West Hollywood is home to some of LA’s most luxurious places to stay. A healthy scattering of landmark boutique hotels and storied resort getaways are tucked along its palm-lined boulevards, ready for you to discover using our carefully curated list.
West Hollywood has become a haven for music lovers and A-listers looking for sun-soaked escapism and a peek into the area’s rock’n’roll heyday. Its emblematic Sunset Strip is lined with neon-lit bars and steeped in ’20s gangster history, while Santa Monica Boulevard has become the beating heart of LA’s LGBTQ community. Whether you enjoy far-reaching city views from a rooftop pool, sipping craft cocktails or feasting at a five-star restaurant, these hotels have all the West Hollywood staples you’re looking for.
The white and blue undulating facade of The Standard blends perfectly with the cloudless azure skies of the Sunset Strip. The interior has a kitschy mid-century vibe: the pool is filled with flamingo-pink inflatables and surrounded by cobalt-blue AstroTurf, ping-pong tables and rows of paper-white sunloungers. Its paradisiacal setting is overlooked by the (pet-friendly) rooms, which are home to custom Andy Warhol curtains, trendy line-art throws and overstuffed minibars. Don’t leave without swinging by the desertscape of the Cactus Lounge – the regular live acoustics will lull you into a wicker clamshell-style seat before you’ve blinked twice.
The rooftop pool of the Andaz West Hollywood is reason enough to stay. Open year round, it’s surrounded by lines of electric-crimson cushions that you can recline on while swirling your legs in the water, sipping on cocktails and gazing out at the Hollywood Hills and the Sunset Strip. If you don’t end up dozing off under the snail-shell concave of a daybed, you’ll find respite in the rooms, which have Posturepedic pillow-top mattresses and natural LATHER toiletries. Treat yourself to the Jonathan Adler-designed RED Suite for its music-inspired mural and plush suede corner sofas – plus a portion of what you pay will go toward the (RED) organization to help fight AIDS.
Art, fashion and architecture – all synonymous with West Hollywood’s Design District – are reflected in Icelandic designer Gulla Jónsdóttir’s fresh decor, which features concrete and leather walls, white oak flooring and bronze columns. Kimpton La Peer’s elegant rooms have custom wooden furnishings, dangling prismatic lights and unusual touches like golden balloon-style rabbit statuettes, while yoga mats encourage morning meditation. For deep-soaking tubs and a sprawling private terrace, splurge on the penthouse with its vivid violet neon signs and paint splatter-style rug, all of which ooze edgy luxury. In true LA style, the Gaudí-tiled patio bar serves up CBD-infused cocktails and the ground-floor restaurant, Viale dei Romani, specializes in Italian seafood, pasta and thin-crust pizza.
The Grafton on Sunset’s smoky facade and striped awnings are just the first hint of its rock’n’roll-inclined interior. Rooms pair faux-fur throws with white leather headboards and cushions stamped with a mixtape design. The poolside ones even have their own personal chaise longue tucked outside the door for sunny days spent lost in a good book. When night falls, slip into Bar 20’s red lacquer booths for live music and pomegranate-infused antioxidant (of course) mojitos mixed behind a guitar-shaped bar. The hotel is set on providing a truly green stay – not just with its palm-tree-fringed pool and grassy feature walls but also by taking sustainable steps like eliminating disposable cups and installing automatic sensor lighting.
Perched just above the Sunset Strip, this landmark boutique hotel was first built in 1929 and is modeled after the Château d’Amboises in the Loire Valley, France. Steeped in celebrity scandal, the Chateau Marmont has housed entertainment’s biggest names since Hollywood’s Golden Age. The hotel features a heated outdoor pool surrounded by lush gardens, nine Spanish cottages and four private bungalows, all designed by mid-century architect Craig Ellwood. The indoor suites are extremely private and well maintained with 24-hour room service. You can sip handcrafted cocktails at the hotel bar or dine at the restaurant among Hollywood’s elite.
