8 Cool L.A. Hotels for Millennials Under $250 Worthy of an Instagram Story

Millennials can recognize good design from miles away and The Line hotel in Koreatown is on the radar. With a dashing mid-century build that returns us to binge watching Mad Men, free yoga on Saturday mornings and a second-floor pool, only our generation can appreciate that this is the stuff good hotels are made of — not reward miles.

The lobby bar has DJ sets, the Pot Cafe is a twist on Mexican, Taiwanese, Salvadoran and Korean treats, and the Commissary restaurant, housed in a greenhouse, is the most Instagrammed restaurant in LA. In-room delivery is available if you went a bit too hard the night before at the onsite 80s-themed Breakroom 86 Karaoke bar and still haven’t lifted the window shades on the floor-to-ceiling windows by 4 p.m.

There is no chain of hotels better suited to our lot than Ace Hotels. The Los Angeles outpost doesn’t differ with a location in a former United Artists building. The renovated rooms range from tidy smalls all the way to the large Loft and Suite sizes, meaning you can budget according to a) your spatial needs or b) what your wallet dictates. Regardless, the rooms are kitted out with free WiFi, covetable toiletries, and retro furniture.

Upstairs you will find Upstairs, the rooftop cocktail bar with an accompanying concrete pool inspired by every artsy Millennial’s dream destination, Marfa, TX. Every night the bar area is buzzing with some kind of pop-up, collab, DJ, or release party. It’s an easy way to get into the schmoozy vibe of LA.

Founded in 1880, the Los Angeles Athletic Club has been the epicenter of athletic finesse in the city for over 125 years. Their athletic program, offering classes in yoga, pilates, kickboxing, handball, tai chi, among others, was joined by a hotel, conference and food facilities in 2016, adding three floors of designated boutique hotel space. Inside, the room’s color palette is moody, with navy-gray blends and beige shades in a cohesive, club-esque design. Frette linens and Sferra blankets pile on the luxury when you dive into the bed. Mornings begin in front of a full American buffet breakfast where you’re free to dive into the eggs as many times as you like.

The Prohibition-style Invention cocktail bar is the perfect place to get to know the object of your gym lust following your squash game. Drinks can be joined by a visit to the Trophy Room, for a five — or an eight — course menu with expert sommelier-designed wine pairings. If it’s a bit early, even for you, to be hitting the bottle of vino, Famous Players is an upscale bistro with delectable brunch faves like eggs benny. Fresh 8 is the perfect post-workout pit stop for a quick bite before you run off with that fabulous bod to take on LA.

If your Instagram aesthetic is #minimalist and you’re pinning that hashtag all over your Home Inspo Pinterest boards (despite your little hovel looking rather shabby, or perhaps chic) The Varden has your all-white cube fix. The hotel is in a prime location on Long Beach with special landmark status granted to their iconic 1935 sign. Who doesn’t adore a bit of nostalgia? Inside it’s all sleek and sophisticated with rounded bathroom mirrors, subway tiles, and plush linens and sheets.

Ample storage keeps your mess tucked away while you pose for a full body shot with your outfit of the day. Free continental breakfast sounds just about right for those lusting for a bit more budget allocated on a lunch or dinner.

If locking down an Airbnb is too much to handle following your journey, but you want (read: require) the perks of having an LA apartment, meet your match: the Venice Breeze Suites. All of us have dreamed of having this kind of apartment with its exposed brick, natural light loftiness and a location looking out onto the beach. You can even pretend the rooftop terrace is yours alone with some strategic photo angles while you BBQ on the grills.

Inside, let’s take some liberties and call it YOUR pad. A full kitchen means you can meal prep your way, whether for breakfast or packing a lunch to haul to the beach. The hotel hands out beach towels, too, so no need to stuff that oversized one in your carry-on.

Mama Shelter Los Angeles is a Parisian ode to the West Coast sunset. With rooms glowing in golden hour tones and a lobby teeming with its own personality, like any classic Hollywood star. Rooms are as decked out with cool designs as they are with the latest Apple tech and the bedside bible is joined by another bible of sorts — Keith Richard’s memoir. In the bathroom, you’ll find Mama’s own range of toiletries that are made in France and free of all the bad stuff like parabens, synthetic perfumes, and colors.

The Mama rooftop is basically a 360-view of everything from the Hollywood sign to the cemented celeb handprints on the Walk of Fame — perfect for you to test out that Facebook 360 photo feature. In the lobby, there’s a coffee shop serving up flat whites from famed Intelligentsia Coffee alongside pastries and more filling options, like burgers, and just outside your Hollywood door, you’ll satisfy all of your food cravings from burritos to upscale vegan tasting menus.

It’s rare as beef tartare to find a hotel offering so much good style at a price you can afford. The Standard has done just that from its prime perch on the famous Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. A Mid-Century modern facade houses a shagged carpet lobby and stark white rooms with punches of orange and furniture dating from the 50s all the way to the 70s, possibly ready for a scandalous photo shoot. The staff here are as ready to recommend the best clubs as they are to send up extra Kiss My Face toiletries if you forgot to bring yours in the flurry of getting to the airport on time.

The pool deck is covered in a wild blue AstroTurf that barely requires a photo filter and the pool is a welcome respite on the classic hot ‘n’ sunny day. Inflatable pool toys fill out that Instagram picture of you lounging on the back of a hot pink flamingo or playing ping pong in your swim suit, hashtagged #LAlife. You can sense the envy as the ‘likes’ start pouring in.

The Farmer’s Daughter packs an eclectic punch of kitschy elegance — if you could believe such a thing. We’re talking country-inspired rooms with plenty of plaid down-home coziness paired with mid-century modern furnishing and trendy rose gold clothes hangers. Somehow, much like a kale-blueberry smoothie, the mixture is a surprising hit.

Equally tasty is the onsite restaurant, TART, serving up a mean, family-style brunch with biscuits, fried chicken and waffles galore. Come dinner time, the menu takes an upscale turn with squid ink, polenta, and carpaccio all making appearances. Catch up on your Vitamin D intake at the outdoor pool and sun deck and dive into the world of whiskeys with a daily tasting hour right at the hotel.

Location-wise, you’re plonk within walking distance to the illustrious The Grove outdoor mall, Sunset Strip, as well as the fantastic Los Angeles County Museum of Art and CBS.