Beneath its sun-drenched sprawl lies a mosaic of cultural movements, artists' enclaves, and world-class collections. Whether you're waking up to ocean breezes in Santa Monica or surrounded by leafy Beverly Hills, the city invites you into its layered stories and visual richness. This art & culture guide — curated in partnership with The Cultivist — reveals the unexpected, the experimental, and the quietly iconic.

For those who travel not just to see the world, but to live inside it, Exclusive Resorts Members can access even deeper cultural experiences curated through our partnership with The Cultivist. Private viewings, behind-the-scenes access, and once-in-a-lifetime artistic encounters await — LA is ready for its close-up.

Day One: Westside Reverie

Begin your artful journey in Brentwood at the Getty Center (1200 Getty Center Dr) — perched atop a hilltop with panoramic views of Los Angeles, this iconic campus masterfully blends Richard Meier’s striking architecture with tranquil gardens and a world-class collection. Here, you'll encounter works ranging from Renaissance paintings to 20th-century photography, as well as standout rotating exhibitions that place contemporary and historical art in dynamic conversation.

Break for a relaxed and refined lunch at A.O.C. Brentwood (11648 San Vicente Blvd) — a Los Angeles Times Restaurant Hall of Fame inductee brought to life by the duo of 3 time James Beard Award winning chef Suzanne Goin (Best Chefs in America - California 2006, Best Cookbook - Cooking from a Professional Point of View 2006, Outstanding Chef 2016, Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America 2017) and Caroline Styne (James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year 2018).

While you’re in the area, pop into Gagosian Beverly Hills (456 North Camden Drive) to see whichever headline-grabbing exhibit is currently making waves.

From there, head east to the Marciano Art Foundation (4357 Wilshire Blvd, advanced timed-entry reservations required), housed in a former Masonic temple that fuses mid-century grandeur with contemporary edge. On view through July 5 is Barbara T. Smith: Xerox 914, a raw and experimental series centered on ritual, performance, and technology.

Wrap the day with a sophisticated dinner (and some of the best bread and butter you will ever have) at République (624 S La Brea Ave), a French-inspired, architecturally rich bistro located in a 1929 building once owned by Charlie Chaplin. Whether you're at the bar for pâté and Champagne or seated in the cathedral-like dining room for handmade pastas and seasonal plates, it's a true LA dining institution that feels equal parts glamorous and grounded.

Day Two: Curiosity & Contrasts in Culver City

Today is for the playful, the surreal, and the delightfully strange. Start your morning at the Wende Museum of the Cold War (10808 Culver Blvd), a one-of-a-kind institution where Soviet-era propaganda, East German furnishings, and Cold War oddities are artfully arranged to tell complex, unexpected stories. This isn’t your average museum — it’s a time capsule of ideology and aesthetics, blending kitsch, culture, and critique in one thought-provoking experience.

From there, take a scenic stroll into Downtown Culver City, where the energy is buzzy yet easygoing. Grab lunch at Bacari (3833 Main St) for Mediterranean small plates and a sun-dappled patio. Prefer something more low-key? Destroyer (3578 Hayden Ave) serves avant-garde café-style plates in a minimalist space that feels like a culinary gallery in its own right.

For your afternoon fix of cutting-edge contemporary, walk over to Blum Gallery (2727 South La Cienega Blvd, no pre-booking needed), known for showcasing artists who challenge visual norms and cultural commentary alike. Upcoming exhibits (May 30 – August 16, 2025) include Wilhelm Sasnal's AAAsphalt, Tomoo Gokita's NAKED, Sarah Rosalena's Unending Spiral, and Adam Silverman's LACMA Seeds and Weeds.

Continue east to the Miracle Mile and visit Craft Contemporary (5814 Wilshire Blvd) — a tactile, thought-provoking space devoted to contemporary works in clay, fiber, and experimental media. The current exhibition the air we share, featuring the 2024–2025 CCF Fellowship for Visual Artists, explores materiality and identity in fresh ways (on view through September 7).

Down the road is the Petersen Automotive Museum (6060 Wilshire Blvd), a temple to innovation and design located on Museum Row. More than just a haven for car enthusiasts, Petersen reveals the intersection of art, culture, and engineering through its sleek exhibitions on automotive history, fashion, film, and mobility.

End your day with cocktails under twinkle lights at Simonette (3927 Van Buren Pl) — a Parisian-style bistro with a West Coast twist, or check out a casual dinner at Met Him at A Bar (801 S La Brea Ave), a charming neighborhood bistro beloved for brunch and playful Italian-American comfort dishes.

Day Three: Murals, Myths & Modern Icons

Begin your morning at The Brick (518 N Western Ave, no pre-booking needed), a standout among LA’s newer art spaces. Known for spotlighting under-the-radar artists, the gallery is fronted by a striking mural of the late artist Pope.L by the 3B Collective — impossible to miss and hard to forget. Inside, catch the current show by Elizabeth Paige Smith, or plan ahead for Nancy Buchanan’s upcoming retrospective.

Nearby, grab a coffee at Café Telegrama (737 N Western Ave) before dropping into neighboring galleries like David Zwirner, Moran Moran, or Southern Guild — all part of Western Avenue’s fast-rising creative corridor.

Then, detour to the iconic Hollyhock House (4800 Hollywood Blvd) in East Hollywood’s Barnsdall Art Park — Frank Lloyd Wright’s ode to California modernism and Mayan Revival style. Recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the home is more than a landmark; it’s a poetic, almost spiritual encounter with one of the 20th century’s greatest architectural minds. Perched atop a hill, the surrounding park offers panoramic views of the city — a serene pause amongst the rush of Los Angeles.

Then, it’s time for a drive (this is LA) to the San Fernando Valley, where Judy Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles (12900 Oxnard St, Valley Glen) stretches nearly half a mile along the Tujunga Wash. This monumental mural — created over decades with more than 400 collaborators — narrates California’s layered history with heart, activism, and artistry. The story continues with plans underway to extend the timeline through the 1990s. Walk the Tujunga Wash Greenway & Bike Path, then make a final cultural detour to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley (18904 Nordhoff St), where regional stories come vividly to life. As your weekend winds down, you’ll realize LA’s art scene doesn’t shout — it sprawls, whispers, challenges, and charms. All you have to do is follow the brushstrokes.

Editor’s Note: This curated itinerary was created exclusively for Exclusive Resorts in collaboration with The Cultivist — the premier global arts club — to unlock insider access to Los Angeles' most extraordinary cultural experiences.

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