Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive is a three-block luxury shopping street in Beverly Hills, California, adjacent to Los Angeles, and is one of the best-known high-end retail addresses in the United States. The street is lined with flagship stores and boutiques from houses such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and Prada, along with jewelers, watchmakers, couture designers and fine-dining restaurants. The branded stores sell authentic first-party goods, so the risk of counterfeits is minimal, and the focus is on handbags, fashion, fine jewelry, watches, shoes and accessories at luxury price points, often from several hundred to many thousands of dollars. Prices are fixed and bargaining is not appropriate; all major cards are accepted, and many boutiques offer appointments or personal shopping. California sales tax is added at the register, and the United States has no general tax-refund scheme for tourists, though some retailers may help with shipping abroad. Via Rodeo, a curved cobblestone lane that connects to Wilshire Boulevard, adds a European-style setting with additional boutiques and cafes. The atmosphere is polished and quiet compared with mass-market malls, with doormen and security at many entrances; many visitors come mainly to window-shop and photograph the street signs and storefronts. Dining ranges from casual cafes to formal restaurants, and several hotels sit nearby. Most stores operate Monday to Saturday from about 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from about 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with individual variation. Street parking is limited and metered, while nearby public garages in Beverly Hills offer short free periods and then hourly rates. Weekday mornings are generally the least crowded.