A mix of class and quirk, Mondrian LA is a modern high-rise with a whimsical design twist. The building’s signature 30-foot mahogany doors, Lucite indoor swing and mushroom-shape reception desk accentuate this through-the-looking-glass concept. With floor-to-ceiling windows and bamboo flooring, the hotel’s suites feature flat-screen TVs disguised as mirrors. The sun-drenched rooftop pool provides underwater music and unparalleled city views. At night, the poolside patio becomes Skybar, an LA hotspot for pumping DJ sets and buzzing dance parties.
Opening in 1963 just off West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, the Sunset Marquis has made its name as a rock’n’roll hangout. Legendary musicians such as Elton John and Madonna have found inspiration here, while up-and-coming artists can shoot their shot at the hotel’s live acoustic showcases. Go for a swim in either of the two heated pools and recline leisurely in a private cabana before heading to Cavatina, the on-site restaurant, for upscale California cuisine in a classy indoor-outdoor setting. The crown jewel of the luxurious hotel is the presidential villa, complete with a booze-laden complimentary bar, exclusive screening room and the use of a Bentley.
Rubbing shoulders with the Sunset Strip and the LGTBQ nightlife hub of Santa Monica Boulevard, Chamberlain West Hollywood is in good company. Days can be spent under the pinstripe cabanas of the rooftop pool – amid postcard-worthy rolling hills – before heading in for parmesan yucca fries and tongue-tingling passionfruit mojitos in restaurant Fit. The fashion-inspired space is awash in stylish details like marbled surfaces, geometric divides and a living wall punctuated with a gallery of mirrors. Monochromatic rooms spoil you with fireplaces and 60-inch TVs, while an eco-conscious mindset is reflected in the LED lighting, biodegradable straws and low-flow showerheads.
Dating back to 1931, this historic Art Deco hotel located on the Sunset Strip has housed countless Hollywood heavy hitters, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. Combining old-world charm with modern convenience, the Sunset Tower Hotel promises an elegant experience that is surprisingly personal. The bright rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and unrivaled views in a subtly luxurious environment. The Tower Bar is a dignified haven offering classic cocktails and critically acclaimed cuisine backdropped by soothing live jazz. Relax poolside while taking in sweeping views of the city or take a day to rejuvenate at the world-class salon and spa.
This urban oasis merges Hollywood style with London sensibility, creating an atmosphere that is both luxurious and social. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with balconies that provide impressive views of the city. Keeping with the theme, rooms also offer free calls to London. The hotel’s restaurant, the Boxwood Café, serves up a complimentary European-inspired continental breakfast in a bright and open setting every morning. A rooftop pool provides a guest-only entrance with food and drinks served during the day. It’s also open to the public for cocktails and dancing at night.
A Moroccan-inspired luxury boutique hotel, Petit Ermitage is romantic and luxurious. Named after the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia, the hotel houses a hand-picked collection of artwork from the owner’s personal collection that boasts such names as Miró, Rauschenberg and Dalí. The airy suites further emphasize a bohemian eclecticism with handwoven Turkish carpets, Italian mosaic tiling, Israeli pillow shams and antique furnishings. The private rooftop features a heated saltwater pool, a hummingbird and butterfly sanctuary and a deck with an open fireplace. Cuisine at the hotel’s private restaurant is healthy, and there are plenty of alternative options within walking distance.
Hotelier Jeff Klein’s 850 is a chic and friendly B&B in the center of West Hollywood. The residential-style design, complete with fireplaces, oak flooring, marble sinks and panoramic city views, is reminiscent of a cozy European inn. Brightly colored walls and bespoke wallpaper give off Wes Anderson vibes. There is a complimentary breakfast, an honor bar in the living room and a meze hour served on the terrace every evening. Keeping with the home-away-from-home feel, staff are friendly, attentive and happy to answer questions or give recommendations.
This family-friendly hotel located near The Grove shopping mall has loft-style suites that are comfortable and spacious with modern furniture and simple color schemes. The large rooftop terrace has a heated pool and hot tub, and is lined with shaded private cabanas for guests to recline in. There is also a tennis court for those in the mood and a good-size sauna. The traditional hotel decor and informal restaurant allow for a stay that is both luxurious and laid-back.
