Los Angeles: Where to Shop: Neighborhoods A-Z: Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Not so long ago, this was just another grungy Venice Beach street with a few good restaurants. Now there are more good restaurants, and it’s become a place to walk and explore shops showcasing local designers and local retailing concepts. It’s far superior to nearby Main Street, which isn’t really worth bothering with. Begin your outing by driving by Frank Gehry’s Chiat/ Day headquarters (340 Main St.). The eye-popping façade featuring gigantic binoculars was created in collaboration with Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Also take some time to walk along what remains of the Venice canals, the brainchild of Abbot Kinney, who conceived of them in 1905. Go to Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue and ask for directions. Back on Abbot Kinney, the restaurant choices include upscale California cuisine at Joe’s (1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-399-5811); the informal Lilly’s French Café & Bar (1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-314-0004; www.lillysfrennchcafe.com), with its $12, two-course lunch; all-American Hal’s Bar & Grill (1349 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-396-3105; www.halsbarandgrill.com); and the Röckenwagner (1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-399-6504; www.rockenwagner.com) bakery and sandwich place next door. A pastry chef from Singapore has turned Jin Patisserie (1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd; 310-399-8801; www.jinpatisserie.com) into a destination for tea or lunch, or just picking up some of the gorgeous handmade chocolates.

Designer Pamela Barish (1327 ½ Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-314-4490; www.pamelabarish.com) sells her beautiful, ladylike and expensive women’s collections in her small shop, where she also takes custom orders. Other worthwhile stops are Salt (1138 ½ Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-452-1154), for unusual European women’s labels; eQuator Books (1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-399-5544; www.equatorbooks.com), specializing in out-of-print and first edition books on surfing, design, photography and poetry; Strange Invisible Perfume (1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-314-1505; www.siperfumes.com) where owner Alexandra Balahoutis will craft your personal, synthetic-free scent ($2,100 for the first ¼-ounce bottle); and Tortoise (1208 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-314-8448; www.tortoiselife.com), for Japanese crafts and house wares.