The Top 10 Things To Do in West Hollywood

This discreet West Hollywood hotel and bar has been a hangout for celebrities and their admirers since it opened in 1929. Steeped in rock history, it’s amassed a long list of stories: Led Zeppelin drove motorcycles in the hallways and Jim Morrison jumped from a third-story balcony and lived to tell the tale. Visit the hotel’s cocktail bar for a Marmont Mule (ginger-infused vodka, soda and lime), and be sure to keep a lookout – the dark, moody room is still a hotspot for celebrities.

Founded in 1952, the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives is the largest active LGBTQ organization in the US, boasting the biggest collection of books, photographs, artworks and personal papers of its kind in the world. Located on Robertson Boulevard, it houses a constantly rotating set of exhibitions, filled with murals, installations, photography and over two million other items. Entry is free, but there is a $5 suggested donation.

Whisky A Go Go opened in 1964 and has since hosted some of rock’n’roll’s most influential names, including Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Janis Joplin. This storied venue still showcases up-and-coming local bands alongside bigger names and touring groups.

A cultural and literary fixture on the Sunset Strip, this independently owned bookstore was founded in 1975. Book Soup has built a reputation for its collection of over 60,000 titles focused on art, film, photography and music. A deep commitment to free press and love for autographed books keeps this store’s catalog dynamic. You can even pick up star maps and collectibles. With a calendar of high-profile events, the bookstore hosts author readings and celebrity meet-and-greets, which in the past have included screenwriter Josh Singer (The First Man) and Rush frontman Geddy Lee.

Originally a cooperative live-work space, this residential house was built in WeHo by Vienna-born architect Rudolph Schindler in 1922. Schindler was ahead of his time, and his designs for the house were extremely unconventional; the building was inspired by trips to Yosemite and feels like a post-modern campsite. Having housed the Schindler family along with a handful of other creatives, it is now on the US National Register as a historic building. It now hosts innovative performance art, experimental fashion shows and concerts of new musical compositions. Pro tip: entry is free Wednesday through Sunday.

The Hamilton Selway Fine Art gallery is one of the largest dealers of Pop and contemporary art on the West Coast, specializing in prodigious artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Longo. See legendary works including Warhol’s tomato soup cans and Keith Haring’s Best Buddies. Along with such iconic names, the gallery also showcases new talent, including LA-born Louis Carreon and New York-based Kehinde Wiley.