Los Angeles FTW: A Luxury Guide

It typically takes 2,200 footsteps to get from car seat to plane seat at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). For members of PS at LAX, it’s a mere 70 footsteps. Located in a secure terminal far from the crowds, PS offers Annual and One-Day Memberships with three options.

Ideal for groups and families, the flagship Private Suite includes private, line-free TSA screening; dedicated customs and immigration services on arrival; private BMW chauffeur to and from the aircraft; and complimentary cocktails and chef-prepared meals.

The members-only PS Direct takes care of checked luggage and chauffeurs guests directly from the aircraft to their LA destination.

Designed for the solo traveler, The Salon is a new social lounge that offers expedited TSA screening, shuttle service to and from the aircraft; and complimentary cocktails and bites.

The home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium is the largest in the NFL, as well as the first indoor-outdoor stadium. SoFi Stadium will host Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football National Championship Game in 2023, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028.

For the ultimate sports or concert experience, book one of the SoFi Stadium Suites, which range from the eight-person Perch Suite to 50 people in the Stage Suite. The Field Cabana offers an elevated gameday for up to 24 guests, including field-level views from behind the bench; VIP parking, private entrance and in-suite catering.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is one of L.A.’s most visible hotels, located on floors 22-26 of a 54-story tower that soars above L.A. LIVE in Downtown L.A. The luxury property features 123 rooms, including 13 suites and the 3,000 square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite. On the 23rd floor, The Ritz-Carlton Club Level offers a “hotel-within-a-hotel” experience, including a Club Lounge with a dedicated concierge and panoramic city views.

Spanning 8,000 square feet, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles offers private relaxation areas, hair & nail salon, couple’s suite and spa boutique. Signature treatments include the Champagne & Shimmer, which uses champagne seeds and oils to fight free radicals and soothe the complexion. A dusting of 24-karat gold powder leaves a lasting luminance.

With locations in Downtown L.A. and the Westside, Sushi Zo is renowned for its omakase. Spanning more than two dozen dishes, Sushi Zo's omakase is touted by aficionados as one of their best sushi experiences. If you're lucky enough to get it, the wild sockeye salmon is a resplendent blood orange, almost neon in color. Depending on the season, you might have buri (wild yellowtail) and uni from Hokkaido; 10-day aged otoro (bluefin tuna belly) from Ehime; sawara (Spanish mackerel) from Nagasaki, or Shigoku oysters from Washington State. Each course, like a global procession, marches into your mouth educating you on what sushi can and should be.

The Hollywood Roosevelt has welcomed generations of VIPs, from legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age to today’s hottest stars. The first Academy Awards were presented at a private dinner in the Blossom Ballroom; Clark Gable and Carole Lombard carried on their infamous affair in the penthouse; and Marilyn Monroe was staying in one of the vintage 1950s Cabanas at the time of her first professional magazine shoot, which took place at the hotel pool.

The 750 square-foot Marilyn Monroe Suite features a loft-style open floor plan, vintage Eames pieces, and a wrap-around balcony that overlooks the Tropicana Pool. The Gable & Lombard Penthouse is a 3,200 square-foot, three-level suite with a 1,500 square-foot outdoor deck that’s tucked beneath the Roosevelt’s iconic sign and boasts sweeping 360-degree views.

Take your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood to the next level with the VIP Experience. Tour the movie industry’s busiest sets in a special trolley, where you can disembark and explore the studio's famous outdoor sets. Expert VIP guides will immerse you in the past, present and future of Universal’s world-famous Backlot. Your VIP guide will escort you through the express line at rides and attractions, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, and find you the best seats at select shows. Other perks include valet parking and VIP entry to the park, and a gourmet meal in the private VIP dining room.

Chef Michael Cimarusti's two Michelin-starred Providence is renowned as one of the best seafood restaurants in the country. The elegant dining room evokes the ocean with design touches like deep blue seating, coral-like wall patterns and clustered seashells along softly lit walls.

Highlights of the luxurious Chef's Tasting Menu include Oyster, Tai Sashimi, Nancy's Down East Scallop, Lingotti, Vermilion Rockfish, choice of Quinault River Steelhead, Liberty Farms Duck, or A5 Wagyu Beef; and House-Made Hawaiian Chocolate. Pricing is $250 per person, with $115 optional wine supplement ($250 premium wine pairing).

Rodeo Drive is perhaps the most luxurious shopping destination in Los Angeles. Nearly every high-end designer has a storefront in this beautiful, walk-able outdoor shopping area that spans three blocks north of Wilshire and south of Santa Monica Boulevard. Whether you’re looking for the latest Chanel bag or Rolex watch, you’ll find it here.

Designed by Phillippe Starck to evoke a celestial dreamscape, Ciel Spa at SLS Beverly Hills invites guests to relax and feel at ease among the warm white tones and billowing curtains throughout the 5,000 square-foot space.

The Le Grande Body Treatment combines all of Ciel’s most luxurious treatments into one, for a fully replenishing and restorative experience for your skin. Centered around Biologique’s famous regenerating and anti-aging Le Grand creme, this body treatment hydrates, purifies and energizes the epidermis layer while providing genuine cellular regrowth for a long-lasting and healthy glow. Featuring a blissful Aromatherapy Massage, the cult classic P50 Body Polish, an Algae Detox Wrap and LED light therapy.

Check into a Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to enjoy exceptional five-star accommodations. The modern suites feels like your very own penthouse apartment - the walk-out balconies offer panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills and Downtown L.A. Amenities include a home theater system with surround sound, walk-in rain shower that doubles as a steam room, and complimentary Range Rover.

