Los Angeles is not one city but a constellation of them, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its hotels. Beverly Hills is old-money glamour distilled into marble lobbies and hedge-lined driveways. Bel-Air is privacy so complete that some guests never see another guest during their entire stay. Santa Monica trades palm-tree opulence for Pacific sunsets and salt air, while Downtown LA has become the city's design-forward playground of Frank Gehry rooftops and skyline views. Choosing where to stay in Los Angeles is really choosing which version of the city you want to live inside for a few days.
What separates the finest Los Angeles hotels from the merely expensive ones is not the thread count, though that matters too. It is the sense of place — a Polo Lounge booth that has hosted nearly a century of studio deals, a lake with actual swans at Bel-Air, a Rolls-Royce idling outside for a five-minute errand to Rodeo Drive. These are hotels that understand they are not just selling a room, but a piece of the city's mythology, and each has built its identity around a very specific idea of what a Los Angeles stay should feel like.
This guide ranks the ten best hotels in Los Angeles, spanning ultra-luxury Beverly Hills icons, a legendarily private Bel-Air sanctuary, and oceanfront Santa Monica retreats that are among the only beachfront properties in the entire city. Each entry includes an honest verdict, real addresses, and a sense of who each hotel is really built for, so you know exactly what you are booking before you commit. Whether you are chasing old Hollywood glamour, flawless five-star service, or a sunset view over the Pacific, this is where to stay in LA.
Los Angeles Hotels at a Glance
| Hotel | Area | Best For | Signature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Peninsula Beverly Hills | Beverly Hills | Best overall service | Rooftop pool, Rolls-Royce house car, Belvedere | $1,000–4,500 |
| Hotel Bel-Air | Bel-Air | Privacy, romance | Swan Lake, Valmont spa | $900–4,000+ |
| The Beverly Hills Hotel | Beverly Hills | Old Hollywood icon | Polo Lounge, private bungalows | $800–3,500+ |
| Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills | Beverly Hills | Modern skyline views | Rooftop infinity pool, fireplace lounge | $900–3,000 |
| The Maybourne Beverly Hills | Beverly Hills | British elegance, shopping | Rodeo Drive access | $$$$ |
| Shutters on the Beach | Santa Monica | Beachfront, sunsets | Direct beach access, One Pico | $$$$ |
| Casa del Mar | Santa Monica | Classic oceanfront luxury | 1926 Italianate architecture | $$$$ |
| Conrad Los Angeles | Downtown LA | Design, dining | San Laurel by José Andrés | $$$ |
| Fairmont Century Plaza | Century City | Restored historic glamour | Contemporary design, spa | $$$ |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles | Downtown / LA LIVE | Business, events | Sendero rooftop steakhouse | $$$ |
The 10 Best Hotels in Los Angeles: Full Reviews
1. The Peninsula Beverly Hills — The Best Overall Hotel in Los Angeles
Address: 9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 | Price: $1,000–4,500 per night | Best For: Business travelers, couples, and VIP guests who want the most complete five-star service in the city
The Peninsula Beverly Hills has held both AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star status for more consecutive years than any other hotel in Southern California, and that consistency is the whole story. Where other Beverly Hills hotels lean on history or celebrity mythology, the Peninsula leans on execution. The 195-room property, including 38 suites and 17 private garden villas, sits at the quiet intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards, within easy walking distance of Rodeo Drive, yet it feels like a private residential estate rather than a hotel on a busy corner.
The rooftop features a 60-foot lap pool, twelve private cabanas, and views that stretch across the Hollywood Hills, while the ground-floor Belvedere Restaurant and the Living Room's daily afternoon tea service anchor a dining program built for long, unhurried stays. A complimentary Rolls-Royce house car is available for short neighborhood transfers, and the 24-hour check-in policy means a room is ready whenever a guest arrives, a detail frequent travelers notice immediately.
