Hotels

The Best Luxury Hotels in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to gorgeous beaches, spectacular weather, and plenty of impressive hotels and dining experiences. Our guide to the best luxury hotels in Los Angeles will help you decide which is for you.

By 

Emily Singer

 |  January 24, 2022

Los Angeles is full of endless possibilities and fascinatingly different areas to explore. Glamorous hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and some of the best luxury shopping out there make it a city you shouldn’t miss. With so much ground to cover, even something as simple as choosing between the city and the beach can be daunting. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you by presenting our guide to the best luxury hotels in Los Angeles. With their skyline views, five-star dining, and award-winning spas, you can’t go wrong with any of our choice Los Angeles hotels. 

The Beverly Hills Hotel

A timeless and iconic Los Angeles hideout, The Beverly Hills Hotel, a Dorchester Collection hotel, is a glamorous landmark with a rich Hollywood history to match. The gorgeous property neighbors palm trees and 12 acres of lush, tropical gardens. From the moment you step out of your car at the valet and onto the red carpet, you will feel like Hollywood royalty. In fact, The Beverly Hills Hotel has been a stomping ground for celebrities since its opening in 1912.

The grand entrance and lively pink color scheme pay homage to the golden age of Hollywood. It’s no wonder that Marilyn Monroe was a frequent visitor of the ‘Pink Palace’. Each room, no matter the size, is designed to be a home away from home. The décor is an ode to vintage glamour, with comforting, garden-like accents that open up the space. The 1,935-square-foot Presidential Suite comes with a gaslit fireplace, a private balcony, and a full kitchen, making for a comfortable and cozy stay. However, you likely won’t be cooking — go instead to the Polo Lounge, the place to see and be seen. 

Since opening in 1941, the Polo Lounge has been a legendary restaurant. Hollywood execs, actors, socialites, and other power players come to talk shop and tuck into the famous McCarthy salad, tortilla soup, and Dutch apple pancakes for brunch, of course. In the summer, guests love to sip cocktails poolside or under the hotel’s signature pink cabanas. Additionally, The Cabana Cafe is open daily from 10am to 4pm. It offers alfresco dining for a casual breakfast, lunch, or midday brunch. 

Looking for something a bit more low-profile? Its sister property, Hotel Bel-Air, is tucked into the hills but has the same incredible service. 

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is a posh area, but the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills manages to make it feel even more so. It’s a quintessential Los Angeles hotel, with 12 stories of gorgeous skyline views and elegant décor to match. The lobby is a stylish, Art Deco-inspired grand room, with sky-high ceilings and two dazzling chandeliers. The elegance continues into the guest rooms, which include warm colors and thoughtful décor. Additionally, all 170 rooms come with a private outdoor terrace — perfect for taking your morning coffee alfresco. 

You may come for the ultramodern rooftop pool and the esteemed La Prairie Spa — which you can read more about in our guide to ​​The Best Luxury Hotel Spas in the US — but you’ll return for the truly incredible service. For instance, each guest has a personal concierge, who is available by text messaging. Whether you’re looking for a dinner reservation or tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers game, your concierge can help make it happen. Additionally, the hotel provides a Rolls-Royce house car for short-distance drives, so you can arrive in style wherever you go. 

Award-winning chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is in charge of all food and beverage at the hotel. It’s his first Los Angeles venture. So even if you’re not staying here, be sure to stop by for a meal. Whether you’re eating inside the sunlit and airy dining room, or alfresco on The Rooftop by JG, you will be well taken care of. Each meal is inventive and uses California’s local seasonal produce. For a more formal evening, Jean-Georges Beverly Hills offers eight-course tasting menus. It changes seasonally, but reliably includes creative caviar dishes, raw and seafood-centric plates, and divine desserts. In addition, the wine list is one of the best in Los Angeles. It boasts rare vintages from all over the world.

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Rodeo Drive is one of Los Angeles’s most iconic streets. The tony street has appeared in countless movies. Not to mention, it’s a mecca for the city’s best designer shopping and fine dining. At the intersection of Rodeo and Wilshire Boulevard sits the renowned Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. Since its opening in 1928, it has been a hot spot for celebrities and royalty. Although, some may know it best as the setting for the film Pretty Woman. 

This modern, elegant hotel is full of sleek marble and bright décor, which contrasts nicely with dark wood and forest-green accents. The rooms are spacious and set in soft cream tones. Top suites feature balconies with spectacular lookouts over the Hollywood Hills. The Presidential Suite is large and immaculately designed with a wood-paneled library, a dramatic foyer, and a chic dining room. Additionally, the penthouse boasts a private screening room and a wraparound terrace.

