Shopping in Los Angeles is about one thing: the latest fashions. Hollywood starlets, industry big shots, accomplished artists, and professional stylists stalk the stores, intent on beating the trends. Merchants oblige, piling shelves with the season’s freshest fabrics and cuts. Los Angeles is also an amazing city for other types of treasures: Movie paraphernalia, multicultural trinkets, hand-hewn heirlooms, only-in-L.A. souvenirs—they’re all here in this vibrant, sprawling metropolis.

Rodeo Drive (say “Row-day-oh”) was world-famous even before Julia Roberts, in Pretty Woman, walked down the street. These three dazzling blocks are at the heart of Beverly Hills and, as such, reflect everything the zip code is about: prestigious labels, head-to-toe style, and showing off what you’ve got. Virtually every elite design house is represented here in boutiques where floors gleam and clients are treated like stars as they consider fancy clothes, high-end jewelry, and luxurious home comforts. This is the area to visit for world-famous brands such as Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and Saks.