Los Angeles has always been famous for its hotels and for the certain itinerant creative class that frequents them. But in the last decade, an intriguing new batch of refurbishments have transformed the city’s older buildings, injecting last century’s architectural styles with a shot of contemporary appeal. Here are the ten best hotels to visit now.
Chateau Marmont
‘If you must get into trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont,’ goes the advice for young actors, which is as true now as it was when it was first uttered by a studio executive in 1939. The deliberately louche nature of the accommodations, supported by soundproof walls and an indiscretion blacklist, is part of the enduring appeal. Name-checked by a certain type of world-weary artist from the singer Jim Morrison (who once said the hotel used up ‘the eighth of his nine lives’) to the director Sofia Coppola, the restaurant and bar attract a crowd looking to create their own lore.
Why stay? To be part of Hollywood legend
8221 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90046; tel: 1.323 656 1010;
The Georgian
The Georgian hotel
Santa Monica’s first lady has been given a new lease of life. Standing tall in turquoise along from the pier, The Georgian – which first opened its doors in 1933 – has been reinvigorated by a full-fit renovation by BLVD hospitality (Hoxton Hotel DTLA, Soho Warehouse). The Wes Anderson-inspired interiors pay heed to the building’s art-deco past while injecting life back into its storied corridors.
The site’s two restaurants – beachside Sirena, a low-key pasta joint with ocean views and downstairs’ The Georgian Room, a NYC-style Italian speakeasy which has been a meeting point for Hollywood’s power players since the '30s, will keep you well fed. In the latter, don't be surprised if you spy Dick Van Dyke, telling stories of the hotel's early years at the bar.
The rooms boast plenty of character – push a button for Champagne in the well-stocked brass mini bar or choose from a selection of curated vinyl to spin on your own personal record player.
With an on-site pool in the works and a new branch of exclusive members club San Vincente Bungalows opening next door, there’s a buzz around the Santa Monica seafront. And The Georgian is at the centre of it all.
Why stay? For ocean views and attention to detail
1415 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
The West Hollywood Edition
At Ian Schrager’s Edition on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, form and function are key. The rooms have been decked out by British architect, John Pawson and the sleek design is perfectly suited to its clientele of young, Hollywood elite.
An impressively equipped gym and full-length rooftop pool with views over We-Ho make it a perfect place for some downtime in the city, while remaining a stone's throw from the Sunset Strip's notable nightlife.
The spacious lobby bar with neon pool table functions as the hotel's beating heart, but for a more relaxed vibe, choose jungle-scaped restaurant, Ardor, for high-end plant-based fare from Michelin-starred chef John Fraser.
Why stay? Live amongst Hollywood's hippest crowd
9040 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Downtown L.A. Proper
Downtown L.A. Proper
For a central Los Angeles location, book in at the Downtown L.A. Proper hotel. Designed by former Wallpaper* guest editor, Kelly Wearstler, the impressive entryway boasts a show-stopping fresco. Throughout, warm, earthy interiors, take inspiration from Spanish and Moroccan design, and are seamlessly blended with modern Californian touches.
Starting life as a men's fitness club back in the 20s, the 148 room building has retained two original spaces, reimagined as star suites. The pool suite features its 2500 sq ft private swimming pool and guests can practice their slam-dunk in the spacious basketball suite. Of an evening, enjoy city views at rooftop bar Cara Cara or sumptious Mediterranean fare in flagship restaurant Caldo Verde.
Why stay? Rich, homey interiors close to LA's best museums
1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, California
Palihouse
Offering extended stays, these two locations provide the small luxuries that a person could get used to, even on short visits. With pied-à-terre sized accommodations (no room smaller than 600 sq ft) and boutique hotel amenities, the overall mood is very continental grand tour, with Chesterfield sofas mixed with touches of eccentricity in vintage oil paintings and Persian rugs.
Why stay? For eclectic design and a boutique stay
1001 3rd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403; 8221 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90046
Alsace
Imagined by Brooklyn-based Home Studios, Alsace is a boutique hotel with good design at its heart. Drawing on desert hues and blending a mix of modern and vintage furnishings, the hotel – which opened in 2021 – though petite, has its own heated pool, on-site café, large central courtyard and offers guests bikes to rent to tour the local area.
Close to one of the most burgeoning art and restaurant scenes in the city, West Adams may be one of LA's oldest neighbourhoods but it's well and truly on the up. Just 20 minutes from LAX and 15 minutes to Downtown, it's a great neighbourhood for a flying visit.
Why stay? To explore a new part of LA
5170 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
The Line
Views over the Hollywood Hills, while south-facing rooms catch a sightline of planes making their descent into LAX.
In a mid-century concrete building with Sean Knibb interiors, each room at this Koreatown hotel features pieces from emerging artists. The greenhouse-inspired restaurant, Openaire, looks out onto the pool, while a ground floor coffee and breakfast spot provides sustenance after an evening spent in one of the two on-site nightclubs. North-facing rooms offer a view of the Hollywood Hills, while south-facing rooms catch a sightline of planes making their descent into LAX. Read our full review of the The Line.
Why Stay? Exquisite views in a central location
3515 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010; tel: 1.213 381 7411
Avalon
Like Palm Springs in the desert, the Avalon hotel is an oasis in Beverly Hills that doesn’t shy away from mid-century style. The interior designer Kelly Wearstler, who has overseen two revamps of the property, most recently layered a distinctive mix of her own inspirations and 20th-century vintage, like Carlo de Carli settees and gold Warren Platner chairs, while Gio Ponti-esque trompe l’oeil murals surround the mod hourglass shaped pool.
Why stay? For mid-century design in the heart of Beverly Hills
9400 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212; tel: 1.310 277 5221;
The Surfrider
Head down the Pacific Coast Highway and you'll reach The Surfrider, a reimagined Malibu motel.
In the hands of Emma Crowther’s creative direction, the 20-room Surfrider redux is very much of its place – a calm oasis of pastel hues, Belgian linen, rough-hewn timber surfaces, teak beds, woven grass rugs, and pitched ceilings, that has been crisply dressed with Hans Wegner chairs and Picasso prints. The best rooms in the house are upstairs with outdoor terraces, whilst the suites, awash with the legendary Malibu light, feature hammocks and an unending vista of the surf-lined horizon.
Why stay? To get away from it all
Hotel Covell
Hotel Covell
This boutique property in Los Feliz by interior designer Sally Breer has just five suites, each conceived as a ‘chapter’ in the life of a well-travelled literary type. The story in the 1920s building starts with a vaguely midwestern ‘Chapter 1’ before progressing through swinging bachelorhood into the more subdued tones of adulthood. Accommodations combine the panache of French modernist-inspired fixtures with vintage furnishings, a warm, well-lived vibe continuing into the happening downstairs wine bar.
Why stay? For relaxed, east-side vibes
4626 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027; tel: 1.323 660 4300;
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