I live in Beverly Hills.

One word not usually associated with this area is “budget”. Don’t let that scare you, because there is still a way to do Beverly Hills affordably and get the most out of your visit.

EAT

Beverly Drive is a good place to start for cheap eats, with lots of decently priced restaurants such as  California Pita and Mulberry Street Pizza.  If you don’t main chain restaurants you also have Chin Chin, Koo Koo Roo, Islands, Chipotle and California Pizza Kitchen to choose from. 

For lunch a good place to grab a quick bite is Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. Rated by Los Angeles Magazine one of the best sandwich shops in LA, they serve up specialty sandwiches such as “The Bobbie” (Homemade turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayo on fresh-baked sub roll) and the “Capastrami” (served hot with swiss cheese, coleslaw and russian dressing) starting at just $7.

For fresh, healthy Mexican food, further up Beverly Drive is Sharky’s Woodfire Mexican Grill. This small eatery serves up fresh, organic and natural ingredients. Voted “Best Mexican” by the Daily News in 2010, popular dishes include signature burritos, naked chicken tostada salad and tempura battered fish tacos.

PLAY

Rich in culture and history, spend the day exploring Beverly Hills art galleries, city parks and museums. The Paley Center for Media collects and preserves radio and television shows, while the Museum of Television and Radio has daily screenings and radio presentations. The Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation is little known to the public and is a private home that houses an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.  Visitors flock to the beautiful grounds of Greystone Mansion, the former  Doheny Estate that is now a historic landmark.

SLEEP

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills steps from Rodeo Drive, The Crescent Hotel is an elegant and modern Dodd Mitchell designed boutique hotel is for those that crave quiet in the city center. Standard room rates typically start at $175.00 per night in for the minimalistic rooms. All rooms feature complimentary WiFi, flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, mini-bar, plush bathrobes and complimentary breakfast. Outfitted with Italian Linens on a designer bed and concrete modern bathrooms, you are sure to get the full Beverly Hills experience.