The honest verdict: The best all-around hotel in Los Angeles — for guests who want the most complete and consistent luxury service in Beverly Hills, spacious garden villas, and a genuine sense of occasion, The Peninsula Beverly Hills is the outstanding first recommendation. Book well ahead for peak awards-season weeks.
Check Rates → The Peninsula Beverly Hills
2. Hotel Bel-Air — The Most Private Hotel in Los Angeles
Address: 701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077 | Price: $900–4,000+ per night | Best For: Romantic travel, absolute privacy, guests who want to disappear from the city entirely
Set across more than 12 acres of tropical gardens halfway up one of Bel-Air's hidden canyons, Hotel Bel-Air is less a hotel than a walled-off world of its own, dating back to the 1940s. Its swan lake is not a gimmick; it is a genuine, decades-old part of the atmosphere that has made this property the discreet favorite of guests who value seclusion above almost everything else. One suite is named for Grace Kelly, and the grounds are where Marilyn Monroe staged her final photoshoot, details that give the hotel a weight of history that few Los Angeles properties can claim.
Since Dorchester Collection relaunched the property in 2011, the spa has offered treatments from the Swiss skincare house Valmont alongside a 24-hour gym, hair salon, and steam rooms. Dining is largely al fresco, leaning into healthy, California-driven flavors, while the bar has a moodier, more intimate register suited to a potent nightcap. A complimentary house car handles trips into Beverly Hills for dinner or Rodeo Drive shopping, since many guests are otherwise reluctant to leave the grounds at all.
The honest verdict: The most private and romantic hotel in Los Angeles — for couples and guests who want total seclusion, decades of old Hollywood history, and a genuine sense of disappearing from the city, Hotel Bel-Air is the outstanding choice.
3. The Beverly Hills Hotel — The Most Iconic Hotel in Los Angeles
Address: 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | Price: $800–3,500+ per night | Best For: Old Hollywood glamour, celebrity-watching, couples seeking a piece of cinema history
Known simply as the Pink Palace, The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in 1912 and remains arguably the single most recognizable hotel silhouette in the world. It has recently been named the single best hotel in the city by Time Out's own editorial team, largely on the strength of its unmatched history and enduring service standard. The Polo Lounge remains one of the most storied restaurants in Los Angeles, a place where entertainment deals have been struck for generations, and the private bungalows are still where guests who value discretion over visibility choose to stay.
The historic pool, the palm-frond wallpaper, the sense of walking through a living piece of Hollywood folklore — this is a hotel that sells atmosphere as much as accommodation, and few competitors even attempt to match it. Its Sunset Boulevard address puts it within easy reach of both Beverly Hills shopping and the Hollywood Hills, making it a practical base as well as a symbolic one.
The honest verdict: The most iconic hotel in Los Angeles — for guests who want nearly a century and a half of Hollywood history, the legendary Polo Lounge, and private bungalows soaked in cinema mythology, The Beverly Hills Hotel is the essential choice, and arguably the single best-known hotel address in the country.
Check Rates → The Beverly Hills Hotel
4. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — The Best Rooftop Views in Beverly Hills
Address: 9850 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | Price: $900–3,000 per night | Best For: Modern design lovers, guests who want skyline and Hollywood Hills views
The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is the brand's first West Coast property and the newest architectural statement among the neighborhood's grand hotels. Its rooftop is genuinely one of the largest of its kind in Beverly Hills, combining a sparkling infinity pool exclusive to hotel guests with a lounge featuring several fireplaces, a living green wall, and 360-degree views across the city. Six private VIP cabanas are available, each stocked with La Prairie sunscreen and Voss water for guests who want to spend a full day up top.
Where the Peninsula and Beverly Hills Hotel lean into tradition, the Waldorf leans into contemporary elegance: sharp lines, panoramic glass, and a spa built for guests who want wellness alongside their view. The signature Waldorf service standard runs throughout, from the elegant rooms to the polished restaurant program, making this the pick for travelers who want five-star comfort with a more modern aesthetic than its historic neighbors just down the block.
