The best things to do in Beverly Hills

The grass is literally greener on the other side of the geopolitical fence. Take a drive along Santa Monica Boulevard and cross into Beverly Hills and you’re immediately greeted with a tree-lined street and this city-spanning park. Beverly Gardens stretches 1.9 miles, from the stately Doheney Fountain to the illuminated Electric Fountain, with a narrow strip of lawn in between. The park hosts the Beverly Hills Art Show during the third weekend in May and October, but its real claim to fame is the recognizable Beverly Hills Sign, a water encompassed photo op between Canon Drive and Beverly Drive.

Many people dream of being Julia Roberts shopping on Rodeo Drive, but few can afford to buy from the array of high-end designers seen in the film Pretty Woman. Window-shopping, then, is the order of the day along this swanky stretch of luxury retailers. Along Two Rodeo—the $200-million faux cobbled walkway—browsing tourists mingle with serious spenders. A hop away is Anderson Court, which is the only shopping mall designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Speaking of Pretty Woman, this ornate Four Seasons-operated gem is famous for its role in the 1990 film. The hotel recalls 19th-century French splendor while recent additions add 21st-century sophistication. The Beverly Wilshire even offers a shopping and date night “Pretty Woman for a Day” package—sans the prostitution part, of course. If you’re looking for upscale eats, it’s also home to Cut and the BLVD.

This 55-room Tudor estate is a good way to get a glimpse into the lives of L.A.’s historical one percent. Though the interior is only open for events and tours, the exterior gardens are open free of charge. Take a stroll through alleys of poplars and cypress trees, a fountain and reflecting pool, and a terraced pool area, along with a public educational guide.

The famous pink stucco façade, the manicured grounds and the sumptuous rooms of the Beverly Hills Hotel look as fresh and fanciful as they did on opening day more than a century ago. It oozes exclusivity: Every screen legend from Valentino to Arnie has slept in this fabled hideaway or held court in its still-popular Polo Lounge—which should be your primary destination if you can’t swing an overnight stay here.

Otherwise known as “the Witch’s House,” this 1921 home looks like a haunted fairytale cottage with crooked chimneys and a creaky fence. It was originally built as a storybook studio office in Culver City and moved to its present home in Beverly Hills in 1934. Ever since, it’s served as a private residence; though you can’t go inside, you’re welcome to join the curious onlookers who pass by each day (especially on Halloween).

Department store magnates Virginia and Harry Robinson built this Beverly Hills estate in 1911, and upon their passing it entered into the county’s hands as a public park. Because of the six-and-a-half-acre estate’s quiet residential location, it’s only accessible via docent-led tours, which you’ll need to book in advance. Once inside, you’ll find finely manicured gardens and a just as impeccably assembled mansion. In keeping with its storied history of lavish Hollywood parties, the estate hosts a swanky garden party at the beginning of each summer.

Founded in Los Angeles at the dawn of the ’80s, Gagosian Gallery introduced California (and the world) to the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Robert Longo, and David Salle, among other modern masters, and in turn became an art world institution. Since then, its Beverly Hills space continues to host exhibitions from museum-headlining artists.

This revamped 1933 post office includes a pair of theaters: the 500-seat Goldsmith Theater and the more intimate 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater. Expect a mix of jazz, classical, dance, comedy and sit-down conversations.

After decamping its initial Boyle Heights location, top-tier talent agancy UTA settled on this 1940s concrete space for its art gallery. The Ai Weiwei-designed space has so far served as a bright and airy space for up-and-coming artists and those typically squeezed out of the competitive gallery scene.

Welcome to dairy heaven. Rounds, slabs, wheels, slices and wedges of cheese fill the Cheese Store, a mecca for those who need to find a last-minute dinner party gift or hard-to-find cheese type. If you never want to leave, consider a Cheese of the Month Club membership, which will deliver three half-pound cuts to your door each month.