Downtown Los Angeles is home to a diverse patchwork of neighborhoods, stretching from Little Tokyo to Chinatown to the Arts District – and each is also home to an equally dynamic array of hotels.
LessThe Ace Hotel is set in the historic United Artists Building, which was built in the 1920s. Rooms have a minimalist approach – set with raw concrete beams, Mondrian-style duvets and thoughtful details such as organic mattresses and original works by local artists. Suites, on the other hand, are a musician’s dream and come with the added perks of an acoustic Martin guitar and Ace x Rega RP1 turntable.
Sports fans and concert-goers can conveniently stay the night right next to the Staples Center in the LA Live entertainment complex. It’s also close to a wide array of sports bars and eateries, including Yard House and Katsuya, as well as a bowling alley, a movie theater and the Grammy Museum. The 4.5-star JW Marriott features an elegant lobby, a sun-drenched pool and patio, a host of dining options and a luxury spa with special CBD treatments.
The 1926 Spanish colonial-era building first housed a women-only YWCA hostel, and it has remained an inclusive and significant locale for the creatives and intellectuals of Downtown LA. Hotel Figueroa has an impressive art collection, with temporary and permanent pieces from local sculptors, photographers, painters and mixed-media artists. It’s impossible to miss the hotel’s emblematic floral mural that rises from behind the unusual coffin-shaped pool.
You may recognize the Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles hotel from one of the numerous blockbuster movies and TV shows filmed here. The glitz of Old Hollywood comes to life with marble columns, painted ceilings and sparkling chandeliers, making the lobby alone worthy of a sightseeing stop. Guests can relax in the sauna, steam room and indoor pool, or enjoy afternoon tea at Rendezvous Court, an interior space with high wood-beam ceilings, marble fountains and a baroque double staircase.
Located at the center of Downtown LA’s Financial District, the NoMad Hotel has the neoclassical facade of what used to be the headquarters of the Bank of Italy. It’s distinctly Italian throughout, with grand marble tables and terrazzo floors. Blue and gold guest rooms are decorated with original art, while freestanding pedestal baths and custom-made argan toiletries wait in the bathrooms. The tropical rooftop pool is a particular highlight.
The upscale Hotel Indigo features luxe amenities – bath products by Jonathan Adler and a private limo service, among others. Pets are treated like VIPs, too, with a special “doggie happy-hour menu” that includes homemade ice cream. The rooms dazzle at night with views of the city lights and feature artworks that glorify the wild LA nightlife and the Downtown neighborhood.
The InterContinental exudes next-level glamour with its polished facade, glitzy ballrooms and futuristic fitness center. The towering structure is the highest building in the West Coast – pull up a tulip-shaped seat next to the fire pits of Spire 73 (aptly named after its 73rd-floor setting), sip on zesty cocktails and take in unobstructed views of the glittering city. For dinner, choose from a sushi bar, French steakhouse and a unique farm-to-table dining experience.
Freehand Los Angeles occupies the former Commercial Exchange building Downtown – once home to the publishing house that birthed literary creations such as Tarzan. Inside, a jungle-like lobby is peppered with potted cacti and a menagerie of ornamental wooden creatures alongside an Aztec-style bar. Rooms range from shared dorms with cedar bunk-beds to sprawling loft suites with woven wall hangings and king-size beds.
The LA Grand Hotel Downtown caters to every type of traveler, but is most enticing for guests who want to visit the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Grand Park, the Broad and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The popular Grand Central Market offers fast cuisine from around the world and is also within walking distance. In terms of amenities, the hotel features in-room kitchenettes and wet bars, an impressive health club and an outdoor heated swimming pool for guests to enjoy.
The Hoxton is in a pale honey-hued Beaux Arts building that has seen life as a railway headquarters, garment manufacturer and candy shop before becoming a hip hotel. Inside are all manner of treasures – a rooftop pool is overlooked by sage sofas and fringed poufs, and bookended by the hotel’s Mediterranean-inspired bar and restaurant, Pilot.