Live Like a Star in Los Angeles: An Expert’s Guide to L.A.’s Best Luxury Neighborhoods

Los Angeles Most Expensive Neighborhoods

With a population of more than 4 million people, the city of Los Angeles is the largest municipality in California. It is known for its warm and sunny climate, fostering a global entertainment industry hub, and hundreds of desirable neighborhoods. The metropolitan area has about 13 million people and is the second-largest in the United States, behind the New York metropolitan area. As with many large cities, Los Angeles real estate is at a premium; the price of single-family homes ranges from $750,000 to well over $10 million.

The best neighborhoods in Los Angeles all have special characteristics that contribute to the ongoing appeal of this famous area. People in search of L.A. luxury homes with top-of-the-line amenities will need to know where to look. Keep reading to learn about some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Bel Air Crest: A Gated Community with Resort Perks

Bel Air Crest Amenities

  • Community clubhouse with putting greens, tennis and basketball courts, fitness center, children's playground, and Olympic-size community pool
  • Landscaped roads
  • Proximity to the freeway and Rodeo Drive
  • Security guards in the community 24 hours a day

The Bel Air Crest neighborhood is a luxury, gated resort-style community. It is located in the Bel Air community between Downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley off the 405 freeway and Sepulveda Boulevard. Homeowners often enjoy excellent views of the Sepulveda Canyon, the skyline, or the Pacific Ocean.

The neighborhood features about 200 single-family homes. Floor plans in the neighborhood start at around 5,000 square feet and span upwards of 10,000 square feet. Most of the home styles are contemporary, and a lot of the houses include private swimming pools. Prices start at around $8 million and can go above $16 million.

The neighborhood is residential, but popular retail outlets are located outside the neighborhood in Brentwood Village. The Bel-Air Restaurant features New American cuisine, whereas Peppone and Maria's Italian Kitchen are Italian eateries in Brentwood Village.

Brentwood Circle: Privacy and Luxury by the Santa Monica Mountains

Brentwood Circle Amenities

  • 24-hour security
  • Getty Center just outside the neighborhood
  • Proximity to the freeway
  • Walking distance to shops and restaurants

The Brentwood Circle neighborhood is a gated community off Sunset Boulevard near the 405 Freeway. The Sepulveda Pass borders the community on one side, and Brentwood Village, a quaint shopping village, borders on the other side. It is nestled at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains and features tree-lined streets and houses on the hillside. The J. Paul Getty Museum overlooks Brentwood Circle. In 1995, the neighborhood became the first of the gated communities in Los Angeles.

The neighborhood's 65 homes are large, and the prices range from $1 million to $35 million.

At the neighborhood's border, Brentwood Village provides various fashion boutiques and specialty shops, cafés, restaurants, fitness centers, and services. Kreation Organic Juice Bar is one café; Jennifer Knits and Lakal Jewelry are neighborhood retailers.

History Thrives in the Fremont Place Neighborhood

Fremont Place Amenities

  • Historic mansions with interesting architecture
  • Guard-gated entrances
  • Convenient location
  • Strong homeowner's association

The Fremont Place neighborhood is a gated community in Greater Wilshire/Hancock Park at the intersections of Wilshire and Rossmore boulevards. It has a rich history. Charles Ingram, David Barry, and George Briggs initially developed in 1911. It consisted of 48 lots and an elegant entrance with granite gateways. Martin Henry Mosier built the first mansion there in 1916. Architect John C. Austin designed the Italian Renaissance home, and Tiffany's did the interior design. Heavyweight boxer Mohammad Ali and his wife restored the home in the 1970s when they lived in Fremont Place. King C. Gillette, of Gillette Razors, built another mansion in 1917 in the style of a Honolulu hotel. Mary Pickford rented a Beaux-Arts mansion belonging to Helen Mathewson, a hotel proprietor, in 1918. After the Depression, many of the originally proposed 48 lots were subdivided, and some were sold for commercial buildings.

Currently, Fremont Place has 73 homes, each with its own story. In addition to Beaux-Arts, architectural styles include Italian Renaissance, Georgian Colonial, and French Normandy.

The neighborhood is residential, but shops and restaurants are nearby. Kuishimbo is a small Japanese sushi restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard, a little east of the community. Commerson is a contemporary brasserie just off of Wilshire to the west of the community. The Library is a chic casual wear shop a little north of the neighborhood on Larchmont Boulevard.

Equestrian Enthusiasts Love the Shadow Hills Neighborhood

Shadow Hills Amenities

The Shadow Hills area is a semi-rural community in the San Fernando Valley, north of the Burbank community and northwest of the Verdugo Mountains. It consists of 12 acres of foothills and mountains and is one of the lowest density communities in the city. It is largely made up of horse farms and is one of the few remaining equestrian zones within the city.

Many homes are in the Midcentury Modern architectural style and sit on large lots that accommodate barns, stables, and riding trails. A few condominiums are available along Glenoaks Boulevard, the neighborhood's southern border. Prices range from about $600,000 to about $3 million.

Bars and grills are located in the neighborhood, primarily along Sunland Boulevard. One popular restaurant is Villa Terraza, which has been serving Italian food in the neighborhood since 1936. For nightlife, most residents will go into the community of Sunland, north of Shadow Hills, where they can find bars such as the Marquee Lounge and the Rattler.

