the best of california

food+drink
The
Best of
California
From unique boutiques to unbeatable burgers, 124 of the precious things
that make the Golden State synonymous with the good life
C 00
square one: LEAH REID; MIETTE CAKES: © 2006 Frankie Frankeny, FrankenyImages.com; PROVIDENCE: Jennifer Cheung Photography; manresa: Justin Lewis
Lunch Counter
One sip of an egg
cream at the leafy-green
palm-wallpapered
Fountain Coffee Room at
the Beverly Hills Hotel is
a passport to the 1950s.
Agents and power
players swivel in retro
pink stools at this
underground dinette
for nosh classics:
burgers, French toast
and O.J. squeezed
before your very eyes—
in a real press—all
since 1949. 9641 Sunset
Blvd., Beverly Hills,
310-276-2251;
beverlyhillshotel.com.
Sweet Spot
The pastries are
elegant edible art at
Extraordinary Desserts,
Karen Krasne’s sleek
San Diego cafe.
To pause with a cup of
gourmet organic tea
and a chocolate
macadamia torte is
sugary serenity. 2929
Fifth Ave., 619-294-2132,
and 1430 Union St.,
San Diego, 619-294-7001;
extraordinarydesserts.com.
Afternoon Tea
Leisurely tea at the
recently renovated Lobby
Lounge of The RitzCarlton, Huntington Hotel
& Spa is a tradition for
old-school Pasadenites.
Chef Craig Strong’s
adorable bites—from
egg-caviar mousses to
cucumber and boursin on
brioche—are perfect with
a flute of Champagne (or
orchid oolong, take your
pick). 1401 S. Oak Knoll
Ave., Pasadena, 626-5683900; ritzcarlton.com.
Steakhouse
Beyond exquisite meat
and tempting side dishes,
the perfect steakhouse
has to have a certain
ambiance of tradition
and quality. Lucky’s
in Montecito feels like a
low-key clubhouse for
serious social players—
and has the impeccable
menu to match.
1279 Coast Village Rd.,
Montecito, 805-565-7540.
Top 5 Taquerias
Californians are spoiled
by superlative Mexican
food throughout the
state. Here, five best bets
for a taco fix: Yuca’s, Los
Feliz. This James Beard
Award-winner has been
serving Yucatan-style
cochinita pibil tacos and
burritos since 1976. 2056
Hillhurst Ave., 323-6621214; yucasla.com.
Lotería Grill, L.A. Stop
in for a cooling rice
milk horchata against
the sizzle of carne
deshebrada tacos. Don’t
miss Sunday chilaquiles
to nurse any kind of
hangover. 6333 Third St.,
323-930-2211.
La Super-Rica, Santa
Barbara. This breezy
(and delicious) dive was
a favorite of Santa
Barbara’s own Julia
Child. 622 N. Milpas,
805-963-4940.
Papalote Mexican Grill,
San Francisco. The
“market price”
guacamole and fiery
house salsa are Mission
favorites. 3409
24th St., 415-970-8815.
El Gallito, Cathedral
City. Michael Stern
(king of road food) raves
about this landmark
where the Thursday
carnitas and Friday mole
are made with plenty
of love. 68820 Grove St.,
760-328-7794.
Breakfast
An understated cafe on
the edge of Los Feliz,
Square One Dining has
developed a welldeserved following for its
pitch-perfect morning
menu. Look for
impossibly light pressed
egg sandwiches on
house-made brioche
toast and market-fresh
fruit salads. 4854
Fountain Ave., Los
Angeles, 323-661-1109;
squareonedining.com.
Candy Store
If a Snickers isn’t
satisfying, go for the
nostalgia of Powell’s
Sweet Shoppe, a trip
down memory lane in
Windsor (a few miles
from Santa Rosa).
Imagine lollipops in
rainbow colors and a
selection (miles of
licorice) far beyond the
mall candy store.
Check out the display of
antique Candy Land
boards, too. 720
McClelland Dr., Windsor,
707-836-0808;
powellssweetshoppe.com.
Patisserie
Bakers Meg Ray and
Caitlin Williams first met
at the Ferry Plaza
Farmers’ Market in 2001,
where a shared love for
organic, exquisitely made
sweets brought them
together to form Miette
Cakes. These days, their
pink patisserie serves its
pop-art-esque cakes—
tartlets and Laduréestyle macarons—a stone’s
throw from that farmers’
market inside the gourmet
mecca Ferry Building.
415-837-0300;
miettecakes.com.
Haute Seafood
There were murmurs in
2005, when chef Michael
Cimarusti opened
Providence in the former
space of Patina, that
his new restaurant had
a few culinary spirits to
exorcise. But with
Cimarusti turning out
creative dishes like the
Maine Lobster Bloody
Mary, the immeasurably
talented chef has not
only cleaned house
but has also vaulted
Providence to the top of
L.A.’s elite cuisine scene.
5955 Melrose Ave., L.A.,
323-460-4170.
Martini
For more than 40 years,
this West Hollywood
Italian eatery—which
feels, with its cozy red
leather banquettes and
waiters in tuxedos, more
like a clubhouse—has
been the celebrity
hangout of choice. And
besides Dan Tana’s juicy,
perfectly cooked steaks
and heaping plates of
spaghetti, its raison
d’être may very well be
its martinis. They’re icy
cold and super smooth—
just the way Frank and
the rest of the Rat
Pack would have them.
