If you want to spot stars in Tinseltown, West Hollywood is the place to be, Jacqui Lang discovers.
 
 Was that really Jennifer Aniston's fantasy lover, Aerosmith's Steve Tyler, in front of me?

 I was at Robert De Niro's swish Italian eatery, Argo, in Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, where stars supposedly flock every night.

 Newly off the plane; and already I'd stumbled on my first celebrity, outside a toilet!

"Wish I had a camera, you're so great Steve," I saw one excited woman lunge out of the dunny, and into the ageing rocker.

 Luckily I did have my digital ­ "Could I have a photo?" I asked wee Steve. He politely obliged, nuzzling close for a snap, but instead, I passed him my camera, "No, a photo of my friend and me?"

 My pal, Aussie scriptwriter Pim Hendrix, couldn't stop chortling as the current star of Be Cool obligingly clicked away. (Pim then did snap one of me and the muso, to the growing displeasure of his fawning entourage.)

 Suddenly, by the bar, we spotted the famous, squashed nose of spunky actor Owen Wilson. "Er, Owen, mind posing in a pic?" I approached, realizing I had better show Alana some proof that stars can be found. Thankfully, Owen was civil too, even volunteering how much he liked Sydney.

 "If you want to see stars, then just stay around West Hollywood, they're everywhere," Pim assured.

 That week, he'd seen Charlize Therone and Paris Hilton at Jap restaurant Koi on La Cienega Blvd, and Samuel L Jackson at  The Little Door, on nearby 3rd. Time to return to my hotel, the Ramada, to sleep off the jetlag. Its foyer was riddled with long-haired muso types, some looking mildly familiar.

 "Well, the Grammies are on, this is a good spot to be," the concierge shrugged.

 Next day, in need of caffeine, I set off for nearby Urth Caffe (8565 Melrose Ave).  Renowned for its fine bagels and groovy ambience, it's also where Cameron Diaz is known to hang out. No sign of her that day, but I did see LA-based, Aussie film-maker Michael Rymer, who directed film Angel Baby, talking to friends about his latest film.

 Returning to the same café later, I sat beside a distinguished older guy in a suit. He turned out to be an actor, Jerry Schumaker, (I Heart Huckabees).

 "You just missed Heather Lockyer. And Terri Hatcher, the cast of OC, you name it, they all flock here," he assured.

 Even bookshops in West Hollywood can be star-magnets (yes some celebrities actually read!). Alternative bookstore, Bodhi Tree (8585 Melrose Ave), has a huge range of new age books as well as teas, incense, and gifts. Jonny Depp, Salma Hayek and Drew Barrymore have all been seen stocking up on literature.

 Across the road, Elixir Tonics and Teas (8612 Melrose Avenue) is an oasis for the strung-out star. Here you can have a massage, or sit in the garden out the back drinking stuff called Liquid Yoga and Depth Recharger. Heather Graham and Heath Ledger have been snapped leaving this place. I ordered a Mind Over Muddle, with herbs to restore mental prowess ­ possibly useful after my big night at Ago with my new celeb pals!
 
Jacqui was a guest of the Ramada - 8585 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood.

United Airlines flies daily to Los Angeles from Sydney.
 
 

Jacqui Lang is a Sydney-based freelance writer with 18 years experience in print and TV, whose passions include skiing and roaming the globe. You can email her.