Best Hotels in Hollywood, California
If you haven’t visited the heart of Hollywood in some time, we wouldn’t blame you for balking at the idea of booking in the area. With the admittedly seedy Walk of Fame and the Grauman’s Theater as tentpoles, it’s gotten a bit of a bad rap. But even plugged-in locals would admit that there’s been an incredible amount of investment in the area in the last few years, which, for travelers, translates to an incredible breadth of hotel offerings—from slick, luxury properties to ultra-boutique design hotels stacked with all the amenities. Travelers can now stay within walking distance of iconic spots like the Magic Castle, Musso & Frank, and the sprawling weekend farmers market, making it a stay steeped in both all-out glitz and Hollywood history.
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Trevor TondrohotelThompson Hollywood
This grown-up Hollywood hotel in the heart of the action offers more sophistication than nearby red-rope properties that cater to the twenty-something crowd. Located in what’s being dubbed the Vinyl District, this 11-story hotel by mega-developer Relevant Group includes 190 chic guest rooms, a gym by celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, a French fine-dining restaurant called Mes Amis helmed by chef Lincoln Carson, and a beautiful rooftop pool that’s flanked by an ultra-chic, French Riviera–inspired lounge called Bar Lis. Be sure to book a spacious corner suite, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows for an abundance of natural light and a large L-shaped velvet sofa, giving off a luxury apartment ambience.
Christian HoranhotelPendry West Hollywood
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Hot List 2022This ultra-chic West Hollywood property brings panache back to the Sunset Strip with its rooftop pool, exclusive social club, Wolfgang Puck restaurants, luxury spa, and rooms imbued with rich Hollywood Regency accents. The property spans an entire city block along the Sunset Strip, and includes 149 rooms and 40 residences right in the heart of West Hollywood. Plus, it's just across the street from The Comedy Store, excellent shopping, and world-class restaurants. But let’s be honest, if you’re like us, you may not even leave the premises.
Murphy O'Brien/Courtesy Hollywood RoosevelthotelThe Hollywood Roosevelt
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Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020Once inside the Roosevelt’s recently renovated, high-drama lobby, you’ll forget about the tourists outside at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theater. With towering ceilings, a large chandelier, columned archways, a fireplace, and a historic fountain, it’s easy to see why it’s been a must-stay for Hollywood legends since Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Charlie Chaplin booked rooms decades ago. Many of the Studio King Suites have amazing views of the hills and Hollywood sign, and Cabana Suites situated beside the Tropicana pool offer easy access, as well as views of the multi-million dollar mural by British painter David Hockney, completed in 1988. Nancy Silverton of Mozza fame oversees the menu at The Barish, the hotel's main restaurant. And at the Spare Room, you’ll find a two-lane, vintage bowling alley, plus a game parlor (featuring custom-made wooden board games) and craft cocktail lounge.
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Jaime KowalhotelThe Prospect Hollywood
$$ | Hot List 2020Walking into the oversized red front door at the Prospect, you’re transported into what feels more like a luxury apartment stay than a hotel. Diptyque Philosykos gently wafts through the diminutive lobby adorned with emerald green walls, jewel-toned curtains, and golden palm sconces. (The lobby doubles as a private cocktail bar.) Originally built in 1930s, the Prospect has maintained its historic facade, adding modern, high contrast touches like lacquer four-poster beds and lively wallpapers by British designer Martin Lawrence Bullard. Each of the 24 rooms is themed off Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, and Steve McQueen with timeless touches like framed vintage Academy Award invitations in the Monroe suite and a gilded mini bar stocked with Spiegelau crystal glassware. Sipping Champagne while soaking in your room's clawfoot tub, you’ll definitely feel that old school Hollywood magic.
