4 Best Hotels in Westside, Los Angeles

Walking distance to Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney's artsy commercial strip, this playful hotel catering to younger budget travelers announces itself boldly with wall murals by Melissa Scrivner before you even enter the lobby. Guests love the laid-back Cali vibe; enjoy the cozy outdoor space with free Wi-Fi, or curl up in the lobby with a book and listen to the tunes spun on the house record player. Compact, newly refreshed rooms feature comic book–inspired tables, futuristic art, sublime beds, 55" HDTVs, and table tennis trophies on display. The second floor courtyard known as the Quad has a pool, loungers, Jacuzzi bar, firepit, and Ping-Pong area, which all make for a fun spot to chill before dinner.

Just across from the protected waters of the marina and a short jaunt to Venice, this hotel has across-the-board appeal for families, business travelers, couples, and more. Families like the heated pool and hot tub and proximity to the Venice boardwalk, while business types appreciate the three floors of meeting space. While it's a chain hotel, this Marriott still strives for unique touches. Sinder, the hotel's popular indoor-outdoor restaurant and lounge, hosts frequent themed events like taco nights or Sunday Fundays. Sleek rooms have a mix of contemporary furniture and pillow-top mattresses. Sliding glass doors lead to balconies; open them for salty sea breezes. Enjoy electronic bike use to the nearby beach. Ask for upper-floor rooms facing the marina for the best views.

A vestige of Venice's founding days, the newly renovated, circa-1911 Venice Beach House and its nine rooms drip with beachy cottage chic and California history; think piles of fluffy Parachute linens, dark leather Chesterfield sofas, and nubby rugs. It was one of the seaside enclave's first mansions, and many Craftsman-era details remain—dark woods, a glass-enclosed breakfast nook, a lattice-framed portico, and a fleet of stairs. Each of the nine rooms is individually decorated and fully appointed. Historic charm radiates from this bungalow and the location, steps from the beach and boardwalk, is what Southern California is all about.

This 1924 flatiron building smack in the center of Downtown contains a slice of Culver City's history—it was at one time owned by John Wayne, and also housed all 124 "munchkins" during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. The Grand Lobby restaurant, which doubles as a jazz venue, is decked out in wingback chairs and gilded paintings; gaze upward at the original murals and moulding along the ceiling. Rooms mimic the renaissance now occurring in Culver City, with antique furnishings set against modern artwork and flat-screen TVs. Rooms are airy with large windows and have rain-showers (but no tubs), Keurig coffeemakers, 24-hour room service, and free Wi-Fi. Splurge on the larger corner rooms, all of which are accented in purple and offer fun people-watching on Culver Boulevard.