9071 Santa Monica Blvd.,
WeHo, 310-275-9444;
dantanasrestaurant.com.
Square One Dining
Urth Caffé
Dan Tana’s
Oysters
Since 1912, Swan Oyster
Depot, a San Francisco
seafood institution, has
been serving raw oysters
and thick Boston clam
chowder to crowds
who create daytime
pedestrian traffic jams
on Polk Street. Little
more than a long counter
with barstools, the Depot
takes no reservations,
but its convivial
atmosphere and delicious
shellfish make the wait
worthwhile. 1517 Polk St.,
S.F., 415-673-1101.
Chinese Banquet
In the San Gabriel Valley,
east of Los Angeles,
authentic Chinese
restaurants are easy to
come by. But Triumphal
Palace, with its latticescreen windows and
chic modern decor, is the
only place to properly
hold a beautiful Hong
Kong-style banquet. Order
the suckling pig for a
grand occasion, but don’t
forget the lamb chops in
honey sauce and the spicy
chile chicken wings to
ensure double happiness.
500 W. Main St.,
Alhambra, 626-308-3222.
Miette Cakes
Providence
Swan Oyster Depot
Manresa
Pizza
Yuca’s
Chez Panisse alum
Charlie Hallowell brought
Lotería Grill
C 00
New York’s got its bagels,
and Maryland can claim
crab cakes, but California
is unquestionably the
promised land when it
comes to hamburgers.
From pint-sized sliders in
the desert to a towering
triumph of toppings in
Santa Monica, the state’s
best burgers come in a
wide range of shapes and
sizes. Tyler’s, Palm Springs.
Just two-inches wide, but
piled high with grilled
onions, these sliders are
a revelation. 149 S. Indian
Canyon Dr., 760-325-2990.
Apple Pan, Los Angeles.
A lightly grilled bun and
a smoky special sauce
set this classic apart.
10801 W. Pico Blvd.,
310-475-3585. Father’s
Office, Santa Monica. The
ultimate deluxe burger,
with applewood smoked
bacon, caramelized onions,
Gruyère and blue cheese
on top. 1018 Montana Ave.,
310-393-2337. Taylor’s
Refresher, St. Helena. A
perfect pitstop in the
middle of wine country.
933 Main St., 707-9633486. In ‘n’ Out, Statewide.
This Irvine-based California
original still sticks to
what it does best: simply
delicious burgers made
with the utmost attention
to freshness. in-n-out.com.
C 64
Tasting Menu
When the venerable
Michelin Guide finally
awarded stars to
Bay Area restaurants in
vide, is bound to agree.
6640 Washington St.,
Yountville, 707-944-2380;
frenchlaundry.com.
Restaurant that isn’t
The progressive, creative
French-Catalan fare of
chef David Kinch at
Manresa is well worth the
detour to picturesque
Los Gatos—especially
when it’s cooked in his
brown butter sauce. In a
Latte
In this age of ubiquitous
so-so “luxury” coffee
drinks, it’s eye opening
to sip one of Urth Caffé’s
rich, expertly crafted
lattes. The espresso is
robust, the foam
perfectly light and
pillowy, and the
temperature hot, but
never scalding.
8565 Melrose Ave., L.A.,
310-659-0628; 267 S.
Beverly Dr., B.H., 310205-9311; 2327 Main St.,
S.M., 310-314-7040.
Undiscovered Sushi
While Japanese cuisine
aficionados flock to
more famous raw fish
restaurants, one of
the most exquisite
omakase menus can
be found at the
unassuming Sushi Spot,
a diminutive strip
mall venue deep in the
San Fernando Valley.
19658 Ventura Blvd.,
Tarzana, 818-345-8651.
French Laundry
late 2006, superstar
chef Thomas Keller’s
French Laundry was the
only establishment
bestowed three,
Michelin’s highest
distinction. Anyone
who has trekked to
Yountville to experience
Keller’s storied
nine-course tasting
menu, with its
unforgettable Oysters
and Pearls
(“sabayon” of
tapioca with
Beau Soleil
oysters and
Russian Sevruga
caviar) and
succulent Maine
lobster tail
cooked sous
charming historic home
updated with culinary
bells and whistles, expect
pure flavors and pristine
local ingredients from a
European-trained,
surfing chef-owner whose
inventive tasting menus
can only be described as
fresh, focused and
flawless. 320 Village Ln.,
Los Gatos, 408-354-4330;
manresarestaurant.com.
Heirloom tomatoes
St. Pat Cheese
Frozen treat
Consider it good news
that, thanks to rapid
expansion, there is by
Meyer lemons
5
Top
French Laundry
Roadside Pitstop
For well-heeled San
Franciscans, zipping to
and from Lake Tahoe
on the I-80 is not
complete without a stop
at Ikedas, a superb
combo gourmet market,
fruit stand and burger
bar. 13500 Lincoln Way,
Auburn, 530-885-4243;
ikedas.com.
Classic Car Show
san jacinto: Courtesy California State Parks, 2006; walt disney concert hall exterior: courtesy of the Music Center of Los
Angeles County/interior: Federico Zignani; san diego zoo: Ken Bohn; golden gate state park: phillip coblentz, carol simowitz,
jerry lee hayes: all courtesy sfcvb; hammer museum: Elon Schoenholz, courtesy Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Burgers
now likely a Pinkberry
frozen yogurt store
within walking distance
of wherever you are
reading this magazine.
