Live Like a Local

Lili Bosse

Councilmember Lili Bosse

A welcome fixture at every event, fundraiser and political gathering in the city, Lili Bosse has embarked on her third term as Mayor of Beverly Hills. While she has a penchant for bold colors and eye-catching signature patterned blazers, she is an approachable, downhome girl at heart who has lived in the city with her family since she was nine years old and still cherishes her hometown every step of the way.

In terms of the year ahead in Beverly Hills, what are you the most excited about?

We are moving to better days ahead. I’m really excited because Beverly Hills will be fully open and hopefully, all the challenges of the pandemic are behind us, and we can enjoy our beautiful city and all the wonderful restaurants – with both indoor and outdoor dining. Over the past few years, we launched ‘OpenBH’ which created a fantastic ambiance of parklets and more dining on the sidewalks and that is going to remain. We have our shops, small businesses and beautiful parks. It’s a very vibrant and walkable city. It’s going to be a very exciting time in our community and our city will shine.

What do you love the most about living in the city?

The people. We are a world-renowned city, but we are also very welcoming with a small-town warmth. The foundation is our incredible first responders – our policemen, firemen and our schools. It’s a beautiful city with something for everyone of every age. It’s a special, world-class city, but with a hometown feel.

Where do you go for a celebratory meal out with friends or family?

I love all the restaurants, so it depends on what cuisine you are in the mood for, but I think what’s so great is many of my favorite restaurants are family-owned where the owner greets you and makes you feel at home. Celestino Drago and his brothers who own Il Pastaio, Villa Alloro, and Piccolo Paradiso - those are all great Italian restaurants but when you go there, at least one of those brothers are going to be there to greet you. Spago also has fantastic cuisine where either [owners] Barbara Lazaroff or Wolfgang Puck is there and will give you that warm feeling. For sushi, I love Matsuhisa, and the world-famous chef Nobu is always there. Also, The Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge where Pepe [the restaurant Director] will take the time to say hello and get to know you. There are great restaurants depending on your mood, but what makes it extra special is the personal touch. One of the owners or founders are there and it feels like you are being welcomed into their own home. There is that saying: When food is cooked with love, it tastes better.

What about meeting an old friend for a drink or coffee?

I like Urth Caffé for sitting out having a tea or coffee and Nate’n Al’s for a chopped salad or a great sandwich. Sometimes when I want that downhome feeling that reminds me of my mom, I go in for a cheese blintz or potato pancakes. Also, the black and white cookie or chocolate rugelach is another childhood favorite. What all of these places have in common is a feeling of home. They are all institutions and part of the foundation of who we are as a city. I go to the rooftop of the Waldorf Astoria, the Peninsula, the outdoor patio at the Polo Lounge, Avra or The Terrace at the Maybourne. I think it’s so great to be able to get out and enjoy our beautiful weather and it can be so diverse.

Any local shops that you couldn’t live without?

My number one favorite is Edelweiss chocolates. Again, it’s family-owned and they make the most delicious homemade chocolates. They remember your favorites and give you a sample to try something new. I love the coffee houses that we have in the city. Aharon, on Charleville off South Beverly Drive, is also family-owned, and I’m addicted to their avocado toast that I have every single day. They bake their own goods and make everything there with love. I also love Alfred Coffee by the Lily Pond, a block away from City Hall. The owner is also a hometown boy who grew-up in Beverly Hills and is still a resident. He has many Alfred Coffee places around town, but I think for him, he was very excited to open here in the city. 

For retail, GEARYS is my favorite store. It’s been in our city for close to 90 years and is also a family business, owned by the Meyer and Blumenthal family, and it’s a staple. When my husband John and I first got engaged, we used it as our registry. When our son moved into his home, he bought all his stuff from there. Now, a lot of our friends’ kids are getting married, they have their registry there, so I always go there to buy a gift for anybody. GEARYS is a must and one of the most beloved retail establishments in the city. It’s been here a lifetime and I think will stay around for the next 100 years and I love the fact it’s been in the family for generations. All the places that I’ve mentioned, there is a connection. Gearys' owner, Tom Blumenthal, is there every day to welcome customers. There is something for everyone, from a small hostess gift to something substantial for your home.

When you have rare downtime, what is your favorite activity in the city?

