22 June 2026
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There’s perhaps no character more beloved in Hollywood than the city itself. What you know about this place may come directly from the screen, and as we dig into the very best hotels in Los Angeles in the guide below, we’ll confirm many preconceived notions about this much beloved and depicted metropolis.
This is a city of celebrities. As the old Hollywood adage goes, ”If you want to be seen, go to the Beverly Hills Hotel. If you don’t want to be seen, go to Chateau Marmont.” This is a city obsessive about health and wellness, where spas embrace new-age healing and can sprawl to over 20,000 square feet. And this is a city with an enviable Mediterranean-style climate. The hotels prove it with an abundance of rooftops and terraces.
But this place is far more than its most iconic elements. The city’s streets pulse with life, powered by a splendid tapestry of cultures and a range of culinary scenes among the most impressive in the country. Across this vast metropolis, Inspectors have selected more than 70 hotels in every corner of the city (and just beyond) for the MICHELIN Guide selection, including 23 distinguished with at least one Key. Below, our cross-section of the city’s best stays and who exactly they’re best for, no matter what draws you to La-La Land.
Explore This Guide
Where to Stay by Neighborhood:
- Hollywood and West Hollywood: Quiet enclaves near tourist musts and ample nightlife.
- Beverly Hills: More than a luxe zip code.
- Downtown: New hotels for an ever-evolving neighborhood.
- Beachside: Literal hot spots beyond the city proper.
What to Look For:
- Celebrity Hangouts: Discreet stays. No pictures, please.
- Rooftop Terraces: All about the weather.
- Spas: In the wellness culture capital of the world.
- Iconic Buildings: Art deco masterpieces and Hollywood pedigree.
- MICHELIN Guide Restaurants: Three standouts in selected hotels.
Who You Are:
the best LOS ANGELES HOTELS BY NEIGHBORHOOD
Top hotels in L.A.’s main neighborhoods — Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Downtown — and surroundings.
Hollywood and West Hollywood
Steps beyond the bustle of iconic Hollywood sights like the Walk of Fame or the lively nightlife of West Hollywood, three paradoxically peaceful retreats.
Top Picks
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills: Tucked just beyond the bustle of the Sunset Strip, this is a design icon. Step through the gleaming white-and-gold lobby into an oasis of European refinement mixed with Californian coastal chic. Every suite comes with a private balcony, but the 6,000-square-foot Westwood Suite is Los Angeles’ largest penthouse, inspired by iconic English designer Vivienne Westwood. Adjacent is the new London Bar, distinguished by intricate latticework reminiscent of English country conservatories.
Chamberlain West Hollywood: A peaceful, nearly idyllic escape in the always-buzzing West Hollywood — a rare combination. On a quiet residential street between Sunset and Santa Monica, this One-Key thrives behind an unassuming retro facade. Inside, modern rooms provide home-away-from-home amenities like kitchenettes and gas fireplaces.
Kimpton Everly Hotel: Ah, the art of proximity and privacy. Nestled just a block from the touristy Walk of Fame and minutes from legendary venues like the Pantages and Hollywood Bowl, this is an airy, tranquil sanctuary steps from the city’s electric pulse.
Beverly Hills
Its famous 90210 ZIP code is synonymous with luxury (and the television show of the same name), but you’ll also find historic landmarks and — by L.A. standards — incredibly walkable streets. Expect celebrity sightings at alfresco dinners and make sure to take in the lovely sculpture art at Beverly Gardens Park.
Top Picks
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills: It sits at a major nexus that seamlessly connects to Hollywood and the rest of Los Angeles, but don’t let the busy La Cienega Boulevard location fool you. The hotel is all class, with art deco interiors and a Parisian flair that takes shape across 295 rooms, including two presidential suites.
Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills: The Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills sits just outside the 90210 boundaries, and outside its usual price tags. The charm of this more-budget-friendly option lies in its retro 1950s style, centered around an hourglass pool and on-site restaurant, Vivianne, both created by the ever-distinctive designer Kelly Wearstler.
SIXTY Beverly Hills: Five blocks from the luxury-shopping destination of Rodeo Drive, this eight-story boutique is tinged with moody blue hues and chocolate leather, and topped by a beloved rooftop pool. Worth a mention are the rooms’ Sferra linens and REN bath products.
Downtown
Start your afternoon at The Broad contemporary art museum, pop into the iconic Grand Central Market, then cap off the day with a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall or Mark Taper Forum. A recent hotel boom means plenty of options. Each of the below opened in the last decade.
