The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Los Angeles

Greeted by a glowing, LED sculpture by Anthony James, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into the MOCA gallery by accident at Pendry West Hollywood. Hotels in Los Angeles have a penchant for the dramatic, but this place takes the biscuit with a pool terrace decked out in mid-century chic that has you picturing 1950s starlets in big sunglasses sipping cocktails on those flamingo-pink loungers, or ordering another daiquiri from scalloped velvet chairs. In the signature restaurant, Wolfgang Puck leads the kitchen, serving a fusion of Californian and Japanese cuisine beneath swathes of silk and chandeliers. The side-helping of city-wide vistas goes down a treat too.

In the heart of Beverly Hills, the designer shops and boutiques of Rodeo Drive are a short stroll away, and the surrounding streets are filled with sunny cafes and fine-dining restaurants alike. Rooms at the Four Seasons are a soothing shade of dove grey and white, with tufted armchairs and chaise longues looking out over sweeping city views from walls of glass. To unwind, the resort-style pool is lined with cabana beds, and the spa offers holistic massages and body scrubs. Italian-style cuisine to warm the soul is served in Culina Restaurant, or opt for healthy, informal cuisine in Cabana Restaurant.

If walls could talk, those at the Sunset Marquis would have a few stories to tell. Having hosted musicians, actors, and other Hollywood stars over the decades, the hotel has cemented itself in LA lore. Situated just off Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Marquis is an oasis from the bustle of West Hollywood and offers quiet rooms and some of the comfiest beds in the city. The in-house bar and restaurant are popular celebrity hotspots, and you might just see a musician or two pop in for lunch after a recording session at Nightbird Studios in the basement.

The Waldorf Astoria epitomizes luxury, with a focus on classic style and flawless execution. Rooms are sumptuously decorated with Italian marble and elegant furnishings. World-famous Jean-Georges Vongerichten is in charge of all in-house dining, catering to all tastes with the refined dishes at the formal restaurant as well as the more casual poolside menu at The Rooftop by JG. Opt for the latter for the first drink of your stay – the views would impress even the most jaded guests.

The Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills has been a go-to for celebrities since it opened in 1975 and welcomed guests such as Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, and Lord Olivier. The 116-suite property, in a quiet, residential neighborhood, is conveniently located just a mile (1.6km) from the bustling high-end shopping hub that is Rodeo Drive. Amenities include complimentary local car service, complimentary yoga on Saturdays, and in-room business centers with multi-line phones. The Viceroy is also accommodating to pets and families, offering services such as babysitting services, board games, books, and bath toys, as well as pool toys and treats while lounging at the rooftop pool where you can enjoy sweeping views of the city.

A staple for the Los Angeles elite since its doors opened in 1928, the Beverly Wilshire has become one of the most iconic, and certainly historic, luxury destinations in LA. Elvis Presley, the Dalai Lama, and the British royal family have all driven up the cobblestone driveway, but the 395-room hotel found widespread fame as the set of Pretty Woman (1990). There is even a Pretty Woman package that features a private behind-the-scenes tour of shops on Rodeo Drive. For those more interested in food than shopping, try the Michelin-star Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Cut.

Another Los Angeles institution, the Beverly Hills Hotel has been around since 1912. Also known as the Pink Palace, the hotel has welcomed clientele such as Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, and John Lennon, but is probably most famous for featuring on the cover of the Eagles record, Hotel California. History aside, the Beverly Hills Hotel offers a pool, spa, fitness center, golf course, and dining at the acclaimed Polo Lounge – a popular Hollywood hotspot, it has LA’s prettiest patio, which is dripping in bougainvillea. If you really want to treat yourself, you can splurge on the presidential bungalow, where you’ll be greeted with fresh fruit, bubbly, and your own private infinity pool, complete with underwater speakers.

The London West Hollywood, on a quiet side street just off the Sunset Strip, is an all-suite luxury hotel combining British elegance with California cool. The spacious, sophisticated rooms boast balconies with city views, but if you’d like to spend some more time outside, you can always soak up the surroundings by lounging at the rooftop pool. For breakfast, guests are treated to complimentary European offerings at the on-site restaurant, Boxwood. However, the best part about staying at the London has to be Garbanzo, the hotel’s English bulldog that likes to greet guests in the lobby.

The Hollywood Roosevelt is for anyone who prefers to pair luxury with a bit of old Hollywood style. The historic property opened in 1927 and boasts 300 guest rooms and 63 suites. Accommodation options range from standard guest rooms to penthouses, but if you’re looking to splurge, the iconic Marilyn Monroe suite features a loft-style floor plan, stylish white furniture, sleek wood floors, and a wrap-around balcony overlooking the Tropicana pool cafe. Patrons can also enjoy a plethora of food and drink options, including the Prohibition era-style bar called the Spare Room, which is equipped with a vintage two-lane bowling alley and handcrafted wooden board games, as well as a top-notch burger joint called 25 Degrees that will curb cravings 24/7.

Hotel Bel-Air prides itself on exclusivity and seclusion. The mission-style property in Stone Canyon – only a mile (1.6km) from Beverly Hills – sits in a blissfully pastoral setting, with swans swimming on the lake as you pass through the gate. The 12-acre (5ha) grounds are home to 483 specimens of trees and more than 4,000 plants – with giant ferns and palms lining the walkways between rooms, and myriad peaceful gardens and courtyards. All the rooms come with heated limestone bathroom floors, Egyptian cotton sheets, and super soft robes; some even have a private patio and fireplace. For those seeking the ultra-high-end experience, the presidential suite comes with its own chef’s kitchen, a grand piano, and a private full-size pool.

Bringing a slice of New York to the City of Angels, the West Hollywood Edition could feel incongruous but instead fits seamlessly into the Sunset Boulevard scene. In stark contrast to the old-world opulence of many Hollywood hotels, its sleek all-white-and-blonde-wood rooms feel almost ethereal. Luxury touches include porcelain floors, cozy fur throws, and bathrooms stocked with Le Labo products. Signature restaurant Ardor feels plucked straight from the Tulum jungle, packed with tropical plants, and decorated with enormous Persian rugs. Its menu, however, is hyper-LA, with a focus on fresh veggies and the best of California produce.

This impressively sustainable hotel is as quintessential LA as it gets – at least if we’re talking about the green juice- and yoga-obsessed side of the city. The 1 Hotel West Hollywood offers sustainability with a luxurious slant, in contrast to the rustic ecofriendly hotels of yore. Much of the hotel has been built from repurposed materials and the decor is also ecoconscious, with natural materials used throughout. It has even managed to eliminate single-use plastics. Dining is focused on farm-to-table ingredients – mainly sourced from the hotel’s own garden and beehive. With dreamy pillow-top mattresses, in-room yoga mats, curated minibars, and seasonal rooftop cocktails, a stay at the 1 Hotel West Hollywood will leave you feeling pampered and revived.

The Petit Ermitage is as bohemian and romantic as it is luxurious. This Moroccan-inspired West Hollywood hotel is draped in hand-woven Turkish carpets and mosaic tiling. Named after the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, hand-picked pieces from the owner’s personal collection are on display, boasting work from artists including Miró, Rauschenberg, and Dalí. The rooftop is a guests-only oasis with a heated saltwater pool, health-conscious dining choices, daily yoga on the fire deck, and a hummingbird and butterfly sanctuary.