Where To Stay In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a huge metropolitan hub of a city famous for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the grand houses in Beverly Hills and the beautiful Venice Beach and Santa Monica. With so much to experience in the city, deciding where to stay in Los Angeles can be tough. However, choosing the best area will help you make the most of your time and see as many sights as possible.

Fortunately, Los Angeles has a great transit system, meaning you can get around easily. Although cars aren’t recommended, you can also drive, as LA traffic can get very heavy. From the heights of the Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood sign, Mulholland Drive to Muscle Beach, Los Angeles has many neighbourhoods, each with its own charm and attractions. Downtown LA is the heart of the action; West Hollywood and Beverly Hills are filled with beautiful homes and luxury hotels, while the beach neighbourhoods have a great mix of sea, sand and city sights.

Where To Stay In Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is widely regarded as the heart and soul of this coastal city, being a financial and party hub.

There are loads of famous sights here, so if you stay in Downtown, you can walk to many of these easily.

Grand Central Market, a top place to grab a snack, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Staples Centre are some of the best attractions.

It is also where almost all Metro lines stop, so you’ll be well connected to the rest of the city.

Pros:

• The liveliest neighbourhood, with quirky cafes and cool attractions.
• The Downtown is well connected to the rest of the city.
• Great range of hotels, from budget to luxury.

Cons:

• It can be dangerous at night.
• It’s the financial district and there are many office blocks, so it’s not ideal if you want LA beach vibes.
• It’s one of the most popular areas to stay, so expect things to get booked up quickly and to pay for parking spaces.

Best Hotels In Downtown Los Angeles

Luxury

Ritz Carlton – The Ritz Carlton is easily one of the most iconic places to stay if you’re looking for luxury in Downtown LA. Just a short walk from the famous Staples Centre, it boasts a rooftop pool, hot tub and a fantastic bar area with panoramic views over the city. It also has comfy rooms, a spa, restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Mid-range

The Hoxton – The Hoxton is a stunning mid-range hotel with hotels worldwide. The Downtown LA hotel is in an old-style Hollywood building, with its own rooftop pool with a restaurant and bar, another excellent brunch restaurant, sweeping LA views and elegant rooms, just a stone’s throw from Staples Centre and Grand Central Market.

Budget

Freehand LA – It can be hard to get a pool in LA without paying high prices, but Freehand offers incredible value for money. It has a cute rooftop pool with lots of pink deck chairs and a bar, offering 360 views of the city. Plus, spacious rooms (you can also opt for a dorm), a restaurant on site, a lobby bar and a coffee shop.

West Hollywood

West Hollywood is a top spot to base yourself as it is central, has the residential yet luxury feel of nearby Beverly Hills, and is close to many sights.

It is, however, party central, with lots of LA’s coolest bars, restaurants and clubs.

Because it’s more residential, you’ll find plenty of local gems, such as boutique shops, galleries and farmer’s markets.

However, it is only a stone’s throw from major sights such as LACMA, Sunset Strip and Runyon Canyon, which leads to great views over the Hollywood sign.

Pros:

• More residential, so it is often quieter during the day, with lots of local attractions.
• Close to major LA sights and walkable to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
• Has LA’s best nightlife, bars and restaurants.

Cons:

• Noisy in the evenings due to lots of partying!
• Slightly more expensive than other areas.

Best Hotels In West Hollywood

Luxury

The London West Hollywood – For a true taste of luxury in West Hollywood, The London has a classical and expensive feel, with rooftop cabanas, an endlessly stretching swimming pool, complimentary breakfast, fitness centre and restaurants. Rooms are also beautifully designed, with soak tubs and balconies.

Mid-range

Hotel Ziggy – A hotel with a hipster feel, Hotel Ziggy is located in West Hollywood, right on the famous Sunset Strip. All the rooms are quirkily designed with cool artwork and flatscreen TVs, and there is also a great bar onsite.

Budget

Banana Bungalow – Banana Bungalow is a great LA option for those who are happy to stay in a hostel, whether in a dorm or private room. It has its own garden and a communal lounge with a games area, and it is close to the Hollywood Bowl and Griffith Observatory.

For more California ideas, see:

Santa Monica

Many visitors head to Los Angeles for the beach, and Santa Monica is the best place to stay close to the sun, sea and sand.

Not only will you enjoy the ocean on your doorstep, but the beachfront has many of LA’s best restaurants and bars, plus unique sights and events that you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

Santa Monica Pier is probably the area’s most famous attraction, but you will be able to head down to Venice Beach, into the city centre or out on a boat trip.

Unfortunately, it is one of LA’s most expensive neighbourhoods due to its prime location, but it’s worth it to wake up just a few steps from the world’s most famous beaches. 

Pros:

• The beach is beautiful and you’ll be able to take advantage after a day of exploring.
• The beachfront is full of fun things to see and do, plus loads of water sports.

Cons:

• Accommodation can be expensive due to its proximity to the beach.
• Accessible, but it can still take a while to get to Downtown or other parts of LA, particularly if you’re driving.

Best Hotels In Santa Monica

Luxury

Shutters on the Beach – On of Los Angeles’ most famous hotels located right on the beach in Santa Monica, Shutters is LA luxury at its finest. It has two stunning oceanfront restaurants, a spa and an outdoor pool. Rooms are also opulent, with iPod docking stations and Tibetan rugs, and Santa Monica Pier is less than five minutes away.

Mid-range

Ocean Lodge – A very good all-around option in Santa Monica, Ocean Lodge is just a few minutes from the famous Pier. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with either ocean or mountain views, and the lodge is within easy reach of Venice Beach and Palisades Park.

