Insider’s Guide to Hollywood’s Influencer Hot Spots

Again in Hollywood’s heyday — , the 2000s — the city’s eateries have been virtually as well-known as their A-list patrons. Locations like Spago, The Polo Lounge and Dan Tana’s drew throngs of stars who dodged hordes of paparazzi to slide into their packed eating rooms. Not anymore. At the moment’s celebrities — the sort you’ll discover on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube — want stealthier, low-key institutions. Some aren’t even eating places in any respect however high-end grocery shops, gyms and low retailers. THR talked to greater than a dozen influencers and social media specialists to curate this up-to-the-minute map of the place tastemakers collect in 2024, not simply to eat and drink however to shoot their newest posts. What we discovered is that the menus matter lower than a venue’s lighting and camera-ready ambiance. Says one TikToker, “You’re going to select the place that you just get the shot.”

1. The Bungalow

Owned by The Hills vet Brent Bolthouse, this Santa Monica lounge with a panoramic coastal view brings out a variety of A- to D-listers. Girl Gaga “comes usually,” Bolthouse says, however extra area of interest celebs, like James Kennedy, additionally dangle right here. “We’re like, ‘Whoa, somebody with 3 million followers is on the Bungalow,’ ” he says of nurturing creator relationships. “We’re grabbing and catching. If somebody likes our model, we’d say, ‘Positive, right here’s a desk with no minimal,’ and we’ll comp their drinks, however loads come on their very own accord.”  

2. The Victorian

The Santa Monica restaurant and occasion house hosts each public events and unique gatherings for younger Hollywood. “I’ve garnered private relationships with influencers and celebrities by way of my twenty years in nightlife and the music trade,” boasts companion Adir Tal. “They pop in to indicate assist.” He notes that as an alternative of resenting influencers who drop by to socialize and construct model fairness, companies ought to embrace it. “A whole lot of venues have guidelines which might be counterproductive to advertising and marketing [like] not permitting pictures or flash,” he says. “We constructed a wonderful facility that influencers like to be at and take content material at, and we permit it. We don’t deal with them in a different way.”

3. Belles Seashore Home

All that’s lacking from this tiki-themed eatery in Venice is a catwalk. “We have been speaking about locations to have a mannequin brunch, and that’s once I heard about Belles,” says TikToker Kaila Uli. Its ornate ambiance conjures up people-watching, whereas rampant picture- and video-taking are inspired by the workers. Creators can “work” whereas filming each other, and the likes of Emma Chamberlain and Kendall Jenner have partnered with Belles to advertise their espresso and alcohol manufacturers.

4. ALO Fitness center

The unique, members-only fitness center nestled above the Alo Beverly Hills HQ is understood for its enviable amenities (infrared saunas, cryotherapy chambers, chilly plunge tubs) and manufacturing studios the place creators file podcasts after exercises. Influencers accepted into its database obtain free Alo ’matches. Glen Powell and Kaia Gerber are also recognized to work on the market, but it surely’s finest referred to as a hangout for in-crowd influencers like Jake Shane and Alix Earle. 

5. Gracias Madre

You may seize a chunk — and submit a video — in its well-appointed open eating room. Or else take a break from the glare of public life (as if!) in one among this West Hollywood vegan Mexican restaurant’s cozy indoor or outside nooks. Bonus for many who care: The meals is fairly good.

6. Barney’s Beanery

Curiously, this staple gastropub chain with its dive vibe has turn out to be a brand new fratty Gen Z hangout. “It’s like Soho Home, besides you don’t must pay membership charges and the meals is definitely good,” as influencer and actuality star Marco DelVecchio as soon as described it. The Santa Monica and West Hollywood places appear to be specific magnets for younger fame, together with current Love Island breakout Rob Rausch and veteran YouTuber iDubbbz.

7. Offsunset

Since opening in 2021, the membership constructed its celeb cred off of Stafford Schlitt’s curated visitor lists; which embody the likes of Leo and Kim Ok. “After COVID, we solely had three tables — my mates have been very choosy about who they wished to be round,” he says. “Each identify needed to come by way of my cellphone.” The uber-wealthy adopted. “Billionaires have been like, ‘I’d purchase a desk for $55,000 to expertise it.’ I bought tables for $100,000.” At the moment, Offsunset is open to the general public, which on most weekend nights features a bevy of TikTokers, IG fashions and YouTubers.

8. Neighborhood Items

Tipped off to this unassuming Melrose home by Justin Bieber and spouse Hailey’s frequent visits, the Gen Z throngs that line up across the block each weekend, adorned in influencer-endorsed athleisure put on, now come for the photogenic espresso and pastries, the curated items — from indie-label sizzling sauces to stationery — and the millennial-kitsch backdrops.

9. Apt200

Designed to evoke the dimly lit, Solo cup-strewn front room of a home get together, Apt200 was based in 2013 by promoter Nathan Gannage in Montreal. “We offer a vibe that’s totally different than conventional membership areas,” says Gannage, who claims that the bevy of internet-famous shoppers who frequent the venue are an natural extension of his precise buddy community relatively than paid influencers. Patrons have included rapper Kaytranada, singer Burna Boy and music-world creator/hanger-on Zack Bia.

10. Maru Espresso

Whereas L.A. creator tradition tends to middle across the chichi Westside, extra adventurous digital self-chroniclers have been cropping up farther east over the previous few years. Casually recherché hipster espresso retailers like Maru in Los Feliz (and Canyon in Echo Park, No. 11), are shortly turning into go-to locations to movie and be filmed amongst foodie bloggers and TikTokers. 

11. Canyon Espresso

“A spot to be seen and nice for people- watching,” says aptly named TikToker Candace Reels of Canyon Espresso in Echo Park. “You’ll positively see acquainted faces from the web world there.” The founders say it “doesn’t really feel apparent [as] a ‘hotspot,’ ” as a result of it was meant to be minimalist and covert: “Our mission was to create an area that’s heat, approachable and welcoming. We solely play information. We don’t have public Wi-Fi and subtly encourage extra dialog and analog actions.” However, as Reels explains, as a result of influencers (armed with hotspots and cellular Wi-Fi on this case) are consistently foraging for the following hidden gem to maintain their content material recent, a novel vibe could make a spot stand out. Till it will get overexposed and so they’re off to the following unsung locale.

Sportsmen’s Lodge (Off-Map) 

With a important mass of on-trend retail shops (Reformation, Vuori, Alo Yoga) and loads of photogenic public areas for creators to pose in opposition to, the tony Studio Metropolis lodge has turn out to be the “It” hangout. A Sportsmen rep says its “one-of-a-kind ambiance” and “natural attraction” are what’s luring a “regular stream of well-known figures with out the necessity for particular influencer outreach applications.” 

Erewhon (Off-Map)

Recognized for its celeb and influencer outreach and collabs on smoothies (Hailey Bieber’s is by far the preferred, however Bella Hadid, Sofia Richie and Winnie Harlow even have branded drinks), the upscale grocer in influencer-dense Studio Metropolis is the mom ship of all faddish, social media-driven L.A. actions. Well-known consumers draw almost as a lot ogling because the astronomical costs.

Fryman Canyon (Off-Map)

You may hardly take a hike in Runyon Canyon today with out tripping over a selfie stick. Influencers within the know have now flocked to the comparatively unobstructed vistas of Fryman Canyon in Wilacre Park. “You’ll see 70 % of your Raya matches on this hike,” jokes TikToker Amanda McCants of the younger, sizzling and adopted crowd documenting (whereas disrupting) the pure serenity of the well-paved 2.5 mile stretch. 

This story appeared within the Oct. 9 problem of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.