The historic district of Westwood, Los Angeles, is home to numerous sleek and stylish hotels that will give you the star treatment.
Los Angeles’s Westwood neighborhood is more than just a university student town – it’s the perfect base for exploring the as-seen-on-screen city. With Bel-Air and Beverly Hills hugging its border, you can imagine yourself as the next Fresh Prince – or picture that classic Pretty Woman (1990) moment – while admiring their glitzy mansions and designer shops. There are plenty of elegant hotels scattered throughout the foothills, offering a taste of how the other half lives.
The peaches-and-cream facade of this hotel’s Art Deco building sets the scene for its interiors. Inside, the cut-out reception is dotted with Wes Anderson-style curiosities and flanked by a lounge with seashell-shaped sofas and vintage newsstands. Rooms dressed in mustard yellows and honey-colored fleece fabrics include retro details such as rotary dial phones and empty Smeg fridges, which you can pack with drinks or midnight snacks. In the mornings, tuck into Röckenwagner pastries and coffee from the kitchen area.
The W Los Angeles is located in a tranquil area, yet still within walking distance of the numerous restaurants, shops and grocery stores in Westwood Village. Guests can expect the same amenities and modern decor seen at other W hotel locations, such as plush furnishings, car rental services, 24-hour room service, pet-friendly rooms and a full calendar of events, which span music, art and fashion, in addition to its popular summer pool parties. The outdoor pool and lounge area is a verdant oasis where guests can sip cocktails and relax in a private poolside cabana.
It’s not often you come across a Spanish colonial-style mansion with an interior patio, colorful tile staircase and fountains. The sunny rooftop lounge overlooks the city, adding to Plaza La Reina’s unique design and charm. The four-star all-suite hotel is within walking distance to the museums, restaurants and cafés of Westwood Village, but visitors also have the option to prepare meals in their rooms that feature a well-stocked kitchenette.
Walk in the footsteps of Hollywood’s rich and famous, if only for a night, at the ultra-luxe Hotel Bel-Air. Seclusion and relaxation unfold just beyond the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) campus in this lush 12-acre (5ha) sanctuary that feels a world apart from the rest of the city. Famous guests from Hollywood’s golden age include Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, who has a suite named in her honor. For a true VIP experience, book a treatment at the spa, a celebrity hotspot featuring the Vitality of the Stars facial.
The Luxe is located on the world-famous Sunset Boulevard, within minutes of the J Paul Getty Museum. Its sleek design is combined with natural elements, with a pool area lined with cream-colored cabanas and overlooked by lofty palm trees. Mediterranean aromas waft from the restaurant, Sirocco, which serves colorful dishes such as shellfish bouillabaisse and Moroccan braised short rib. The central location also places you within easy reach of Santa Monica’s beach and pier, as well as the luxury shops in Beverly Hills.
Nothing shouts Los Angeles like in-room yoga mats and deluxe amenities for your pets. The Kimpton Hotel Palomar offers some other pretty sweet perks, too, such as complimentary bikes – envision yourself biking down the Venice Boardwalk – wine hour and much more. The spacious rooms are designed in a contemporary style that features different fabrics and colors but doesn’t lack functionality.
Hotel Angeleno is the most affordable accommodation option on this list, but it still offers a high-quality experience with cozy rooms and suites. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows with a private balcony looking out across the city, but the real draw is the penthouse restaurant and lounge. From the 17th floor, guests have panoramic views of the downtown skyline, UCLA campus and the Pacific Ocean off in the distance. Get your Sunday brunch on amid live jazz performances, or stop by in the evening to unwind with a signature cocktail.
