35 Best Hotels in Los Angeles, From Santa Monica to Downtown

Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection

The Sandbourne nails that sweet spot between style and affordability, offering a fresh, design-forward retreat in one of the city’s best locations. Icelandic architect Gulla Jónsdóttir infused the space with sunset-inspired hues, lush greenery, and a laidback yet polished vibe. All modern lines and sexy curves, the rooms are spacious, with ocean-view options worth the splurge for front-row seats to the pier’s twinkling lights. Marelle’s Mediterranean menu shines at brunch, and the lobby bar is just right for a nightcap.

Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection

Some hotels are scenes, while others are escapes. When you walk across the long footbridge that spans the Bel-Air’s Swan Lake (yes, there are actual swans gliding around) as the larks chirp among the palms and bougainvillea, there’s a sense of the whole sprawling megalopolis melting into the Santa Monica foothills. The Bel-Air has long been a sanctuary, a pastel-hued, Mediterranean-influenced refuge for the likes of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Old Hollywood credentials and tinkling fountains aside, the Bel-Air is no fusty heirloom. A 2011 revamp by New York–based designer Champalimaud Design gave the place a very intentional but somehow apt mid-century brightness. Rooms—all creams, peaches, and ochres in the hotel’s Spanish Colonial style—now come with heated bathroom floors and private terraces with hot tubs and fire pits. Since taking the reigns as Culinary Director, Joe Garcia has debuted The Patisserie, an intimate outdoor courtyard that offers an expansive menu of French pastries and handcrafted cakes, and The Living Room, a tranquil hideaway in the lobby serving high tea, specialty cocktails, and caviar.

Hollywood Volume

Hollywood Volume brings a cool and effortless energy to the Vinyl District, blending vintage Hollywood glam with modern LA style. Step through the intricately carved wooden doors into a laidback, social lobby that feels more like a creative hub than a hotel check-in. Rooms are bright and minimalist, with floor-to-ceiling windows (spring for the Hollywood Hills view if you can). Ka’Teen’s Yucatán-inspired menu is a winner, but the real action is at Desert 5 Spot, where country tunes, cactus margaritas, and rooftop poolside vibes make for an unforgettable night out.

The Edition West Hollywood

It’s an immediate scene when you walk into the oversize lobby at the Edition WeHo, and would you expect anything less? Sky high ceilings, a super sexy bar, an incredible art collection, and an oversize pool table are all a part of the lively, social energy that pulse from the entrance at any hour. Minimalist British architect John Pawson teamed up with notoriously meticulous genius Schrager to outfit to outfit the 190 guest rooms and 50 suites with expansive outdoor terraces, modern decor, and ultra-luxe details that give an air of serenity compared to the scene below. You don’t want to miss out on the underground night club, Sunset, with a ceiling decked out in 30 oversized golden disco balls. If you feel like you missed your calling with 54, now is your chance. Edition is a step above the tired hotels of WeHo, with a chic cosmopolitan feel and common areas to boot.

Whisky Hotel

Whisky Hotel Hollywood is a boutique escape with a bold, cinematic edge. The dark, moody decor sets the tone—think something straight out of a David Lynch film. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary whisky shot, a fitting start to the experience. The exclusive rooftop bar offers a stylish retreat, while the buffet breakfast ensures a satisfying start to the day. Whether you’re here for Hollywood adventures or just soaking in the atmosphere, this hotel delivers a stay that’s both indulgent and unforgettable.

W Hollywood

W Hollywood’s recent redesign by Rockwell Group feels like a love letter to Los Angeles itself: lush, cinematic, and effortlessly cool. The Living Room’s triple-height ceilings and green velvet seating set the mood, while the quiet Garden courtyard offers a breather from the city’s pulse. Upstairs, the WET Deck’s twin bars—Sunrise and Sunset—frame Hollywood Hills views that steal the show. Dining at THERE THERE feels intimate yet theatrical, with Asian- and Latin-inspired small plates that surprise in the best way. Add in AI-driven soundscapes shaping the vibe in real time, and you’ve got a hotel that’s as much an experience as a stay.

