Fairfax to the Design District
Melrose Avenue changes character as it heads west. The blocks between La Brea and Fairfax lean toward resale and streetwear. Past La Cienega, Melrose Place is a short, quiet street of designer shops, and beyond it the West Hollywood Design District fills Melrose, Robertson and Beverly with designer boutiques, showrooms and galleries.
This walk runs east to west and covers roughly two miles of Melrose, so wear good shoes or plan a ride for the long middle stretch. Most shops open around 10 or 11am and close between 6 and 8pm, with shorter hours on Sunday. Many Design District stores don't post hours, so call ahead if one matters to you.
The Vintage Blocks Near Fairfax
Start at Crossroads Trading (7409 Melrose Ave), at Melrose and Martel, a buy-sell-trade shop for secondhand designer and mall-brand clothing. It also buys from walk-ins: drop clothes off or join the waitlist in its app instead of queuing. If you are hungry first, Ronan (7315 Melrose Ave), just east, is MICHELIN Recommended for hand-stretched, wood-fired pizzas, with a two-story floral mural and a patio.
Come on a Sunday if you can. The Melrose Trading Post (7850 Melrose Ave) fills the Fairfax High School lot from 9am to 5pm, rain or shine, with about 250 vendors selling vintage clothing, furniture, art and handmade goods. Entry is $2 and supports the school.
Just west of Fairfax, Reformation (8000 Melrose Ave) has the LA-born label's dresses, denim and knits. Double RL (8150 Melrose Ave) is Ralph Lauren's RRL store, with heritage denim, workwear and Western-inspired clothing, plus an antiques and vintage department worth a slow look.
Melrose Place
At the 8400 block, KHAITE (8409 Melrose Ave) occupies an ivy-covered building at the corner of Melrose Place and Melrose Ave. The New York label's LA flagship carries pieces sold only there. Turn onto Melrose Place for STAUD (8409 Melrose Pl), the LA-born label's sculptural handbags and colorful dresses, and Santa Maria Novella (8411 Melrose Pl), the Florentine apothecary's perfumes, soaps and home fragrances.
Alfred Coffee Melrose Place (8428 Melrose Pl) is the coffee stop, and a good place to watch the street. Violet Grey (8452 Melrose Pl) is the beauty retailer's flagship, with a makeup studio and color matching. Its makeup applications are by appointment and complimentary with a $500 purchase, so book online before you go. Back on Melrose Ave, Alba (8451 Melrose Ave) is an Italian spot for lunch, where the truffle agnolotti is the order.
La Cienega to the Design District
West of La Cienega, Glossier (8523 Melrose Ave) lets you try its skincare, makeup and fragrance. Martyn Lawrence Bullard Atelier (8546 Melrose Ave) shows the interior designer's bespoke furniture and fabrics alongside rare books and art. BAPE (8810 Melrose Ave) has the Japanese label's camo prints and shark hoodies, and Sporty & Rich (8619 Melrose Ave), opened in April 2026, carries logo sweats, LA exclusives and vintage tees.
On the way to the Design District you pass the Pacific Design Center. It is César Pelli's colored-glass design campus, and its blue-glass Center Blue, nicknamed the Blue Whale, opened in 1975.
The Design District
The 8800 and 8900 blocks are the heart of it. Jenni Kayne (8810 Melrose Ave) has relaxed California womenswear, cashmere and a home collection. Maxfield (8825 Melrose Ave) mixes new designer collections with luxury consignment, art and collectible objects. Madhappy (8906 Melrose Ave) does heavyweight hoodies and sweats, James Perse (8914 Melrose Ave) soft cotton tees, and Acne Studios and Byredo share 8920 Melrose Ave, for Stockholm ready-to-wear and fragrance. Ganni (9004 Melrose Ave) closes out the run with Copenhagen prints and buckle shoes.
On Robertson just off Melrose, Chrome Hearts (600 N Robertson Blvd) sells the LA brand's gothic sterling silver and leather. Walk south on Robertson past DACHA (420 N Robertson Blvd), an interiors shop for furnishings, decor and art, to CURVE (154 N Robertson Blvd), a Euro-leaning edit of designer womenswear. On Beverly Blvd, Leica Store & Gallery (8783 Beverly Blvd) has cameras and rotating photo exhibitions, Ulla Johnson (8823 Beverly Blvd) bohemian dresses, and Grande Maison de Blanc (8923 Beverly Blvd) fine bed and bath linens.
Where to Eat
In the Design District, Craig's (8826 Melrose Ave) is a handy dinner stop, and Gracias Madre (8905 Melrose Ave) serves plant-based Mexican with an afternoon happy hour. Darling by Sean Brock (631 N Robertson Blvd) cooks wood-fired seafood and beef. For a special night, Somni (9045 Nemo St), a short walk from the Design District, holds three MICHELIN stars.
Parking
Melrose Ave has metered street parking. For free parking, use Waring Ave or Martel Ave, one block north of Melrose near the start of the walk. Waring is off-limits on Monday mornings for street sweeping.
On Sundays the Melrose Trading Post offers limited free valet from Fairfax Ave at Clinton St. Since this is a one-way route, plan a ride back to your car from the Design District, or split the walk into two shorter trips: the Fairfax blocks one day, and Melrose Place with the Design District another.