The Best Luxury Hotels in Los Angeles

At the pinnacle of Los Angeles hotels is The Peninsula Beverly Hills, the only property awarded both AAA’s Five Diamond and Forbes’ Five Star rating in Southern California every year since 1993. Every amenity is a level above here – a courtesy car will serendipitously whisk you to shopping, dinner, or a business meeting is a sleek Rolls Royce, or you can borrow one of the hotel’s BMWs, gratis, to cruise around the city yourself. In the elegant rooms, the fluffy pillows on the feather soft bed are monogrammed with your initials (and yours to take home), and modern control panels close the blinds or dim the lights with just a touch; regular rooms are as large as suites at other hotels, while the suites are like apartments and villas will make you feel like you’ve checked into an elegant second home.

Watch the sunset with champagne in hand from the rooftop pool (a lovely place to relax during the day too) and Roof Garden Café. Then dine under the stars at the Belvedere Restaurant, where an outdoor fireplace and flowing fountain create a romantic ambiance.

If privacy is your ultimate luxury, then the Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills is where to feel truly pampered. Start with an underground garage with a red-carpet entrance to the hotel. Guest rooms are tucked down quiet corridors instead of central halls and in-room check in lets you completely bypass the front desk if you please.

It’s not just the privacy that delivers a luxe experience – the hotel was originally built as the first all-suites property in the United States and the large suites are still some of the roomiest in the city. The plush, modern spaces have ultra-luxe Sferra linens, Nespresso machines, mirrors inset with televisions in the gleaming marble bathrooms, and top-end Natura Bisse toiletries.

Unwind at the rooftop pool, chill out in a private cabana, or dive into a spa treatment at the sybaritic spa which, in addition to a full menu of face and body treatments, offers special to LA rejuvenation therapies, including juice cleanses, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and IV treatments. Wrap up the day with a candlelit dinner of bistro cuisine from the south of France at Avec Nous, accompanied by one of the French vintages from the curated wine list.

You can’t beat the location of the Beverly Wilshire, set right at the heart of Beverly Hills at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and famed Rodeo Drive. Currently a very posh Four Seasons, the iconic 1928 hotel has been at the epicenter of Hollywood glamour and entertainment for nearly a century, serving as not only a retreat for dignitaries and celebrities, but also as a backdrop for shows and movies. Most famously, you may remember Julia Roberts and Richard Gere gliding through the marble lobby and up to the penthouse suite in Pretty Woman.

The suites here are just as sumptuous as they appeared in the film. In fact, the Veranda Suite has the biggest balcony in Beverly Hills; it’s so large that there’s a Bedouin-style glamping tent with a queen-size bed and crystal chandelier pitched in the midst of the 2,140 feet of private space.

Sip a cocktail at the elegant onyx bar in the lounge, or request a table at THE Blvd restaurant’s open-air patio for the ultimate people-watching in Beverly Hills. Hide away from the outside world at the Mediterranean pool, where attendants offer refreshing Evian spritzes and shot glass smoothies which you can sip on Moroccan-style daybeds in the SoCal sun. Wherever you turn, you’ll find European elegance with frescoed walls, velvet settees, and copious bouquets of fresh flowers.

You’ll be instantly transported to a Mediterranean private villa when you step into the Hotel Casa del Mar, once an exclusive 1920s beach club set right on the golden sands of Santa Monica. Although it’s just steps away from the iconic Santa Monica Pier and beach boardwalk, the hotel offers an elevated beachside vacation that especially appeals to couples. Rooms here are made for romance, with elegant walnut four-poster beds and sumptuous fabrics in seaside shades of cream and blue. Bookcases feature curated titles and comfortable armchairs encourage lingering, especially if you’re facing the ocean views from the balcony.

You can continue to keep an eye on the waves from the floor-to-ceiling windows while you nibble oysters and lobster and listen to live music at the elegant seafood restaurant Catch, or watch the water from the palm tree shaded pool and hot tub just feet from the sand. Tempted by the ocean? Let the concierge arrange a private surf lesson so you can hang 10 in style.

You can tell a lot about a luxury property by the way they treat their littlest guests. The Fairmont Miramar & Bungalows excels at focusing on the smallest details and their youngest clients. Children are greeted with plush animals, child-sized robes to match mom and dad’s, and their names spelled out in colorful bath sponges for an extra special welcome.

The whole family can spread out in open living spaces in the Fairmont Miramar’s 31 bungalows that offer easy access to the landscaped gardens and spacious pool, always a hit with kids. Families can take a spin on Fairmont Miramar’s complimentary cruiser bikes or electric scooters to explore the iconic Santa Monica pier, meander through the adjacent Santa Monica Farmers Market, and shop along the iconic Third Street Promenade. FIG Restaurant has a famed executive chef known for his wood-fired prowess and farm-to-fork cuisine, but he’ll also whip up some gourmet ants on a log with homemade cashew butter or pizza for junior diners while parents partake in charcuterie or short ribs, so everyone leaves happy.

Just a few minutes from downtown, but a world away in atmosphere, the plush The Langham Huntington in Pasadena offers views of the mountains, lake, and even formal Japanese gardens from its room windows. Pasadena is known as the home of the petal-filled Tournament of Roses New Year’s Day parade, and the 100 year old Langham offers plenty of floral inspiration across its 23 acres of verdant lawns, gardens, and landscaping.

Inside, you’ll find grand historic ballrooms and very plush guest rooms, including 38 suites. You could also opt for one of eight cottages, which offer a serene stay with private patios, fireplaces, formal dining areas, and contemporary kitchens. Gild the lily with a stay in the two-story Tournament of Roses Suite, which boasts luxe touches such as velvet drape-swagged living room with a baby grand piano, a gourmet kitchen, and a private service entrance.

The award-winning Chuan Spa features treatments inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. Recreational options available include tennis, walking and bicycle routes, and a nearby Nicklaus-designed golf course. Make sure to leave time for High tea, a special treat with fragrant floral arrangements, a classical pianist, towers of delicate pastries and finger sandwiches, and pillows of cream to top buttery scones.

You can truly live the high life at The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles, which soars atop the LA Live complex tower with the penultimate location on floors 22 to 26. On the 24^th floor pool deck, you’ll be able to stare straight up into the bluebird LA skies. The city lies glittering at your feet while you sample the Asian inspired dishes at Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 restaurant, a swanky hangout popular with locals who love the views as much as the delicious food and cocktails.

The hotel is attached to the Nokia Center, where the Academy Awards are held each January, and the public spaces here ooze red carpet opulence – especially the spa, which amps up the glamour factor with a Champagne & Shimmer Body Treatment that combines champagne grape seed oil and 24-karate gold powder into a treatment worthy of golden Oscar statue.

British style flawlessly melds with Southern California sensibility at The London West Hollywood, a 226 all-suite hotel in the heart of Hollywood. Although it’s just a short stroll from the rock and roll atmosphere of the Sunset Strip, The London offers a quiet retreat from the city, with amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, rooftop West End lounge, and a spa so you can hide out all day for a luxe LA staycation if you choose.

Head up to the rooftop pool for panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills while still feeling like you’re in sunny English garden. Tuck away into a private cabana for special seating, televisions, and mini fridges, so you never need to leave the sun. For the ultimate LA meets London stay, check into the 11,000 square foot bi-level penthouse inspired by British design-icon Vivienne Westwood.

Want to watch a Hollywood film in Hollywood? Rent the hotel’s 110-seat cinema for the ultimate in private viewing. The Boxwood restaurant offers a SoCal spin on New American cuisine, plus a bountiful breakfast including local fresh fruits, pastries, and cheese – all complimentary (a rarity in LA).