I love walking in the city. Whether it’s the residential areas where I enjoy the beautiful palm trees and flowers or the business district and always bumping into people. I’m a walker and our city is so beautiful. The streets are clean and it’s safe. For me, it’s my meditation. That is what I do to relax, clear my head, and I try to find gratitude every day – especially the last couple of years that have been so challenging, I always made sure that I took a walk every day. You can’t help but feel grateful out in the beauty of our city and among the nature and fresh air.  It’s one of the best parts about living here and everyone can do it!
 

Christian Navarro

Co-founder of Wally’s Beverly Hills

Wally’s is a buzzing epicenter of convivial conversation with wine flowing amid charcuterie boards and cheese platters peppered with black truffles. At the center of all these gastronomic riches is a tall man in a black hat holding court with a noticeable presence, usually dressed in Prada with a Southwest flair. Christian Navarro, who is also the co-owner, has lived in the area for 25 years and runs the day-to-day operations at the popular wine store and café.

What are some of the things you love about living in and around the city of Beverly Hills?

The thing I love more than anything is Beverly Hills, which is like its own little village. There are only a couple of places in the world that have everything at your fingertips and Beverly Hills is one of those cities like Monaco or central Hong Kong - they are like little villages in a way. I can walk around and everything that I need or want in the world is right there. And everyone speaks English or French and Chinese!

Now that we can go out again, what are your favorite spots for a celebratory meal out with friends or family?

For me, one of the best restaurants and all of LA, not just Beverly Hills, is Nozawa Bar – the sushi bar behind Sugarfish. I think that is just incredible and many people who live here don’t even know about it. Matsuhisa is the grandaddy of them all, it’s the Rose Bowl of sushi, it’s old-school but still feels so relevant. e. baldi has the best polenta with mushrooms and the pasta specials are always great because I know I’m going to have some of the best in the world. Those are three of my favorites.

What about meeting an old friend for lunch or a drink?

My real go-to is Spago and the bar there. You can have a world-class meal, coffee and catch up with a friend or drink any great wine or spirit while you are hanging out. The bartenders there are the best. They remember people by name, and you just can’t ‘buy’ that kind of service. They do gin Negroni’s there that are unbelievable.

Any local shops that you couldn’t live without?

I have a unique style of dressing and there is a store on Little Santa Monica called West. They carry everything from sterling silver belt buckles that are one-of-a-kind to custom-made alligator or snakeskin boots. It’s such a unique store and everything is limited so the chance of seeing it again is very rare. It allows me to keep the unique style that I have.

Wally’s is about service, and the best service that I get in any store in town is at the Tom Ford shop. The general manager there is Charles. I’m small potatoes to these guys, but they take such good care of me. It wouldn’t matter if I spent $10 dollars or $10 million dollars, they treat everyone like royalty. That has to do with hospitality and wanting to please as opposed to just thinking about the bottom line.

When you have downtime, what is your favorite activity in the city?

So many of the parks are great and I like to hike at Coldwater Canyon Park behind the fire station. I love The Wallis [Center for the Performing Arts]. There is nothing like that anywhere in the country. And it’s across the street from Wally’s, so it’s so easy for me to go. If I want to go to the Ahmanson downtown for a show, I have to get in the car and drive for an hour. I also like starting at one end of Beverly Hills by Big Santa Monica Boulevard [North Santa Monica] and walking past the statues, the old [but recently renovated] cactus garden and continue walking all the way to Wilshire. You can really get the whole essence of what Beverly Hills is all about. It’s so beautiful.

What do you miss the most when you’re out of town?

To me, there is nothing like walking down Canon Drive and grabbing a slice at Mulberry Street Pizza when you need a little snack. Actually, at Mulberry and also Wally’s, it’s like I’m back in elementary school. All my friends are there and walking up and down the street. Like I said, it’s a little village with people you have known your whole life, and this little village has the best of every human being in the world from the best architects to the best guy who makes pizza.

John Bendheim

Beverly Hills Courier Publisher

As a business resident for close to 20 years, entrepreneur, publisher and president of Bendheim Enterprises, John Bendheim is also a beloved local. You might spot him walking down Canon Drive impeccably dressed (he was in the apparel business for many years), in dark sunglasses, but is always friendly while he’s graciously connecting people to help keep the city flourishing as a member of the board of directors of the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau.