The honest verdict: The best modern rooftop hotel in Beverly Hills — for guests who want contemporary design, one of the largest rooftop lounges in the neighborhood, and Waldorf-caliber service, this is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
5. The Maybourne Beverly Hills — The Best Hotel for Shopping and British Elegance
Address: 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | Price: $$$$ | Best For: Shopping trips, refined dining, guests who want understated luxury steps from Rodeo Drive
The Maybourne brings a distinctly British sensibility to Beverly Hills, favoring quiet elegance over spectacle. Its Canon Drive location places guests within a short walk of Rodeo Drive's flagship boutiques, and the hotel's gourmet dining program has become a draw in its own right, independent of the shopping crowd it primarily serves. Interiors favor soft, tailored luxury over the marble-and-gilt formula of its immediate neighbors.
This is the hotel for guests who want luxury without theater: refined rooms, attentive but unobtrusive service, and a restaurant worth visiting even for guests staying elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The honest verdict: The best hotel for shopping and quiet elegance in Beverly Hills — for guests who want Rodeo Drive access and understated British luxury without the old Hollywood theater of its neighbors, The Maybourne is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → The Maybourne Beverly Hills
6. Shutters on the Beach — The Best Beachfront Hotel in Los Angeles
Address: 1 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Price: $$$$ | Best For: Sunset views, couples, guests who want to walk straight from their room onto the sand
Shutters on the Beach is one of only two hotels in the entire Los Angeles area that opens directly onto the sand, and that single fact shapes everything about the experience. Opened in 1993 with a deliberately unpretentious Cape Cod-style clapboard facade — all blue-and-white interiors and floor-to-ceiling shutters — the hotel's 198 rooms and suites feature sunken jacuzzi tubs, and the public spaces display original works by Modern art figures including David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. It has been referred to as "Hollywood's beach house," with a long history of celebrity guests drawn to its low-key, barefoot-luxury register.
Two restaurants anchor the dining program: the more formal One Pico, with ocean and pier views, and the casual Coast Beach Café and Bar. The hotel leans hard into its environmental credentials and beach-day amenities, stocking its activity center with boogie boards and beach cruisers, and running a jazz brunch most weekends that has become a neighborhood institution in its own right.
The honest verdict: The best beachfront hotel in Los Angeles — for couples and sunset chasers who want direct beach access, a genuine art collection, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere that Beverly Hills properties simply cannot replicate, Shutters on the Beach is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → Shutters on the Beach
7. Casa del Mar — The Most Elegant Oceanfront Hotel in Santa Monica
Address: Santa Monica Beach, adjacent to Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica, CA 90405 | Price: $$$$ | Best For: Classic luxury, families, romantic weekends by the water
Casa del Mar occupies an Italian Renaissance Revival building dating to 1926, originally opened as a private beach club before decades of alternate uses, including a stint as a Navy facility during the Second World War, and later a drug rehabilitation program and a nutrition center. It reopened as a luxury hotel in 1999 after a restoration exceeding $50 million, and its 129 rooms and suites, including three two-story penthouses, all overlook the Pacific.
The lobby alone — soaring ceilings, warm wood tones, ocean light pouring through tall windows — sets a tone built around old-world elegance rather than minimalist beach-house style, further refined by designer Michael S. Smith, best known for his redesign of the Obama White House interiors. The fifth-floor Palm Terrace Pool is reserved exclusively for guests, and the eco-minded Sea Wellness Spa and signature restaurant Catch round out a property built for slower, more indulgent stays than its more casual sister hotel next door.
The honest verdict: The most elegant oceanfront hotel in Santa Monica — for guests who want a century of genuine architectural history, generous penthouse suites, and Mediterranean grandeur directly on the sand, Casa del Mar is the outstanding choice.
