35 Best Hotels in Los Angeles, From Santa Monica to Downtown

This iconic, sky-blue Art Deco hotel along beach-adjacent Ocean Avenue has been returned to its former grandeur thanks to an overhaul by BLVD Hospitality. After nearly a century—the last half of which was a steady decline—the 1930s property is, once again, a design lover’s paradise, with a mix of Art Deco and Old Havana decor, a heavy dose of jet-set photography, and a dash of Wes Anderson. You’ll feel the retro-luxe-meets-whimsical vibes as soon as you step into the opulent lobby, with its original arched ceilings and curved staircase intact, drenched in colorful velvet furnishings—plus fun relics like rotary phones and manual typewriters—all centered around a horseshoe bar of imported jade green quartzite that attracts both travelers and locals with Italian-inspired cocktails. Rooms are equally stylish and cheeky, with art-covered walls, gold finishes, and curvy custom-made headboards. Suites, meanwhile, come replete with ocean views, record players, and built-in bars, where you can order up a Champagne or a dessert cart with the literal press of a button.