Believe the hype: The
tangy, smooth dessert
is simply that good.
pinkberry.com.
french laundry: Deborah Jones; heirloom tomatoes and meyer lemons: istockphoto.com
5
Top
good pizza to CA when
he opened Pizzaiolo, a
Neapolitan-style
pizzeria last summer on
Oakland’s Telegraph
Avenue. The wood-fired
pizza crust is so thin
and delectable that you’ll
be compelled to
order more for the table,
while the Margherita
di Bufala and Homemade
Sausage pizzas are top
sellers. 5008 Telegraph
Ave., Oakland, 510-6524888; pizzaiolo.us.
San Jacinto Ridgeline
Hikes
Surfing might be the more
famous pastime, but Golden
Staters are more than
passionate about their
hikes. Here, the five
standout trails: Paseo
Miramar, Pacific Palisades.
This path offers the most
gorgeous view of all of
Southern California, from
Palos Verdes to the Channel
Islands. San Jacinto
Ridgeline, Palm Springs.
Take the Palm Springs tram
and watch as sand mirac­
ulously turns to snow.
Mount Tam, San Francisco.
Redwood groves, oak
woodlands, and, yes,
wireless internet access
awaits at the ranger station.
McNee Ranch State Park, Half
Moon Bay. Enjoy
spectacular views of
Montara State Beach and its
ocean cliffs within the first
mile. Yosemite National Park,
High Sierras. There’s not a
bad view to be found in the
Valley, and for the less
sporting types, hiking over
to the bar at the stately,
historical Ahwahnee Lodge
may be just the thing.
Recreation
Secret Garden
The themed botanical
gardens gracing the
former estate of Madame
Ganna Walska, known as
Lotusland, are bound to
inspire—and not just the
horticulturists who trek
from around the world to
study the exotic species
dotting its 37 acres.
Though the Japanesethemed koi ponds are best
known, the butterfly
gardens and topiary mazes
make for a day trip of quiet
meditation. Mid-February
through November,
Wednesday through
Saturday, by appointment,
Montecito, 805-969-9990;
lotusland.org.
Hundreds of cars and auto
enthusiasts (with Peet’s
coffees in hand) park their
rare wheels at the Ford
campus in Irvine on
Saturday mornings from 7
to 9 am. With 400 exhibit
spaces, check out
everything from Lambos
to vintage Caddies, fins
and all. 7905 Gateway
Blvd., Irvine.
full-service maintenance
of their museum-quality
rides. detail301.com.
Dog Park
public Swimming Pool
Nestled in the Hollywood
Hills, Runyon Canyon puts
typical fenced-in dog runs
to shame. This 130-acre
urban park allows pooches
to frolic off-leash while
owners climb twisting
trails and take in views
from downtown to the
beach. runyon-canyon.com.
In a state full of superior
swimming facilities, the
People Watching
Rose Bowl Aquatics Center
is in a league of its own.
Diehard lap swimmers
from around the L.A. area
flock to the center’s pair
of eight-lane, 50-meterlength pools. 360 N.
Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena;
rosebowlaquatics.org.
Animal Attraction
Just as a pair of Vermeers
renders any museum toprate, pandas in residence
give zoos an extra edge.
And in the case of the San
Diego Zoo, its four giant
pandas on display push an
already superlative
institution into stellar
territory. 619-234-3153;
sandiegozoo.com.
Vintage Car Guru
Retro automotive gems
like ’57 Thunderbirds and
’65 E-types require a
unique level of devotion.
Southland classic car
enthusiasts like Jay Leno
and Nic Cage turn to the
wizards of Detail 301 for
Seasonal Delicacies
Winter Mendocino County has a festival to celebrate Dungeness Crab, the
plump crustacean indigenous to the West Coast. Skip the crab cakes and filler;
go straight for the sweet meat.
Spring In Point Reyes Station, Cowgirl Creamery heralds the spring with
St. Pat Cheese, a distinctive mellow round wrapped in green nettle leaves to
impart an earthy hint of artichoke. cowgirlcreamery.com.
Summer Any farmers’ market will undoubtedly boast a dizzying selection from
500-plus varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes, those alien-shaped, organic reminders
of California’s agricultural bounty.
Fall Here, the deliciously un-tart Meyer Lemon (equally useful for sweet
or savory cooking) reminds that in California, what’s a prized commodity
elsewhere grows on trees practically everywhere you look.
Whether it’s Miuccia Prada
chatting about art in an
alcove or Lindsay Lohan
gliding around the patio
dining area, a broad constel­
la­tion of stars are routinely
on display at Hollywood’s
Chateau Marmont. Because
the landmark hotel feels
like a low-key but glam
apartment building, highprofile guests readily let
their hair down here. 8221
Sunset Blvd., Hollywood,
323-656-1010;
chateaumarmont.com.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
San Diego Zoo
Movie Theater
It’s only fitting that the
film capital of the world
boast a world-class movie
palace. With reserved
seats ($14 a pop), gener­
ously sized screens and
well-informed ushers to
keep things running, seeing
a movie at the ArcLight
Cinemas Holly­wood is the
entertainment equivalent
of shopping at Hermès:
pricey, but a pleasure. 6360
W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood;
arclightcinemas.com.
Golden Gate Park
Hammer Museum
Acoustics
Tourists flock to downtown
L.A.’s Walt Disney Concert
Hall to marvel at its
undulating exterior, but
music aficionados are more
wild about the building’s
carefully calibrated interior,
which produces some of
the most intimate and vivid
sound in the world.
musiccenter.org.