8. Conrad Los Angeles — The Best Design Hotel in Downtown LA
Address: 100 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Price: $$$ | Best For: Design lovers, foodies, guests who want a skyline view without the Beverly Hills price tag
Conrad Los Angeles anchors The Grand LA, the Frank Gehry-designed complex that has become the reference point for what a modern Downtown LA hotel should look like. The hotel's dining program is led by chef José Andrés and includes five distinct venues: San Laurel, the flagship restaurant blending Spanish technique with Southern California produce; Agua Viva, a beach-club-inspired rooftop restaurant with Latin and Asian influences; poolside dining at Airlight; and cocktail programs at SED and The Beaudry Room.
The rooftop itself is a 16,000-square-foot terrace with a private pool deck offering 276 seats and Gehry-designed cabanas, framed by direct views of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Downtown skyline. The hotel sits within walking distance of the Music Center, The Broad museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, making it the natural base for guests whose Los Angeles trip is built around design, art, and food rather than old Hollywood nostalgia.
The honest verdict: The best design-forward hotel in Downtown LA — for guests who want José Andrés's full restaurant group under one roof, a genuinely spectacular Gehry-designed rooftop, and walkable access to the Arts District's museums, Conrad Los Angeles is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → Conrad Los Angeles
9. Fairmont Century Plaza — The Best Restored Historic Hotel in Los Angeles
Address: Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067 | Price: $$$ | Best For: Guests who want historic pedigree paired with a fully modern renovation
The Fairmont Century Plaza spent decades as one of LA's most storied political and entertainment-industry addresses before a complete, multi-year renovation brought it back with a strikingly contemporary design sensibility. The result is a hotel that carries genuine history while feeling entirely current in its rooms, spa, and pool decks.
Its Century City location, on Avenue of the Stars, places guests almost exactly between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, making it a practical base for travelers who want to move easily between both worlds without committing fully to either neighborhood's price point or atmosphere.
The honest verdict: The best restored historic hotel in Los Angeles — for guests who want genuine political and entertainment-industry pedigree paired with a fully modern renovation and a central Century City location, Fairmont Century Plaza is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → Fairmont Century Plaza
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles — The Best Hotel for Business and Events
Address: 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015 | Price: $$$ | Best For: Business travelers, concertgoers, guests attending events at LA LIVE
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles occupies one of the most convenient addresses in the city for anyone attending a concert, game, or conference: it sits directly within the 54-story LA LIVE tower, steps from Crypto.com Arena in the South Park neighborhood of Downtown. The hotel's rooftop restaurant, Sendero, is an Argentine-inspired steakhouse that runs weekly Rooftop Sunset Sessions through the summer, pairing empanadas and ceviche with sweeping Downtown views.
While it lacks the old Hollywood mystique of its Beverly Hills counterparts, the reliable Ritz-Carlton service standard and unbeatable proximity to Downtown's entertainment district make it the practical, dependable pick for anyone whose Los Angeles trip revolves around business or events rather than sightseeing.
The honest verdict: The best hotel for business and events in Los Angeles — for guests attending LA LIVE concerts or conferences who want dependable five-star service and a rooftop steakhouse worth staying in for, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is the outstanding choice.
Check Rates → The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
Best Los Angeles Hotels by Category
- Best Overall: The Peninsula Beverly Hills — the most consistent five-star service in the city, with two decades-plus of AAA Five Diamond recognition.
- Most Private: Hotel Bel-Air — 12 acres of gardens, a swan lake, and total seclusion since the 1940s.
- Most Iconic: The Beverly Hills Hotel — the Pink Palace, the Polo Lounge, and over a century of Hollywood history.
- Best Rooftop: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — one of the largest rooftop lounges in Beverly Hills, with 360-degree views.
- Best for Shopping: The Maybourne Beverly Hills — steps from Rodeo Drive with a quieter, British sensibility.
- Best on the Beach: Shutters on the Beach — one of only two direct-sand hotels in the entire LA area.
- Best Historic Architecture: Casa del Mar — a restored 1926 Italianate beach club turned luxury hotel.
