10 Coolest Hotels in Downtown Los Angeles: The Rebirth of La La Land

Set in the historic Broadway Theater District, the trendy Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles was once home to the United Artists production company. Built in 1927 by famed theatre architect, C. Howard Crane, this Spanish Gothic building originally served as the United Artists Theatre, playing numerous films from the 20s, including those by silent actress and co-founder, Mary Pickford.

The building changed ownership over the years, before being bought by the Ace hotel chain who carefully restored the 13-floor property, including its ornate theatre—officially renamed The Theatre at Ace—which now serves as a space for everything from music concerts and film premieres to private events and readings.

The rooftop lounge, Upstairs, offers a Marfa-inspired concrete pool and exceptional views of the city skyline at sunset. Contemporary rooms and suites feature locally made furniture and artwork, and some have private terraces overlooking downtown LA.

Minimalist quarters feature bright-yellow accents and glass-enclosed showers at the Standard’s DTLA outpost. Situated in a mid-century modern building with a distinct all-marble exterior and lobby, the hotel is known for its nightly DJ parties at the panoramic Rooftop Bar. By day, the rooftop transforms into a space where guests relax by the heated swimming pool in futuristic waterbed pods or on sun loungers along the red AstroTurf deck.

Order a bite to eat any time of day—the retro-themed diner, again with the bright-yellow decor, is not to be missed, and technically you can’t as it operates 24/7. The menu, by Executive Chef Julio Palma, features comfort foods from breakfast burritos to burgers and nachos, all made using organic, locally sourced ingredients.

Downtown Los Angeles is a haven for restored and repurposed buildings, so it’s no surprise that The Freehand occupies one of them. Set in the former Commercial Exchange building, this upscale property is known for having the tallest neon sign—which you can see from some rooms—and more notably, being the publishing office of Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan.

What sets the Freehand apart from the rest of downtown’s burgeoning hotel scene is that it functions as part hotel, part hostel. The shared rooms—which can accommodate four, six or eight guests, making it perfect for families—feel more like chic cabins than dorms. All rooms, including privates and suites, are decorated with custom furniture, locally sourced textiles, and curated artwork by Los Angeles artists.

The hotel’s community spirit is seen through all four of its restaurants and bars which focus on communal tables and shared plates. Broken Shaker, the award-winning cocktail bar and James Beard Award finalist, offers a laid-back, beachy vibe by the rooftop pool. The hotel store Flowerboy, by Venice Beach-based designer Sean Knibb, offers fresh floral arrangements and a curated selection of all things vintage.

Once the headquarters of the Bank of Italy, this palatial building from the 1920s fell into ruin as residents moved to the suburbs and modern high-rises replaced the downtown LA landscape. Now, the building which was once known as Giannini Place is getting a new lease on life after an extensive restoration thanks to its new owners, the NoMad Los Angeles Hotel, which opened in 2018.

The main source of inspiration behind the decor of the hotel’s 241 luxe rooms and suites—plush velvet accents, original artwork, and Terrazzo-tiled showers—is its newly restored gold and blue Italianate lobby ceiling. The fine dining restaurant by Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, both of Manhattan’s three-Michelin star Eleven Madison Park, serves modern cuisine dishes like honey-glazed half duck and kanpachi ceviche lettuce wraps. For drinks, head to any one of the hotel’s three bars, rooftop included, for LA-themed cocktails like the Runyon Canyon, a vodka cranberry with a passionfruit twist.

Bright quarters feature colorful murals, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, and quirky Jonathan Adler bathroom amenities at Hotel Indigo, a contemporary boutique property in Downtown LA’s four-tower Metropolis complex. The decor throughout the hotel’s 18-floors is a nod to the city’s melting pot of culture showcasing everything from old-Hollywood charm to the Prohibition-era moodiness.

Enjoy sweeping views of the city below while sipping on a signature FDR martini, created by the former president himself, or other specialty cocktails from 18 Social, the hotel’s penthouse lounge. The airy lobby restaurant, Metropole Kitchen, features a menu inspired by the city’s diversity offering Asian, Italian, and Mediterranean dishes.

