20 Best Hotels in Los Angeles, California

Bordering the Strand (SoCal's famous bike path on the beach), Beach House looks like a New England sea cottage from a century ago but has contemporary amenities in its bright studio suites. Oceanfront rooms facing the Strand have terrific sunset views and small balconies. All rooms have two TVs, a fireplace, and a wet bar. Expect to pay more for ocean-view rooms and weekend and summer stays. Rent bikes nearby or stroll on the Hermosa Beach pier. A full continental breakfast with yummy muffins and coffee awaits you in the pleasant breakfast room each morning. Many guests book an in-room massage.

A quaint surprise in Southern California, the Channel Road Inn is every bit the country retreat bed-and-breakfast lovers adore, with four-poster beds, fluffy duvets, and a cozy living room with a fireplace. Rooms are fresh and feminine; each has a private bath (and a few have hot tubs). A sumptuous home-cooked breakfast for two is included (which you can enjoy downstairs or in your room), as well as a wine-and-cheese hour every afternoon and home-baked cookies. Walk a block to the beach, or borrow a bicycle to pedal the 2 miles to the Santa Monica Pier. Unwind in the rose garden, in the Garden Spa Sanctuary (a delightful tiny cottage in the garden), or in one of the landscaped nooks scattered throughout the property. There's one dog-friendly room.

Each apartment-style room at this nine-room boutique hotel is unique, thanks to its designer handpicking custom-made pieces and vintage furnishings to create a cute and modern pad that you'll wished you owned. Set in the middle of Los Feliz's bustling section of Hollywood Boulevard, the Covell is a convenient walk to bars, cafés, and restaurants. Each room also features a kitchenette complete with a Smeg fridge (with microwaves on request), ideal for a quiet meal in. Families—including pets—are welcome, and can be accommodated with cots that are available upon request and larger rooms with pullout couches. There's a rooftop deck and a street-level coffee shop. Unlike other hotels in the city, parking is free.

Cosmopolitan and chic, the London West Hollywood is known for its large suites, rooftop pool with citywide views, and luxury touches throughout. British whimsy includes two bulldogs as hotel mascots (Winston and Churchill). Splurge for a luxury suites and work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Due to the 110-seat screening room off the lobby, it can sometimes be a celebrity scene. The talented chef Anthony Keene oversees the cuisine at several dining spots here, including the signature restaurant, Boxwood, and the London Bar. He is an expert at sauces with grilled proteins.

The closest hotel to the Santa Monica Pier (it's just across PCH, with easy pedestrian bridge access), the breezy, surf-inspired Pierside is the epitome of Southern California cool. It's all about the beach here, from the stylish coastal-inspired lobby, the sun-filled spaces, guest rooms with that soothing, natural, coastal-California palette and materials and floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the Pacific Ocean or Santa Monica skyline, and complimentary use of a wide range of fun gear, like surfboards, bikes, and GoPros (as well as video game consoles). The indoor-outdoor Surfing Fox restaurant serves up locally-sourced Coastal California cuisine and creative cocktails and beckons locals and visitors to linger and bask in views of the pier. Don't miss the huge Shepard Fairey mural on the oceanside front of the building; the second largest in the Los Angeles region, it's a stylistic ode to Santa Monica. Dogs are not only welcome here; they're treated like royalty.

A boutique hotel a block off the Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Erwin will make you feel like a hipper version of yourself. It has spacious, modern, airy rooms (somewhat of a rarity in Venice) and a local-favorite rooftop bar and lounge (appropriately named High). Splashes of orange, yellow, and green add playfulness to the clean white guest rooms, and on the sixth level, rooms have tiled floors and higher ceilings than elsewhere. Guests here enjoy a free California-style breakfast. Otherwise, you can enjoy the Barlo Kitchen + Cocktails or viral Pizza Girl restaurant on-site, or the freshly revamped rooftop bar's small-bites selections; the dining options here emphasize fresh ingredients and dishes made from scratch. Guests have free use of the hotel's bicycles as well as a range of sports and beach equipment.

