Tomorrow, A-listers, media moguls, and hangers-on will gather at the Dolby Theater for the 98th Academy Awards. It’s one of the most tightly-secured events on the planet, but that doesn’t mean Angelenos and visitors are shut out of celebrity sightings.
Take In-N-Out Burger, the fast-food chain beloved by Americans west of the Mississippi. Tuxedo-clad stars like Paul Giamatti, Aziz Ansari, and Sam Smith have all munched on their signature burgers after long nights at awards shows. Jimmy Kimmel even labeled the post-show pilgrimage a “tradition.”
Unlike the Golden Globes, food is not served at the Oscars (“there’s nothing to eat except Altoids,” says vintage stylist Cameron Silver). “It’s not uncommon for people to quickly scrounge down some food before going to a party where they’re going to be photographed,” notes Silver. “There’s nothing chicer than having an Animal Style burger at In-N-Out after you’ve won an Oscar.”
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Los Angeles stronghold In-N-Out.
Statuette in hand or not, the burger joint is one of many LA strongholds ripe for star-gazing this weekend. There are even a few hotspots where overheard gossip is almost always on the menu. “Anywhere you go, you’re probably going to see someone famous, because it’s what I call, ‘Christmas in Hollywood,’” adds Silver.
While a trip to the Century City Mall is unlikely to yield a selfie with a Timothée Chalamet, the Vegas odds of spotting a celebrity in other places are quite high. On Oscars day, nominees and famous guests often get ready in hotel suites, glamming with a hearty roster of beauty professionals. “The secret of the Oscars is a lot of celebrities like to get dressed at hotels,” says celebrity gossip columnist Rob Shuter. “So it’s always good to get to these hotel bars and restaurants early in the morning.”
Some of the best places to spot a star include the Hotel Bel-Air, the Sunset Tower Hotel, and the Chateau Marmont, according to interviews with in-the-know Angelenos. The Loews Hollywood Hotel, though markedly less glamorous than the others, is another popular pick because it’s just steps from the red carpet entrance, lessening the chances of a wrinkle or late arrival.
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Jeremy Strong at Chateau Marmont during Oscars weekend last year.
One of the most popular picks for getting ready is the pink-and-green-adorned Beverly Hills Hotel. And overhearing a conversation about David Ellison doesn’t require spending a few thousand dollars on a room. Instead, it only sets people back around $44–the price of the hotel’s famous McCarthy Salad in its Polo Lounge restaurant.
For non-guests, another way to come upon celebrities is in the Fountain Coffee Room in the hotel’s basement, overseen by longtime waitress-gatekeeper Ruth Cortez who has taken pancake orders from the likes of Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner. “I have people that work with me who just sit in [hotel] restaurants all day, and they will find out what’s happening,” says Shuter.
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Kristen Stewart at the 2022 Charles Finch and Chanel pre-Oscar dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Shuter added that Soho House in West Hollywood is also often starry around Oscars weekend. “It’s very big with the London crowd,” says Shuter, noting best picture nominee Hamnet’s British roots.
Dapperly-dressed celebrity realtor Josh Flagg says Craig’s, the West Hollywood restaurant, is also an Oscars night staple. In 2019, Nicole Scherzinger dined at the restaurant after the awards show. It’s also where the cast of Argo celebrated their Best Picture win at a private after-after-party in 2013.
For those willing to put a major price on guaranteed proximity to power players, there are more surefire ways to spot celebrities. Elton John hosts an Oscars viewing party in support of his foundation, but it costs a minimum of $6,500 to attend. “A lot of people stop there after the show on their way to Vanity Fair,” says Silver.
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Elton John and Chappell Roan last year, at John’s annual Academy Awards viewing party.
But the real locals (at least, those who aren’t nominated) won’t be posted at the Beverly Hills Hotel or the Chateau. They’ll be home. “It’s one of those days that I probably treat the way native New Yorkers treat St. Patrick’s Parade,” jokes L.A.-based writer Matthew Specktor. “Don’t go [out], you’ll run into Oscars traffic.”
Andrew Zucker works at a production company in New York City. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Financial Times, and Air Mail, among other publications.