You serve on many local boards in Beverly Hills, so in terms of the year ahead, what are you the most excited about?

I like to be community-minded and it’s hard to say no to the Cedars Sinai board of trustees or the board at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. I was the head of the Chamber of Commerce over a decade ago during tough times and helped bring that back to its rightful place in the city.

I’m looking forward to attending some of the events in town where they will finally allow more than five or ten people at a time. That’s going to be fun. We are going to be doing some great events this year at The Wallis, which just opened up their 500-seat theatre.

What do you love the most about working in the city?

It’s the people that you interact with. I own, with my partner, the James Perse building, and I can walk outside to Canon Drive which is our ‘little restaurant row,’ and see all those great local people like Giacomino Drago, Christian Navarro and Peter Garland [from Porta Via]. They are all out there out on the street and very welcoming to the community. You see people’s smiling faces, they know you, and they are all part of the city. It’s really a lot of fun.

I went to see Celestino and Giacomino last night [owners of Il Pastaio and Via Alloro] and they couldn’t be more welcoming, but they are really great with anyone that comes into their restaurants.  They do have incredible food, but it also really makes difference when the owners are there, and they are greeting you. It’s a sense of community.

Where do you go for a celebratory meal out with friends or family?

I like to frequent the Canon Drive places, but I also like the roof deck of Gucci Osteria [da Massimo Bottura] which now has a Michelin-star. I’m great friends with Chef Mattia Agazzi, and he has catered some events at my home and also has been over to play tennis. It’s also fun to take new people to The Nosh for brunch after we play tennis to get bagels and lox. It’s one of my favorite places. I’ve also been going to Tatel for lunch. They have a 3-course fixed menu, which is great that includes branzino, sushi and dessert for $30. Also, Avra has a great pre-fixe 3-course meal for lunch for less than $30. Here in the business triangle, these are some of the coolest places to go.

What about meeting an old friend for a coffee or a drink?

My go-to spot is Wally’s, where they have all of the best wine and drinks and everything that you could ever want – it’s all there – any kind of cocktail or wine. I also go to Peter Garland’s restaurant, Porta Via, and have the famous Porta Via salad [with butter lettuce and sweet Maui onion.] Right next door at La Scala, I get their famous chopped salad to go with tomato and chicken. The Euro Caffé is tucked away in a little courtyard of Canon Drive, just behind John Carroll’s men’s store.  It has great European coffee and chocolate croissants. It’s family-owned and the owners Vartan [Kemanjian] and his wife Myda are always there. I also go to The Grill [on the Alley] for lunch or drinks.

Any local shops that you couldn’t live without?

Ezra is one of the owners of Avedon Boutique on Canon Drive. It’s a men’s store, right down the street from Wally’s. John Carroll is another favorite with made-to-order jackets, sweaters and pants and he’s an institution in town.

When you have rare downtime, what is your favorite activity in the city?

What’s usually happening in town when you have free time is going shopping or visiting restaurants, but I love to walk the streets and I wear my Oura ring that measures all your steps. I like to look in the shops, so I go on Beverly and Rodeo Drive to see what’s in all the windows. It’s a lot of fun.

What do you miss the most about Beverly Hills when you’re out of town?

The people, of course, but I think this is the safest city in the world. If you compare it to any other city in America, or in the world, you’ll get it. There is crime everywhere, but with all the cameras we have in Beverly Hills and the quick response by the police and fire department, it’s the safest city in the world.

About the Author

Carole Dixon’s international career in film, television and publishing has spanned over several continents but holds a long history in Beverly Hills. Dixon worked for the late, legendary talk-show host Merv Griffin’s production company based in the city for over a decade when he owned The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Since then, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, Modern Luxury, AFAR, PureWow, The Hollywood Reporter, Wallpaper and the Beverly Hills Courier, among many others. As a luxury lifestyle expert, she frequently reviews Michelin starred restaurants and chefs, 5-star resorts, wine country regions, spas, interior designers and architects. Favorite projects have included producing “Food for Thought” for Bloomberg in London with legendary A.A. Gill, co-launching “The Feast” for NBC LA and penning the Wallpaper City Guide Books for many years.