The place to stay in hip, off-beat Culver City. Rooms are adorable and make great use of their space. Simonette in the lobby, which was modeled after a French cafe, has a nice bar and courtyard and is great for long breakfasts or afternoons spent on the laptop.
3927 Van Buren Pl.
Culver City, 90232
+1-424-321-7000
Jump back into the 1920s. In the lobby, look for original Renaissance Revival details, from the fountain to the fireplace to the checkered-tile floors. Rooms are cozy and the dining options are great (we love The Walker Inn hidden at the back of The Normandie Club).
605 Normandie Ave.
Los Angeles, 90005
+1-213-388-8138
What was once a gritty meeting place for the rich, the notorious, and the nefarious is now a bright, airy, beachy-chic spot that fits right in with the eclectic Venice Beach crowd. Owner and photographer Glen Luchford (look for his stunning prints around the hotel) originally opened this spot for his friends and photo crew to stay while in LA, so the stylish rooms are available across all budgets, from shared-bath bedrooms to a full penthouse.
5 Rose Ave.
Los Angeles, 90291
+1-310-450-3474
Just off Sunset Strip is a hidden cluster of charming bungalows once owned by Charlie Chaplin himself. Each English-style cottage, lovingly restored by hotelier Menachem Treivush, is named after other famous friends who stayed here back in the day — Marilyn, Betty, Marlene. With its discreet service and refurbished Tudor details, it feels like a Tinseltown fairytale come true.
819 N. Sweetzer Ave.
Los Angeles, 90069
+1-323-988-9000
A hotel to match the neighborhood's bustling scene and cultural influences, from the Korean and American treats in the minibar to the popular restaurant headed by LA's own Roy Choi. Rooms are colorful and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out toward the Hollywood Hills.
3515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90010
+1-213-381-7411
In the historic United Arts building, the hotel kept (and restored) a lot of its charming details from the original 1927 architecture, including the Spanish Gothic-style theater. Rooms are outfitted in what has become the classic Ace aesthetic (i.e. bespoke turntables). The restaurant downstairs, by the same folks behind Brookyn's beloved Five Leaves, is great for brunch and people-watching.
929 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, 90015
+1-213-623-3233
Right above Hollywood's Walk of Fame, the historic building is the city's oldest continually operating hotel. Look for the Spanish Colonial details in the lobby and David Hockney's underwater mural in the pool. Not unlike its notable guests, the hotel had some work done: rooms are contemporary with plush leather furniture, Kiehl's products, and a Dean & DeLuca-stocked minibar. There are also plenty of dining options: The Spare Room has a vintage two-lane bowling alley; The Library Bar is great for cocktails and celebrity-spotting.
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90028
+1-323 856-1970
A trendy boutique with a flirty vibe and down-home country stylings (rooms have denim duvets, plaid curtains, and custom-made wooden chairs) on a happening strip in West Hollywood. There's an outdoor pool and sundeck, food options of the now, discounts at the nearby fitness center, and easy access to big-ticket museums, indie shopping, and the historic farmer’s market at The Grove.
115 South Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, 90036
+1-323-937-3930
Retreat to one of the 45 rooms on the neighborhood's residential fringe. Interior designer Kelly Wearstler is responsible for the bold, Parisian-chic details.
140 Lasky Dr.
Beverly Hills, 90212
+1-310-281-4000
Well-appointed apartments great for longer stays in LA. The stylish rooms are spacious and come fully stocked. The service is discreet. The public spaces — from the courtyard restaurant to the lobby lounge to the espresso bar — are frequented by locals and residents alike.
8465 Holloway Dr.
West Hollywood, 90069
+1-323 656-4100
A former deco apartment building from 1930s on the Sunset strip. Inside, rooms have been renovated to fully exploit SoCal's beloved natural light (and provide a welcome respite from the tourist hoards below). Dine in mobster Bugsy Siegel's old apartment or do drinks at the poolside terrace with Hollywood Hills as your backdrop.
8358 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, 90069
+1-323-654-7100
A stay in one of the 45 luxe residential-style suites makes it feel like you're staying at that a mansion in the Mediterranean — heated limestone floors, infinity pools, and large garden patios included. Twelve acres of landscaped gardens (plus a restaurant by Wolfgang Park, a spa, and the beautiful Swan Lake) means you'll never have to leave the property. But if you do, make use of the free car service.
701 Stone Canyon Rd.
Los Angeles, 90077
+1-310-472-1211
Palm trees and pink tennis balls punctuate the grounds; rooms and service live up to the legend. Even natives check in for poolside R & R. When lunch at the Polo Lounge is packed, grab a seat at The Fountain, a five-star greasy spoon one floor down.
9641 Sunset Blvd.
Beverly Hills, 90210
+1-310-276-2251
Fling open the windows of the elegantly appointed seaside rooms and breathe in the ocean air. Bicycles are available for rent at the front desk and picnic lunches can be arranged if you want to cruise down Main Street or the paved promenade that stretches for miles along the beach.
1 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, 90405
+1-310-458-0030
Excellent style and service for short-term stays (it's the Palihouse counterpart). The powder room-sized salon, Thai massage room, and coffee bar make it hard to venture out, despite its convenient location in the middle of town.
7950 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, 90046
+1-323-272-4588
The allure of this storied hotel is always star-studded. If you're not checking into one of the spacious, well appointed rooms or villas, come for the restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Late-night, the lobby draws a fetching crowd.
8221 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, 90046
+1-323-848-5908