The best local shopping in Beverly Hills

This Beverly Hills mainstay offers just about everything you could dream of—a big selection of engagement rings, spectacular gems, drop-dead gorgeous earrings and bracelets, and all the stackable rings and dainty necklaces you can layer. Ogle at the blue opals, try on the strands of pearls and tourmaline and get your head in a tizzy over the beautiful diamond pavéd drop earrings. The diamond bracelets are stunning and you can find a variety of pendant necklaces for whatever occasion (birthday, bar/bat mitzvah, just because). There is a ton of inventory to look through and (it’s probably what jewelry paradise looks like), but go on a weekday when the store is less busy, especially if you're perusing engagement rings. Price tags are high, but, more often than not, you'll find a good deal. If nothing else, it’s worth a look for "research" purposes.

Calling all sweet tooths! Head to this iconic Beverly Hills chocolate shop and cafe for artisanal confections and Stumptown coffee. The chocolates, a perfect pair to your latte or cold-brew, are flown in directly from Switzerland. Pull up a chair at one of the few tables outside and enjoy a full menu featuring baked goods from Brentwood's Farmshop and Rockenwagner bakery. Must-trys here are the hot chocolate and mocha drinks, made using Teuscher chocolates. The shop, which opened in 1983, is family-owned and run, and while fancy (and expensive) chocolate draws in a tourist crowd, you'll find locals crowding the shop's coffee window for their caffeine fix.

As Brazilian designer Alexandre Birman's first West Coast flagship (and the second-ever U.S. store beyond its New York digs), Schutz's buzzy Beverly Hills heel haven is something of a rare gem. The shoe-obsessed can satiate their retail cravings with a contemporary-cool range of everything from suede flats and lace up boots to caged stilettos and bold-hued pumps. Whether you're in the market for a classic, staple work shoe or a show-stopping, red carpet worthy heel, Schutz is basically your dream closet and then some.

Welcome to dairy heaven. Rounds, slabs, wheels, slices and wedges of cheese fill the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, a mecca for those who need to find a last-minute dinner party gift or hard-to-find cheese type. And if it's eating you seek to experience, CSBH's twice-monthly cheese tastings are firsthand proof that epicurean culture exists in Los Angeles—you simply have to know where to find it. Tucked behind Sharkey's Mexican Grill next door to the CSBH sits a secret room, fit with French windows and a retractable roof; decades ago the space was home to a fine-dining establishment, but now it serves as a charming locale for the gourmet cheese shop's luxe events. Each CSBH tasting is themed regionally (Southern Italy, Bordeaux, Spain—essentially any place you'd want to honeymoon), and features two delicately selected flights of seven wines and 10 cheeses. Throughout the tasting, a cheese pundit and a sommelier will briefly describe each selection as it's presented, before allowing attendees to chat, eat and drink like 19th Century European nobility. After two hours or so, properly wined and stuffed with Comtés, Gruyeres and Asiago, guests are invited next door to the cheese shop for an after party, complete with discounted prices on cheese (there are upwards of 400 available) and another popped bottle or two.

Stepping inside Taschen's Beverly Hills nook is like stepping inside a luxurious, well-curated art gallery. Eye-catching volumes on art, architecture, design, fashion, film, travel, pop culture and more line the illuminated shelves in a sleek, wood and glass-clad space imagined by lauded French interior designer Philippe Starck (who also happens to have a published book or two thanks to the German publishing house). Find everything from Collector's and Art Editions surrounding icons such as Annie Leibovitz, Naomi Campbell, David Bowie and Gisele Bündchen to the Basic Art Series, the most popular art book collection ever published. Whether you're looking for the perfect coffee table tome, unique page turners or a source of inspiration, Taschen Beverly Hills is your neighborhood book store—with an upscale, pinkies up kind of vibe.

A little slice of Parisian retail heaven takes the form of luxury boutique Sandro on Beverly Drive. The contemporary-cool label stocks garb and accessories for men and women, from urban bomber jackets to leather crossbody bags to tailored lace dresses fit for a night out at nearby Chateau Marmont. Since its inception in 1984, the coveted brand has perfected its ultra tailored, classic meets edgy, urban look that has trend savvy Angelenos buzzing.

Last-minute birthday gifts, hostess presents, "I'm-sorry-I-forgot-our-anniversary" peace offerings—you can find all of these at Héritage Fine Wines in Beverly Hills, a veritable catalog of fine French wine, from Champagne to Provence to the Rhone Valley. The shop holds wine tastings, offers a wine club for those who need bottles on the reg, and sells gourmet cheeses, bread and other food to accompany their wine.

This isn't your average activewear boutique. Part cafe lounge, part fitness studio and shop, Alo Yoga (short for air, land and ocean) is more urban oasis than retail space. As the first brick-and-mortar from the popular, yogi-approved e-tailer, the multifaceted corner hub is certainly making a statement—and it's a shop concept that we can't get enough of. Browse studio-to-street activewear for men and women, while sipping on kombucha, a cold-pressed juice or Stumptown Coffee from the in-store cafe. And when you're finished shopping, hang out on the sun-drenched deck for some relaxation after a retail-job well done.

It doesn't get more quintessentially Beverly Hills than this high-end boutique of Real Housewives fame. The luxury hotspot is the brainchild of star and social empress Kyle Richards alongside partners Lizzy Schwartz and Debbie Weisman of Boca, Florida shop Alene too. Together, the powerhouse trio curates a shop brimming with designer ready-to-wear and accessories from high-end brands like Haute Hippie, A.L.C., For Love and Lemons, and Rag & Bone. Plus, find splurge-worthy vintage Chanel pieces. For the ultimate tourist excursion, stop by restaurant Villa Blanca from fellow star Lisa Vanderpump just down the street for a quick bite before filling up your shopping bags.

For seven-year-old luxury label the Lady & the Sailor, it's all about the basics. Located on an unsuspecting street in Beverly Hills, the intimate, ivy-draped boutique is a hidden gem and a favorite among resident tastemakers. Inside, find classic, uncomplicated separates from founder and designer Brittany Correy, like effortless linen tees, loose-fit button-ups and striped tank dresses. Whether you're looking for gift-worthy apparel or to stock your own closet with swoon-worthy staples, the boutique's pared-down pieces boast a relaxed, West Coast style that never skimps on comfort.

We Angelenos love any excuse to head down to the water and bask in SoCal's never-ending summer with unplugged beach days. Hence why swimwear is such a L.A. closet staple—and probably why this hole-in-the-wall boutique has been around since 1966. Stocked with fashion forward bikinis, one-pieces, coverups and accessories from designers like Vix, Mikoh Swimwear and L*Space, this boutique is the definition of small but mighty. Plus, with more than three decades on this stretch of Beverly Drive, it's basically a city landmark.

For fine gents looking to suit up Italian-style, look no further than Battistoni. The Rome-based label brings its perfectly tailored, high-end Italian craftsmanship to its first-ever U.S. outpost in the heart of Beverly Hills. Since first opening the doors on Via Condotti back in 1946, the Hollywood-beloved brand has long perfected its hand-crafted bespoke and made-to-measure wear (a favorite of fans like Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Coppola and Eric Rutherford). Beyond shirting, ties and suits, also find leather shoes, belts, travel bags and more. Sure, the prices are steep, but if anything else, one step inside is like experiencing a bit of history (it's the ultimate man cave). Plus, it's the only outpost outside of Rome and London.