During your stay, head down to the spa for one of its cutting-edge and exclusive signature treatments. We love the 90-minute Signature Body Treatment. It’s a full body treatment from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. It detoxes, hydrates, and plumps skin. It starts with dry brush exfoliation to aid in blood circulation, followed by a body mask. Lastly, a Biocellulose Facial Treatment Mask provides maximum hydration. Additionally, the Celestial Black Diamond Eye mask fights fine lines and wrinkles. It also includes the 111CRYO cryotherapy machine for ultimate relaxation. Lastly, an application of retinol body oil combined with diamond powder ends the experience, leaving you positively glowing. 

There’s a lot to love about this hotel — the Mediterranean-style outdoor pool oasis, the chic cocktail lounge, and the resident restaurant: Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse, CUT. The Beverly Wilshire houses the restaurant’s original location, which has one Michelin star. The menu consists of various cuts of the best-quality beef, sourced from all around the world, as well as fresh seafood. Additionally, there is an expert assortment of exclusive vintage wines by the glass.

We suggest starting with an order of Wagyu sliders and Hawaiian kampachi with caviar, grapefruit, and mint. Of course, it is a steak house, and the rare cuts are always superb, but if you’re not a steak eater, not to worry. Many other incredible dishes are on the menu, such as the roasted Maine lobster, as well as plenty of plant-based sides. Be sure to save room for dessert. The dark chocolate soufflé with toasted marshmallow ice cream is out of this world. 

Maybourne Beverly Hills

Maybourne Beverly Hills transports you from Los Angeles to a European coastline with sophisticated architecture and flair. The hotel boasts a stylish rooftop pool, which is a great place to unwind and relax after a long travel day. The rooms and suites feature mid-century modern furniture, contemporary design, and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide grand city views.

Formerly known as The Montage, the hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to all the best luxury designer shops and incredible dining options. However, there is much to discover at the hotel, such as the cigar and whiskey bar on the ground floor and the dimly lit Maybourne Bar, which has a superb wine list and creative cocktails. Be sure to make a reservation with the concierge for an evening at The Terrace restaurant, run by renowned Chef Kaleo Adams. His menus are full of delectable farmers market dishes inspired by his upbringing on the island of Hawaii. Some of our favorites include the homemade corn agnolotti with black truffle, grilled whole branzino with heirloom tomato, and the refreshing citrus hamachi crudo.

We’d be remiss not to mention that The Maybourne is home to one of the best spas in the city (and the country, quite possibly). You may recognize the gorgeous riad-style mineral pool from Instagram, but that’s not the only thing that makes this spa so special. It is the only spa in Los Angeles that features the luxury Japanese-French line of facial products, EviDenS de Beauté. 

Shutters on the Beach

Located on one of the most iconic beaches to date, this Santa Monica hotel is a quaint seaside paradise that takes you out of the hustle and bustle (and traffic) of Los Angeles. A popular hotel for over a decade, Shutters on the Beach feels more like an East Coast beach home than a West Coast hotel. The nostalgic white-shingled exterior, the large fireplaces, and the airiness of the hotel are reminiscent of beach houses in Cape Cod — if those housed works by art icons like Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney.  

Rise, shine, and grab an alfresco brunch at the hotel’s resident Coast beach café and bar. The casual waterfront spot is a great place for people watching. It offers breakfast, brunch, dinner, and all-day menus — offering a variety of local Californian fare, including a daily selection of oysters and other seafood.

The newest addition to the hotel is 1 Pico, which serves up a seasonal market menu. We suggest making a dinner reservation early enough to see the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The restaurant boasts large windows and a 360-degree view from just about every table. Though the menu constantly changes with the seasons, the food is always delicious and inventive. Some of our favorites include the linguini and Venus clams with uni butter, yuzu, and parsley bread crumbs, as well as the rib-eye cap. In addition to an elegant wine menu, the specialty craft cocktails are creative and tasty. Lastly, the Living Room is a great place to enjoy the view and the live music over a meeting, a date, or a bite with friends.

One Spa at Shutters has a lovely selection of treatments, including Swedish and deep-tissue massages, with an option to add CBD to any experience. All facial treatments utilize products by famed skin-care line Biologique Recherche. If you’re looking for some movement, you can book private yoga and personal training sessions at the fitness center.

Santa Monica Proper Hotel

Designed by interior designer Kelly Wearstler, Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a dreamy, minimalist space filled with plush seating and earth-toned décor. The hotel is just a short walk to the beach, and the design is meant to feel like a (not-so-casual) beach house. It’s awash in natural light with warm colors and lush plants.