Find Culture and More in the Westwood Neighborhood

Westwood Amenities

  • UCLA and the culture and sports it provides
  • Art museums, including the Hammer, which focuses on emerging artists
  • Shopping, dining, nightlife, and theaters within the neighborhood
  • Landmark buildings and historic cultural monuments

The Westwood neighborhood is in northwest Los Angeles. Its boundaries are Olympic Boulevard on the southeast, Beverly Hills city limits on the northeast, and Sunset Boulevard on the north; the San Diego Freeway between Olympic and Wilshire boulevards and Veteran Avenue between Wilshire and Sunset on the southwest. Arthur Lets, the founder of The Broadway and Bullock's department stores, originally bought the land, known as the Wolfskill Ranch, in 1919. After his death, his son-in-law, Harold Janss, vice president of Janss Investment Company, inherited the land and developed the area beginning in 1922. The area is known as the site of movie premieres, and several vintage theaters are within its boundaries. Also, well-known is the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, in which many Hollywood stars are buried. The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) also is located within the community.

Housing in the neighborhood consists of single-family homes and condo buildings. Prices vary widely, from around $1 million to more than $85 million.

Residents can shop and dine in the Westwood Village Business District, which provides several restaurants and shops in all price ranges. Fellow provides a unique L.A. fine dining experience. The Lazy Daisy Cafe offers breakfast and brunch. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market also are located in the business district.

The Beverly Center Neighborhood Offers Luxury Near the Heart of Town

Beverly Center Amenities

  • In the center of the city
  • Museums including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Peterson Automotive Museum
  • Parks including Pan Pacific Park
  • Restaurants, museums, nightlife, and shopping within walking distance

The community of Beverly Center, often coupled with the Miracle Mile area, is located in the center of the city. In the early 1920s, the area was an unpaved farm road. Developer A. W. Ross developed it as a commercial district to rival downtown. Beverly Center and the Miracle Mile contain Museum Row and Historic Preservation Overlay Zones. The 1.5-mile zone is dubbed "America's Champs-Élysées." It is one of the city's most highly desired areas.

Housing types vary. They include luxury condos and single-family homes, many with Spanish-style architecture on flat, tree-lined streets. Most of the single-family homes were built from 1924 to 1941.

A plethora of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife is available. Ray's + Stark Bar serves Mediterranean food and signature cocktails and is located in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, for example. The Roof on Wilshire is a New American restaurant atop the Kempton Hotel. Goldie's is a modern California restaurant. The Beverly Center Shopping Mall includes designer stores and a variety of dining options.

The Penthouse Lifestyle Awaits in the Downtown Neighborhood

Downtown Amenities

  • The interesting and varied architecture
  • Thriving urban environment
  • In the cultural and commercial center
  • Parks including Grand Park and Spring Street Park

The Downtown area is bordered by Route 110 on the west, Venice Boulevard on the south, South Alameda Avenue on the east, and Route 101 on the north. Several districts comprise downtown, including the Arts District, Bunker Hill, the Fashion District, the Financial District, Flower District, Gallery Row, Historic Core, Jewelry District, and South Park. Downtown features various historic buildings, including the "Jewel of Downtown" Eastern Columbia Building, built-in 1930. Developers have converted many of these buildings into lofts or condos.

Most of the housing consists of Los Angeles condos and penthouses in various architectural styles ranging from Beaux-Art and Art Deco buildings in the Historic Core District to contemporary units blocks away. A few older single-family homes are available, some going back to the 19th century.

Downtown is the city's cultural hub and offers access to restaurants, shops, and nightlife, all within walking distance. Little Tokyo offers many Japanese restaurants, such as the hip Marugame Mono. One nightlife spot is the Edison, located in the historic Higgins Building.

Holmby Hills: A Platinum Triangle Neighborhood

Holmby Hills Amenities

  • Grand homes
  • Two parks ringed by sycamore trees
  • Borders the Los Angeles Country Club
  • Wide tree-lined streets

The community of Holmby Hills is one of three neighborhoods comprising the Platinum Triangle of Los Angeles. It borders the community of Bel Air on the north; Beverly Crest, Beverly Hills, and the Los Angeles Country Club to the west; and the Westwood community to the south and east. Arthur Lets Sr and the Janss Investment Company first developed Holmby Hills. In 1919, Letts bought 3,296 acres of what was Wolfskill Ranch and set aside 400 acres for an estate section that would become Holmby Hills, named for his family home in England. The Janss family continued development after Lets died in 1923. The community has several homes that were owned or rented by celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Walt Disney, Clark Gable, Fannie Brice, Hugh Hefner, and Gary Cooper.

Homes in Holmby Hills are mega-mansions, some historical and some recently built. Many homes cost $10 million or more.

Restaurants and shopping hotspots are in nearby Beverly Hills, which includes the famous Rodeo Drive. Crustacean Beverly Hills offers creative Vietnamese cuisine; the Polo Lounge is an epicenter of L.A. power dining and offers a popular jazz brunch.

Live Like a Star in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is an exciting and glamorous city. It has many communities and neighborhoods for those who desire stunning views and unrivaled amenities. These neighborhoods are optimally positioned, providing convenient drive times to downtown. Ready to experience the Tinseltown lifestyle? Check out these neighborhoods today.

If you're looking to make your home in Los Angeles, contact The Brad Korb Real Estate Group with LA Homes at (818) 953-5300 to discover your LA dream home today.

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