Tranquility pervades the airy, California Craftsman–style, four-story Ambrose, which blends right into its mostly residential Santa Monica neighborhood. Expect crisp linens, high ceilings, and sea-themed hues in cozy rooms. Management prides itself on "green" practices like using nontoxic cleaning products and reducing water use. Windows are double paned for quiet; upper floors have partial peeks of ocean in the distance. The somewhat limited all-day dining menu include healthy choices and Groundwork coffee. The small garden allows for a peaceful hideaway in the middle of the city. Perks like a fitness center with Peloton bikes, beach cruiser usage, Wi-Fi, L'Occitane toiletries, an evening wine reception, and Tesla car service are included with the $29 daily amenity fee. E-bike rentals are available.

Home to the Golden Globe Awards, the Beverly Hilton is glitzy and polished, offering spectacular views of Beverly Hills and sizeable balconies in many rooms. In-room bathrooms feel expansive thanks to an opaque glass wall that faces the room and sliding door. Furnishings include versatile leather-top work desks with chairs that swivel to the side. Flat-screen TVs are standard in every room. The iconic pool offers guests an array of bites and drinks while Circa 55 is the hotel's mid-century, modern-styled rooftop restaurant serving California cuisine.

The Conrad is Hilton's top-of-the-line hotel brand, and the DTLA iteration, designed by Frank Gehry and packed with priceless art and meticulous design, exudes top-of-the-line and luxury in every way. Adding to the impressive names is world-famous chef José Andrés who is at the forefront of both Spanish-forward restaurants on the property. Rooms are immaculate with floor-to-ceiling windows that show off L.A.'s impressive skyline along with a front row seat to the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad art museum across the street. Adding to the hits here is the 10th floor pool (which is always warm), the very modern-equipped spa, and a pet friendly policy.

Another celebrity favorite during awards season, this newer WeHo boutique hotel sits in the lively West Hollywood Design District and attracts an in-crowd of creative types. The courtyard pool is the main event with a surrounding bar and restaurant, while the roof is subtly chic with views hovering over the neighborhood. Rooms are elegant with muted colors. There is a fully equipped gym, and pets are welcome with no restrictions on breed or size. The daily Guest Amenities fee is $40 plus tax; it includes a $15 breakfast credit, 24/7 kombucha and cold brew on tap, EV chargers, and bicycle rentals.

Part of the massive Ovation Hollywood shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, the 20-story Loews is at the center of Hollywood's action but manages to deliver a quiet night's sleep. Contemporary art and sleek furniture greet you in the lobby and in the rooms, which are graded with large windows overlooking Hollywood. The hotel's restaurant and lobby bar cater to the influx of conventioneers and corporate travelers who visit the property. Meanwhile, the outdoor heated pool comes with stunning sunset views of the neighborhood.

Tucked in a posh residential area three blocks from the sea and lively Third Street Promenade, Palihouse Santa Monica caters to design-minded world travelers, with spacious rooms and suites decked out in whimsical antiques. Picture Scottish hunting lodge meets Hollywood chic. The 1927 Mediterranean Revival exterior is encircled by a grassy courtyard, a bocce ball court, and outdoor seating. Step into the low-lit lobby, which also plays host to the hotel's guest-only all-day eating establishment, to be greeted by mismatched antiques highlighted with trophies, terrariums, and kitschy paintings. Rooms feel as though you just stepped into a quirky globetrotter's pied-à-terre, with locally made wallpaper prints, hand-carved vintage tables, and sets of faux antlers guarding the beds. Bathrooms hit all the high notes, including Diptyque toiletries. Modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi appeal to tech-minded travelers, while the fitness center and the fully equipped kitchens in most rooms cater to extended-stay visitors. Enjoy use of bicycles, a daily lemonade and candy bar, and a mocktail social hour. The all-day breakfast menu is universally loved.

Open your balcony door and listen to the calls of seabirds and sea lions from ocean- and channel-side rooms here (earplugs are provided for humbugs); marina-side rooms overlook sailboats and docks. Refreshed interiors adhere to a transitional beachy style—guest rooms are a mix of blues set off by crisp white bed linens. Long-term room and apartment rentals also are available. Compact, well-designed bathrooms are accented in stainless steel, with extra-plush towels and pleasing bath products. The Baleen restaurant has an open, airy tropical vibe and excellent craft cocktails; try the Chef's Table prix-fixe experience for groups of up to 10. The attached lounge offers live music on the weekends and there's an oceanfront heated pool and fitness center with Peloton bikes.

