Los Angeles

• California in a Fortnight? - California
• Frankly, my dear, you'll love it - Charleston
• Blown away by the Windy City - Chicago
• Blown away by Chicago - Chicago
• Haunted by Hemingway - Florida
• We have the keys to unlock Florida - Florida
• My Love Match with Las Vegas - Las Vegas
• The town that cloned Europe - Las Vegas
• A Chorus of Angels - Los Angeles
• LA: An actresses guide - Los Angeles
• The Stars Bite Back - Los Angeles
• Hotel of high fashion - Miami
• Miami Spice - Miami
• Alien Town: Roswell - New Mexico
• How the kids went Cajan - New Orleans
• Seta and the City - New York
• Glamour by the sea - Santa Barbara
• Celebrity Hotels - USA
• Escape to Sundance - Utah

GOOD MORNING, ANGELS, says Charlie, and criminals quake in their shoes. The new Angels, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu, who have recently returned to the screen in the sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, have proved themselves worthy of filling their predecessors’ patent-leather go-go boots.

They all live in the City of Angels, whose secrets they reveal here. Drew, one of the film’s producers, is, of course, a Barrymore, following in her grandfather John’s footsteps. Cameron is a Southern California girl who entered acting through modeling. And Lucy was born to Chinese immigrants in New York, where she excelled in the martial art of Kali-Eskrima-Silat (knife-and-stick fighting).

What clothing essentials should a visitor take to LA?

Lucy: ‘Shorts, definitely. Jeans and a sweater or jacket for the evening. It gets chilly at night in LA’

How much time do you spend away from LA and what do you miss about it?
Drew: ‘About a quarter of my time is spent away from the city. A lot of my work is here, so I am lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of time at home. I usually miss my favourite Mexican food stands, such as Poquito Mas and Dos Burritos at Hollywood and Vine. It’s the ultimate funky taco stand.’

What’s your favourite thing to shop for, and where’s the best place to buy it?
Cameron: ‘My favourite thing to shop for is clothes and my favourite places are Fred Segal, the boutiques on Robertson, between Third and Beverly, or the great shops on Melrose.”
Lucy: ‘For vintage clothes, I love Decades, where you never know what you’re going to find.’
Drew: ‘Amoeba Music on Sunset and Cahuenga is heaven on earth. You walk in and stand in the middle of a gigantic record store that doesn’t feel corporate whatsoever.’

Start with the LA Weekly

What should every visitor know about Los Angeles?
Drew: ‘Always start with the LA Weekly. It will tell you everything you want to know about what’s going on that week. You have to spend time at the ocean. If you’re a mountain person, the Angeles National Forest is beautiful, and if you like the desert, head down to Palm Springs.’

What are your favourite LA neighbourhoods?
Cameron: ‘Downtown, LA’s hidden treasure. There is so much there, from bargain shopping and beautiful flower marts to amazing restaurants and nightlife. And then Hollywood. The streets of Hollywood have so much history, you can’t help but be taken back in time. There’s the Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.’

What are some of your favourite restaurants?
Lucy: ‘For breakfast, there’s Du-par’s, the classic California restaurant and coffee shop and Hugo’s, a casual place in West Hollywood. For lunch, I love Sushi Nozawa, a small place in the Valley; Ubon, Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant in the Beverly Center for Japanese dishes; and Locanda Veneta, the famous Venetian restaurant in West Hollywood. For dinner, I recommend Asanebo, another great sushi restaurant in the Valley; Taste of India; and Giorgio Baldi, which is everybody’s favorite authentic Italian restaurant, near the beach in Santa Monica.’

Where can you get a great meal for $25?
Drew: ‘Barney Greengrass in Barneys New York has that typical I’m-doing-lunch-with-my-girlfriends vibe. It’s definitely a $25 a person restaurant, but you still get that fancy feel. If you want a diner that has awesome breakfasts, burgers, and all sorts of other items, go to Fred 62 in Los Feliz, where $25 might even feed two people.’.

Hang out with the locals

What about local spots most tourists don’t know about?
Drew: ‘Neptune’s Net on the Pacific Coast Highway at the end of Malibu is an as-true-as-it-gets beach bar and fish stand. You can eat fresh lobster or fried fish, drink beer, hang out with the locals, and watch the surfers ride their waves.’

What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
Lucy: ‘Go to the Farmers Market. All the farmers bring their fruits, vegetables, and handmade goods and sell them on the street.’

Where do you and your favourite person go for a day out on the town?
Cameron: ‘We would definitely go to the beach and to the Getty Museum, have lunch at Al Fresco in Hollywood, and dinner somewhere quiet and private like Lucques on Melrose in West Hollywood.’

Where do you go when you want to get away from it all?
Cameron: ‘There are so many beautiful beaches, you really can’t go wrong. The beach in Manhattan is killer. There’s great people-watching in Venice, plenty of activities in Santa Monica with the Pier, and peaceful seclusion in Malibu.’

are the best places to hear live music?
Drew: ‘If you’re into alternative music, Spaceland is a good option. It has a small stage and it’s where the obscure and interesting bands play. The Wiltern Theatre is also great. It has different types of events and bands, from Bob Dylan to the Foo Fighters. Check out The Greek Theatre. It’s a gorgeous outdoor venue under the stars in Griffith Park.’

What was your favorite real location in LA that you shot for Charlie’s Angels?
Drew: ‘The San Pedro Harbour. It’s looks like something out of a 1940s film – you feel like time has stood still.’
Lucy: ‘The Griffith Observatory. It’s such a historic LA landmark.’
Cameron: ‘Hollywood Boulevard. The entire area has an infectious energy.’