How to spend a perfect weekend in LA

The weekend begins, of course, with a leisurely breakfast. Maybe in bed, maybe on your private patio with the garden waking up around you. The coffee arrives just as you'd like it, and the day can wait until you're ready.

Los Angeles is a beach city at heart, and the coast is closer than most people expect. Head north for the clear water and sandstone cliffs of El Matador in Malibu, or stay nearer to town in Santa Monica, with Venice Beach just along the sand. Whichever way the morning takes you, our guide to the best beaches in Los Angeles has a favourite for every mood.

The Original Farmers Market has been a Los Angeles landmark since 1934, and it's kept every bit of its vintage character. Hollywood has always loved it here, and so have the locals, who still come for the easy charm of its stalls and the people-watching that goes with it.

Today, it's a hub for flavours from around the world, from Italy to Japan. And if you’re craving something more old-school: Magee's Kitchen has been carving corned beef since the market opened, and Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery has been famous for its pancakes since 1938.

And what would a trip to LA be without a visit to Rodeo Drive? Home to the city’s best shopping, it’s lined with houses like Chanel, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, with the cobbled lane of Two Rodeo tucked just off the main strip. It's only a short drive from Hotel Bel-Air, so your shopping bags can be sent ahead and the afternoon continues unencumbered.

There's nowhere more glamorous to spend the golden hour than the pool at Hotel Bel-Air. Its distinctive oval shape comes from its first life as a riding ring for the Bel-Air Stables, and today it's framed by swaying palms and cascading blooms.

The pool has its own place in Hollywood history. One of Marilyn Monroe’s most famous shoots for Vogue took place here, it was where Robert Wagner found his first job, and it stars on the cover of Bryan Ferry's 1974 album, Another Time, Another Place. Here, every lounger comes with a story.

For dinner, our heart belongs to the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel, our sister luxury hotel in Beverly Hills. The green booths have hosted decades of deals, celebrations and quiet conversations, and it remains one of the most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles. Order the rigatoni Bolognese, settle into a booth and let the evening unfold.

Back at Hotel Bel-Air, the night ends at the Bar & Lounge. Norman Seeff's portraits of Tina Turner, Cher and Steve Jobs line the walls, and the live music begins from 7pm: a jazz trio on Friday and Saturday, a pianist the rest of the week. A martini, a few more stories, then into your room.

Leave the windows open and drift off to the sounds of the canyon, or close them and sleep in perfect silence.

The Pâtisserie is where Paris meets LA. Classic French mosaic tiles set the scene, the coffee is artisanal, and the pastries are every bit as good as they look. Take yours out to the courtyard and ease into the morning (though breakfast in bed again is entirely your call).

Hiking is a favourite pastime for even the starriest Angelenos, and you never quite know who you'll pass on the trail. Closest to the hotel, the trails of Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park wind through the Santa Monica Mountains with sweeping views across the city to the ocean. For the full Hollywood Hills experience, Runyon Canyon is where much of LA goes to see and be seen.

If you'd like to cover more ground, horseback riding through Griffith Park is a beautiful way to see the hills, and a lovely option for families. To make the most of the outdoors, our concierge can arrange a packed lunch to take with you.

There are endless ways to explore LA's film scene, so the afternoon is yours to shape. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures celebrates a century of cinema, and its Oscars® Experience lets you step onto a recreation of the Dolby Theatre stage, statuette in hand. For a look behind the scenes, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour takes you onto working sets and soundstages. Or, for a day of pure blockbuster fun, there's Universal Studios Hollywood (and a little further away, Disneyland).

If it’s summer (June to September), end the weekend under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, home to open-air concerts since 1922. Bring a picnic and a bottle of good wine, and enjoy one of the most atmospheric outdoor venues in the world.

Prefer something closer to home? Dinner at The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, with its modern Californian menu and Mediterranean influence, makes for a beautiful final evening.