- Best for Downtown: Conrad Los Angeles — Frank Gehry design and José Andrés's full restaurant group.
- Best for Business and Events: The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles — inside LA LIVE, steps from Crypto.com Arena.
- Best for Celebrities: The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air, both with decades of documented A-list history.
How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Los Angeles?
- Five-star entry level: $400–800 per night
- Premium luxury: $800–1,500 per night
- Ultra-luxury suites and villas: $1,500–5,000+ per night
Insider Tips for Booking a Los Angeles Hotel
- Book Beverly Hills hotels early during awards season. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills Hotel, and Waldorf Astoria fill months ahead of major industry events, and rates can climb sharply in the final weeks before a booking window closes.
- Choose Santa Monica if sunsets matter more than star-spotting. Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar are the only two hotels in the entire Los Angeles area directly on the sand, offering a coastal pace that Beverly Hills cannot replicate.
- Stay Downtown for concerts and conferences. The Ritz-Carlton and Conrad Los Angeles put LA LIVE, Crypto.com Arena, and the Arts District's museums within walking distance, avoiding the traffic between Downtown and the Westside.
- Request a private bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel for maximum discretion. The bungalows offer a level of privacy the main building's rooms do not match, and have historically been the preferred choice of guests avoiding attention.
- Use the Peninsula's Rolls-Royce house car for nearby Rodeo Drive trips. It is complimentary for short neighborhood transfers and remains one of the property's most underused perks.
- Pair Bel-Air with a quiet, low-key itinerary. Guests who leave the property frequently note the contrast breaks the immersive calm the hotel is built around; the on-site dining and spa are strong enough to justify staying put.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Hotels in Los Angeles
What is the best hotel in Los Angeles?
The Peninsula Beverly Hills is widely regarded as the most consistently excellent hotel in the city for its service and amenities, though The Beverly Hills Hotel has recently been named the single best hotel in Los Angeles by Time Out's editorial team for its unmatched history. Hotel Bel-Air is the top alternative for guests prioritizing privacy over central location.
Which Los Angeles hotel is best for celebrities and old Hollywood glamour?
The Beverly Hills Hotel, known as the Pink Palace, remains the most iconic choice, with its historic Polo Lounge and private bungalows that have hosted decades of entertainment-industry history since 1912. Hotel Bel-Air, home to a suite named for Grace Kelly, is the top alternative.
Where should I stay in Los Angeles for beach access?
Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar in Santa Monica are the only two hotels in the entire Los Angeles area with direct beachfront access, making them the top picks for sunset views and coastal relaxation.
Is it better to stay in Beverly Hills or Downtown LA?
Beverly Hills suits travelers seeking classic luxury, shopping, and old Hollywood atmosphere. Downtown LA, anchored by the Ritz-Carlton and Conrad Los Angeles, suits guests attending concerts or events at LA LIVE and those who prefer a design-forward, urban base near the Arts District's museums.
What is the most historic hotel in Los Angeles?
The Beverly Hills Hotel, opened in 1912, and Casa del Mar, built in 1926 as a private beach club, are the two most historically significant properties on this list, each restored to reflect its original architectural character.
Final Verdict: The Best Hotels in Los Angeles
Los Angeles hospitality spans an extraordinary range — from The Peninsula Beverly Hills's flawless, decades-long service record to Hotel Bel-Air's total seclusion, from The Beverly Hills Hotel's century of cinema history to Shutters on the Beach's unmatched Santa Monica sunsets. For guests who want the single most complete five-star experience, The Peninsula Beverly Hills is the definitive recommendation. For total privacy and romance, Hotel Bel-Air is unmatched. And for a genuine piece of Hollywood mythology, The Beverly Hills Hotel remains essential.
Explore More: Continue exploring Los Angeles with our guide to the Best Restaurants in Los Angeles and discover the city's nightlife scene with our guide to the Best Nightclubs in Los Angeles.
