Image courtesy of the Four Seasons Los Angeles
You don’t have to search far to find a stellar hotel while visiting Los Angeles. Here in the land of Hollywood, you have your pick of luxury hotels that run the gamut from glamorous to modern, eclectic to stylish. Some hotels are as much a part of the city’s history as the old Hollywood sign, having played host to iconic silver screen stars. Other hotels are newer, revitalizing parts of downtown Los Angeles by introducing trendy fare, enviable rooftop pools and luxury guest rooms. Perhaps you're visiting Los Angeles, California to stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame or maybe you’re keen to kick back on Santa Monica beach and soak up that Californian sun. Whether you check into a hotel near Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier or West Hollywood, you can’t go wrong with booking a stay at one of these 11 Los Angeles hotels.
Hotel Bel-Air
Image courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air
This historic hotel has been sitting like a crown jewel amidst the canyon hills of Bel-Air since 1946. Standing on 12 acres of lush landscape, the Hotel Bel-Air offers a much-needed respite from the rest of Los Angeles, boasting a calm serenity you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in Hollywood. You have your choice of booking a room, suite or signature suite — all of which exude luxury and refinement. But I’d like to draw your attention to the Grace Kelly Suite, named for the starlet who slept in this very room the night she won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1955. Designed to mirror her impeccable style, the suite has a private plunge pool and patio, a large bathroom with heated limestone floors and a large bed draped in exquisite Egyptian cotton. As far as luxury hotels go, a stay at Hotel Bel-Air sets the bar.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
$75 daily breakfast credit.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Santa Monica Proper
Image courtesy of The Ingalls, Santa Monica Proper
There are certain things you expect when booking a getaway to California, and one of them is the beach. While many downtown Los Angeles hotels are a trek from the nearest oceanfront, the 5-star Santa Monica Proper puts you steps away from the beach and eponymous Santa Monica pier. Sitting on the sun-draped Wilshire Boulevard — one of the oldest avenues in Los Angeles and where Julia Roberts’ Pretty Woman character gets her first taste of the high life — the Proper Santa Monica has 267 guest rooms. Each room has free wifi, blackout shades, Apple TV, floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and garden terraces. The real draw here, though, is the rooftop pool and Surya Spa. The heated outdoor pool is family-friendly and flanked by shaded lounge chairs, each with a fluffy towel, sunscreen, soothing aloe vera and seasonal refreshments. Meanwhile, the Surya Spa partners with renowned Ayurvedic doctor, chef and herbalist Martha Soffe to offer a range of treatments, including massages, sound baths, energy healing and multi-day retreats.
The Hoxton
Image courtesy of The Hoxton DTLA
This 4-star hotel in downtown Los Angeles prides itself on encapsulating both the beach vibes of California and the Hollywood glamour of Los Angeles. The guest rooms are inspired by Beaux Arts style, using soft color palettes, handmade tiles inspired by Mexico, artisan-crafted ceramics and large windows that bring in plenty of natural sunlight. With a location in the city center that boasts views of Los Angeles’ buzzing Broadway Blvd, the Hoxton is a prime location for culinary enthusiasts thanks to its rooftop restaurant. Cabra Restaurant and Bar captures the colorful flavors of Peru served up by the first woman to win Bravo’s Top Chef, Stephanie Izard.
Pendry West Hollywood
Image courtesy of Pendry West Hollywood
Found in the heart of Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip, Pendry West Hollywood is a 5-star hotel in a location where music, film and culture converge. Rooms and suites at the Pendry are impossibly chic, featuring blue and gold accents and views of the Hollywood Hills and surrounding West Hollywood neighborhood. But the real draw of Pendry West Hollywood is its nightlife, which has everything on offer — from a bowling alley to a music venue to The Britley Social Club. In a city where insider access is everything, this members-only club is uber-exclusive, offering its guests the full spectrum of hotel amenities, including the rooftop pool, fitness center, spa, dining and other entertainment venues on the property. Before you guffaw at the idea of paying for a members-only social club, rest assured that hotel guests can enjoy the benefits of The Britley Social Club during their stay, living out their Hollywood gliteratti fantasies.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The West Hollywood Edition
Where West Hollywood meets Beverly Hills sits the West Hollywood Edition, a pet-friendly hotel on Sunset Boulevard. As part of the Marriott portfolio, the West Hollywood Edition has all the amenities you’d expect from a 4-star stay, including a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, on-site spa and meeting space. But beyond its amenities, the West Hollywood Edition works with ethical fashion retailers to inform details of the hotel, from poolside accessories to plant-derived spa products. When you’re not out hiking with fido to the Hollywood sign, relax at The Roof, where an extensive list of mezcals and tequilas are served alongside glittering views of the surrounding Los Angeles city center.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica
Image courtesy of Shutters on the Beach
A stay at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica is rather deceptive, but in the most delightful of ways. At this boutique hotel, you’ll feel far from downtown LA, and instead be convinced your airport shuttle from LAX took a wrong turn and brought you to Cape Cod. And that’s exactly what Shutters on the Beach is going for: a quiet beachfront getaway that harkens to the quintessential Cape Cod cottages of the East Coast. With shuttered windows and doors, the guest rooms are designed in hues of blues and greens that reflect the color palette of the Pacific Ocean. This is the hotel to book if you truly want to enjoy California’s beaches, as the hotel front desk and concierge will arrange everything for you, from bike rides on the beach to an al fresco brunch picnic to surfing lessons. Beyond offering the usual hotel amenities, such as a fitness center, Shutters on the Beach is also a pet-friendly hotel, so you and your pup can enjoy a beach vacation together.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
$80 daily breakfast credit.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Conrad LA
Image courtesy of Conrad LA
As far as Hollywood hotels go, you can’t go wrong with booking a stay at the 5-star Conrad LA. The Conrad is located in downtown Los Angeles and is an architectural marvel. Designed by the revered architect Frank Gehry, it resembles a pile of gifts stacked haphazardly, reaching towards the sky. Standing 25 stories tall, the Conrad and its over 300 rooms overlook the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall and the surrounding downtown Los Angeles area, putting guests close to cultural hubs like Little Tokyo, Little Bangladesh, Koreatown and Chinatown. Rooms are minimalist, with warm wooden textures and a muted color palette. If you’re staying at the Conrad LA, chances are you’re here for the food. The on-site San Laurel restaurant is overseen by the iconic chef Jose Andres, whose work as both a culinary innovator and humanitarian has been celebrated worldwide. San Laurel celebrates the flavors of Spain using ingredients pulled from Southern California, whipping up tapas served in a sun-drenched space. (And if Spain is on the mind, also check out this guide to the best places to visit in Spain for first-timers.)