The Beverly Hills Hotel, Dorchester Collection

Stepping inside the Beverly Hills Hotel, you instantly feel like the main character in a film. Red-carpeted steps lead into the lobby with its iconic pink and green palm decor. The “Pink Palace” right on Sunset Boulevard, tucked into 12 acres, is like a cocoon. Make like Elizabeth Taylor, who spent six of eight honeymoons here, and book Bungalow 5 inspired by the legendary actress. The Polo Lounge is the place for a Hollywood power lunch. It’s not just the Old and New Hollywood vibe that makes this hotel fabulous; it’s the way the entire staff treats you like you’re a star. From $1,045. —Dana Kravis

Regent Santa Monica Beach

A sleek addition to Santa Monica’s beachfront, the Regent is raising the bar on coastal luxury. Oversized rooms, thoughtful service, and a prime oceanfront location make it a standout, while Michael Mina’s Orla serves up Middle Eastern–inspired flavors that feel both fresh and indulgent. The multi-tiered pool deck is perfect for lounging with a glass of rosé, and the Guerlain Spa delivers high-end pampering in a serene setting. With its polished service and breezy sophistication, this upscale property with easy access to both Westside’s urban offerings and the beach makes an excellent Santa Monica stay.

Pendry West Hollywood

This ultra-chic West Hollywood property brings panache back to the Sunset Strip with its rooftop pool, exclusive social club, Wolfgang Puck restaurants, and well-appointed rooms imbued with rich Hollywood Regency accents. If you can, opt for one of their 37 suites, which boast pieces curated by Lendrum Fine Art, blooms by celebrity florist Eric Buterbaugh, walk-in closets, and over-the-top yet opulent modern furnishings in vibrant electric blues and golds that give the room a playful Hollywood Regency aesthetic. Right in the heart of West Hollywood, the Pendry is across the street from The Comedy Store, excellent shopping, and world-class restaurants. But let’s be honest, if you’re like us, you may not even leave the premises.

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

The Beverly Wilshire is as close to a European grand dame as you’ll find in

Hotel Casa del Mar

The Italian Renaissance Revival-style building is one of two Santa Monica beach icons—the other being sister-property

Santa Monica Proper Hotel

Downtown LA and Hollywood have both witnessed more hotel openings in the last year than some cities see in a decade. And yet for the longest time, there have been tumbleweeds on the west side of town. Surprising, given how much the area has changed with the ascendance of Silicon Beach (home to huge Google, Facebook, and YouTube offices) and its trailing wake of tech millennials and visiting creatives. And then, suddenly, with this opening, the Westside gets the hotel of its dreams, a sort of poster child for the brand of coastal cool it lives and dies by, and the same crowd seen queuing up at

Maybourne Beverly Hills

Located in the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills, this former Montage now has a modern California levity, while still holding true to the luxury touch points of five-star service for which one of the world’s most exclusive neighborhoods—and hotel brands—is known. It’s not unusual to experience celebrity sightings on the Terrace, where agents from the nearby buildings mix with a well-heeled jet set crowd. Sipping on the perfect gin martini from The Connaught—the sister hotel from Across the Pond—while gazing out at the plaza’s oversize fountain, you’d swear that you were in Europe, but the pooches in Prada are a dead giveaway that you’re most definitely in Beverly Hills. When you’re not luxuriating in your room, make use of the 20,000-square-foot spa, which includes a stunning riad-style mineral pool, saunas, Turkish steam rooms, and Balinese inspired relaxation rooms.

The Hoxton, Downtown LA

The Hoxton blends well into the Broadway neighborhood, a newly revitalized area in the historic theatre district that’s now bustling with design shops, high end fashion brands, and hotels like

The Line LA

This hotel put

Malibu Beach Inn

Smell the ocean from the lobby at the Malibu Beach Inn. And, because check-in happens at the driveway, you’ll have your keys in your hand before you’ve even stepped into the building. From the lobby continue to your bed and collapse onto super-soft sheets in Scandi-Japanese rooms, with the sounds of lapping waves sneaking in from the balcony. And while the third floor boasts the best views, you won’t complain about any of the others as you dine on your private patio, watching the ocean shoot from pink to orange to black. Come here for laid-back luxury and easy beach access.

The Surfrider

For a low-key, personal stay in

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

The first thing I noticed upon walking into the lobby—aside from the triple-height ceilings, floors polished to a sheen, celadon wing-back chairs, and two show-stopping chandeliers—was the fresh scent, one more befitting of a spa. One deep breath, and you’re in vacation mode. The smallest room is 630 square feet—spacious, to say the least. The interiors were designed by the firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, who also worked on the

Hotel Figueroa – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

One of the longest-standing hotels in Downtown Los Angeles, Hotel Figueroa, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, offers a luxurious escape from city life in a convenient location for first timers or those in town for a sporting event, concert, or conference. Located smack dab in the center of many of DTLA’s top tourist attractions and convention centers, there’s no shortage of

