LA Socialite Spots: 1 Hotel Lounge, Casa Madera, & Soho House

Welcome to my Princess Diaries, Gorgeous!

Habibty, come to LA. Here is a little bit about the Los Angeles social scene lately as I write this on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. This was a simple night in the life of not going too crazy and hopping place to place with friends, but predominantly sticking with my girlfriend. Disclaimer: This contains affiliate links.

The Buddy System

I prefer to be safe using the buddy system with girls especially at night if my sweetheart is not around to be a personal security guard. No matter how many men approach, we swat them away politely. My phone wallpaper of my partner always comes handy. 

Side Note:

My girlfriends and I all have similar names. I am Gia, there’s Mia, Leah, Maria, Tania, and even Gina. The more our names rhyme, the closer we are to each other. If they are not, for example, Chelsea will eventually become Sea [See-ah]. I’m kidding. Chelsea is already a lovely name as it is. But it is quite the coincidence. 

The other night, my friend Leah and I linked up for an unforgettable West Hollywood adventure. If Leah sounds familiar, you’ve probably spotted her on Netflix’s “Bling Empire” – they call her one of the Crazy Rich Asians, and rightfully so. She’s a real estate developer who helped build an incredible Calabasas property, one of her proudest achievements. The powerhouse has impeccable taste and just sold some stunning Hermès pieces that I’ll link if they’re still available.

Understanding LA’s Neighbourhood Tapestry

Before we dive into our wild night, let me paint you a picture of LA’s geography because if you’re not from here, it can be confusing. Los Angeles is essentially a collection of suburbs that create distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Think of it like Paris – the 13th arrondissement is known for the Asian community, whilst the 18th is luxurious. In LA, we have our own version of this urban mosaic. 

West Hollywood is where the magic happens – it’s our nightlife hub, trendy and vibrant. As you head west from WeHo, you’ll hit Beverly Hills, which is an entirely different beast. West Hollywood stretches along this broad, energetic strip, while Beverly Hills is more of a small, intricate enclave. 

Everyone knows Rodeo Drive, that famous shopping street lined with Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Fendi, and Burberry. Some businesses barely within the 90210 zip code proudly claim Beverly Hills status because it allows them to charge premium prices – smart business, honestly. Rule number one in real estate is location, location, location. A lousy house in a nice neighbourhood is a nice house. A nice house in a lousy neighbourhood is a lousy house.

Beverly Hills Explained

Beverly Hills itself is surprisingly suburban. Beyond that tiny luxury shopping district, Rodeo Drive, it’s mostly houses with big front and backyards. It’s family-friendly, cleaner, and safer, populated by upper-middle-class professionals – engineers, lawyers, doctors – who aren’t necessarily in the entertainment industry. They have their own irrigation system and police force (well, not technically their own, but they act like it). 

If there is an elegant trending restaurant in Beverly Hills, it is either newer or surrounded by older, more established dining places.

West Hollywood Explained

West Hollywood, on the other hand, attracts a younger crowd. There’s the famous Pride Street on Santa Monica Boulevard that puts WeHo on the map, but the neighbourhood offers so much more than most people realise. You hardly see families here because it’s not really family-friendly. 

Instead, it’s buzzing with young people, producers, actors, models, tech entrepreneurs, and hardworking regular folks sharing beautiful houses as roommates. It’s creative, diverse, and where you’ll find the best small bites, craft cocktails, and elegant spots where you want to be seen. It has a more upscale casual atmosphere as opposed to a stuffier Beverly Hills.

Our West Hollywood Night Out

I had no idea where the night would take us, but that’s the beauty of WeHo – it’s full of surprises.

Stop One: 1 Hotel Lounge 

Our first destination was absolutely lovely. Imagine if Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn had a sophisticated design baby and placed it on a Malibu rooftop. But in West Hollywood. Perched on WeHo’s hill with a craftsman-inspired open layout, the ambiance was practically [West] coastal. 

Despite being incredibly busy, the service was phenomenal. We kept bumping into friends – that’s classic LA for you. It is much smaller than you think. The only downside? Parking. We paid $48 for valet (about $8 per hour since we were out for several hours), though you might find better rates near Soho House or Boa Steakhouse if you’re willing to walk down Sunset Boulevard.

Stop Two: Casa Madera 

This Spanish-inspired restaurant completely won me over. They featured live music with an electric violinist that caught us completely off guard – a delightful surprise! Similar to 1 Hotel Lounge, Casa Madera had dance-able yet relaxing music with a DJ spinning everything from contemporary hits to ABBA remixes and fun twists on classics. The vibe was so calm yet upbeat that I wished they had more space for a proper dance floor. 

The bartender was swamped yet maintained excellent service. The New York Strip was cooked to perfection. 

Casa Madera was that perfect level of scenery that you could bump into anyone and strike up a meaningful or light conversation. Everyone is kind and fabulous. I ended up attempting a bit of Arabic and Mandarin throughout the night (See? Always surprising!), and you know the girls’ bathroom always provides the banter. I probably should have ended the night at Casa Madera or headed straight to Soho House.

Stop Three: Members (The Miss) 

This was definitely not me. I got carded, which is always flattering, but the venue was packed to the point of sardines. The music was great if you were 22 and looking for free drinks from a guy who smelled of Dior Sauvage. The crowd felt like everyone came into town from somewhere else and put in too much effort for a night out to remember. It reminded me why I’m not really a clubbing person. We left early, said goodbye to our friends, and made our escape to our final destination. 

Stop Four: Soho House aka The Perfect End

Soho House is always my reset button – I absolutely love this place and come to their various locations for dinner with the girls. It’s calm, relaxing, and perfect for natural networking without feeling forced. Most of the time. 

