Best Hotels in Los Angeles: Traffic Sets the Distances, So Choose Your Part of the Sprawl First

The best hotels in Los Angeles are not found in one place, because the city does not have one place. Across 1,169 places to stay, guests average 8.0 out of 10 over 167,136 reviews, and only 258 properties score well above that average. The twelve hotels below all score 9.1 or better. What separates them is geography: the sand of Santa Monica and Hermosa, the marble of Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, the valley side near Universal and Burbank, and the older neighborhoods east of downtown.

That is why we sort by area as well as score. Distances in LA are measured in traffic, and a hotel that is perfect for the ocean is a poor base for a studio tour. The list is ordered by guest rating, weighted by how many reviews sit behind it, with the most reviewed hotels getting the benefit of the doubt over those with a handful of ratings. Each entry says who it is wrong for as well as who it suits.

1. Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills: best for a polished, quiet base

The Four Seasons holds the highest rating in the city's data, 9.6 from 55 reviews, and it is a 5-star on South Doheny Drive on the edge of Beverly Hills. That position matters. You are close to Beverly Hills' shopping streets and to the restaurant strip of West Hollywood, but the block itself is residential and calm.

This is the hotel for a trip where the room is part of the plan: a long weekend, an anniversary, a work trip where you need to sleep well and look presentable. The review count is modest, so treat the score as strong evidence rather than a final word.

Good for: Travelers who want a high-service, low-drama base between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

Keep in mind: The beach is a drive away, so it is the wrong choice for anyone who wants to walk to the sand.

2. Casa Del Mar: best for a luxury stay on Santa Monica's sand

Casa Del Mar scores 9.4 from 42 reviews and sits at 1910 Ocean Way, right where Santa Monica's beach path runs below the bluffs. It is a 5-star in a historic building, with the beach in front and the Santa Monica Pier a short stroll down the shore.

Santa Monica is the easiest big-name LA neighborhood to enjoy without a car. Third Street Promenade, the pier and the coastal path are all here, and Venice is a pleasant bike ride away. The hotel suits couples and anyone who wants the ocean as their main sightseeing.

Good for: Couples and beach-first travelers who want luxury without leaving Santa Monica.

Keep in mind: Hollywood, Griffith Park and the studios are a long, traffic-dependent trip from here.

3. The Peninsula Beverly Hills: best for classic, full-service luxury

The Peninsula is listed as a resort and a 5-star, and its 9.4 from 39 reviews puts it level with Casa Del Mar. It sits on South Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, a short hop from Rodeo Drive and the department stores along Wilshire.

The appeal is the old-school formula: large grounds for the area, attentive service and a calm that the surrounding streets rarely have. It rewards guests who stay in rather than just sleeping and leaving, so it is better for a long weekend than a quick stopover.

Good for: Travelers who want a resort-style stay in the middle of Beverly Hills.

Keep in mind: The score rests on a small review sample, and the area is quiet at night if you want street life.

4. The Garland: best for the valley side and the most reviews of any top scorer

The Garland has the most convincing numbers on the list: 9.3 from 670 reviews, a 4-star on Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. A score that high on that many reviews points to consistency, not a lucky run of guests.

North Hollywood is the practical pick for travelers who plan to do Universal Studios, the Hollywood sights and the Burbank studios, and the NoHo Arts District keeps the surroundings lively without the Hollywood Boulevard crowds. It is also on the Metro line into Hollywood and downtown, which is rare in LA.

Good for: Studio-tour visitors and anyone who wants a high score on a mid-range footing.

Keep in mind: You are inland, so beach days mean a long drive and the surrounding streets are everyday, not glamorous.

5. The Beach House Hotel Hermosa: best for a South Bay beach-town stay

The Beach House Hotel Hermosa is a 4-star at 1300 The Strand, scoring 9.3 from 200 reviews. The Strand is the paved walking and cycling path that runs along the sand in Hermosa Beach, and the hotel sits directly on it.

Hermosa is a surf-and-volleyball beach town, more relaxed and more local than Santa Monica or Venice. The pier, the sand and the evening pub-and-restaurant crowd are all nearby on foot. It is the best pick on the list for a family or couple who wants to unpack and treat the beach as the whole itinerary.

Good for: Beach-focused trips that value a laid-back town over big-city sightseeing.

Keep in mind: It is well south of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and weekend crowds in summer can be loud.

6. Malibu Beach Inn: best for a coastal escape up Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu Beach Inn is a 5-star resort on Pacific Coast Highway, scoring 9.3 from 17 reviews. Malibu is a long, thin coastal town where the road runs along the water, and this stay trades city convenience for the ocean view.

It suits a slow trip: mornings on the beach, drives along PCH, dinner nearby. The review count is small, so we rank it below hotels with larger samples, but the score is high and the position is hard to replicate elsewhere in LA.

Good for: Couples who want a quiet seaside break rather than a city itinerary.

Keep in mind: Malibu is far from most attractions, and the highway can be slow on weekends.

7. Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel: best for Rodeo Drive and a famous address

Beverly Wilshire is a 5-star at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, scoring 9.2 from 92 reviews. It sits at the foot of Rodeo Drive, which makes it the most convenient hotel here for shopping and for walking Beverly Hills.

The ratings hold up on a larger sample than most of its neighbors. It is the better pick for a first luxury stay in LA, since the surroundings are easy to explore on foot and the address is known worldwide.

Good for: Shoppers and first-time visitors who want to walk Beverly Hills.

Keep in mind: It is a city-center luxury stay, not a beach or a retreat, and the neighborhood is quiet after dark.

8. Shutters On The Beach: best for walking Santa Monica from the sand

Shutters On The Beach is a 5-star at 1 Pico Boulevard, scoring 9.2 from 32 reviews. The address puts it on the beach at the southern end of Santa Monica, close to the pier and the beach path toward Venice.

It is a good alternative to Casa Del Mar if you want a similar setting at a slightly different tone, with the same easy walk to the pier and the shops. Both are better for couples than for travelers who want nightlife.

Good for: Beach-and-pier travelers who want Santa Monica's easiest walking.

Keep in mind: Review volume is lower than that of the best-reviewed hotels, and the area is expensive for what is, at heart, a beach town.

9. Sunset Tower Hotel: best for the Sunset Strip and a Hollywood-era feel

Sunset Tower is a 4.5-star at 8358 West Sunset Boulevard, scoring 9.2 from 28 reviews. It stands on the Sunset Strip, the stretch between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills that has anchored LA nightlife for decades.

The location is the draw. West Hollywood's restaurants, bars and shops are close, and the hills above the Strip are a short drive away. It suits guests who want to be in the middle of the evening scene, not far from it.

Good for: Night-out travelers who want the Strip on their doorstep.

Keep in mind: The Strip is busy and traffic-heavy, so it is a poor pick for those who want a peaceful stay.

10. Su Casa at Venice Beach: best for sleeping on the boardwalk

Su Casa at Venice Beach is a serviced apartment property at 431 Ocean Front Walk, scoring 9.1 from 519 reviews. That is a large sample for a stay right on the Venice boardwalk, which is the most reliable sign on the list that guests are satisfied.

Venice is LA at its most mixed: skate park, street performers, Abbot Kinney Boulevard's shops and the canals nearby. You get a kitchen-style apartment setup and a front-row seat for it all. It is the best pick for guests who want to be in the crowd, not above it.

Good for: Independent travelers who want to be on Venice's boardwalk and canals.

Keep in mind: The boardwalk is loud and crowded by day, and it is not a stay for light sleepers or anyone wanting a quiet hotel.

11. The Hills Inn Eagle Rock: best for a high score on a small budget

The Hills Inn Eagle Rock is a 2-star on Colorado Boulevard, scoring 9.3 from 29 reviews. In a list otherwise full of 4- and 5-stars, it is the stay that proves a modest hotel can score at the top.

Eagle Rock sits in northeast Los Angeles, a neighborhood of independent cafes, local bars and everyday streets, closer to Pasadena and Highland Park than to the beach. It rewards travelers who want to see a real LA neighborhood.

Good for: Budget travelers who want an everyday LA neighborhood over a tourist one.

Keep in mind: There are no resort-style amenities and the Westside and the coast are a long drive away.

12. Hilton Arcadia Pasadena Area: best for Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley

Hilton Arcadia Pasadena Area is a 4-star at 123 West Huntington Drive, scoring 9.2 from 33 reviews. Arcadia sits in the San Gabriel Valley, home to some of the best food in Greater Los Angeles, and close to Pasadena's Old Town and the Rose Bowl.

It makes sense for event trips, family visits and travelers who want the San Gabriel Mountains behind them. It is a reliable chain-hotel standard in an area that is easy to drive and park in.

Good for: Pasadena visitors, event-goers and food-focused travelers exploring the San Gabriel Valley.

Keep in mind: It is far from the beaches and Hollywood, so it only works if the trip is centered here.

Where they are

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Tips for booking in Los Angeles

• Choose the area before the hotel. Santa Monica and Venice for the beach, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood for the Strip and shopping, North Hollywood or Burbank for the studios, Pasadena for the east side.
• Plan around traffic, not distance. Even a short trip can take a long time in rush hour, so keep each day to one side of the city.
• Check parking terms before you book. Many LA hotels charge separately for parking, which can change the real cost of a stay.
• Read the review count as well as the score. A 9.6 on 55 reviews and a 9.3 on 670 are both strong, but the larger sample is safer.
• Book early for summer weekends, school holidays and big event weekends, especially at the beach hotels and in Beverly Hills.
• If you plan to see both the coast and Hollywood, consider splitting the stay between two areas for a few nights each, rather than commuting daily.

Sources and further reading

• Visit Los Angeles. Find Things to Do in LA. California Travel Guides: The official Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board site, with attractions, lodging, events and itineraries.
• Tips for Visitors: The City of Los Angeles' official visitor page, with practical tips on what to see and how to get around.