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Neighborhood: Hollywood

The Feel: With a friendly staff and mod design, this boutique budget hotel specializes in southern hospitality by way of Philippe Stark. A former Best Western, this is now one of the most affordable (and centrally located) spots in town. Make sure to cross the street and grab breakfast at the renowned farmer's market.

Toiletries: BeeKind, an all-natural line by British apothecary Gilchrist & Soames.

Room Rate: From $160

Neighborhood: Downtown Los Angeles

The Feel: Slick bachelor pad styling and trippy colors put the Standard's signature stamp on an otherwise conservative 1950s building in downtown which was once the headquarters for Superior Oil. From the comfy platform beds to the well-appointed bathrooms, you definitely get a bang for your buck.

Toiletries: Signature Standard line (produced by Kiss My Face Organics)

Room Rate: From $225

Neighborhood: Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade

The Feel: Built in 1933, this Art Deco palace just steps from the Santa Monica pier, was the spot for celebrities in Hollywood's golden age. And during prohibition, its underground speakeasy was the place to get the best drinks in town. Now, it's a great upscale escape for those looking for first-class service and ocean views.

Toiletries: Molton Brown

Room Rate: From $265

The Lines: Michael Bastian, Rag & Bone, Tim Hamilton, Robert Geller, Spurr and Patrik Ervell.

The Shop: Owned by stylist Ilaria Urbinati and actor/DJ Danny Masterson, this new spot has a masculine interior with vintage furnishings (antique phone booths double as dressing rooms). When the outdoor courtyard isn't playing host to parties, it's the seating area for the forthcoming cafe serving Gimme! Coffee from Brooklyn (Urbinati's favorite) and pastries baked in the neighborhood.

• The staff's uniforms were designed by Rag & Bone.

The Lines: Shipley & Halmos, Y-3, Engineered Garments, Herik Vibskov and Nice Collective.

The Shop: There's always something to find at this eclectic designer den, whether it's by sifting through the secondhand vintage racks or new items from up-and-coming labels.

The Lines: East coast (Alden and Moscot glasses) meets the far east (Japan's Sugar Cane and Left Field) with a twist of laid back LA style.

The Shop: Modern fixtures juxtapose the raw industrial space of the sparsely decorated shop—making it even easier to spot something you'd like to buy.

The Lines: Martin Margiela, YMC, Tim Hamilton, Hartford shirting and Mason's khakis.

The Shop: A sleek, superbly curated wardrobe of traditional, not tired, classics worth the investment. A retail leader for more than a decade, it's since branched off into shoes (DF Feet, pictured) and will soon debut a third concept shop.

The Lines: Their signature line of ceramic tableware and tiles along with glassware by Weck.

The Shop: These simple yet sturdy ceramic pieces have been cranking out of the company's Sausalito, California factory since 1948. The expansive, two-story-high shop is lined in raw, unfinished wood shelving and, of course, gorgeous tile throughout.

The Lines: Number (N)ine, Rick Owens, Carol Christian Poell and vintage Prada, Gucci and Hermès.

The Shop: Like a high-fashion hideaway, you enter the modernist concrete building from the back, right around the Easter Island like monkey statues. Discretion is a must, considering how many celebrities shop here.

The Lines: Vintage workwear and military gear from the 1890s to the 1970s, along with their in-house line of pre-aged original t-shirts.

The Shop: A warehouse brimming with vintage denim, leather belts, bags and boots. The stuff's not cheap, but the testosterone wafting through the air is free.

• The shop was named after the 1969 Jeff Klein film.

The Lines: White Forest Pottery, Mariage Freres candles and a mix of rustic and refined vintage pieces.

The Shop: Owners Toddy Nickey and Amy Kehoe, who work with A-listers like Natalie Portman, have crafted a cozy spot where the benefits of soft lighting and French flea market finds seem not like indulgences, but necessities.

The Lines: Acne, Alexander Herchcovitz, Loden Dager, Nom de Guerre, Band of Outsiders, Porter bags and their own private label.

The Shop: While the first floor is a diverse collection of designers and goods, the second story serves as a mini-mall of small shop-in-shops for breakout brands.

• The shop's located in Charlie Chaplin's former dance studio.

The Lines: Ralph Lauren's ranch-inspired line of workwear.