ArcLight Cinemas
City Park
With 174 acres more than
New York’s vast Central
Mammoth Mountain
C 00
Fred Segal Flair
The Armand Hammer
Museum of Art and Culture
Center, which is part of
Westwood’s UCLA, has
quietly remade itself into
the best contemporary art
museum in the West. Its
Hammer Projects series is
committed to showing
young, emerging artists,
many of them homegrown
and refined at California’s
renowned art institutions
like UCLA, CalArts, UC
Irvine and the Art Center
of Pasadena. 10899
Wilshire Blvd., Westwood;
hammer.ucla.edu.
Ski Run
After a fresh coating of
powder, there’s nothing
more euphoric than
carving a path down the
wide-open backside of
Mammoth Mountain (chairs
13 and 14). With views of
June Mountain, the Minarets
and onto Yosemite, the
long rolling runs of varying
difficulty are also a welcome
relief from the crowds.
mammothmountain.com.
Big Wave Surfing
A half-mile off Half Moon
Bay, the legendary
Outdoor Concert Venue
its notorious 50-foot
crests, is possibly the best
big wave in the world.
With jagged rocks
looming, strong currents
and frigid waters, the
ground-shaking swell has
been attracting surfers
since legend Jeff Clark
first caught its break in
the ’60s. mavsurfer.com.
The Santa Barbara Bowl
shopping
Luxury Destination
Art lovers have the Louvre,
and shoppers have South
Coast Plaza, a 2.8 million
square-foot retail mecca.
With sales topping $1.4
billion annually and West
Coast exclusive stores like
Pucci, Chloé, Jo Malone
and Giuseppe Zanotti,
South Coast offers more
than 240 exquisitely
tempting boutiques. 3333
Bristol St., Costa Mesa,
800-782-8888;
southcoastplaza.com.
Bikinis
British cult swimwear
designer Melissa Odabash
teamed up with Malibu
gal-about-town Diana
Jenkins to open this chic
showroom, which counts
Cindy Craw­ford, Gwyneth
Paltrow and Gabrielle
Lotusland
C 66
attracts headliners
including Dave Matthews,
Sheryl Crow, John Mayer
and Norah Jones with an
intimate ambiance (a
capacity of just 4,562) and
the magic of nature set
into the foothills. 1122 N.
Milpas, Santa Barbara,
805-962-7411; sbbowl.com.
Reese as fans. Each twopiece strikes a perfect
balance between sex
appeal and sophistica­tion.
Malibu Country Mart,
Malibu, 310-456-9060;
odabash.com.
Dressing Room
Leave it to Prada to
elevate changing rooms to
an entirely new level. The
space-aged capsules in
the company’s Rodeo
flagship allow shoppers to
click through runway
images on flat screens and
see themselves in a hightech rearview mirror. 343
N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills,
310-278-8661.
Top 5 Exquisite Gifts
This quintet of boutiques
stocks exactly what to get
for the person who has
everything, from refined
decor objets to luscious
linens. De Vera, San
Francisco. Insiders line up
for found treasures like
delicate vintage Murano
glass bowls and poignant
antique Spanish saint
figurines. 29 Maiden Ln.,
415-788-0828; devera
objects.com. Maison K,
Santa Barbara. This quaint
shop imports all things
chic: bone-handle pitchers
and accessories, jewelry
and delicate glassware.
1253 Coast Village Rd., 805969-1676; maisonkinc.com.
Rose, Venice. Eclectic and
inspiring decorative
curiosities fill this jewel-
Dressed
5
Top
Susan of
Burlingame
Fashion
Boutiques
Each of these independent
purveyors of top runway
fashions presents unique
perspective on style—
something California
women rely on season
after season.
Susan of Burlingame. A
NoCal institution since
1983 with chic musts like
Rodarte, Balenciaga and
Lanvin. 1403 Burlingame
Ave., 650-347-0452.
Fred Segal, Santa Monica.
Westside L.A.’s HQ for
of-the-moment picks
like Proenza Schouler
and Alexander McQueen.
420 Broadway, 310-4589940; fredsegal.com.
Maxfield, Los Angeles. A
style-setting source for
on-the-cusp finds, ranging
from Rick Owens to Yohji
Yamamoto. 8825 Melrose
Ave., 310-274-8800.
A’Maree’s, Newport Beach.
Presenting runway gems
by Dries van Noten, Zac
Posen and Marni in a
relaxed, beachy context.
1649 Westcliff Dr., 949642-4423; amarees.com.
Dressed, Montecito. Santa
Barbara insiders flock to
this serene space for its
mix of brands, including
Chloé and Pucci. 11253
Coast Village Rd., 805-5651253; dressedonline.com.
Hedge Gallery
hedge: courtesy hedge
Museum
Mavericks surf break, with
dressed: Photographed by Ian Jay, Styled by Devon Hay; lotusland: margot frankel
Park, and the recentlyrenovated de Young Mu­
seum, a five-acre Japan­
ese garden, an arboretum,
a windmill and a paddock
of bison, S.F.’s Golden Gate
Park is in a class of its own.
box-sized boutique. 1225
Abbot Kinney, 310-3990040; roseinvenice.com.
Jan de Luz, Carmel Valley.
