West LA

West LA is generally considered the region west of the 405 and south of the San Fernanado Valley.  It covers a wide range of LA's most upscale neighborhoods and includes Bel Air, Brentwood, Westwood, the Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey.  West LA is know worldwide for its affluence and posh, star-studded neighborhoods.  While it doesn't have the most exciting nightlife, like Hollywood or the eastside, but most people are drawn here to live near the beach and enjoy the great weather, the lower crime rates and better schools.  These are largely white neighborhoods, with more diversity further south towards Venice and east towards Palms/Mar Vista.  

The Getty Museum is in West LA along with UCLA's Hammer Museum.  West LA also has some of the best, cutting-edge restaurants in the city, particularly in Brentwood, Santa Monica and along Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice.  Most people enjoy the laid-back vibe of the westside and enjoy the pace of this area, though it can feel a bit removed from the rest of the city and it can be a trek to Hollywood and other parts of the city during rush hour.