Downtown Los Angeles is replete with gourmet restaurants, rooftop bars, art installations and every variety of speakeasy on each corner. For travelers looking to taste the city life, DTLA also offers some of the trendiest hotels in the greater area.
Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
Hotel
The Ace Hotel has its own 1920s theater | Courtesy of Ace Hotel / Hotels.com
The Ace Hotel is set in the historic United Arts Building and Theater. The building, which was constructed in the 1920s, is just as imaginative on the outside as the minds who worked inside at the famous film studio. Although the rooms have a contemporary minimalist flair, the hotel’s outdoor spaces show off ornate Spanish Gothic details. The pool area and Upstairs Bar host live DJs, pool parties and yoga classes, with the panoramic cityscape as a backdrop.
Sports fans and concertgoers can conveniently stay the night right next to the Staples Center in the LA Live entertainment complex. It’s also close to a wide array of sports bars and eateries, including Yard House and Katsuya, as well as a bowling alley, a movie theater and the Grammy Museum. The 4.5-star JW Marriott features an elegant lobby, a sun-drenched pool and patio, a host of dining options and a luxury spa with special CBD treatments.
The 1926 Spanish Colonial-style building first housed a women-only YWCA hostel, and it has remained an inclusive and significant locale for the creatives and intellectuals of Downtown. Hotel Figueroa has an impressive art collection with temporary and permanent pieces from local sculptors, photographers, painters and mixed media artists. It’s impossible to miss the hotel’s emblematic floral mural that rises from behind the unusual coffin-shape pool. The rooms are styled with both historical and modern touches in mind – expect an unconventional blend of glass, metal, tile, wood and leather details.
You may recognize the Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles hotel from one of the numerous blockbuster movies and TV shows filmed here. Hits like Ghostbusters(1984), Fight Club (1999), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Entourage, Gleeand many other productions utilized various parts of this historic landmark. The glitz of Old Hollywood comes to life with marble columns, painted ceilings and sparkling chandeliers, making the lobby alone worthy of a sightseeing stop. Guests can relax in the sauna, steam room and indoor pool, or enjoy afternoon tea at Rendezvous Court, an interior space with high wood-beam ceilings, marble fountains and a Baroque double staircase used in Mad Men, Beverly Hills Cop(1984) and .
Located at the center of Downtown LA’s Financial District, The NoMad Hotel lives up to its well-known predecessor in New York City. Though the Bank of Italy (now Bank of America) has since moved out, the Neoclassical architecture and Italian character remain. Marble tables, Persian rugs, European terrazzo floors and one-of-a-kind artworks adorn the blue-and-gold guest rooms and suites. The attention to detail also extends outdoors to the rooftop pool and al fresco café, which was styled by renowned French designer Jacques Garcia.
The upscale Hotel Indigo features luxe amenities like bath products by Jonathan Adler and a private limo service. Pets are treated like VIPs too, with a special “doggie happy-hour menu” that includes homemade ice cream. The rooms dazzle at night with views of the city lights and feature artworks that glorify the wild LA nightlife and the Downtown neighborhood. Lounge in a cabana at the pool’s edge, or explore the many attractions, shops and restaurants right outside the door for a day of sightseeing.
Named one of the world’s best hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine, the InterContinental provides stylish rooms for both guests on business and those looking to explore Southern California’s many activities. Sip on a handcrafted cocktail and marvel over the stunning panoramic view from 73 floors up at the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. After taking in the sights, guests can choose from a sushi bar, a French steakhouse and a unique farm-to-table dining experience, or make reservations at one of the many trendy restaurants just minutes away in the surrounding Financial District.
Freehand LA is part stylish hipster hotel, part hostel. Its boho chic rooms, which were created by design studio Roman and Williams, feature earthy tones and handmade wall hangings by LA artists. The private rooms and apartment-like suites all contain king-size beds and large windows. The shared rooms sleep four, six or eight and have their own en-suite bathrooms, privacy screens and lockers. Don’t miss Broken Shaker, Freehand’s very popular rooftop pool and cocktail bar, which has expansive sweeping views of the city.
The LA Grand Hotel Downtown caters to every type of traveler, but is most enticing for guests who want to visit the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Grand Park, The Broad and The Museum of Contemporary Art. The popular Grand Central Market offers fast cuisine from around the world and is also within walking distance. In terms of amenities, the hotel features in-room kitchenettes and wet bars with Starbucks coffee, an impressive health club and an outdoor heated swimming pool for guests to enjoy even in the winter months.