Exquisite French-style
embroidered linens are the
specialty of this classic
Carmel store with a Napa
outpost. 4 E. Carmel Valley
Rd., Carmel, 831-659-7966;
1219 Main St., St. Helena,
707-963-1550; jandeluz.com.
Upstairs at Pierre Lafond,
Montecito. Choose from a
bohemian mix of
delicately edited and
imported tableware,
boudoir and antique
garden accessories, as
well as the charming
childrens’ boutique within
the boutique. 2516 San
Ysidro Rd., 805-565-1503;
upstairsatpierrelafond.com.
Personal Shopper
With a devoted global
clientele and more than
20 years at Neiman
Marcus, Catherine Bloom is
known for her close
designer relationships and
her keen ability to dress
clients, all from the
buzzing environs of her
private second floor office
suite. Neiman Marcus,
Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900.
Bridal Registry:
Famous for its gift registry
and its endless selection
of stemware, Gearys
Beverly Hills has been
serving the newly engaged
of 90210 for more than 75
years. From Balcons Du
Guadalquivir by Hermès
to classic Spode bone
china, they have it all…and
then some. 351 N.
Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills,
310-273-4741; gearys.com.
Tabletop
Walter Lowry of Tart has
delivered all one needs for
the best-dressed table
since opening his ultraelegant tabletop outpost
in West Hollywood. Think
Ted Muehling candlesticks,
hand-painted porcelain
from Meissen and Dibbern
and the finest hemstitched
linens. 7977 Melrose Ave.,
Los Angeles, 323-6538278; tartontheweb.com.
Paper
Wanda Wen, ultra-creative
owner of Soolip Paperie &
Press, changed the
letterpress landscape of
CA when she opened her
L.A. shop more than 11
years ago. Specializing in
C 67
Trove
cooking store
unusual and decorated
papers, personal
stationery and invitations
and custom photo albums
and journals, they
continue to dazzle their
loyal clientele. 8646
Melrose Ave., West
Hollywood, 310-360-0545;
Soolip at Gump’s, 135
Post St., San Francisco,
415-984-9311; soolip.com.
5
Top
Vintage Decor
Flea Market
Gearys
Free City
Supershop
On the second Sunday of
every month, 20,000
bargain hunters descend
upon Pasadena’s Rose
Bowl parking lot for the
world’s largest flea
market. Although the
bazaar technically opens
at 9 am, professional
thrifters and interior
decorators with fancy La
Cienega storefronts arrive
at 5 am, armed with hand
trolleys, cash and moving
trucks. rgcshows.com.
Hollyhock
Everything old is new again
at these chic and charming
home decor stores.
Hollyhock, West Hollywood.
Appropriately housed in
the old Tony Duquette
design studio, Suzanne
Rheinstein’s eclectic
yet oh-so-sophisticated
shop always pleases. 817
Hilldale Ave., 310-7770100; hollyhockinc.com.
Trove, Laguna Beach. A
thoughtful mix of vintage
jewelry and antique home
accessories. 1233 N. Coast
Hwy., 949-376-4640.
William Laman, Montecito.
Filled with modern and
antique tabletop, charming
kitchen accessories and
antique garden accents.
1496 E. Valley Rd., 805969-2840; williamlaman.
com. Vintage Home, St.
Helena. French antiques,
colorful Ira Yaeger
paintings, design books,
and elegant table linens for
wine country living. 1201
Main St., 707-963-7423.
Swallowtail, San Francisco.
Among the elegant
oddities, look for vintage
steel medical cabinets,
1920s medical wall charts,
decorative vintage furniture
and macabre taxidermy.
2217 Polk St., 415-567-1555.
Sunset Blvd., 310-6598857; kaviarkind.com.
Gump’s, San Francisco. The
ultimate address for all
things precious in the Bay
Area. 135 Post St., 800766-7628; gumps.com.
Silverhorn, Montecito.
Specializes in exquisite
custom creations. 1155
Coast Village Rd., 805969-0442; silverhorn.com.
garden shop, dazzles loyal
fans with custom, inventive
arrangements of succulent
plants and vibrant cut
flowers in equally stunning
architectural containers.
2329 Lillie Ave.,
Summerland, 805-5653831; botanikflowers.com.
but they also soak up
some of the shop’s ofthe-moment energy.
3868 Cross Creek Rd.,
Malibu, 310-456-5651.
Luxury Watch Selection
Tart
Picking out the perfect
piece of glittering wrist
candy is a pleasure at
Westime, a temple of fine
timepieces with locations in
West L.A. and Beverly Hills.
Look for Harry Winston,
Chanel, Omega, Chopard
and TAG Heuer as well as
many limited-edition
watches. 245 N. Rodeo Dr.,
B.H., 310-271-0000; 10800
W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 310-4701388; westime.net.
Jeans
Birdwell
Downtown
Blackman Cruz
Dragon Books
Rose
Top 5 Jewelry Boutiques
No other store surpasses
In addition to outposts of
the world’s most pedigreed
jewelry houses, California
is also home to a handful
of unique and widely influ­
ential independent jewelers.
Martin Katz, Beverly Hills.
The gold standard of
Beverly Hills jewelers. 310276-7200; martinkatz.com.
Neil Lane, Los Angeles.
Young Hollywood’s go-to
guy for rare gems with a
light, modern touch. 310275-5015; neillanejewelry.
com. Kaviar and Kind, West
Hollywood. Avant garde
antique and original
creations that defy
categorization. 8533 W.
