The Best Hotels to Book Near the Getty Center, Los Angeles

Less than 3mi (5km) from the Getty, the UCLA Luskin Conference Center is popular for its views of – and access to – the university campus. But don’t let the name confuse you – this is no dorm accommodation. Instead, it’s a luxury hotel with high-end linens and top-of-the-line amenities, including room service with a menu of light, California cuisine. And it’s not just the surroundings that are green; the hotel donates and recycles unused soaps and toiletries, leaving nothing to go to waste.

Most of Los Angeles’s best-loved hotels are urban properties with lots of city glam. Luxe Sunset shares those qualities, but with 7 acres (3ha) off Sunset Boulevard, it blends pin-sharp city modernity with an oasis, including a wellness resort and plenty of personal space to make your own. While you’ll have trouble tearing yourself away once you’re set up by the pool, the hotel is less than 2mi (3km) south of the Getty, so take some time to explore.

With its unusual cylindrical skyscraper shape, it’s likely you have noticed the Hotel Angeleno before, even if you’ve never so much as set foot inside. It’s close to the Getty – you’ll find it a little more than 1mi (1.6km) south – presenting striking panoramas of the museum and surrounding campus. Indeed, the views are so good that those making films and commercials often do so at the hotel. The Hotel Angeleno is set up to make your stay easy; you can even charge your Uber rides to your room.

Since 1946, this landmark has been one of Los Angeles’s most famous hotels. It has a faithful following – not to mention a long list of those who want to visit – because of its peace and quiet. There are 12 acres (5ha) of serene gardens, a restaurant by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and prices that match its stratospheric level of service and amenities, such as the other restaurants, bars and spas. The decor is quintessential Hollywood Regency, and art exhibits are sprinkled throughout the property. The hotel is 4mi (6km) east of the Getty near the UCLA campus.

Thanks to a $2.5bn redevelopment, the Fairmont Century Plaza is a head-turner. The rooftop pool has views of the city in every direction, including the Getty Center, 6mi (10km) west of the hotel. Some of the 400 rooms have separate seating areas and patios, while certain floors lay on private concierges. The pet-friendly hotel also has a spa and a fitness center, and if you’re here with children, they’ll roll out the necessary care.

Surveying its envy-inducing Westwood location (walkable to shops and restaurants), the W Los Angeles – West Beverly Hills is supremely confident. It’s chock-full of high energy, as you’d expect from the nightclub-like W brand, with bright colors, hi-tech decor, a hip bar that hosts live music events and a highly seductive pool surrounded by private cabanas. The W is an LA experience that makes you feel like you’re in the center of the action. All that and you’re less than 4mi (6km) east of the Getty Center.

Hotel Palomar is part of the hip Kimpton brand, but when checking in, you may well feel like you are holed up in a private estate. Its decor is California-stylish, with spacious, modern guest rooms and cheeky design touches that are part of the fun Kimpton aesthetic. Check out the game room and the heated pool, or do yoga in your suite with a provided mat. Pet-friendly, this hip place looks out onto the celebrated Wilshire Boulevard – and you’re less than 4mi (6km) east of the Getty, near the UCLA campus.

Every guest room at the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel and Spa is a suite, so as you might expect, there’s no such thing as ordinary treatment at this swanky spot. So, how best to spend your time in this temple to glamour? Perhaps settle in for a day at the spa, soak in the heated pool, and take in the views of Wilshire Boulevard. Attentive staff will take care of your every need while you’re here. And when you want to leave, you’re less than 5mi (8km) from the Getty Center.