Top Picks
Hotel Per La: Entering Hotel Per La’s intimate lobby feels like stepping into a gilded Italian palazzo. Soaring blue-and-gold ceilings and neoclassical columns tower overhead, a stunning reminder that this was once the historic 1922-vintage Bank of Italy. Grand scenes continue in the hotel’s restaurant and bar, and the hotel has a prime vantage point overlooking the downtown skyline.
kodō hotel: The location in the heart of the city’s Arts District is an escape in itself, set as it is on the outskirts of downtown proper. A former firehouse, today kodō pays homage to Japanese minimalism with neutral palettes of gray and white across an intimate space of just nine rooms.
Freehand Hotel: Located in the historic 1924 office space known as the Commercial Exchange Building, the Freehand’s expansive views are best at the celebrated Broken Shaker rooftop cocktail bar. Consider this a comfortable, affordable hideaway with a rooftop pool.
Beachside
The iconic Pacific Coast Highway winds through Los Angeles’ breathtaking coastline, but what a privilege to stop the car and check into an oceanfront hotel. Los Angeles itself doesn’t have a wealth of beachside stays, but Los Angeles County certainly does. The city of Santa Monica is just a 30-minute drive from Downtown, while Malibu, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach range from an hour to an hour and a half outside the city.
Top Picks
Malibu Beach Inn: Descend the private stairway at Malibu Beach Inn and arrive on the coveted sands of Carbon Beach. While all guest rooms boast private balconies for panoramic wave-watching, the true social heart of the property is the chic oceanfront restaurant — where diners mingle over plates of Alaskan crab legs and linguine vongole.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel: In the sun-drenched lobby of this One-Key, the California coastal aesthetic reigns supreme. Curved banquettes, patterned woodwork and vintage, fan-shaped bamboo wall lights make for an airy space where guests move seamlessly from living-room-style lobby to buzzing rooftop pool deck.
Shutters on the Beach: Known for its Cape Cod aesthetic and prized location directly on the sand, the One-Key Shutters on the Beach is a mainstay for any sun-seeker. Room amenities include book-lined shelves, sunken tubs and sliding doors that lead to the balcony. Expect homey vibes and attentive service.
Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel: Steps from the iconic Huntington Beach Pier and its adjacent swimmable beaches, the 157-room Kimpton Shorebreak Resort merges laid-back surf culture with boutique luxury. This vibrant coastal retreat boasts turquoise-accented interiors and energetic communal spaces, all designed to keep the ocean — and those legendary California waves — front and center.
Montage Laguna Beach: The pristine shoreline, dramatic oceanfront bluffs and sweeping canyon vistas of this Two-Key gem define the very meaning of coastal escape. The hotel itself is a sprawling, California Craftsman-style sanctuary, with an impressive mosaic pool and expansive 20,000-square-foot spa.
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what to look for in los angeles hotels, BY AMENITY
Which are the best hotel rooftops in L.A.? Which have the greatest spas? A guide to the finer things.
Celebrity Hangouts
It’s Los Angeles, after all. These spots have a long history of glamorous guests, and they take discretion seriously.
Top Picks
Chateau Marmont: Inspired by France’s royal Château d’Amboise in the Loire Valley, the striking stone facade of Two-Key Chateau Marmont conceals a wealth of star-studded history — and a few lingering ghost stories. This may be the most storied hotel in America, and the guest list has included so many greats it’d be impossible to choose just a few for this description. It’s still that hot spot today, shielded by a no-photography policy and aided by intimate service.
The Sunset Tower: The iconic One-Key Sunset Tower is a striking art deco exception to the relentless energy of Sunset Boulevard. First built in 1929 as an apartment building, the 15-floor hotel has housed some of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. Expect power lunches by the pool and clinking martinis inside the dimly lit, wood-paneled sanctuary of the Tower Bar and Restaurant.
Soho House Holloway: A members-only One-Key Hollywood haunt where discretion is the ultimate currency. You might dine next to an A-list star or witness a power deal going down across the sunny rooftop or private club space. Design is classic Soho House: midcentury modernism, lush velvet textures and an English-inspired courtyard.
Rooftop Terraces
The famous weather means a wealth of rooftop options. These stand out even in L.A.
Top Picks
Soho Warehouse DTLA: Set in a 1916 warehouse downtown that peers above the skyline, views are best enjoyed from the comfort of a sunbed beside the 50-foot rooftop pool. Expect buzzing crowds in the summer months that spill over into the garden and tavern. Members (and hotel guests) only.
The Aster: Slip away from the kinetic energy of Hollywood and Vine (the iconic intersection where you’ll find the Walk of Fame) and ascend to the Aster’s exclusive rooftop retreat. Surrounded by citrus trees and impressive panoramic views, the adults-only Lemon Grove offers the perfect backdrop for golden hour socializing and seasonal coastal bites.