Hollywood Trading
Company’s consistently
stellar mix of denim labels,
currently including A.P.C.,
Sweden’s Cheap Mondays,
Cloak, and Rag and Bone.
With the famed Denim
Doctors housed inside the
shop, you can bring in any
pair of old jeans for
resuscitation and
hemming on new pairs is
always free. 7383 Beverly
Blvd., Los Angeles, 323964-0080; shophtc.com.
Garden Store
Nestled in Summer­land
since 1998, Botanik, a
sophisticated floral and
Concept Store
Longtime Fred Segal
buyer Nina Garduno’s
first solo store in Malibu,
Free City Supershop, is
the kind of intoxicatingly
cool environment that
transcends shopping. Of
course, people go there
to buy her impossibly
cozy T-shirts and sweats,
Board Shorts
When Carrie Birdwell
Mann first stitched up a
pair of soft but durable
nylon surf shorts in
1961, a California
institution was born.
Still family-owned and
operated in Santa Ana,
Birdwell shorts, in a wild
rainbow of colors ranging
from watermelon to
hot lemon, have a truly
timeless appeal. bird
wellbeachbritches.com.
Botanik
kaviar and kind: Alex Rogers; birdwell: lisa romerein; downtown: John Skalicky; dragon books: Nina Russo; rose: jon livingston; trove: Heather and Bobby Lee; hollyhock: lisa romerein
Kaviar and Kind
William
Laman
In Los Gatos for more than
30 years, Domus defines
“specialty” store with an
awe-inspiring, emporiumstyle selection of goods
and gifts. From seasonal
decorations to odd
gadgets for the kitchen
(bean Frencher-slicer,
anyone?), you’ll certainly
walk away with something
you never knew you
needed. 40 N. Santa Cruz
Ave., Los Gatos, 408-3546630; domusonline.com.
fireplace. Owner Jay
Penske, heir to the Penske
automotive fortune, handpicks the shop’s rare
editions. 2954 Beverly Glen
Circle, Bel-Air, 310-4418545; dragonbooks.com.
All-around Bookstore
For more than 110 years,
Vroman’s in Pasadena has
offered the San Gabriel
Valley a booklover’s
perfect pairing:
comprehensive selection
and a personal point of
Footcandy
Designer Shoes
With outposts in St.
Helena and a new locale in
Brentwood, Footcandy is
the ultimate haven for
shoe fiends. Designers
range from Christian
Louboutin to Anya
Hindmarch. 1239 Main St.,
St. Helena, 707-963-2040;
11934 San Vicente Blvd.,
Brentwood, 310-8204800; footcandyshoes.com.
view. The largest
independent bookseller in
the state, Vroman’s is the
archetypal community
bookstore. 695 E.
Colorado Blvd., Pasadena;
vromansbookstore.com.
Top 5 20th Century Style
Modern design hits a high
note at these cutting
edge stores, all of which
routinely set trends rather
than follow them. Hedge
Gallery, San Fran­cisco.
Home to a definitive
collection of fine 20th
and 21st century
American and European
furniture. 48 Gold St.,
415-433-2233;
hedgegallery.com.
Blackman Cruz, Los
Angeles. Owners Adam
Blackman and David
Cruz wrote the book on
“macabre chic.” 800
N. La Cienega Blvd.,
310-657-9228;
blackmancruz.com.
Benjamin Storck, San
Francisco. Interior
designers admire Storck’s
trend-spotting selections
of Michael Taylordesigned furniture, rare
Poillerat screens, and
alluring 1930s-era French
chairs. 295 Kansas St.,
415-863-1777;
benjaminstorckltd.com.
Downtown, Los Angeles.
A truly original—and
widely influential—
assemblage of stylishly
significant designs
from the last century.
719 N. La Cienega Blvd.,
310-652-7461.
March, San Francisco.
The source for eclectic
vintage mirrors, ceramics,
tables, upholstered
furniture (often covered
with glazed linen),
and treasures from
all over Europe and
the United States.
3075 Sacramento St.,
415-931-7433.
Pet Store
A refreshing kitsch-free
zone tucked away in a
cozy Venice bungalow,
The Modern Dog appeals
to pet owners who
yearn for animal extras—
beds, coats, treats or
toys—that are both high
quality and attractive.
1611 Abbot Kinney, Venice,
310-450-2275.
Antiquarian Bookstore
Nestled in a Bel-Air
shopping center, Dragon
Books is a woodpaneled temple of literary
history, complete with
well-worn leather club
chairs and an 18th century
Beauty
Signature Pedicure
Ask Cheryl A. Scruggs
(she has tickled the toes
of pop culture princesses,
Donatella Versace and
Jessica Simpson included,
for some 30 years) at
West Hollywood’s L.A. Vie
L’Orange for an hour-long
Walk on the Beach. She’ll
do the walking as she
soaks, exfoliates, wraps
and polishes. 638 1/2 N.
Robertson Blvd., WeHo, 310289-2501; lavielorange.com.
Head-to-Toe Waxing
Instead of the antiseptic
stations to which you’re
accustomed, Wax is a
design- and quality-driven
salon with male- and
female-oriented services.
This West Hollywood gem
also offers a separate VIP
entrance and house calls
Looking for pedigreed
furniture pieces? Each
of these five resources is
likely to delight with its
authoritative assortment of
old-school splendor. J.F. Chen,
Los Angeles. There is not a
decorator in L.A. who goes
a week without a visit to the
ever-changing space. To the
trade, 8414 Melrose Ave.,
323-655-6310; jfchen.com.
