Much gawking will be done here as this place is crawling with famous (and not so famous) camera-ready celebs shopping. Hot mess Britney Spears is frequently caught by TMZ cameramen spending her, uh, hard-earned dough at Lisa Kline. On my last trip there, I spotted seemingly paparazzi-shy Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) looking rugged and hiding underneath a baseball cap, walking by his lonesome.
But you can’t have a good photo-op without the stalkerazzi, who hide in bushes and take cigarette breaks along the street. Warning: flashing lights may result in serious car accidents, DUIs and trips to rehab.
The corner of Beverly and Robertson is the hubbub of the boulevard and should be explored first.
If you’re a Hollywood gossip junkie, you’ve heard of the ivy-covered café the Ivy (113 N. Robertson Blvd.). The exterior’s white picket fence is so notorious it’s probably more famous than the stars that dine here.
Whether its A-Listers on the patio or movie moguls cutting a deal, the café is always packed. Despite its abstemious clientele, the portions of American comfort food are hearty.
Rare carb-loving stars get dessert – the decadent banana split comes with four different scoops of ice cream and an array of fruits. It’s overpriced, but you’re also paying to see-and-be-seen.
Take a couple steps and you’ll end up at ultimate girly gift shop Kitson where every starlet akin to Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton stock up on the latest bags, luxurious bath products and kitschy tees. The store looks more like a messy swap meet than a boutique and sort of like a Sanrio for adults, but the merchandise is strictly designer.
The prices range from reasonable (Junk Food tees starting at $13.99) to outrageous proportions (Kooba bags for almost $1,000), so there’s something for everyone. Remember those ubiquitous Team Aniston and Team Jolie shirts? Now you can get your very own Team Heidi and Team Lauren tees!
Cringeworthy? Amusing? Either way, come here to shop for cute knick-knacks you’ll never need. Kitson Men (146 N. Robertson Blvd.) and Kitson Kids (115 S Robertson Blvd.) are nearby, too.
In order to look svelte in your new Hudson jeans you spent your savings on, head to vegan-friendly Newsroom Café where thespians stay waiflike and slender. The noisy eatery is packed with patrons craving health-conscious breakfast food and juice concoctions.
Try the many vegetarian options that feature healthful alternatives of high calorie classics like veggie quesadillas and grilled soy chicken drumsticks, then wash it all down with a wheatgrass shot. That’s so L.A.
Ryan Gosling joins the actor-restauranteur group of Ashton Kutcher (Geisha House) and Robert DeNiro (Ago) with his Moroccan restaurant Tagine (132 N. Robertson Blvd.). Patrons rave about the cinnamon-infused sangria and the rich and spicy food, enjoyed in an intimate setting. There’s no sign, but just look for a big wooden door and you’re there.
But the main reason to come to Robertson is to melt the plastic at hot boutiques frequented by It-Girls and Rachel Zoe-styled celebutantes.
Think of Lisa Kline as a neater Kitson without any of the annoying cutesiness. But similar to its neighbor is the wide jean selection, an accompanying men’s store, Lisa Kline Men (143 S. Robertson Blvd.) and a kids store (Lisa Kline Kids, 123 S. Robertson Blvd.).
Other notable shops include Alice + Olivia for fun sequined shift dresses and sensual cashmere sweaters. Quirky hip boutique LF (106 S. Robertson Blvd.), whose slogan is “Be unique and be yourself,” is the go-to place for shoe fiends – lots of fierce boots and heels from designers like Marc Jacobs and Jeffrey Campbell. Diavolina Shoes is another store with a prodigious shoe collection, yet they also carry designer loot from Chloe and Phillip Lim.
Hey, if you can’t be a celebrity, might as well shop like one.
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