One of the oldest hotels in operation in Downtown Los Angeles, the Hotel Figueroa began as a YMCA hotel for women in 1925 in order to provide a safe space for the increasing number of professional women. The property was managed by the hotel’s first female managing director, Maude N. Bouldin, who did so effortlessly right until the 50s. In 1976, it was purchased by Uno Thimansson who continued its run as a Moroccan-themed hotel.

The hotel finally re-opened in 2018 after years of extensive work to bring the building back to its former Spanish colonial style as well as serve as a tribute to its storied past—the artwork you see throughout the hotel is made solely by female artists. California-chic rooms feature exposed-beam ceilings and William Roam bath amenities.

The two restaurants, Veranda and Breva, feature Mediterranean- and Basque-inspired menus, respectively, from James Beard nominee, Chef Casey Lane. Drinks at the hotel’s three bars, Bar Alta, Rick’s, and Bar Figueroa, are expertly crafted by mixologist and author, Dushan Zaric.

Situated in an elegant Beaux-Arts building, the Los Angeles Athletic Club Hotel is part of an exclusive athletic and social club dating back to the 1880s. A number of notable Hollywood celebrities have graced its halls, including Charlie Chaplin, who was once the club’s resident for a period of time. You don’t have to be a member to book a stay; a $25 Olive Club membership fee is included in the first night’s room rate for non-members.

Dining at the property’s five restaurants and bars is extremely exclusive and reserved strictly for Athletic Club members and hotel guests. Refined rooms feature custom furniture, while suites add elegant sitting areas; both offer access to the club’s spa and athletic facilities, including the 25-yard heated indoor pool.

Located in the LA Live entertainment complex and a convenient five-minute walk from the Staples Center, The Ritz Carlton is housed in one downtown’s newer, all-glass skyscrapers. Airy rooms and suites offer impressive views of DTLA, while an exclusive club lounge on the 23rd floor provides complimentary snacks and meeting facilities to guests that book a club-level room.

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck helms the hotel’s restaurant, WP24, known for its Chinese cuisine and scenic views from its perch on the 24th floor. In need of a spa day? The hotel boasts an impressive 8,000 square foot day-spa—the largest in downtown—with a plethora of massages, beauty treatments, multiple steam rooms, and more.

The historic building that hosts the opulent Millennium Biltmore Hotel is a mixture of Beaux-Arts, Mediterranean and Revival architectural styles seen in both its exterior façade, as well as the numerous interior archways, vaulted ceilings, and intricate relief carvings that exist indoors. Film enthusiasts probably recognize this opulent property from its many film and TV debuts—Beverly Hills Cop, Charlie’s Angels, Cruel Intentions, and Ghostbusters just to name a few. Beginning in the 1930s, it also served as the venue for the annual Academy Awards ceremony.

This expansive hotel—it was the largest hotel west of Chicago when it first opened in 1923—has 683 plush guest rooms and plenty of drinking and dining options, from Italian at Smeraldi’s to Singaporean-Chinese cuisine at Bugis. In the 40s and 50s, the now-shuttered Grand Avenue bar served as a popular watering hole for the city’s LGBTQ community.

In an infamous chapter of the hotel’s history, they hosted the 1971 International Psychologists & Psychiatrists conference. LGBTQ activists disrupted the gathering, forcing a conversation between mental health professionals and the gay community. This confrontation paved the way for change, and within two years, homosexuality was no longer classified as a mental disorder.

More than two years of renovations have transformed the historic Mayfair Hotel, which opened in August 2018, from a run-down, budget-friendly property—your cue to ignore the prior hotel ratings—back to its 1920s sleek and moody roots.

Redesigned by Gulla Jónsidóttir, the property features nods to its heyday Art Deco period from its signature black, gold and silver color palette, right down to the ethereal seashell-flower-hybrid bar sculpture at the chic lobby bar. The hotel’s restaurant, Eve, serves up a seasonally-focused menu and its name pays homage to the writer Raymond Chandler, who once called the Mayfair home.

Don’t miss peeking into the third-floor ballroom which has been meticulously restored to its former glory. This cavernous space, with its three-story-high ceiling, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and impressive 34-foot white marble fireplace, was once host to the first Academy Awards after-party in 1929. Contemporary art enthusiasts will also enjoy a stay at the Mayfair, whose walls function as gallery space, curated by artist-in-residence, Kelly “Risk” Graval.