Therien & Co., L.A. and San
Francisco. Virtuoso pieces
in Therien’s galleries range
from Russian chandeliers to
Portuguese gilded benches.
716 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.,
310-657-4615; 411 Vermont St.,
S.F., 415-956-8850; therien.
com. Europa Antiques & Fine
Art, Summerland. This 11-yearold antiques haven run by
Patrick Aumont specializes
in Medieval, Renaissance and
Baroque furniture and art.
2345 Lillie Ave., 805-9694989; antiqueseuropa.com.
Quatrain, Los Angeles.
Quatrain is admired in the
design world for the quality of
its antiques and the panache
of its collection. To the trade,
700 N. La Cienega Blvd.,
310-652-0243; quatrain.net.
Ed Hardy, San Francisco.
Antiquaire Ed Hardy has
decades of knowledge of fine
antiques under his belt—and
his taste ranges from fine
Chinese screens to gilded
Venetian console tables. 188
Henry Adams St., 415-6266300; edhardysf.com.
Ed Hardy
5
Top
Antiques
Dealers
Ed Hardy
From perfect blonde
hues to sublimely subtle
trims, chic Californians
turn to these five hair
destinations.
Alex Chases, San Francisco.
Overlooking Union Square,
in an airy-white, lightfilled salon, it’s the mane
attraction for S.F.’s elite
set. 166 Geary St., Suite
1207, 415-397-5505.
Billy Yamaguchi at La Costa
Resort & Spa, Carlsbad.
After a personal analysis
by stylist, hair is cut and
colored according to
feng shui principles. 2100
Costa Del Mar Rd., 800729-4772; lacosta.com.
Salon Gregory’s, Newport
Beach. Known to have five
coifs snipping and drying
at a time, Irvine’s social
set is fiercely loyal to
Dusty Simington’s hip
salon. 200 Newport Center
Dr., 949-644-6671.
Art Luna, Santa Monica.
Clients fly from far and
wide to visit this Santa
Monica garden salon for
tress treatments. 2116 Main
St., 310-450-7168.
Neil George Salon, Beverly
Hills. Impeccable design
and refreshing camaraderie
among stylists lure A-list
bombshells including
Reese Witherspoon and
Charlize Theron. 9320
Civic Center Dr., 310-2752808; neilgeorgesalon.com.
Plastic Surgeon
with a Conscience
A Beverly Hills plastic
surgeon who says “no?”
So dedicated to his high
standards, Dr. Bernard L.
Markowitz (best known for
his “natural” face lift) will
refuse requests for multiple
surgeries and won’t discuss
even his most famous
clients. 9675 Brighton
Way, B.H., 310-205-5557;
blmarkowitzmd.com.
Specialty SpA
Meditate in the Japanese
Zen garden at Northern
Sonoma County’s Osmosis
after a nurturing rest in
the only heated cedar
enzyme bath in North
America. At this (newly)
fully sustainable green
spa, the ritual, with
some 600 enzymes
imported directly from
Japan, quietly calms and
detoxifies the nervous
system. 209 Bohemian
Hwy., Freestone, 707-8238231; osmosis.com.
Post Ranch Inn
The Four Seasons Hotel,
Beverly Hills’ fourth floor
pool boasts the finest
cabanas, most flawless
service, perfect size (not
too big and not too cozy)
and star­gazing for added
amuse­ment. 300 S. Doheny
Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2732222; fourseasons.com.
Dangene McKay-Bailey
has been looking at skin
for more than 20 years,
having worked with a
cosmetic dermatologist
before opening her own
celebrity-packed, referralonly practices in L.A. and
New York. While her selfdescribed specialties are
acne, brown spots and
scars, Bailey also has an
eye for skin cancer (and
she’s right 95 percent of
the time). 9201 Sunset
Blvd., Suite 500, Los
Angeles, 310-276-7601.
“Brow Doctor” Kris Levine
fixes eyebrows that others
have botched. She waxes
and tweezes to find the
natural brow, not Holly­
wood’s diva brow. And
no three-month wait list,
either. Art Luna Salon, 2116
Main St., Santa Monica,
310-452-1669.
The world’s busiest general
aviation airport, averaging
half a million takeoffs and
landings annually, Van
Nuys Airport is top choice
for private travelers in
California. With two parallel
runways, the airport is
convenient, has an excellent
safety record and provides
a high level of privacy for
high-profile travelers. 16461
Sherman Way, Van Nuys,
818-785-8838; lawa.org/vny.
hotel Pool
Medical Aesthetics
Eyebrows
Neil George Salon
Private Airport
Room Service Treat
measured. Auberge is so
spread out, it’s doubtful a
stroll through the
sculpture or herb gardens
will turn up a fellow guest.
180 Rutherford Hill Rd.,
Ruther­ford, 800-3485406; aubergedusoleil.com.
For those who need just a
little bit of camping mixed
in with their luxurious hotel
stay, don’t miss the s’mores
at the Montage Resort and
Spa. The old-fashioned
campfire treat comes with
all the fixings and can be
fired up on your personal
balcony with a pint-size
grill or done outside at the
giant fire pit. 30801 Coast
Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949715-6000; montagelaguna
beach.com.
