Places In Los Angeles Where You're Most Likely To Spot Celebrities

Catching a glimpse of famous people is predominantly a game of chance, but you drastically increase your odds when you stick around Los Angeles, the City of Angels. As the most populous metropolis in California, it's known as the Entertainment Capital of the World for good reason. Especially in neighborhoods like Hollywood, the passion for superstardom borderlines a religion, where the sidewalk is engraved with iconic names, and celebrity impersonators will demand a few dollars for a selfie.

However, there is an art to the chase. You are unlikely to bump into a movie star casually walking down Hollywood Boulevard, ready to strike a pose. Instead, to find a celebrity, one must become a celebrity. You need to learn where they eat, where they shop, and where they stay when they are in town. But more importantly, remember that the essence of L.A. is playing it cool. Hence, if you do come across your hero, please don't rudely shove your camera into their face, interrupting their day with your screams of worship. Because, believe it or not, they are humans too, so treat them with respect. Keeping that in mind, here are the hottest places where the rich and famous flock together.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is up there with the most recognizable names in the world. Established in 1912 on Sunset Boulevard, they've seen every generation of A-grade celebrity come and go, from Marilyn Monroe to John Lennon, Mark Wahlberg to Heidi Klum, and everyone in between. The mythology behind this location is so potent that "Hotel California" by The Eagles (one of the highest-regarded rock songs of all time) is loosely based on the accommodation. For further proof, you can even find the "pink palace" on the "Hotel California" album cover.

If you have the money, book a room and spend your days tanning around the Cabana Café, their notorious poolside restaurant. Wait here for long enough, and you're bound to see some Hollywood royalty getting up to mischief. However, like any respectable celebrity safe haven, the discretion of its guests is paramount. Hence, if they catch you taking photographs, you'll find yourself bouncing to the curb in a flash.

Founded in 1919, Musso & Frank Grill is Hollywood's oldest restaurant, meaning its career has persevered for longer than most of its famous clientele. Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, people like Alfred Hitchcock and Frank Sinatra spent hours dining on this premises, while Charlie Chaplin had his own booth, which remains to this day. These personalities of yesteryear may be long gone, but L.A.'s "who's hot" still frequents the grill, with Jack Nicholson, Paul Dano, and Mila Kunis spotted in recent times. Part of the appeal comes with the venue's private room, used exclusively for film industry professionals to discuss projects.

Because of its historical significance, the eatery is featured in too many films to count, including "Ed Wood," "La La Land," "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," and "Ocean's Eleven." Musso & Frank Grill is such a star, in fact, that the Hollywood Walk of Fame gifted the restaurant with its own star on the street, the first of its kind to achieve the honor.

If you prefer to keep your celebrity spottings simple and guaranteed, there's no better strategy than to attend a talk show. When in L.A., "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is your best bet, as it films every Monday to Thursday at the Hollywood Masonic Temple. The list of guests Kimmel has welcomed into his studio would fill an article of its own, but you can get a fair idea by watching his hilarious segments of Mean Tweets, where celebrities read the awful posts people write about them on Twitter/X.

Tickets to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" are free if you're lucky enough to grab them, so keep refreshing the schedule to see who's on, and then click the request button as fast as your finger can manage. Just ensure you pack a valid I.D. that proves you are older than 18, and arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the filming time. And don't forget to wear something nice in case the TV cameras suddenly turn to face you.

Celebrity residents treasure Chateau Marmont so profoundly that its name has spread across every entertainment medium imaginable. You can find this West Hollywood Hotel featured in several Oscar-winning films, including 2016's "La La Land" and 2018's "A Star Is Born". This reputation extends to the music industry too, with Lily Allen, Lana Del Rey, and Panic! At The Disco mentioning the venue in their lyrics. Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers went as far as to state that "The Chateau Marmont is probably the most beautiful soulful building in all of Hollywood, in an interview with Louder. "

Such an extensive resume speaks at deafening volumes, so much so that the Chateau Marmont has become more famous than its tenants themselves. So, if you're not worried about saving money in L.A., simply hang around this lobby for a few hours, and you will likely spot multiple celebrities in a single sitting. Otherwise, you may even get lucky by the doors, but be careful with the photography, as security won't hesitate to chase you away if they deem you a nuisance.

TCL Chinese Theatre (otherwise known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre) opened in 1927 and is now a world-famous movie palace that has stitched its name into the fabric of L.A. folklore. With its unmistakable East Asian architecture, it manages to stand out even among the craziness of Hollywood Boulevard, drawing attention from tourists and entertainment royalty alike. That is why it's the go-to choice for legendary film premiers, such as "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939, "Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope" in 1977, and "Inception" in 2010. From 1944 to 1946, the establishment hosted the Academy Awards ceremony, but that honor has since permanently relocated to the Dolby Theatre, a five-minute walk away.

Of course, one can never predict a celebrity spotting, but if the TCL Chinese Theatre proves unfruitful, you can always compare your palm size to the handprints of history's most prominent names. With close to 200 imprints in the concrete, some of the more interesting examples to scout out include Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter wand, Marilyn Monroe's earring, and Mel Brooks' sixth prosthetic finger.

If anyone knows anything about hunting celebrities in the wild, it would be the tabloid news organization TMZ. After building their career at the gossip forefront, their reputation isn't exactly the kindest you'll hear in the city. Understandable criticism has followed many of their decisions, for example, when they reported on Kobe Bryant's passing before his next of kin was notified or when they purchased stolen items from the fourth Indiana Jones installment. However, if you can temporarily set your morals aside, TMZ offers a celebrity bus tour, which drives you around the most important landmarks in Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and Hollywood.

Of course, there are never any guarantees that you'll come across your favorite actor, but if TMZ couldn't find them, rest assured that nobody could. However, even without any payoff, you'll still enjoy your trip as you learn insider information about this crazy neighborhood while seated on a comfortable leather chair with your phone charging by your side. Interested? Then book the TMZ Celebrity Tour! Not interested? Never fear, for there are various other Hollywood tour options to check out.

While statistics are in your favor, when it comes to meeting famous names in Los Angeles, bad luck can always strike, and many a sad soul has returned home without any juicy stories to tell. But do not give up just yet! Because even celebrities love to explore the world, and private jets are a luxury only the wealthiest of the wealthy can afford. This means that LAX airport is frequently swarming with recognizable faces, and your flight out could be the last-minute save you need.

Unfortunately, you are not alone in your quest, and the pestering of the rich and famous has become such an annoyance to those involved that LAX has set up a celebrity-exclusive terminal. These suites shut out the public's prying eyes while offering complimentary meals, personal showers, and an assistant to handle the luggage. It costs $4,350 one-way, so if you're willing to drop that kind of money, there's still hope for your celeb-mingling dreams!

Otherwise, you could always resume your chase in other popular cities. Check out these guides to celeb-sighting in New York, finding the stars in London, and spotting famous faces in Paris.