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The Best Luxury Hotels
Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows (9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills; tel. 800/283-8885): Spending at least 1 night at this Hollywood icon is well worth the heavy hit to your credit card. Take afternoon tea in the famous Polo Lounge next to Ozzy Osbourne, swim laps in the same pool Katharine Hepburn once dove into fully clothed, and eat pancakes in the fabled Fountain Coffee Shop. Ah, yes, The Pink Palace is still the place to relive Hollywood's Golden Age.
Chateau Marmont (8221 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; tel. 800/242-8328): Modeled after an elegant Loire Valley castle, the 1920s-era Chateau oozes Old Hollywood. Secreted above the Sunset Strip, it has ghosts from the past that include Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn, Natalie Wood, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow.
Sunset Tower Hotel (8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; tel. 800/225-2637): Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra -- they've all been tenants at the storied Sunset Tower Hotel. The Tower has everything you could hope for in a Los Angeles hotel: elegance, impeccable service, beautiful views, Deco-era decor, and the ideal Sunset Strip location.
Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles (506 S. Grand Ave., Downtown; tel. 800/245-8673): Eye-poppingly magnificent, the Biltmore has been hosting royalty, U.S. presidents, and international celebs since 1923. You've seen it in Chinatown, Ghostbusters, Bugsy, and Beverly Hills Cop -- now see it for real.
The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills (125 S. Spalding Dr., Beverly Hills; tel. 800/463-4466): You'll want to redecorate your own bedroom by the time you check out of this gorgeous boutique hotel. Huge rainforest showerheads, Frette linens, Bulgari bath products, Wolfgang Puck refreshments, and piles of pillows all add up to hotel heaven. It's the perfect blend of art, luxury, service, prime location, and value.
Shutters on the Beach (1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica; tel. 800/334-9000): If a luxurious oceanfront room at Shutters doesn't add romance to your relationship, it's hard to imagine what will. It's like staying at a really rich friend's East Coast beach house.
Casa del Mar (1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica; tel. 800/898-6999): This impeccably restored Renaissance Revival-style hotel is the grande dame of L.A.'s beachfront hotels, ideally situated in the main Santa Monica scene and offering panoramic views of the ocean from every room. Be sure to book the "All About Me" spa package for ultimate indulgence.
Huntley Santa Monica Beach (1111 2nd St., Santa Monica; tel. 310/394-5454): Tucked away on the edge of a quiet Santa Monica neighborhood is my favorite Santa Monica hotel, one that combines a superb location with excellent service and strikingly stylish decor. The Huntley's 18th-floor Penthouse restaurant, bar, and lounge has the best nightlife scene in Santa Monica.
The Ambrose (1255 20th St., Santa Monica; tel. 310/315-1555): Take a break from the fast-paced L.A. scene at this stylish 77-room boutique Arts and Crafts hideaway that offers a soothing, peaceful environment -- tranquil Japanese garden, koi pond, trickling fountains -- and plenty of free perks (including complimentary London taxi shuttle service).
Raffles L'Ermitage (9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills; tel. 800/768-9009). The melding of luxury, service, and business perks is incomparable. Extra-large executive work desks, personal cellphones, and complimentary stationery with your personal direct-dial number printed on it are all part of the package.
Beach House at Hermosa Beach (1300 The Strand, Hermosa Beach; tel. 888/895-4559): Romance-seeking couples will never want to leave this beautiful boutique resort offering plush, luxury-laden studio suites. Book one overlooking the sand and sunbathers for the ultimate beach getaway.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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