To many people, the image of Hollywood, and of LA in general, is either a place that's full of glitz and glamour, and positively swarming with celebrities - or as devoid of celebrities, with them hiding out in their mansions or at exclusive, elitist clubs where only celebrities themselves are allowed to go.

The reality is that neither of these extremes is correct. If you're visiting LA, the chances are that you won't see a celebrity. But equally, if you live in Hollywood, celebrity spotting is just another perk of living in glamorous surroundings.

Another nugget of truth that can be sifted out of the rumours of Hollywood is that there are specific places where celebrities go to do the things that everyday people enjoy - there are shops, restaurants, nightspots, even video stores that are favourites of the stars. But the fact is, everyone is welcome - not just celebrities!

Some of the stars' favourite restaurants include seafood specialist Crustacean, where the key is to dress and act like a movie-star; Spago, famous chef Wolfgang Puck's own restaurant, which many argue sets the standard for eating in Hollywood (which, when you consider some of the richest people in the world live here, is certainly saying something!); Patrick's Roadhouse, a favourite spot for a celebrity breakfast (where now-governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger had a permanent table!); and of course The Ivy, favourite of Demi Moore and Kiefer Sutherland, which itself has made several movie appearances, notably in John Travolta and Danny DeVito's ‘Get Shorty' and 1992 smash-hit ‘The Bodyguard'.

The top nightspots where the stars choose to shine include music venues The Viper Room, which, although small and intimate, has seen stars of sizeable magnitude, including Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, The Counting Crows and Lenny Kravitz; The Roxy, which was once a second home to rockers Guns ‘n Roses; and The Troubadour, which has seen the likes of Elton John and Tom Waits performing. Favourite nightclubs include world-famous Whisky a Go Go (which itself has a impressive musical history), El Floradita and The Sky Bar.

And finally, if you feel you need to take something with you from the land of the stars, the shops that are best-loved by celebrities include Di Fabrizio Shoes, shoemaker to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli; Book Soup, a book store that often has star-signings as well; Illume Candles, candle makers that keep the stars' homes glowing; and every celebrities' favourite fashion store, Fred Segal, which is mentioned in fashion-obsessed films like ‘Clueless' and ‘Legally Blonde', and has a reputation for trend-setting and essential fashion.

LA has two Fred Segal stores, one in Hollywood and one in nearby Santa Monica, an area that is popular with celebs because of its beautiful beaches and relaxed way of life. It is home to Patrick's Roadhouse, and as well as being the home of some of the best eateries and fashion stores and hotels in LA, is also home to many major stars, such as Bob Dylan, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci and Tobey Maguire.

There are also a great deal of top-quality hotels in Santa Monica, so if you feel like living like an LA star, this is the place to be!

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