There is very little that quintessentially screams LA louder than Melrose Avenue, situated in Hollywood and West Hollywood. Starting from a relatively underground shopping scene in the eastern side of the district in the 1980s, the stretch now has some of the best shopping and dining in Los Angeles. The whole district eventually saw a huge surge in popularity, being nicknamed “the new Rodeo Drive,” and it has since then been featured frequently by the talk show host Jay Leno and in shows like LA Ink.

While at Melrose Avenue, you’re in close proximity to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which stretches for several blocks (there are resources on whose star is where, if you want to get right to your favourite celebrity). But if you’re looking for what to do on Melrose Avenue itself, the Paramount Pictures studio calls Melrose Avenue its home and you can tour the place some of your favourite films new and old were made.

Walking down the Avenue, you can visit a mixture of both designer stores as well as alternative fashion stores, as the Avenue isn’t about to lose its historical identity just yet! If you have a good nose for style, there are even thrift stores with eclectic styles to be found here. The designer brands are located to the western end of the Avenue, referred to as Melrose Heights, and here you can find just about every luxury brand you can imagine. Then there’s the restaurants, some affordable and some by celebrity chefs, to calm your stomach after a long walk through the district. And, of course, some of the most famous tattoo parlours in Los Angeles. Whatever you’re looking for in Los Angeles, Melrose Avenue is bound to have it and more.