The 26 best and most iconic spots along the Sunset Strip

Already a bit of a scene for the past two decades, BOA became one of the hangouts for Gen Z influencers and their frenzied followers a few years ago. But don’t let that keep you away: This sultry, club-like steakhouse is actually popular for a reason, as its craveable signature dishes and expanded seafood menu are quite good.

This nightclub on the western edge of the Sunset Strip really kind of sums up the recent history of the West Hollywood district: Bootsy Bellows opened in 2012 as a sort of dark, velvety hideout for Tinseltown types that became synonymous with burlesque shows, costume parties and dinner theater spectacles. Now though, it’s flipped into a green, pink and gold Rat Pack-era lounge that looks straight out of Palm Springs—albeit one with a much, much younger and more crowded clientele.

Equal parts celebrity hotspot and exceptional fine dining destination, this ultra-stylish Sunset Strip hotel eatery offers flawless "vegetable-forward" cuisine and an air of sweeping, expensive romance that’ll make you forget all about the fact you’ll have to pay $18 for the EDITION's valet parking, if not more. Here, hosts in slinky white dresses and kitten-heeled boots will usher you to the plant-filled, warm-hued dining room—and the overall effect is downright cinematic. Every dish that arrives dazzles here, from the must-order milk bread topped with caramelized beefsteak tomatoes to the skirt steak, which comes with garlic confit and an exquisite red salt. Larger groups can splurge on the eye-poppingly expensive gooseberry phyllo pizza drizzled with aged balsamic dinner; the tableside preparation and final product make it well worth the price. (For our full review, click the link below.)

Los Angeles is home to the best Thai food in America, and Night + Market is easily one of the best Thai restaurants in L.A. Chef-owner Kris Yenbamroong serves a menu like none other in town, inspired equally by the night-market street foods of Bangkok and the rustic hillbilly cooking of rural northern Thailand.

Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe met here in 1952 when it was the Vincente Minnelli–owned Villa Nova restaurant. Steps from the Roxy, the list of stars who have drank here is endless but includes Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Elton John, members of Led Zeppelin and the Who, and Lemmy Kilmister, the Motörhead frontman who was a regular at the bar’s video poker machine.

In its half-century history as a Sunset Strip stalwart, the Roxy has been both a major player (hosting early Springsteen and Guns N’ Roses shows) and a disappointing has-been (insert name of horrible ’80s hair band here). Now that the Roxy has settled comfortably into middle age, the club has thankfully swung back in the other direction with consistently strong bookings that traverse metal, punk, indie, singer-songwriters and the occasional local up-and-comer.

Rock and Reilly’s has maintained a frat house status among West Hollywood watering holes, particularly for its epic St. Patrick’s Day block parties. But it’s also the perfect pub to partake in casual whiskey tastings or to make friends at the bar during a crowded Saturday night.

The Doors were once the house band at the Whisky, until the owner objected to the lyrics of “The End” and banned the group. Its place in Sunset Strip lore can’t be denied, but these days the music comes mostly from classic-rock tribute acts (Led Zepagain, anyone?) and young bands of the punk and metal variety, few of whom you’ll ever hear of again.

This Sunset Strip spot can trace its history back decades, but it was actor Johnny Depp’s investment in the ailing club in 1993 that put it on the map. Johnny Cash played here, and Hunter Thompson drank at the bar. While it no longer draws as many famous attendees or acts (perhaps because Depp is no longer affiliated with the club) it’s still a great intimate room to see a show.

This long-standing indie book shop has been a staple amidst L.A. bibliophiles since 1975. The variety of stock at Book Soup is huge and diverse, even if the space itself is a little squeezed. It’s also a regular stop on literary luminaries’ book tours.