with you. I have noticed the film industry has been declining for some time, and Hollywood hasn’t been glorious for the past decade or so. Honestly, I don’t see the dismantling of wealth happening any time soon under the Trump administration: the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Shame to see the country going to hell like this.

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  19. Cool post! I have always wanted to visit Beverly Hills. It has a sort of fascinating mystique, being out of reach for the most of us! I like how your post captures some places that haven’t been in the movies. I like the shot of Two Rodeo Drive, in particular. I see what you mean about European influence, with the columns and the wrap-around corner. The courtyard looks like a lovely place for a break!

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    1. Beverly Hills is truly the epitome of gaudy wealth, something that’s only displayed in this little pocket of LA. Although a bit garish, BH is still worth some time spent to window shop and see what it’s all about! Thanks for reading 🙂

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  22. I used to watch Beverly Hills 90210 when I was in high school. Thank you for the tour! Though I’ve been to LA thrice, I don’t remember ever passing passing through Beverly Hills. I guess it’s because my stays have always been short and there were too many places to cover.

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    1. Nice! Beverly Hills 90210 is a classic. BH isn’t on everyone’s radar when visiting LA, and it’s true there are way too many places to see otherwise in town! Thanks for reading and coming along!

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  23. Interesting. I didn’t make it here when I was in LA. I think I’m okay with that, as I hate shopping and don’t really care about luxury brands and items. I think I’d have fun driving down N Beverly Drive, though. It definitely looks familiar to me. I’m thinking I’ve seen it in TV shows, and it would be fun to see it in person (spoken like a true non-Californian, I’m sure haha)

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    1. To be honest, Beverly Hills isn’t a must-see while in LA, as there are so many other neighborhoods worth checking out. However, should one have extra time, a pass-through BH isn’t a bad idea! Thanks for reading, Diana 😊

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