The Shop: Top tier denim, slim-fit oxfords and vintage leathers that have been reworked into belts and bags. It's expensive, but worth a trip. Housed in a refurbished auto garage, the space is as good looking as the sales associates, who are more than happy to talk about any piece—from the selvedge line on a chambray shirt to the various weights of dungarees.

• It's pronounced "Double RL".

The Lines: Band of Outsiders, Dries Van Noten, Cresent Down Works, Quoddy shoes and stationary by Postalco.

The Shop: Owner Ryan Conder has a great eye, and though he only buys a few styles from each collection, they're always the pieces you want once the season starts. He designed the all-white shop like your dream closet—tiddy and organized, with small personal touches.

• Conder's an avid surfer.

The Lines: Generic Man shoes, APC denim, Randolph Engineering sunglasses and a slew of signature Steven Alan pieces.

The Shop: Bright, comfortable and easy-going ... just like his clothes.

The Lines: Filson, Pendleton, Russell Moccasins and their own denim label.

The Shop: Originally founded in 1895, the company was reborn in 2004 and is crafting their jeans in the same way as the originals. In addition to their house line, they only carry products by brands that were around back in the 19th century, when the Stronghold was founded.

• Stick around long enough and you'll be offered a glass a whiskey.

The Lines: Vintage furniture, accessories and their signature line of tees and hoodies.

The Shop: Located on Venice Beach's main drag, the airy shop is peppered with affordable pieces, from worn-out 1970s skateboards and luggage to mid-century classics and antique signage.

This is the more casual cousin of Mario Batali's Osteria Mozza, though these are no humble pies. Perfect brick oven pizzas (the best crust in town) can be topped with everything from leeks and bacon to squash blossoms and egg. (Dinner for two, $75)

What better place to get lit than a former power plant? This place is big with lots of nooks and crannies, like an old boiler, to tuck into and chat. And you can't beat their Friday "soup kitchen" happy hour—35 cent cocktails and free grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Though El Compadre has all the Mexican restaurant cliches (from the mariachi band to the adobe walls), they somehow all come together for a great meal. Their signature flaming margaritas are as tasty as they are strong and pair well with the classic, unpretentious Mexican fare. (Dinner for two, $50)

The love for this Cali institution borders on idolatry. And here's why: fresh ingredients, cooked to order and prepared in a sparkling clean store by a friendly, attentive staff. It's like burgers in Pleasantville. And it's amazing. (Lunch for two, $9)

This no-nonsense breakfast spot lovingly brews each cup of coffee singularly, delivered in generous bowl-sized mugs. But be warned, the early bird gets the prime table in the sun. (Breakfast for two, $15)

California's the epicenter for fusion cuisine so this makes perfect sense: native Angeleno Roy Choi's taco truck serves burritos and tacos filled with Korean barbeque. With a constantly evolving menu (new just this week is a new grilled turkey wrap with asian slaw) and a popular Twitter feed, it's no wonder there's crowds already waiting when the truck pulls up. (Lunch for two, $14)

This Art District watering hole isn't scene-y. In fact, the low-key spot barely even has a sign—look for the generic 'cocktail' sign on the side. We appreciated the goldfish crackers in lieu of bar nuts. Happy hour offers $5 PBR's with a whiskey chaser.

Locals swear by "the Net," which has been serving up steamed seafood and fried specialties at this oceanside shack, located 20 minutes outside Malibu, since 1958. (Lunch or Dinner for two, $25)

Dapper barkeeps in pinstripes, plaid walls, trophy taxidermy. If you weren't a whiskey drinker before coming to this gentlemanly lounge, perhaps you can find one that interests you—they serve more than 200 varieties. We suggest trying one out in an Old Fashioned.

There are dozens of doughnut shops in LA, but SK's is the most talked about and has the highest reviews on Yelp. On our first visit to the unassuming shop, it was after hours, so we approached the walk-up window. The donuts were as fresh as if we came at ten in the morning and the owner even threw in a few freebies.

Owner Yoshi Yoshida is up before dawn to score the first pick at the fish market, and what can't be bought locally (like the gen saba mackkerel) is flown in fresh from Tokyo's Tsukiji market. You should try the house signatures: shredded blue crab hand rolls or oyster tempura with black truffles. (Dinner for two, $100)