The LA neighbourhood where you can live it up like a celebrity

The London West Hollywood has held the record for LA's largest hotel rooms since opening in 2008. Luxury suites range from a minimum 70 square metres (about $600 per night) through to the premium 1100-square-metre two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartments where the likes of Justin Bieber and Gwen Stefani like to stay. These top-of-the-range suites come with separate entrances for staff and will set you back about $4500 per night. Not to be outdone, The London also offers the largest penthouse in the city - a two-level sky-mansion with Vivienne Westwood-designed interiors, spacious terraces, 360-degree views and a striking water feature. thelondonwesthollywood.com

Read more on Explore:

With locations in New York and now WeHo, Dogpound is currently the most exclusive place to train in the US - full stop. So revered is founder Kirk Myers that none other than Taylor Swift insists he accompany her on every tour to keep her in top shape. Not surprisingly, Dogpound's annual fees run into the tens of thousands of dollars - the premium package is almost $10,000 - but that's ok if like Swift and Hugh Jackman your name is on the star-studded member list. The famous come for Dogpound's exclusivity - unlike regular gyms all training is done one-on-one with a personal trainer or in a group class - and for Myers techniques. His home-grown methods are known for being effective and different - think flipping a 27-kilogram tyre, flicking battle ropes and swinging sledgehammers. Thankfully if you're passing through town and want to train, there's a way around paying Dogpound's minimum $1000 monthly fee to do so: private sessions are available for $335, semi-private for $205 and group classes for a mere $76. thedogpound.com

You've worked out. Now get glamourous at the Bamford Spa, the latest beauty spot for the stars. Located within 1 Hotel West Hollywood on the busy Sunset Strip, the wood-panelled spa is an oasis of earthy-toned calm. Treatments start from $70 for a rejuvenating leg therapy involving compression boots to $1300-plus for a full day of signature therapies and pampering. Celebrities come here as much to bask by the Bamford's spectacular pool overlooking greater LA as they do for the cryo and Gua Sha-based Red Carpet Sculpt Facial - a steal at just $800 for 80 minutes. 1hotels.com

Lunching at Soho House WeHo is up there with some of the city's hottest tickets. But to do so you will have to drop almost $5000 on an annual global Soho House membership or befriend someone who already has. That way as their privileged guest you too can breeze past ground-floor security and ascend to the exclusive top-floor zone reserved for well-heeled clever creatives. Soho House WeHo spans two levels, the lower filled with lounges and private seating areas bedecked in arty interior design, the upper housing the scene-y restaurant overlooking LA. The best tables are those by the windows while the rest are grouped between small trees sporting coloured balls. With its black and white tiles and distressed wooden tables Soho House WeHo oozes understated elegance - champagne is served in a vintage cut-crystal glass - and the food is as fabulous as the casually chic clientele. sohohouse.com

What better way to see LA than from your own private helicopter while sipping champagne? Pioneering operator Maverick Helicopters wrote the book on VIP-level luxury chopper tours, which means there's nothing quite like swooping by the Hollywood sign and over LA in one of its EC130 ECO-Star aircraft. The Hollywood & Beyond tour spends 40 minutes flying over sights such as Santa Monica Pier, Beverley Hills and the Hollywood Bowl. There's even a holder for your champagne glass. Now that's service. Prices start from $575. maverickhelicopter.com

Follow in the footsteps of everyone from the Ramones to Rihanna when you cross the threshold of legendary hotel the Sunset Marquis. From the Who to Led Zeppelin, famous bands and musos have flocked here since the 1960s for the hotel's peace and privacy. It's arranged compound-style around a sparkling pool, al fresco dining areas and private gardens, so there is little chance of being disturbed by prying eyes or frenzied fans. The Sunset Marquis continues to exude glamour and cool gleaned from years of hosting rock star clientele. And they still count among regular guests: time it right and you could be checking in next to U2, or other regulars such as Bruce Springsteen or Dave Grohl. Take home a piece of music history, too, by snapping up a limited-edition print from the Morrison Hotel Gallery, the world's leading collection of art music photography, located right by the Sunset Marquis foyer. sunsetmarquis.com

... or till your credit card spontaneously combusts, one of the two. No visit to WeHo is complete without perusing Melrose Avenue's 200-plus boutiques and ritzy retailers. But make sure you start at Maxfield - LA's most exclusive shopping destination. Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian are among fans of this gallery-like boutique fashion house renowned for its curated collections from the world's most covetable designers. Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Balmain - you name it, it's here - hanging from the racks while shoes, jewellery, sunglasses and more glint from cabinets and shelves. Even if you can't afford to drop several thousand dollars on an outfit you can certainly dream. maxfieldla.com

The writer was a guest of Visit California.