Daring Decor
Chef’s Garden
Designer Jonathan Adler’s
giddy bravado—think Peru­
vian wall hangings, suits of
armor and acid green Chip­
pen­dale chairs—pulses
throughout this escapist
desert retreat. And unlike
With Bacara Ranch Roasted
Tomato Soup topped with
Goat Cheese Crème and
Eggs Benedict with Bacara
Ranch Lemon Hollandaise
on the menu, a guided hike
through the beachfront
Parker Palm Springs
travel
Room with a View
A slice of heaven on the
California coast, Big Sur’s
Post Ranch Inn teeters
on a 1,200-foot cliff,
providing the most aweinspiring panoramas of
the Pacific and its lush,
mountainous backdrop.
The view is unique to and
unobstructed from each
of its 30 eco-friendly
cabinettes and rustic
tree houses. Hwy. One,
Big Sur, 831-667-2200;
postranchinn.com.
Hideaway
Make an escape to Napa
Valley’s romantic Auberge
du Soleil, where a handful
of maisons are dotted
across a 33-acre hillside of
olive groves, and the ser­
vice is the standard against
which all others should be
el capitan: courtesy El Capitan Canyon;
plumpjack: art streiber
Salons
many tragically hip hotels,
the Parker Palm Springs
manages to put com­fort
and effortless ser­vice ahead
of its groovy profile. As
the ceramic frieze that
hangs below the con­
cierge desk reads, “Eat
Drink and Be Merry For
Tomorrow You Shall Check
Out.” 4200 E. Palm Canyon
Dr., P.S., 760-770-5000;
theparkerpalmsprings.com.
neil george salon: ©2006 Michelle Schwartz
5
Top
for ultimate privacy. 7924
Melrose Ave., WeHo, 323951-9616; waxla.com.
property’s 1,000-acre ranch
can be mouth-watering.
The menus from each of the
resort’s three restaurants
are inspired by the 10-acre
organic vegetable and
herb garden from which
they receive daily deliver­
ies. Bacara Resort & Spa,
8301 Hollister Ave., Santa
Barbara, 877-422-4245;
bacararesort.com.
ing branches, the wedding
procession arrives by way
of fragrant gardens that
bloom year-round and the
couple exchanges vows
beside Swan Lake. The
Hotel Bel-Air’s secluded
setting is indeed be the
ultimate wedding locale. 701
Stone Canyon Rd., Bel-Air,
310-472-1211; hotelbelair.com.
El Capitan Canyon
Airport
Hotel Restaurant
Long Beach Airport is
With the exquisite food
of rising-star chef Dakota
Weiss, the velvet-smooth
manner of host Dmitri
Dimtrov and the elegant
decor by Paul Fortune, Jeff
Klein’s Tower Bar restaurant
at the Sunset Tower Hotel
scores stellar marks on all
fronts. 8358 Sunset Blvd.,
WeHo, 323-654-7100;
sunsettowerhotel.com.
reminiscent of air travel’s
more hassle-free, halcyon
days. At this pseudo
commuter airport, where
JetBlue also flies nonstop
to the East Coast, parking
fees are the lowest of any
L.A. airport and security
lines are as breezy as the
open-air baggage claim.
longbeach.gov/airport.
Bacara
Sunset Tower
Ski Lodge
Concierge
From personally flying to
London to retrieve a guest’s
beloved beagle to acquiring
the perfect prom dress or
making impossibly lastminute dinner reservations,
the con­­cierge team at The
Peninsula Beverly Hills will
stop at nothing. They may
well be the most connected
people in a town where
connections are every­thing.
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.,
B.H., 310-551-2888;
peninsula.com.
Originally the brainchild of
S.F. Mayor Gavin New­som
(now run by younger sister
Hilary), the PlumpJack
Squaw Valley Inn, an inti­
mate 60-person getaway,
offers a whim­sical alter­
native to the area’s ski-in,
ski-out resorts. Personalized
service, Balinese furnishings
and the hotel’s PlumpJack
Café—undoubtedly the
best dining in all of Tahoe—
set this boutique hotel
apart. 1920 Squaw Valley
Rd., Olympic Valley, 800323-ROOM; plumpjack.com.
PlumpJack
San Ysidro Ranch
Suite
The local lore of John
and Jackie Kennedy’s
honeymoon retreat at
San Ysidro Ranch lures
guests to this secluded
cottage in the Montecito
foothills complete with
lush gardens. Ranch
renovations have been
underway, and the Kennedy
Suite itself, with its two
master bedrooms, living
room, ocean view deck
and private hot tub, is
scheduled to be unveiled
next month. 900 San Ysidro
Ln., Montecito, 805-5651700; sanysidroranch.com.
Wedding Venue
Guests await beneath a
canopy of trees and cas­cad­
Campsite
Just bring your suitcase
when “camping” at Santa
Barbara’s El Capitan Canyon.
Tented lodges, domed
yurts and cabins near
trickling creeks are home
base; summer concert
series, massages, hikes
down to the beach or up
into the mountains, and
horseback rides are just
steps away. 11560 Calle
Real, S.B., 866-352-2729;
elcapitancanyon.com.
by Nathan Cooper,
Jenny Murray Hooks,
Victoria Namkung,
Diane dorrans saeks,
Andrea Stanford,
Alison Clare Steingold
and Jen Wang
Chateau Marmont
Four Seasons,
Beverly Hills
Hotel Bel-Air
Auberge du Soleil