The Best Hotels to Book Near Hollywood Boulevard

Bring your kids to the Magic Castle Hotel, and they’ll realize that wizardry exists far beyond Hollywood studios. Once you’ve abracadabra’d your way through a speedy check-in, the kids will discover their every wish fulfilled. There’s no spell casting needed for free popsicles; just lift the red Popsicle Hotline phone. Hat-dwelling rabbits aren’t necessary to make other free snacks appear in your room 24/7. And with the flick of your wand – or just a quick lace of your sneakers – you’ll be around the corner at the historic Chinese Theatre in no time.

The Thompson Hotel was built for the ‘gram – or, rather, designed to induce envy in every one of your followers. Its bold rooms feature smooth marble bathrooms and L-shaped sofas ideal for entertaining your entourage. Snapshots of your studio suite will garner likes, but save those reels for the rest. Pose by the rooftop pool overlooking the Hollywood hills, take an “impromptu” gym selfie and capture drool-worthy photos of blistered shishitos and chicken paillard at the Terrace.

It should come as no surprise that the Hotel Hollywood is one of the most storied hotels in Tinseltown. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and heaps of other Hollywood icons have stayed in these queen rooms over the last century. This laid-back hotel is as unfussy as can be, which means you’ll eat your breakfast on the terrace without intrusive paparazzi. Steal away in the same rooms where Dean and Monroe stayed, or claim a studio with a kitchenette so you and your partner can lounge undisturbed for hours.

Colorful, cheerful and luxurious, Mama Shelter oozes with SoCal charm. A foosball table, dancing-lady lamps and a chalkboard ceiling scrawled with messages set the tone in the lobby. Upstairs, rooms with neon-hued lighting and chunky baroque tiling have the added luxury of Apple TVs. The rooftop bar is a highlight – pull up a chair at one of the technicolor tables, order a Got It From Mama cocktail (with color-changing gin) and take in views of the Griffith Observatory and downtown skyscrapers.

The Hollywood Roosevelt faces the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The Spanish Colonial Revival hotel first opened its doors in 1927 and hosted the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony. Rooms named after past Golden-Age guests include the Marilyn Monroe suite, furnished with vintage Eames pieces and a polished leather corner sofa. For a slice of indulgence, 25 Degrees restaurant is a polished twist on the classic American burger joint, while the ’60s-style pool is lined with white lounge chairs and splashed with a mural by David Hockney.

Dream Hollywood lives up to its name with cinematic views of the Hollywood hills and otherworldly dining venues. Rooms include luxury perks like a bedside iPad, 24-hour room service and access to a gym designed by celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson. Head up to the extravagant rooftop pool and bar – outfitted with cushy poolside couches and cabanas – for margaritas under the sun. When night falls, enjoy yellowtail sashimi under the gaze of the Quan Yin at Tao Asian Bistro.

Situated right on Hollywood Boulevard, this luxury hotel thrums with the energy of its pulsing fitness studio, rooftop pool and tropical restaurant-cum-nightclub. Each room is brightened by bursts of disco-purple and comes with a cushioned window seat – fix a drink from the porcelain-white tufted minibar and check out the views of Hollywood hills. See where the city’s movie magic comes to life with a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, which is just a few miles up the road.

Loews Hollywood counts the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall and the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are now held, among its neighbors. In addition to sophisticated rooms set with oak furniture and pops of atomic orange, the luxury hotel is home to a fitness center framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can admire the Hollywood hills while you run. A heated rooftop pool is overlooked by the Egyptian figures of the towering Babylonian arch (an ode to the famous set of 1916 film Intolerance) – but not to worry, cabanas and potted plants provide plenty of privacy.

The Prospect resides in a 1939 Regency-style building in the heart of Whitley Heights, and behind its pinstriped awnings and Gothic-style doorway you’ll discover a blast from Hollywood’s decadent past. Rooms range from the New-York-style superior to the grand premier, complete with traditional Chinese wallpaper, a clawfoot tub and vintage furniture. A private slice of the Hollywood hills is found in the garden – garnished with native plants and ancient fountains – while champagne cocktails and pastries from local bakery Tartine await in the lobby lounge.