Shopping · Los Angeles · United States
Shopping in Los Angeles
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
LA shopping ranges from Rodeo Drive's designer flagships to vintage stores on Melrose Avenue and in Silver Lake, open-air malls such as The Grove, and big weekend flea markets. Best souvenirs: Studio merchandise, Vintage clothing and California wine.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 5
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Studio merchandise
Where to shop
Rodeo Drive
Designer flagships in Beverly Hills, best for window-shopping and the cobbled Two Rodeo lane.
Melrose Avenue
Streetwear, sneaker shops and vintage stores east of Fairfax Avenue, with upscale boutiques on Melrose Place.
The Grove
An open-air mall with a trolley, next to the historic Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Independent boutiques, homeware stores and cafés in Venice.
Third Street Promenade
Chain stores and outdoor dining on a pedestrian street a short walk from Santa Monica Pier.
Markets
Rose Bowl Flea Market
A huge monthly antiques and vintage market at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, usually on the second Sunday.
Melrose Trading Post
A Sunday flea market at Fairfax High School with vintage clothes, crafts and food.
Santa Monica Farmers Market
A long-running farmers market on Arizona Avenue on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Original Farmers Market
Permanent food stalls and grocers at Third and Fairfax, trading since 1934.
What to buy
Studio merchandise
Universal Studios and the Burbank studio tour shops sell film and TV merchandise you won't find elsewhere.
Vintage clothing
Vintage stores on Melrose and in Silver Lake are good for denim, band T-shirts and old Hollywood fashion.
California wine
Wines from Santa Barbara County, Paso Robles and Napa are widely sold; check your home country's import limits.
Mexican pantry goods
Dried chillies, hot sauces and mole pastes from markets in East LA and Oaxacan grocers in Koreatown.
Surf and skate gear
Boards, apparel and wax from the surf shops of Venice and Santa Monica.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Hollywood
Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre
More than 2,700 brass-and-terrazzo stars line Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
Market · Downtown LA
Grand Central Market
Open since 1917 on Broadway, Grand Central Market's food hall mixes long-running Mexican stalls selling carnitas and pupusas with newer counters for egg sandwiches, ramen and falafel.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Downtown LA
Olvera Street and El Pueblo
Olvera Street, in El Pueblo de Los Ángeles near the city's 1781 founding site, is a brick lane of Mexican market stalls, taquito stands and historic buildings including the Avila Adobe, the oldest surviving house in Los Angeles.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Downtown LA
Little Tokyo
One of the few remaining historic Japantowns in the United States, Little Tokyo has ramen and sushi counters, mochi shops in Japanese Village Plaza and the Japanese American National Museum, which tells the story of Japanese American incarceration during the Second World War.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- History
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Venice | $$$ | Boardwalk performers, quiet canals and Abbot Kinney's boutiques |
| Hollywood | $$ | Walk of Fame, historic theatres and the main Metro line under the boulevard |
| West Hollywood | $$$$ | Sunset Strip music clubs, design stores and LGBTQ+ nightlife |
| Downtown LA | $$ | Grand Avenue museums, historic movie palaces and the Arts District's warehouses |
| Silver Lake and Echo Park | $$$ | Hillside bungalows, independent coffee and the city's indie music scene |
| Beverly Hills | $$$$ | Rodeo Drive, grand old hotels and palm-lined residential streets |
| Koreatown | $$ | Late-night Korean barbecue, karaoke and good-value hotels near Downtown |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, a few dollars for valets, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–May and September–November; the busiest months are July–August.
- April: Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in the desert near Palm Springs raise regional demand (usually April)
- August: Nisei Week Japanese festival in Little Tokyo (usually August)
- September: Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice (usually late September)
- November: Hollywood Christmas Parade (usually the Sunday after Thanksgiving)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, couples, luxury and shopping
West Hollywood
Sunset Strip music clubs, design stores and LGBTQ+ nightlife
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Los Angeles?
Studio merchandise, Vintage clothing, California wine and Mexican pantry goods.
+Where is the best shopping in Los Angeles?
Rodeo Drive: Designer flagships in Beverly Hills, best for window-shopping and the cobbled Two Rodeo lane.
+What are the best markets in Los Angeles?
Rose Bowl Flea Market, Melrose Trading Post, Santa Monica Farmers Market and Original Farmers Market.