Sun Rose Hollywood: A glam art deco space, the Rooftop at Sun Rose is all mint green and florals. The space, overlooking the skyline, is open for lunch and dinner, and coral-colored daybeds encourage day and night lounging.
Spas
What’s more Californian than wellness? These hotel spas are among the best in Los Angeles, drawing on a vast range of treatments and taking inspiration from privileged settings.
Top Picks
The Maybourne Beverly Hills: A Two-Key Beverly Hills icon that defines the art of the pamper. At the spa, guests drift through 20,000 square feet of restorative amenities, including a sky-lit mineral pool, 17 marble treatment rooms and private saunas. Meanwhile, Dante Beverly Hills is an exceptional spot for a rooftop martini and unobstructed city views.
Fairmont at Century Plaza: Slate stone and neutral tones define a vast 14,000-square-foot spa haven with such amenities as a cedarwood sauna and a eucalyptus steam room, as well as the unique women-only Himalayan pink salt room. The salty air is meant to promote a number of health benefits. High-tech options in this truly spectacular escape include a cutting-edge anti-gravity bed in the infrared sauna, red-light therapy rooms and the option to try lymphatic drainage pants.
Terranea Resort: On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the spa at this oceanfront resort is worth the 45-minute drive from L.A. proper. Lush gardens surround the private spa’s pool and hot tub, and special treatments include the Harmonic Aura Awakening — a harnessing of healing vibrations coupled with a body and face massage.
Head here for some of the best wellness hotels in the world →
Iconic Buildings
Los Angeles’ iconic buildings are more than their (gorgeous) exteriors.
Top Picks
The Beverly Hills Hotel: Affectionately known as the ”Pink Palace,” the iconic facade of one of the city’s only Three-Key hotels gleams against lush palms and banana leaves. Stepping onto the red-carpet path to the front door, it’s a simple thing to imagine Marilyn Monroe once doing the same. Here, 23 private bungalows offer unique nods to the past — from the aviation-themed interiors that recall Howard Hughes to the midcentury masterpiece of the Frank Sinatra Bungalow 22.
The Georgian: Wes Anderson-style charm lies behind a vibrant turquoise facade overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica. This 100-year-old art deco masterpiece with One Key is simply one of the most distinctive hotels in America. The refreshed space now features a dining room with blue banquettes and a centerpiece horseshoe bar under dramatic arched ceilings. Upstairs, the rooms are outfitted with playful minibars and on-call Champagne buttons.
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: Famous for hosting the first Academy Awards, the hotel debuted as a powerhouse of art deco style in 1927. A coffered ceiling lobby and pool painted by pop art icon David Hockney add to the Tinseltown glam, while nearby landmarks include the Walk of Fame and Chinese Theatre.
MICHELIN Guide Restaurants
There are over a hundred MICHELIN Guide restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Here are three excellent spots that make their homes in hotels.
Top Picks
San Laurel in the Conrad: Suspended above the bustling downtown grid on the 10th floor of the Conrad, San Laurel is the work of José Andrés, one of the world’s most visionary chefs. A mix of the sun-drenched flavors of the California coast and the rich heritage of Spain, highlights here have included a Dungeness crab fennel soup with manchego foam and an exclusive Kentucky ribeye specially delivered weekly in limited quantities.
Ardor in the West Hollywood Edition: Foliage fills both indoor and outdoor spaces at the chic Ardor, where guests nosh on bites of wood-fired Mediterranean/Californian cuisine like tandoor carrots with hummus and paprika vinaigrette or grilled dukkah-crusted ahi tuna with yogurt. No meal is complete without a tower of tempura onion rings and at least one dessert (try the mojito pie).
Mar’sel in Terranea Resort: Outside the city on the seaside of Rancho Palos Verdes, find Terranea Resort and its on-site restaurant, Mar’sel, where breathtaking ocean views and a roaring fireplace capitalize on a specific California aesthetic. Every dish looks beautiful and well made, especially those cubes of supremely tender wagyu beef short ribs, with celery prepared four different ways. For dessert, caramel pot de crème is the house specialty, with ganache, cocoa nibs and flecks of sea salt.
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the best HOTELS BY TRAVELER TYPE
Why are you in Los Angeles? Business? Leisure? A solo trip?
Couples
Discreet retreats with sexy design and lovely outdoor spaces for rom-com moments in the warm breeze.
Top Picks
Hotel Bel-Air: Crowning a secluded 12-acre canyon enclave off Sunset Boulevard, this iconic Three-Key is a sun-drenched sanctuary of meandering terra-cotta paths and vibrant blooming bougainvillea. Couples can settle into one of the rose-colored, mission-style bungalows for their own private world of wood-burning fireplaces, secluded plunge pools and patios.