Four Seasons Los Angeles
Image courtesy of Four Seasons Los Angeles
The Four Seasons Los Angeles sits in one of Hollywood’s most iconic neighborhoods: Beverly Hills. A stay at this luxury hotel puts you within walking distance of the uber-trendy Rodeo Drive, with its bevy of designer shops, and a short drive from the Hollywood sign and the Universal Studios Hollywood lot. Notably, the Four Seasons Los Angeles caters to all travelers. Business travelers will find free wifi, a business center, meeting spaces, in-room iPads and a luxury car transfer service. Families will find a concierge eager to help make family-friendly dinner reservations or arrange a babysitter. Couples will discover a spa boasting plenty of relaxing treatments, pool and cabana packages and a romantic lounge with weekly live entertainment and an extensive wine list. If you’re really looking for a stay worthy of a movie star, book the Doheny Experience, which comes as an exclusive offering for guests staying in the top suites. This VIP experience takes care of all those pesky travel details, from LAX airport shuttle service to parking. As part of the Doheny Experience, you’ll also enjoy added privileges, such as a personal attendant, a private screening room to enjoy movies (this is Hollywood, after all), and even personalized and embroidered robes and slippers.
Fora Perks:
When you book Four Seasons through Fora, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
Oceana Santa Monica
The Oceana Santa Monica is a boutique hotel and one of the few on this list located on the oceanfront. Designed to look like a private beach home, the Oceana overlooks Santa Monica beach, putting you just steps from the Pacific Ocean. You’ll only find suites at this bespoke hotel, with each one exuding Southern Californian luxury. Each suite comes with spacious bedrooms, spa-like bathrooms and a living room fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and free wifi. But beyond the room’s layout, the luxury is in the details — from the handmade rugs brought in from Nepal to the deluxe Loro Piana bedding and artwork commissioned by local Los Angeles artists. There’s a myriad of conveniences and experiences on offer at Oceana too. You can arrange everything from airport shuttle service to Los Angeles International Airport to surfing lessons, beach yoga to guided hikes, Peloton classes and beachside butler service. A 5-star dining experience awaits at the on-site Sandpiper, while an al fresco lunch is offered poolside at the Veranda and evening cocktails are shaken at the Sunset Terrace and served with panoramic ocean views.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
1 Hotel West Hollywood
Image courtesy of 1 Hotel West Hollywood
This Hollywood Hills hotel rests at the base of the famous hills, offering sweeping views of downtown LA all the way to Santa Monica. Rooms here are simply beautiful, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that offer sweeping views of Hollywood and its rolling hills. Mirroring the surrounding natural landscape in its earth-inspired design, the hotel draws in details such as lush greenery, marble bathrooms and clay tones to evoke a feeling of luxury and being one with nature. A stunning outdoor pool sits flanked by lush white loungers, each facing uninterrupted views of Los Angeles, while farm-to-table dining pulls from Californian ingredients to create delectable menus at each of the hotel's on-site eateries. Speaking of farm-to-table, 1 Hotel West Hollywood does something extra special by offering guests the chance to enjoy California’s bounty with a farm stand in their lobby. At the daily market, guests can pick up seasonal fruits and veggies to enjoy — how cute is that?
Sunset Tower
Image courtesy of Sunset Tower Hotel
We might have saved Hollywood’s most iconic and historic hotel for last. Called the Grand Dame of Los Angeles, the 5-star Sunset Tower was originally built in 1929 and sat alongside some of the most notable nightclubs of the 1930s and 1940s, giving this tower landmark status. Over the decades, the Sunset Tower has played host to icons, from Marilyn Monroe to Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra. The Sunset Tower was renovated in the early 2000s, breathing fresh life into this old Hollywood hotel. Rooms here are elegant and luxurious, sparing no expense to make their guests feel like VIPs. Egyptian linen-swaddled beds stand next to panoramic windows and custom artwork. Each room also includes free wifi, a flatscreen TV and complimentary Lavazza coffee. While the entire hotel reflects elements of the Art Deco era, its outdoor rooftop pool truly evokes old Hollywood glamour. Retro-striped loungers sit beneath frilly white and beige umbrellas, facing a glittering swimming pool and sweeping city views. Here, you can sunbathe and enjoy an al fresco lunch in the same place where Hollywood icons once swam.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.