It's been almost three years since Natalie Imbruglia was last based in Los Angeles, and she has returned to the bustling metropolis very quietly, setting up home in a West Hollywood apartment rental that, legend has it, may have been occupied by Marilyn Monroe. But the Sydney-born singer/songwriter is back in LA with two clear objectives: to get back to songwriting and to find "the best macaroni and cheese".

For the latter, locals suggest the Bowery in Hollywood. And as for the songwriting, well, it's up to the magic of the City of Angels itself. The decision to move back here was all Natalie's – to recharge her music career after a year-long stint as an intrepid judge on the Australian version of The X Factor.

"Right now, LA could not be more perfect," says Natalie, who, despite her appetite for "mac 'n' cheese", has just sought out the healthiest thing on the menu at 25 Degrees, the 24-hour burger bar in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Clad in ultra-skinny sass & bide jeans, she is already looking the part of a California girl: slim, fit and glowing.

"It's so easy to be healthy here, and you don't have that pressure of Aussies or Brits going, 'Why are you not drinking?'" she admits. "Here, you can go horseriding, you can hike, you can surf."

Los Angeles is a city of rebirth for many, and for Natalie, who has also recently become the ambassador for Australian pearl company Kailis, the hope is to get back to "the organic joy of songwriting again". In between, she has been discovering some of the must-see destinations of her adopted home, and here she takes us on an exclusive tour of her favourite places...

Lauded for its intimacy, the Troubadour remains the classic "living room" to see big-name performers. The venue first opened its doors in 1957 and, today, it still stands on the same piece of real estate in West Hollywood. Decades ago, it was Bob Dylan who graced the stage. Now, some 50 years later, it hosts performers of equal clout, such as Prince.

"I just saw him," reveals Natalie, excitedly, although the event wasn't without drama. Noticing that others around her were snapping once-in-a-lifetime pictures of The Artist, she thought, "I should document this. It's Prince." As she held her mobile phone poised, security types circled. "I had a panic attack that I was going to get thrown out! I was mortified. Luckily, I got away with it."

9081 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, visit www.troubadour.com.

Joan's on Third
This family-owned hangout serves delicious gourmet food and attracts a handsome crowd from morning till night. Both a marketplace and cafe, it boasts the city's finest pastries and picnic accoutrements. "I love to come here with friends," says Natalie. The daily specials menu is extensive and has been known to offer three versions of quinoa salad, a current favourite with the singer. "I am obsessed with quinoa," admits Natalie. "I like to eat well then, once in a while, treat myself to doughnuts."

8350 West Third Street, Mid-City West, visit www.joansonthird.com.

Tracy Anderson Method
Anyone in Los Angeles concerned with keeping fit – and looking the part – knows the name Tracy Anderson, and what she has done for many famous bods, including Gwyneth Paltrow's. Her training philosophy is simple: "Helping women look and feel amazing." Natalie's svelte figure is also the result of Anderson's fitness regimen, which uses equipment such as bands, cubes and bars to get results. In addition to Anderson’s group fitness classes, which help to tighten, tone and sculpt the body, the celebrity trainer also offers private sessions.
12345 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, visit www.tracyandersonmethod.com.

The Way We Wore
In LA, if you shop vintage, you shop here. Seven years ago, when a stylist to Halle Berry picked up a cinnamon crochet-knit swimsuit for the actress to wear on the cover of GQ magazine, the little-known boutique instantly rose to fame. Now, it outfits Hollywood's elite in vintage Dior and Chanel, and the likes of Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie might pop in – but with major security in tow. When Natalie stops by it's less of a to-do, but just as fruitful – a recent visit uncovered a gorgeous Japanese kimono. Of course, whomever it belonged to first probably never wore it out of the house, but Natalie proudly declares, "It's something I would wear to dinner."
334 South La Brea Avenue, Mid-Wilshire, visit www.thewaywewore.com.

Bottega Louie
The magic of Bottega Louie is that it offers something different for every local. For those that visit for dinner, the restaurant is packed with smartly clad urbanites looking to share an order of portobello fries among a party of eight. For early risers, eating breakfast here is reminiscent of a celestial Roman cafe with high ceilings, where time is an immeasurable concept. For Natalie, the restaurant is a "coffee in the afternoon" kind of place. It also boasts one of the city's most breathtaking spreads of pastries, including dainty little macarons in every colour and flavour.
700 South Grand Avenue, Downtown, visit www.bottegalouie.com.

The Spare Room
The reputation of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel precedes itself. Once it was the site of the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony. Now, Hollywood's most famous hotel is home to Tinseltown's most "secret" watering hole: The Spare Room. Upon entrance via the mezzanine level, one encounters a handsome bar serving outrageously good cocktails – with an unexpected inclusion: two tenpin bowling lanes. When Natalie bowls here, she bemoans that her ball "always moves to the right" just before it approaches the pins. The singer prefers the handmade games instead. "I love playing Jenga," she laughs.

7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, visit www.spareroomhollywood.com.

Eveleigh
With an Aussie chef and the name of an up-and-coming Sydney suburb, it's hardly surprising that Natalie's pals had this new Sunset Strip restaurant on their radar. Finally, when a friend of Kylie Minogue mentioned the hip eatery, Natalie agreed she had to try it ("Kylie...she's my mate"). Aside from the leafy setting and gorgeous rustic-chic decor, what caught her attention was the eggplant salad, cooked with
rice wine and herbs, and the tempting cocktail menu. "I broke my detox for a drink at Eveleigh," admits Natalie.

8752 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, visit www.theeveleigh.com.

Stay:
HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR
A stay at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, offers star style with a renaissance twist. Inside, rooms and suites offer modern opulence, while outside the grounds and entertaining areas make the most of LA's balmy climate. Room rates start at $US585 per night.

Visit www.peninsula.com.

Pamper:
HERE'S THE RUB

Natalie craves a good body rub after a long day's work and names Brooks Massage Therapy as a favourite. "It's been voted one of the best massage places in LA," she enthuses. In business for more than 50 years, it offers affordable treatments in unassuming surrounds. Visit www.brooksmassage.com.

Play:
TAKE A HIKE
With 245 hectares of parkland including duck ponds, hiking trails and picnic spots, Franklin Canyon Park is a favourite with celebs and fitness junkies. Located near the city centre, it's the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle. Visit www.lamountains.com.