Once home to Harlow, Gable, Marilyn, and even reclusive Howard Hughes, the Sunset Tower began life in 1929 as a luxury apartment building. Today it is 15 stories of Art Deco glory rising above Sunset Boulevard. In reviving it in 2005, hotelier Jeff Klein preserved the elegance of a more glamorous era. Stars of this era flock here again today, but you’d never know it—that’s the way they want it. Road-weary tourists receive the same gracious service as the biggest star—front desk staffers call you by name, and the Tower Bar’s cocktails are delivered by waiters in white jackets to the soft strains of a piano. Some competitors have larger rooms, but none more tasteful than these. Subtle art-deco accents echo the building’s exterior, furnishings are gleaming wood and brass, and muted colors leave the spectacle to the floor-to-ceiling windows (south-facing rooms have fantastic city views). The hotel’s Argyle Spa is widely considered one of Los Angeles’ best. The pool is small, but it has one of the best views of any in the area, and the modern fitness room is open 24 hours.