Pretty Woman is one of the highest grossing romantic comedies in history, directed by Garry Marshall and starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Numerous scenes take place and were filmed in Beverly Hills, including a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive and the hotel where Roberts stays, the landmark Beverly Wilshire. Inspired by the 1990 blockbuster, Pretty Woman for a Day invites you to star in your own love story with a luxurious stay in a Specialty Suite.

Indulge in VIP offerings such as a behind-the-scenes tour of Rodeo Drive's most famous fashion houses with your personal wardrobe consultant and stylist; an exclusive dining experience at The BLVD; and a romantic dinner for two in the privacy of your suite. Retreat to the award-winning Spa for a couples massage and let the Bath Butler spoil you with a hand-drawn bath in your suite using personalized aromatherapy oils. Round-trip transportation in a Mercedes Sedan is included.

Check in with the front desk at The Maybourne Beverly Hills and you'll be escorted to the Cigar and Whiskey Bar, a wood-paneled den with Mid-Century Murano ashtrays and a custom humidor that houses more than 1,000 cigars. The V Cut founder Taz Ahmadi curated the 64 stick variations, which include premium brands from the Caribbean and Central America.

The global collection of whiskies ranges from The Yamazaki in Japan to Green Spot from Midleton in Ireland. Savor a dram of the Highland Park Vintage 1968 single malt Scotch – bottle Number One of a batch of 1,550 was specially secured for the bar.

A favorite for generations of Hollywood stars and power brokers, The Polo Lounge opened at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1941 and is best known for the signature McCarthy Salad ($44): Romaine, Grilled Chicken, Organic Egg, Beets, Tomatoes, Cheddar, Smoked Bacon, Avocado and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Stay discreet in an indoor booth while you pitch your new script, or enjoy the sunshine on the outdoor patio and close that distribution deal.

The crown jewel of the Hotel Bel-Air Spa, the Enclave Suite is ideal for couples or groups up to 10 guests. The 570 square-foot private suite includes a shower, bathtub, shaded patio, outdoor seating, and even has its own waterfall. Indulge in the 3.5-hour Ultimate Escape, which includes the Bel-Air Signature Massage and Hydration Ritual Facial, followed by a Bel-Air Gardens Manicure & Pedicure.

Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Temple were regulars at this outdoor shopping center, and decades later the Brentwood Country Mart is still a favorite among the stars. Located in the elite Brentwood neighborhood, the Country Mart houses a collection of high-end boutiques from around the world all in one charming location.

The high-end retailer describes itself as “part museum, part art gallery, part boutique,” and features luxury brands as well as carefully curated vintage finds. In addition to carrying well-established brands, Maxfield also houses many up-and-coming designers for the trendsetting set.

A delicacy enjoyed for centuries by royalty and the rich and famous, caviar is at the heart of Petrossian West Hollywood Restaurant & Boutique. Enjoy Petrossian's specialty with a high-end lunch menu that includes Smoked Salmon Flatbread (Caviar, Crème Fraîche, Chives, Red Onion, Capers), Caviar Tart (Egg Custard, Gruyère, Petite Mustard Greens) and Caviar Scrambled Eggs.

Take your next binge-watch to James Bond level with a tin of the Special Reserve Kaluga Hybrid - Petrossian says "there is no finer caviar" - priced from the single-serve 30g ($555) to 50g ($935, serves 2), to 250g for $4,590 (serves 4-8).

At his two Michelin-starred restaurant Mélisse in Santa Monica, chef Josiah Citrin blurs the line between kitchen and dining room in an intimate, 14-seat setting. The 2.5-hour culinary experience showcases the best of California farmers - unique and exclusive ingredients sourced from San Diego to Napa Valley. Priced at $295 per person, the eight-course seasonal menu features intricate hors d'oeuvres, seafood-forward dishes, and world-renowned meats. Recent dishes include Uni Cromesquis, Millbrook Farm Venison Loin & Bun, and Liberty Duck “Rouennaise” with ​​plum condiment, shiso and oignons farcis.

You'll cruise the ocean like a mogul when you charter the Luxury Liners Sun Coast, a 145-foot yacht that can hold up to 12 guests and features two main salons, a huge bow that's perfect for partying or sunbathing, four staterooms, two indoor dining areas, three outdoor deck dining areas, multiple flat screen TVs, surround sound system, Jacuzzi, helipad, gym and more. To add to the experience, private chefs and bartenders are available to create custom food and drink menus. From its home harbor in Marina del Rey, the Sun Coast can be chartered to cruise within the bay or just outside the breakwater. She is also available to charter up the coast to Malibu or south to Palos Verdes.

Located in Carson, the 53-acre Porsche Experience Center features a four-mile driver development track, state-of-the-art driving simulators, a retail store with exclusive PEC branded merchandise, and fine dining at Restaurant 917. Inside the 50,000 square-foot main building, which is also the home of Porsche Motorsport North America, guests can get an insider’s look at historic Porsche race cars and the workshop team.

On the track, you can ride shotgun in a Demonstration Lap, or push your driving skills to their limits with the four-hour GT3 Generations Accelerated Program, which includes real-time data-based feedback on attempted brake points, throttle position, steering input, and more.

Flying out of the oceanfront heliport in Long Beach, IEX Helicopters takes passengers on a soaring journey over landmarks from the coast to Downtown L.A. The tour begins with a flyby over the Port of Los Angeles, then turns north past LAX for thrilling glimpses of the Beach Cities. From the historic Santa Monica Pier, you'll fly over the Getty Center and down Sunset Boulevard. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the homes of the rich and famous in Bel-Air and the Hollywood Hills. Get up-close to the world-famous Hollywood Sign, then fly through the skyscrapers of Downtown L.A. and past Exposition Park before returning to the heliport.

IEX also offers a Heli-Picnic on Catalina Island, which starts with a scenic flight over the coastline before landing at a remote location, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views and a gourmet picnic basket with premium Champagne.