Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel

With a name like that, it’s not hard to guess where they’re coming from. The Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel is luxe indeed, with a location that’s more upscale retreat than downtown hipster haunt — it’s spread over seven acres of parkland in Brentwood, near the Getty Center, where Sunset Boulevard is a winding mountain road, not a neon-lit urban strip.

Some stylish hotels are a little disappointing once you get past the lobby, but this is not a problem the Luxe has. If anything the rooms are even more stylish than the public spaces, and they’re long on comfort as well. The look is sleek and contemporary, the interiors clearly designed rather than just decorated, but they’re warm rather than edgy, in rich earth tones and classic materials and finishes. The smallest room is a vast 550 square feet, and the amenities are luxury through and through: flat-screen TV, iPod docking stereos, and massive Roman-style baths in the suites.

A full-service spa completes the urban-resort package — just minutes from the Getty Center or UCLA, with Santa Monica an easy drive away.

How to get there: Luxe Sunset Blvd Hotel is a 20-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport, but the trip can take up to 40 minutes in traffic. Valet parking is available - charges apply.