Looking for trendy shopping in LA? South Coast Plaza may not be in the heart of LA, but it is worth the drive to Orange County! At any point during the week, you can find tour buses schlepping international travelers parked in the Macy’s and/or Bloomingdales parking lot. This has literally become a scheduled stop on itineraries for travelers visiting from around the world. Not to mention, if you visit the customer service desk and present your passport, they will give you a little booklet of coupons for various stores, low and high-end, you can use within a two-day period.
So why is South Coast Plaza worth the drive? South Coast has all major department stores (Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, Macy’s), budget-friendly stores (H&M, Forever 21), and high-end trendy stores (David Yurman, Louis Vuitton, Chanel). While there may be other malls that carry these brands or are somewhat comparable, South Coast’s stores always carry full inventory and always have a better selection of merchandise (nothing compares to South Coast’s Macy’s shoe department). This mall is always pristine, and usually features an occasional celebrity citing.
While you are visiting, definitely check out Boudin Bakery, where you can enjoy salads, sandwiches and amazing chocolate chip cookies. If that isn’t your thing, South Coast has other great restaurant options, like the very trendy and health-consciousness restaurant, Seasons 52. For men’s shopping options, you can count on South Coast to have men’s clothing stores, but also tech stores such as Apple and Sony. It’s a win-win!
Be sure to also visit their website, southcoastplaza.com, to check out their dining guide and special events. South Coast always seems to have some event going on (especially during the holidays), from shopping parties to special sales.