Silver Lake Pool & Inn

The LA-based hotel chainlette

Palihouse Santa Monica

Upon entering the wrought-iron gates of Palihouse Santa Monica, you’ll feel a strong urge to extend your stay. The gates frame a 1920s Moorish-style manor house turned 38-room hotel, and lead you to the lobby through a tree-lined courtyard with a fountain. Most of the 38 rooms are Grand Studio Residences, which come with fully-equipped kitchens. (The Classic rooms can feel a bit cramped, starting at 300 square feet.) The rooms tick all trad-meets-Cali-design boxes, with wood-beamed ceilings, bespoke Abnormals Anonymous wallpaper, tufted footstools in bright jewel tones, plaid throw blankets, and deer antlers over the bed. Ask for a front-facing room that looks out over the gorgeously manicured garden.

Freehand Los Angeles

Every hotel prizes its design, but Freehand’s affordable hostel space in collaboration with Roman & Williams takes the category to a new level. Have a drink under soaring ceilings in the 1930s tiled bar as you sit in Craftsman-inspired furniture, or take dinner in the restaurant where mosaics of owls line the floor (the building used to house the Owl Drug Store). And of course, as at other Freehands, there’s an outpost of the James Beard Award-nominated

Kimpton La Peer Hotel

This West Hollywood hangout confirms that boutique group Kimpton has the design chops to rival the

Kimpton Everly Hotel

A chic oasis in the heart of Hollywood, Everly offers a perfect blend of comfort and city energy. With floor-to-ceiling windows framing breathtaking views of the skyline or the iconic Hollywood sign, every stay feels like a front-row seat to the pulse of LA. The rooftop pool is a serene escape, while the Ever Bar pours expertly crafted cocktails in a laidback atmosphere. A daily wine hour adds a welcome touch of indulgence, making this hotel a true retreat in the middle of it all.

1 Hotel West Hollywood

Although it spans just under two square miles, the little city of West Hollywood (WeHo) is, like much of Los Angeles County, having a big hotel moment. What makes the arrival of 1 Hotel West Hollywood so special—in a wave of openings that includes the

Sunset Tower Hotel

Piercing the blue Californian skies on Sunset Boulevard, this elegant Art Deco tower has long been a landmark of the city, home to Hollywood greats since its arrival in 1931, courtesy of architect Leland A. Bryant. The 81 bedrooms are done up in dusty pinks and browns with dazzling bathrooms clad in metallic gold wallpaper designed by fashion illustrator Donald Robertson, and there’s a Joanna Vargas spa for those red-carpet moments. The newly refreshed outdoor terrace overlooking the small but beautiful pool is one of the loveliest spots—in a city with a strong alfresco game—for a breakfast of mashed avocado on sourdough with poached eggs, or simply to relax for an hour or so, taking in the spectacular views of

Soho Warehouse

Nick Jones’s members’ clubs have become a litmus test for an area’s cool. And while the other Soho Houses around Los Angeles are in hipper-than-thou Malibu and sceney

The Georgian

This iconic, sky-blue Art Deco hotel along beach-adjacent

Alsace LA

Set in historic West Adam—one of

The Aster

At the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine sits this private club hotel. Swathed in understated elegance, with spacious suites anyone can book (the smallest is 750 square feet), this

Conrad Los Angeles

The Walt Disney Concert Hall has long been the crowning jewel of historic Bunker Hill, and famed architect Frank Gehry has upped the ante with the opening of his first hotel project in Los Angeles. Located just across the street from the striking stainless steel home of the LA Philharmonic (also designed by Ghery), the Conrad is the ideal outpost for an art-obsessed traveler, within walking distance of

Hotel Per La, Autograph Collection

This hotel is the third act for the beautifully preserved Giannini building in downtown Los Angeles, but it may be the most meaningful one yet. Built in 1922 as the Bank of

Thompson Hollywood

This grown-up Hollywood hotel in the heart of the action offers more sophistication than nearby red-rope properties that cater to the twenty-something It crowd. Located in what’s being dubbed The Vinyl District, this 11-story hotel includes 190 chic guest rooms, a gym by celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, and a beautiful rooftop pool that’s flanked by an ultra-chic

Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel

A true feast for the senses, this playful, design-driven property calls on the creative energy of DLTA with enough visual and cultural interest to make it a self-contained vacation. The entrance is a grand one, with vibrant jewel-toned, hand-painted frescoes on the domed ceilings that nod to

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

This classic

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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