Top 10 celebrity hotspots

Drive by one of these hotspots and you're likely to see either a flurry of flashbulbs or a hoard of paparazzi camped outside while waiting for the money shot. Note to all the camera-shy celebrities: if you don't want your picture taken, avoid the following locations!

By Eunice Oh
FLASH

The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard feeds some of Hollywood's elite and is considered an ideal spot for publicists wanting to do a powerlunch with their well-known clients. Photo: Gusto.com
The staff at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills frequently covers the windows so that celebrities can shop without the scrutiny of paparazzi camped outside. Photo: Gusto.com

1. The Ivy (113 N. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles)

A trip to The Ivy means one thing: you want to be seen. With (sometimes up to 50 photographers) camped outside, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson and Jennifer Lopez have been spotted at the cozy eatery on trendy Robertson Boulevard to taste the restaurant's famed French-American cuisine. The most popular items on the menu: the crab cakes and $28 hamburgers.

Just a few feet away from The Ivy, Kitson is the one-stop boutique for celebrities looking to stock up on everything from designer jeans to candles to this season's hottest handbag. Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie have been known to spend thousands of dollars in a single shopping trip while Melanie Griffith was photographed carrying five large bags out of the store with her youngest daughter Stella.

When Restaurateur Michael Chow opened Mr. Chow more than 30 years ago, he introduced quite possibly the most expensive Chinese food you will find in the Los Angeles area. A dinner for four can easily run more than $200 at this sophisticated yet contemporary eatery. Uma Thurman, Whitney Houston and Cindy Crawford all have dined at the restaurant, which features signature dishes such as crispy beef, water dumpling and green prawns.

An extensive wine list, hearty Italian dishes and an intimate setting may be why so many celebrities flock this popular restaurant. Patron Courteney Cox frequently orders the penne arrabbiata but while dining with Friends costars Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, the trio shared homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli, a $65 plate of Dover sole and chocolate cake. David Schwimmer, on a separate occasion, dined on penne ala vodka while sharing a bottle of red wine with a group of friends.

The entrance may hidden off of busy Sunset Blvd. but that's not enough to keep paparazzi from catching celebrities as they leave the posh hotel. Singer John Mayer was caught on videotape speeding out of hotel's gate in a tinted SUV. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen reportedly celebrated their 21st birthday dining on the outdoor patio of the hotel's restaurant with a small group of friends. Lindsay Lohan spent more than a simple dinner at the hotel. She reportedly racked up a $1 million bill after staying there for a few months while she had her apartment remodeled.

Less expensive than Kitson but sill pricey, this clothing boutique is a favorite for celebrities searching for anything trendy, including $350 cardigans and $4,000 sun dresses. A very pregnant Salma Hayek was photographed leaving the store empty handed, but Tori Spelling needed the help of an assistant to carry out all her shopping bags after a recent visit. HBO's hit series Entourage filmed its pilot episode inside the store's restaurant, Mauro Cafe.

Celebrities craving Japanese food flock to this popular sushi joint. Everyone from Oscar winner Jamie Foxx to punk rock singer Avril Lavigne have been photographed leaving the restaurant, which features a large Buddha statue in its outdoor dining area. Menu favorites: spicy rock shrimp tempura hand roll, cucumber sunomono salad and creamy rock shrimp tempura.

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, this steakhouse always seems to provide the paparazzi with the money shot. Case in point: a frustrated Tom Cruise was photographed while having trouble starting the engine of his vintage silver Corvette with Katie Holmes in the passenger seat. On another night, David Beckham was scene leaving the restaurants minutes after Snoop Dogg left in a chauffeured SUV.

This high-end department store, which only carries top designers such as Prada, Fendi and Marc Jacobs, offers privacy and seclusion for its celebrity clients -- or so they try. When Victoria Beckham recently stopped by, the store hung curtains on its windows to keep prying paparazzi away from the former Spice Girl as she shopped in the shoe section. The cameramen then raced towards the front entrance to catch a glimpse as she walked through the store with her son Romeo.

Yes, only in Los Angeles would a hair salon be considered a hotspot. But that's precisely what the Neil George Salon has become with its extensive celebrity clientele. Reese Witherspoon, Heidi Klum, Rose McGowan and Zac Efron have been spotted exiting the pricey salon. A haircut here will cost $225 and an extra $150 for coloring and highlights.