Each of the 271 rooms and suites has a rainbow-shaped bed frame, beachy neutral tones, and wooden finishes. The bathrooms provide Aesop amenities and a Kelly Wearstler x Parachute Home custom bathrobe. Santa Monica is notable for its gorgeous beach and active lifestyles, so the hotel, accordingly, offers a range of activities, such as a 24-7 fitness center, an outdoor yoga deck (with private sessions available upon request), surfboards, and bikes for use during your stay. 

A highlight of Santa Monica Proper Hotel is its gorgeous rooftop pool with views of the city. It’s a day-in, day-out place with relaxing lounges for sunbathing. You can usually find a DJ spinning tunes late into the night, making it a local Los Angeles hot spot. The Proper Hotel opened a Downtown LA location this year, with the same dedication to stylish social lounges, buzz-worthy restaurants, and a sceney rooftop pool.

You’ll find a handful of notable dining options within the hotel. For a view of the ocean and a nice breeze, head up to Calabra, the indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant. It serves Mediterranean cuisine with highlights such as the three-fish crudo, whole branzino, and a calabra meze platter. It also offers a sushi menu Thursdays through Sundays. For a more intimate setting, sit in the Olea Garden, situated in a peaceful garden terrace on the hotel’s second floor. Lastly, the Palma Lounge is perfect for a drink at the bar or a catch up with friends over craft cocktails and appetizers.

West Hollywood Edition

Situated on the iconic Sunset Strip adjacent to the famous Hollywood Hills, The West Hollywood Edition is a new and noteworthy hotel. Hotelier and entrepreneur Ian Schrager (cofounder of Studio 54) designed his hotel in collaboration with British minimalist architect John Pawson. It boasts sweeping views of the entire city — from downtown Los Angeles to the coastline — and one of the best nightclubs in town. 

The hotel rooms are designed in sleek, neutral décor with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Edition’s signature-scented Le Labo products line the bathroom. If you really want to be spoiled, head down to the hotel’s intimate, six-room luxury spa. Here, you can receive a red-carpet facial with products by Malibu-based OSEA, as well as Odacite, Knesko, and Skin Authority. Or, opt for the “stay all day experience,” which includes three options of packaged treatments. For example, the Canyon treatment consists of a hydrating facial, a moisturizing body treatment, and a house massage. Additionally, the spa offers a range of wellness treatments such as sound baths, meditation classes, and CBD treatments.

California is known for its unbeatable weather, so, naturally, a perfect day is spent lying out at the rooftop pool. Order a freshly pressed juice or a glass of rosé. As the sun begins to set over the Hollywood Hills, you’ll have the best view of the skyline, from the rooftop bar. The menu is rich with bespoke, tropical cocktails, including plenty of mezcal and tequila options. Dinner is at the hotel’s ground floor restaurant, Ardor, where chef John Fraser serves up Californian fare. The menu features locally inspired ingredients with an emphasis on seasonal, organic vegetables. We especially love the Alaskan king crab tagliatelle, the octopus, and the hand-cut fries. 

Spend the rest of the night dancing — under the 400-disco-ball art installation — at the hotel’s resident nightclub, Sunset. Bringing it back to Schrager’s Studio 54 days, Sunset is an ode to the dozens of glamorous clubs that were scattered on the Sunset Strip in the ’60s and ’70s.

1 Hotel West Hollywood 

The 1 Hotel West Hollywood is a sophisticated, West Hollywood staple hotel. The exterior is decorated with lush greenery, and the interior has exposed woods, bright whites, and natural tones. While it is located on the busy Sunset Strip, it serves as an oasis, eliciting feelings of tranquility from the moment you step inside. The 1 Hotel group has made incredible efforts toward sustainability throughout its portfolio — the West Hollywood hotel included. For example, it has eliminated single-use plastic, the carpets in each room are made of repurposed ocean plastics, and it has its own organic garden on-site.

All of the rooms are impressive, but the 1,297-square-foot Panoramic Two-Bedroom suite takes the cake. It boasts views of both the skyline and the eight-story rope art situated between the hotel’s two towers. Clay tones, marble bathrooms, and reclaimed wood create a sanctuary-like sleeping space. You may never want to leave your room, although you should, as the hotel has incredible dining options. 

For starters, head to 1 Kitchen, where Chef Ginger Pierce prepares delicious, sustainably sourced, farm-to-table fare for every meal. Juniper Lounge is open Thursday through Sunday for happy-hour cocktails, biodynamic wines, and local craft beer. Pair your drink of choice with oysters, of course. Last but certainly not least, you should not leave the premises without dining at Harriet’s Rooftop. The view is phenomenal, and the cocktails are ever-flowing, making it a popular hangout for locals and visitors alike.

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