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The Godfrey Hotel HollywoodhotelThe Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
$The California-style lobby at the Godfrey brings the outside in with retractable glass walls, but the real star of the property is the rooftop, with two bars, a swimming pool, and cozy fire pits. And did we mention the rooftop is pooch-friendly? Inside, room decor is centered around the glitz and glam this part of L.A. is known for. You’ll find luxe brass finishes, rain showers, and sparkly black marbled surfaces that are meant to resemble the flash of cameras going off on the red carpet. Service is low-key and casual, but the knowledge base of the area is there. While its easy to fall into the tourist traps of Hollywood, be sure to ask about architectural tours and off-the-beaten-path hikes for locals only—the concierge will have you covered.
Laure Joliet/Courtesy Kimpton La Peer HotelhotelKimpton La Peer Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020Situated in the heart of the highly-walkable West Hollywood’s Design District, this chic yet airy property fits right in. L.A.–based Icelandic designer Gulla Jónsdóttir’s use of natural materials (concrete, leather walls, white oak flooring) speaks to the California aesthetic. The poolside bar is dotted with olive trees and features a vertical garden giving a secluded and intimate feel. For those wanting to venture out, the hotel is within walking distance of art galleries, cool coffee shops, and some top-notch restaurants. Start at the homeware shops on Melrose Avenue, keep an eye out for graffiti murals, then drop into Craig’s for a vegan chicken parmigiana and a Skinny Amiga cocktail (tequila, lime, agave and pomegranate).
Courtesy Cara HotelhotelCara Hotel
$$ | Hot List 2021Situated smack dab between Los Feliz and Thai Town, the Cara Hotel couldn’t have picked a more unassuming location. But pass through the courtyard lined with centuries-old olive trees, through the oversize arched doorway, and you’ll step into an urban oasis. Rooms include private courtyard balconies, eye-pleasing natural linens, and earthy finishes that bring the outside in. The hotel’s airy lobby, with its custom crown molding, pearlescent Venetian plaster walls, and sky-high arched ceilings, is the perfect backdrop for a Zoom call at your enviable remote office. Cara’s outdoor restaurant is suited for LA’s most popular competitive sport—al fresco cocktailing—with seating surrounding a swimming pool-sized water feature that lends the feel of a Moroccan riad.
Courtesy The West Hollywood EDITIONhotelThe West Hollywood EDITION
$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021Sky-high ceilings, a super sexy bar, an incredible art collection, and an oversized pool table are all a part of the lively, social energy that pulse from the entrance at any hour. Minimalist British architect John Pawson teamed up with notoriously meticulous genius Ian Schrager to outfit the 190 guest rooms and 50 suites with expansive outdoor terraces, modern decor, and ultra-luxe details that give an air of serenity compared to the scene below. You don't want to miss out on the underground night club, Sunset, with a ceiling decked out in 30 oversized golden disco balls. If you feel like you missed your calling with Schrager’s Studio 54, now is your chance.
James Baigrie/Courtesy 1 Hotel West Hollywoodhotel1 Hotel West Hollywood
$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021The WeHo location is 1 Hotel's first West Coast outpost—and it maintains all of the brand's sustainable initiatives. Recycled materials abound, including items as small as hangers and room keys. The property is notably dog-friendly, offering a garden run called The Canyon, Shinola dog beds, and all-natural treats. From the pool (and many of the rooms), there are sweeping views of L.A.’s jacaranda- and palm-lined streets, and on a clear day you can see straight to downtown. The roof deck has a sunny, SoCal-chic feel with lots of potted plants and woven rope trellises for climbing vines. There’s also an incredibly well-appointed gym facility with all the bells and whistles designed by celebrity trainer Devon Levesque.
Stefan MerriweatherhotelShort Stories Hotel
$$Located on an unassuming strip of Fairfax Boulevard, Short Stories is a fairy-tale urban oasis, with skylights flooding the lobby’s checkered marble flooring and Venetian plaster interiors with soft California sunshine. The restaurant by Peruvian American chef Ricardo Zarate is perfect for long lunches, thanks to the Parisian bistro–style courtyard and a menu that's filled with both pan-American cooking like kale caesars and flat breads and Peruvian classics like market potatoes and ceviche. It’s also within walking distance to The Original Farmer's Market, The Grove, and Museum Row, which houses the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Peterson Automotive Museum, and the newly opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
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