Super-contemporary design makes this hotel, rooftop pool, and Skydeck feel like an adults-only playground, and it's just a short walk to the shoreline, the local pier, and Manhattan Beach's lively downtown. Rooms come with features like luxe linens, a rolling desk that can be used in bed or on its own, a heavenly freestanding tub or sunken whirlpool bath surrounded by a movable shoji-like screen, a sculptural fireplace or daybed, and overhead "chromatherapy" lighting that changes color via digital touch plates. Enjoy meals and "Shade Hour" deals in the indoor-outdoor Zinc Lounge; the space also hosts DJs on weekend nights, and serves signature cocktails among the firepit tables.

With views of the Santa Monica Pier, this hotel with a friendly staff offers eco-minded travelers stylish rooms with a modern design, just steps from the sand and sea. The Shore was the first hotel in Santa Monica to receive the prestigious LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly design. Giant windows front the property, maximizing the sun's rays and inviting guests to look out onto the expanse of the Pacific below the bluffs. Rooms are awash in beach hues, with aqua throws, sand-color blackout curtains, and rich, wooden furnishings. The temperature automatically adjusts when you enter and exit. A see-through rainfall shower occupies a prime location in standard rooms, offering ocean and city views as you wash the sand out of your hair. Perks include champagne upon arrival, Wi-Fi, and beach cruiser use. Additional amenities include a gym, business center, solar-heated pool and hot tub, and a lobby bar.

Sleek meets desert retro at Silver Lake Pool & Inn, a boutique hotel located on a nondescript stretch of the neighborhood. Enjoy Los Angeles’ sunny climate in its tree-covered courtyards and serene pool. Handmade Moroccan and Italian tilework accentuates the space while the vintage stucco on the exterior spaces pays homage to the Mexican influence on L.A.’s architecture. Silver Lake Pool & Inn is a beautiful oasis with plenty of moments for relaxation away from the bustle of one of the most hipster neighborhoods in town.

Located near Beverly Hills and across the street from the Beverly Center, this elegant French hotel is known for its specialized services to guests and first-class amenities. They have a new specialized in-room "All-Be-Well" wellness program with nature-based restorative experiences, and a complimentary VIP pet package. Pets are welcome and can stay for free, no matter the size or weight. Special amenities for VIP guest pets include a luxury orthopedic dog pad and a discounted grooming session at a nearby pet salon. Breakfast and dinner are available at the ground floor and garden patio of Esterel Restaurant. The hotel has an outdoor heated pool and fitness center.

Tropical casual meets urbane at this stylized, airy seaside escape, where the cozy rooms, which all have French balconies, draw quite the upscale clientele. The mostly marble bathrooms have seated vanities and supremely refreshing aromatherapy products. The restaurant, Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue, makes the best of its indoor--outdoor ambience with a matching ocean-inspired menu and a huge wraparound bar. At the wood-paneled lounge during awards season, you'll likely catch a slew of celebs air kissing. Glamorous socializing also takes place in the pool and cabana area amid all-white armchairs and divans. Though the Viceroy arrived in town with the new century, the rooms are newly refreshed, with a neutral palette and mid-century-inspired furnishings that are set off by works from local artists. Upper-floor, ocean-view rooms are brilliant at sunset. A $40 daily resort fee includes amenities like a welcome drink, yoga classes, and bikes, while parking is $58.

A convivial lobby and smartly designed rooms set this Kimpton-managed hotel apart from other chains; because of its proximity to UCLA, the Palomar is perfect for friends and families of students. An ergonomic work chair and desk space plus a 24-hour business center aid efficiency; the on-demand yoga (plus a yoga mat in each room!), as well as meditation and Pilates channels promote relaxation. Recycling bins and eco-conscious practices abound. Complimentary coffee and tea in the morning, and a nightly wine hour bring guests together. Pets get pampered for free.