WEST HOLLYWOOD MARKETING & VISITORS BUREAU
Welcome to Gay and Lesbian West Hollywood
West Hollywood – Living Forward. You are about to experience a city truly like no other: Progressive, Creative, Open and Diverse; from the elegant to the outrageous and refined to the radical. The number one word used to describe a guests experience in West Hollywood? Fun! Whether you visit the legendary Sunset Strip, the Avenues of Art & Design business district, or our Main Street and heart of the LGBT community, Santa Monica Boulevard, you will leave with the feeling most have when in West Hollywood – Living Forward.
Just the Facts
West Hollywood’s population is approximately 39,000, 1/3 of which is LGBT, making West Hollywood the number one location for gays and lesbians in Southern California. Proud to be the hip and happening center of gay life in Los Angeles since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has continued to be recognized as a leading community in gay and lesbian rights, as well as a prime destination for gay couples getting married or enjoying a honeymoon.
West Hollywood offers visitors an enticing selection of renovated hotels, trend-setting dining, tantalizing spas, boutique shopping and bustling nightlife hotspots that continue to re-invent the city. The fun and fabulous will always remain in West Hollywood, home to such events as the West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval (dubbed the Largest Halloween Street Party in the World) in October and the annual Christopher Street West LA Pride Festival in June, the largest gay pride festival on the West Coast.
Stay: Hotel Hopping
All of “WeHo” (as the locals say) hotels are open and inviting to gay and lesbian travelers. San Vicente Inn is an exclusive all-gay-male property with private, clothing optional, tropical surroundings. Ramada Plaza West Hollywood is located in the middle of the action on historic Route 66, Santa Monica Boulevard. Luxurious all-suite properties like the Palihouse, Le Montrose Suites Hotel, Chamberlain Hotel and Le Parc Suites Hotel are within walking distance of “The Boulevard” where you will find bustling nightlife. The Sunset Strip, home to LA’s best live music scene, offers a world-class selection of stylish hotels, including the Andaz West Hollywood, The London, Mondrian, the Standard and the Grafton.
Play: Route 66/The Boulevard
Santa Monica Boulevard, part of the famed Route 66, is the pulsating heart of Southern California’s most happening gay & lesbian community. By day, don’t miss numerous gay-friendly coffee shops and restaurants like Eat Well, Hamburger Mary’s, or the French Marketplace. Grab a frozen yogurt at the very first Pinkberry outlet or discover unique stores like Lemon Tree Bungalow for gifts or LASC for L.A.’s hottest men’s styles. At night, the city comes alive as West Hollywood’s legendary clubs like the Abbey, Here, Eleven, East/West, Micky’s, Rage & Fiesta Cantina entice party-goers. Find different theme nights at many of West Hollywood’s clubs, some offering go-go boys or drag shows.
See: Art & Design Diversions
West Hollywood is ground zero for those with an appreciation for art, design and architecture. On the Avenues of Art & Design, a section of West Hollywood that consists of Beverly and Robertson Boulevards and Melrose Avenue, visitors and locals alike browse world-class boutique shops for the finest names in design, home décor, fashion and beauty in a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Located on the Avenues are such businesses as Armani Casa, Fendi Casa, Alpha, Alberta Ferretti, 3.1 Philip Lim, Chrome Hearts, Balenciaga, James Perse, John Varvatos, and many more. If you’re hungry, visit Urth Caffe or Le Pain Quotidien for some of LA’s best people watching. Not to be missed is the 1.2 million square-foot Pacific Design Center (PDC), also known as the “Blue Whale” and home of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) Gallery at the PDC.
Spa: Robertson Boulevard
One of LA’s trendiest sections of road in West Hollywood is Robertson Boulevard, located along the Avenues of Art & Design. Here you will discover exclusive and hidden-away spas like Kinara, l.a. vie l’orange and Lulur. Sunstyle tanning offers the latest in spray tan innovations. Just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, also known as “Boystown,” you will find popular gay nightclubs Here and the Abbey. The Abbey is open all day long, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy restaurants like Fat Fish, Sur, and Bossa Nova, perfect for an intimate dinner or dining with friends. Parking is easy to find nearby, at valet lots or the Pacific Design Center.
Lesbian Scene in West Hollywood
Think “The L Word” meets “Coyote Ugly” and top it off with girls looking for a great time, even better music, and a touch of Hollywood glamour. From the 1920’s when the Gardens of Allah flourished, a famous West Hollywood hotel founded by an open lesbian and radical bohemian who threw parties with guests like Jean Harlow and Lana Turner, to the 1940’s when Marilyn Monroe hung out on the Sunset Strip, WeHo upholds its reputation as the hub of the entertainment industry. A-Listers enjoy the edginess and subtle exclusivity the city offers, so you never know which famous face you may see in a night out on the town, a fun added perk to any evening.
Insider Tips for your West Hollywood Visit
- The attire worn at most of West Hollywood’s gay clubs and restaurants is “casual chic” – jeans and a t-shirt will usually do, but note that it’s warmer during the day and cool in the evening.
- Gay & Lesbian Publications providing news, information and club listings can be found in many of the bars, coffee shops and restaurants in West Hollywood.
- The LA Gay & Lesbian Center offers a comprehensive array of services to the community and is located just outside of West Hollywood off Santa Monica Boulevard. Contact them at 323-993-7400 or visit www.laglc.org.
- Restaurants and clubs like Hamburger Mary’s, Micky’s, and Rage host entertaining, weekly drag shows. Check individual web sites for specific dates and times.
Planning a Meeting in West Hollywood
Why choose West Hollywood over neighboring areas? Location, location, location! No matter what Los Angeles area your clients or attendees are coming from, West Hollywood is within 30 minutes of everywhere, even the airport! Once your meeting is over, you will be situated within walking distance of the best restaurants, infinite nightlife, fine galleries and chic, trendy boutiques. And for multiple day meetings, West Hollywood is brimming with the hottest hotels and hippest hideaways on the left coast.
What’s West Hollywood got to offer my meeting group that I can’t find anywhere else?
Hotel Specs
When you’re looking for a unique Los Angeles meeting facility and hotel, West Hollywood is the place to go.
So what’s there to do in West Hollywood after the meeting is over? What about spouses? Or team building activities? Better known as “The Creative City”, West Hollywood invites you to step in and let your imagination and the city’s energy do the rest.
If you are interested in having your meeting in West Hollywood, please contact:
Katrin Lucas
Director of Sales
Phone: 310-289-2525
Fax: 310-289-2529
Email: lucas@visitwesthollytwood.com
Submit/Attach an RFP Here
Click here to fill out a form, so we can find the meeting facility that meets your needs.
Contact Information
For more information on visiting West Hollywood, contact the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069; call 800-368-6020 (U.S. and Canada) or log onto www.visitwesthollywood.com or www.gogaywesthollywood.com.
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