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills: A discreet Two-Key for privacy and boutique-style service. On warm summer evenings the rooftop restaurant, Poza, comes alive with live music, DJ sets and signature cocktails (try a spicy coconut margarita).
Le Petit Pali Brentwood: More understated romance than over-the-top sexy, the One-Key Le Petit Pali makes its home in the affluent residential neighborhood of Brentwood, taking the charm of its former motor lodge and creating a 25-room inn with outdoor patios and Adirondack chairs. Splurge with the LPP suite — complete with its own full kitchen and patio.
Solo Travelers
Quiet rooms with social spaces nearby, ideal for working on your screenplay then venturing out for inspiration.
Top Picks
Cara Hotel: Set where some of the city’s busiest districts, Hollywood and Griffith Park, converge, this is a midcentury oasis where guest rooms feel like private sanctuaries complete with courtyard balconies and limestone bathrooms. Downstairs, the namesake restaurant elevates alfresco dining with seasonal handmade pastas and biodynamic wines.
Hotel 850 SVB: This 23-room, One-Key luxury boutique provides the privacy of a residential stay in a walkable area of West Hollywood. When you’re ready to mingle, a communal living room, second-floor terrace and rooftop offer great social spaces.
The Prospect Hollywood: Beyond the historic facade built in the 1930s is a One-Key hotel that’s all homey decor. The feel is of a luxe townhouse and intimate retreat, but the rooms embrace a flashier kind of style, with motifs that include cheetah-print pillows, clawfoot tubs and framed vintage Academy Awards invitations. In the evening, settle in the idyllic courtyard with a cocktail from the lobby bar.
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Business Travelers
If you have business downtown, check out any of our spots in the neighborhood here. But this is a work-hard, play-hard city, and accommodations across L.A. County are ready for business.
Top Picks
Cameo Beverly Hills: A short drive from business hubs like Century City and West Hollywood, corporate events take place at the 12th-floor Starlight Ballroom. Finish long days at the 4,500-square-foot pool.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills: Unapologetically opulent, this refined Two-Key retreat is the spot to wow a client. The presence of a business center and seven dedicated meeting and event spaces comes in handy, as does the option to check in as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m.
Viceroy Santa Monica: For those with business in Santa Monica, the Viceroy has indoor-outdoor meeting spaces, a dedicated business center and a location near the main Third Street Promenade. Let business bleed into pleasure and you’ll find a lively weekend social scene at the poolside cabanas.
Families
What’s best for you depends on your family: Do you want proximity to Universal Studios? Or kid-friendly shows at the Hollywood Bowl? Or are you just looking for space and convenience?
Top Picks
The Garland: With a complimentary trolley that whisks guests to the nearby Universal Studios, this is an ideal spot for families who want to stay in the mix of the city’s most kid-friendly offerings. Family suites feature private nooks with bunk beds, and the seven-acre property offers a heated pool, poolside movie nights and outdoor games.
Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel): Families enjoy in-room perks like tent setups, games and children’s robes as well as practical essentials like complimentary cribs and rollaway beds. Around the city, enjoy a family-friendly show at the Hollywood Bowl or make your way to SoFi Stadium for a football game.
The Charlie: One of the most unique hotels in West Hollywood, this One-Key jumble of English-style bungalows boasts suites and cottages with full kitchens, as well as some two-story, loft-style floor plans with dedicated living rooms — ideal for families or long stays.
On a Budget
Without naming names, there are certain major American cities where an excellent hotel room for $200/night is now a fairy tale. Not so in Los Angeles, where you can stay affordably in the city’s major neighborhoods without giving up on style and amenities.
Top Picks
The Hoxton: With a prime downtown location housed in a 1922 beaux arts building, the Hoxton brings the same vibrant energy as its European and NYC counterparts. The most affordable room rates fall under the aptly named “Snug” or “Cozy” categories, but you can always slip away to the buzzing rooftop pool and restaurant when you’re ready to stretch your legs.
The LINE Hotel LA: A design-centric hotel in the heart of Koreatown within walking distance of an ever-growing dining and bar scene. Room rates are particularly competitive during the week, and the communal spaces, including a lively lobby bar, make it a pleasantly social experience.
Palihotel Hollywood: A renovated motel right on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, its excellent location is matched by the typically vibrant, colorful Palihotel style. Here, it’s set poolside, with a spa, restaurant and bar to boot.
Head here for more of the most affordable Key hotels in the world →
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Header Image: Palm trees surround the exterior of the Beverly Hills Hotel, one of only two hotels in L.A. with Three MICHELIN Keys. © Beverly Hills Hotel