Budget

HI Los Angeles – HI is a hostel in one of the best locations in LA if you need somewhere on a budget. It has modern and comfortable dorms, a pretty central courtyard and dining area, and it’s just a short hop to the Pier and Venice Beach, plus transport links to Disney and central LA.

Venice Beach

If you’re keen on the sound of Santa Monica but the prices aren’t looking ideal, Venice Beach will be perfect for you.

Combine LA’s famous Venice beach and boardwalk with surprisingly affordable hotels, and this is one of the best places to stay in LA.

Venice is full of artists, actors and unusual people, shops and restaurants so there’s always something new happening.

You’re still close to the beach, where you can see locals working out at the famous Muscle Beach gym, plus Santa Monica is just a stroll away. While you can find budget hotels, there are also many excellent hostels here (often with private rooms) that won’t break the bank.

Pros:

• By the beach, but still very affordable
• Close to Santa Monica and other beachfront attractions

Cons:

• It takes a little longer to get to other areas of the city

Best Hotels In Venice Beach

Luxury

Hotel Erwin – For ocean views from your balcony and a beachfront location, Hotel Erwin ticks all the boxes. They have an open-air rooftop lounge with sweeping beach views, an onsite restaurant and most rooms have balconies. Santa Monica Pier and Marina del Rey are just a few minutes away.

Mid-range

Inn at Venice Beach – An affordable hotel with amazing interior design, Inn at Venice Beach is not far from the beach and has cool, modern rooms with flat-screen TVs, some even have spacious living areas. Set back slightly from the beach, it’s a perfect quiet place to base yourself while still being close to the action.

Budget

Venice Beach Hostel – If you don’t mind sharing a dorm, Venice Beach Hostel is the more affordable place to stay in the neighbourhood. With all the usual amenities: comfy beds, storage, laundry and a great American breakfast, plus bicycles for rent. Venice Beach is just two minutes away!

Beverly Hills

Who doesn’t want to stay in Beverly Hills? One of LA’s most exclusive and expensive neighbourhoods, this is the place to stay if you want to see and be seen.

Designer shopping, luxury cars and celebrities are the focus here, so hit some of the shops on the famous Rodeo Drive, and you might spot a famous face.

Beverly Hills is a super fun place to stay because you will often recognise parts of the area from famous movies, plus it is still close to nearby attractions, whether you head down into West Hollywood or up to Echo Park.

Beverly Hills isn’t just designed for the rich, although many of the hotels there are expensive.

You can still find amazing and affordable restaurants and shops or take a tram tour of celebrity houses – get your cameras ready!

Pros:

• A beautiful area with some of the city’s best restaurants and designer shops.
• Super fun neighbourhood for seeing celebrities and stunning LA mansions.

Cons:

• Very expensive, it can be hard to find any sort of budget accommodation unless you book well in advance.

Best Hotels In Beverly Hills

Luxury

The Peninsula – Just 10 minutes from Rodeo Drive, The Peninsula encapsulates Beverly Hills’ exclusive reputation. It has a full onsite spa, multiple restaurants and extremely spacious rooms. The hotel also has a rooftop pool and gym, and you’ll be able to get into the city centre easily.

Mid-range

SIRTAJ – Also just a half mile from shopping on Rodeo Drive, SIRTAJ is a small boutique hotel with its own excellent restaurant and onsite bar. Rooms are full of modern tech accessories, and you’ll find it is within walking distance of every famous sight in Beverly Hills.

Elan Hotel – Another midrange option, as there are few budget hotels in Beverly Hills, Elan is conveniently located amid many shops in Beverly Center. It has comfortable rooms, is just a short walk from the nearby farmer’s market, and has easy links to Downtown LA.

Silver Lake

If you’d rather have somewhere to stay that has loads of character while still being able to easily visit LA’s iconic sights, Silver Lake could be the neighbourhood for you.

It is one of LA’s most up-and-coming areas, with a thriving art scene, live music and more.

It is very much an alternative district, with quirky boutiques, trendy coffee shops and indie music venues.

Many of these begin on the iconic Sunset Boulevard, but many unique bars and vegan restaurants are dotted around too.

In the centre of Silver Lake, you’ll find the manmade reservoir that gave the area its name, while the metro has easy connections to Downtown and the beach.

Pros:

• Very local, quieter and more arty than other neighbourhoods.
• Great live music scene, with lots of lively bars.

Cons:

• It is a little bit further out than if you were staying somewhere central such as Downtown or West Hollywood.

Best Hotels In Silverlake

Upscale

Silver Lake Pool & Inn – A lovely and modern option to stay up budget in Silver Lake, this hotel has its own outdoor swimming pool, bar and pretty gardens. Rooms are minimalist and elegant; breakfast is included and you’re just a short drive from Griffith Park.

Mid-range

The Lexmar – Ideal if you’re catching a game at nearby Dodger’s Stadium, are heading to Universal Studios or just need somewhere clean and modern to stay in Silver Lake. It has affordable and spacious rooms with free WiFi, and you can get to the beaches or Downtown quickly via the Metro.

Budget

Super 8 by Wyndham – You can rarely go wrong with a Wyndham, as they’re affordable, comfy and clean and Super 8 in Silver Lake is no different. Located slightly closer to Downtown, meaning easy access to famous sights, it has a grab-and-go breakfast included in the room rate, free parking, and is close to Dodger’s Stadium, Chinatown and the Walk of Fame.