We arrived just before closing, but managed to sit with some upstanding people. It seems like the majority of Soho House members are founders of some kind of business, which makes for fascinating conversations. Fresh ideas are always presented and wrapped in a bow without having to walk out with a business card in hand.

West Hollywood and Los Angeles luxury lifestyle vlog featuring a day in Beverly Hills, SilkSilky cami unboxing and review, Florence by Mills beauty haul, dining at Kazan Beverly Hills, Soho West Hollywood, Casa Madera, and 1 Hotel lounge, shared through LA socialite stories and high society influencer experiences.

If you’re part of Soho House, there’s an app that connects you with everyone currently in the building. Someone was actually texting Leah from the next booth over. They had spotted us earlier and reached out digitally. 

They ended up joining our table switching groups throughout the night. There was one awkward moment with a woman who seemed to be following individuals around all evening, trying to get personal information. This made me feel uncomfortable for her. 

She was probably around 50 and felt very out of place. I find no issue with being 50, but being 50 out at 2:00 am in jeans and a casual jacket was an abomination. 6:00 pm and after always calls for Black Tie. 

When I am 50, I will have a driver and summon them to go out instead of having to leave my vehicle unwarranted. If I were out at 2 am as a 50 year old. Otherwise, I would be asleep with my husband in bed dreaming of our happy family safe in our home. B’ezrat Hashem.

Whilst I feel for anyone who might need friends, her hanger-on behaviour made us uncomfortable. The other group said they could not get rid of her, especially since she’d been following them all night as well. I hope peace finds her in a good place. 

Kazan, Beverly Hills: The Michelin Guide Confusion

Speaking of experiences, I recently visited Kazan in Beverly Hills and ordered their number three – creamy truffle sauce handmade noodles. It got me thinking about how our ancestors would probably laugh at the fact that people now become famous for doing something they did every single day. And stand out earning accolades. I make handmade noodles at home regularly (in a vlog) – it’s really just two or three ingredients and centuries-old technique.

Here’s something important to clarify about Kazan: whilst it’s located near Matsuhisa and has “Michelin stars” plastered all over the front, it doesn’t actually have Michelin stars. It has a Bib Gourmand distinction from the Michelin Guide, which is very different from an award. Don’t get it twisted – it’s clever marketing, but not the same thing. 

The restaurant itself is a hole-in-the-wall with well thought out interior design, but it’s still on the steep side at $55-100 per person. I tried both the number three and number nine – sharing bites and sips. The black truffle was strong and heartier in the #3 along with a comforting feeling. Perfect for a sick day or winter evening. 

The portions were generous enough for two people, and whilst delicious, I felt confident I could recreate it at home. I’m actually planning to develop a recipe because it’s definitely worth trying and easily achievable with only a handful ingredients. 

Fashion Finds: SilkSilky Cami Review

On the fashion front, I’ve been building my wardrobe with some incredible silk pieces. I recently did a mini haul from a brand that creates stunning camisoles in various colors – I have gray and purple-gray. Currently, I’m eyeing navy, teal, and a muted light blue. The quality is absolutely immaculate with no holding back in the drape, fit, hardware adjustments, breathability, and lightweight wear. 

These camisoles were a toe-dip in the waters and I am sold. Convinced with this brand, I am planning to expand my collection with trousers, skirts, and dresses. Hopefully my size is not all sold out! They have varying sizes for each item and not all are immediately available in an XS US 2. The sizing runs true. 

These pieces are similar to Quince in style and competitive in pricing. The fabric is comfortable and wearable for everyday use. 

One styling note:

The lining stops at the top inside, so you’ll want to wear a strapless or stick-on bra. The hardware is adjustable, making it versatile for both lounging at home and layering under blazers for more polished looks. Lately, I noticed my going out clothes have been slowly melting into being too similar to my pajamas. 

Florence by Mills Underwear Set Haul

I’m also excited about my recent underwear sets from Florence by Mills, Millie Bobby Brown’s company. The biodegradable packaging won me over some more, and the pieces work double duty as swimwear. For anyone who struggles with finding the right swimwear fit like I do, these cotton pieces are genius – lightweight, breathable, and much more comfortable than traditional bikinis while providing better coverage. You can move your arms up and down without having a wardrobe malfunction. 

New colours for Autumn have arrived and I am already adding everything to cart! There are so many soft and stretchy cotton pieces that are perfect for daily wear and layering for the cooler months. This is going to be my third haul as everything is top quality and an absolute success in fit. Everything looks and fits – perhaps better – than in the images on their website. Here is the triangle bra, the thongs, and the cheeky underwear.

Beach Coverups & Hiding My Surgery Scars 

Something you might have noticed in my recent beach vlogs is I have been covering up with a sarong because I’m currently asymmetrical due to a previous surgery. I have one final corrective procedure coming up to remove the problem and restore my body to its pre-surgery state. I am healthy and can move around normally. This is purely about finishing what I started and preventing future health complications. 

My friends and I joke that we are getting so old (and have known each other so long) that we’ve now had surgeries to alter our bodies and are getting them undone. We’ve even moved out of LA and moved back at different times too. There is a study suggesting that if you’re friends with someone for at least seven years, you become friends for life. 

I’m really happy with how I am currently, but for the sake of tying up loose ends and my future health, this final surgery is necessary. I’m asking the surgeon to make it look like nothing ever happened – no visible scars. After recovery, I’m planning a complete wardrobe haul and getting a personal trainer to look and feel back to my best.

Stay Connected

If you want to keep up with my LA adventures, follow me on Instagram @LaGiaGarcia for all my personal updates, and check out my LTK account for style and beauty content – everything from earrings to outfits, makeup, and skincare. Most importantly, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter at StyleByGia.com for detailed blog posts, outfit ideas, and monthly mood boards delivered straight to your inbox.

Until next time, Gorgeous!