Beverly Hills Complete Photo Guide
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I was enamored with the glamour and romance associated with the ultra exclusive Beverly Hills, and I would spend my weekends exploring here. If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles, be sure to include Beverly Hills on your list of places to visit. At just over 5 square miles, you can walk to many of its most famous locations, and below I’m sharing some of my favorite spots! Download my photo guide cheat sheet at the end of this post for a walking map with step-by-step directions to the exact locations I captured my images.
Start your day at Beverly Hills City Hall, a historic landmark built in 1932. Before its completion, all the city’s administration services took place in the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. At the time of construction it was considered the largest, most expensive City Hall in the country. The beautiful Spanish revival building is on the list of historical preservations as a Beverly Hills landmark, and it was featured as the police department in the feature film Beverly Hills Cop.
Pro tip: From dusk until 7am, the twinkle lights wrapped around the front palm trees are turned on and they can add a beautiful sparkle to you pictures.
Located right next-door to City Hall is the Beverly Hills Civic Center, which opened in 1990. The civic center was actually built while City Hall was undergoing massive renovations, and it boasts a stunning mix of Spanish revival, art deco and post modern style architecture.
Pro tip: If you visit early in the morning or wait until evening, the art deco lights and the lamp posts along the little walkways light up…and they really pop in pictures!
3. Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden
This is a special place to me – a spot where I can go to remember my Manhattan roots and a day that I have never forgotten. The garden was dedicated on September 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the attacks. There is a 30 foot steel beam from the World Trade Center, supported by a pentagon shaped base gazing towards the twin towers. I’m so grateful to the city of Beverly Hills and all the private donors who have honored the heroes and the lives lost on that day by making this special memorial garden possible.
4. The Beverly Hills Sign, Beverly Gardens Park
Beverly Gardens Park runs 1.9 miles and almost the entire length of Beverly Hills. You’ll find everything from public art installations, a rose garden, a cactus garden, and one of the most photographed spots in the city…the famous Beverly Hills Sign. Long before fancy shops and grand homes lined these streets, the lily pond and forty foot Beverly Hills Sign were built here as part of a real estate promotion…I guess it worked! 😉
Pro tip: Many tour groups stop here year round, so if you want the pond to yourself plan your visit before 8am or be prepared to share this spot with plenty of tourists and locals alike.
5. Food Options
While Beverly Hills is known for its beautiful palm tree lined streets and high end shops, you’ll find no shortage of amazing food options. There are endless dining possibilities, and below I’m listing a few of my local favorites..
The Farm of Beverly Hills: A great place to enjoy innovative American cuisine for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Sugarfish: Celebrating the purity of quality ingredients, you can enjoy melt-in-your-mouth delicious sushi here.
Sprinkles: The flagship store is located here, as well as the famous Sprinkles Cupcake ATM, serving your cupcake needs 24/7.
Alfred Coffee Beverly Hills: Located across the street from the Beverly Hills Sign in Beverly Gardens Park, this is my favorite local spot to grab an iced mocha, chai, matcha latte or their famous iced vanilla latte. Alfred will satisfy all your caffeine cravings. They also serve delicious bagel sandwiches and croissants.
Pro tip: After you order your drink of choice, stop and snap a pic of you and your java in front of the Alfred “But First Coffee” art wall.
6. Rodeo Drive
I still remember making my first purchase on this ultra famous shopping row. I definitely don’t claim to be an extra tech savvy gal, but I’ve have had a crush on Apple products ever since I purchased the original iPhone the first week it was released…actually I still have that phone and it works! 😂 When Apple released the original Apple Watch I was quick to snatch one up and the closest place carrying the wristband I wanted was Hermes on Rodeo Drive, so off I went. I still have that Apple Watch and the Hermes bag it came in too.😉
I love Two Rodeo Drive, which was built to resemble a classic European street. You can walk down the lovely cobblestone serenaded by beautiful music and twinkling lights above. The Rodeo Drive steps are a classic photo spot as well here. I love visiting early in the morning before the shops open for a quiet stroll…it’s my favorite way to enjoy this iconic Beverly Hills location.
Pro tip: If you want photos by the fountain, make sure to visit early before the shops open because the streets will be filled with people as the day goes on.
The Electric Fountain was given as a gift to the city of Beverly Hills in 1931. This historic fountain boasts a six foot sculpture kneeling in prayer atop a 20 foot steel column in the center of a pool edged with ceramic tile.
Pro tip: Visit at dusk if you want to enjoy the fountain’s colorful light show.
This 5 acre park opened in 1915 as Beverly Hills first public park. Originally named Sunset Park, it was renamed in 1952 for the first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, Will Rogers, who visited the park often with his family.
Pro tip: Take time to enjoy the pond where fish, turtles and ducks play.
Located just steps away from Will Rogers Memorial Park, the Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the world’s best known hotels. It originally opened in 1912 and is known for its signature pink and teal colors.
Pro tip: If you just want to visit The Beverly Hills Hotel sign out front, there is short term parking on the side street (N Crescent Dr) adjacent to the hotel.
11. Hillcrest Palm Trees
When you visit Beverly Hills, you’ll find yourself in the land of tall palm trees. While I love to view them from all over the city, Hillcrest Road is one of my favorite spots. If you visit early in the morning, there are minimal cars parked on street so you can capture unobstructed views.
If you’d like to know the exact spots where I took all of the pictures for this post, enter your info below to download my free photo cheat sheet where I’m including step-by-step directions to the exact spots. If you’d like to see an example of what this cheat sheet looks like, I have one posted on my Vienna in a Day blog post you can view!
