Located in West Hollywood, perched on the famous neon-lined Sunset Boulevard, the Mondrian is right in the heart of Tinseltown. The location not only means that many of the area’s best sites, restaurants and shops are on your doorstep, but being at the foot of the Hollywood Hills also means unparalleled views. Drink it all in, cocktail in hand, at the uber-cool rooftop Skybar, which is one of the best spots in town.

An otherworldly structure inside and out, Sunset Tower wouldn’t look out of place in a Wes Anderson movie. The best place to bask in the ethereal atmosphere is up on the rooftop, where candy-striped sunloungers line a deep-turquoise pool with clam-like umbrellas floating above. From here, far-reaching views of the city unfold and you can marvel at the beauty of Hollywood over a sunset drink, though the Tower Bar and restaurant and a select few rooms have equally captivating views.

The decor at SIXTY Beverly Hills makes the hotel feel more NYC than LA. Its rooftop could also rival many in the Big Apple, although with the City of Angels-esque addition of an enormous pool. While the best views inevitably improve the higher up you are, all rooms come equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows – the vistas of the city’s quintessential palm tree-lined streets are particularly atmospheric at golden hour.

With sustainability at its core, 1 Hotel West Hollywood, is soothing and nature-inspired. Complimentary electric cars are on hand to zip you around the city, much of the hotel was built using recycled materials and there’s a focus on farm-to-table food at all the eateries, making this one of the city’s most eco-friendly stays. The sustainable sensibilities are reflected in the earthen-toned rooms, which have floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of the city.

The fuschia sunloungers around the rooftop pool are a dreamy spot to bask in LA’s honey-hued sunsets. The views here are decidedly more metropolitan than you’ll find in and around Hollywood, but no less impressive. If striking architecture, contemporary art museums and historic food halls pique your interest more than sun and surf, Downtown is where you should base yourself. And there’s hardly a better place to round off a day than with a cocktail at Freehand’s boho rooftop bar, Broken Shaker.

Set in the 1920s United Artists Theatre, the Spanish-gothic details of the Ace Hotel’s facade have been fully refurbished, while an artfully eclectic interior blends industrial elements with chic furniture. But the best bit is arguably the pool area and Upstairs Bar, a spot that’s often buzzing with locals who flock to its patio for day parties with DJs and night-time cocktail hours against a backdrop of sparkling Downtown views.

With stylish and high-end design, the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown offers an elevated experience for travelers. Head straight for the 70th-floor lobby, where you’ll get your first taste of the hotel’s phenomenal views. Depending when you arrive, your second port of call should be the 73rd floor, which is home to the tallest bar in the western hemisphere, or one of the cabanas up on the open-air pool deck – both of which offer equally impressive panoramas.

LA evokes images of hotels on the sand, waking up to the lapping of the waves and the sea breeze through your window; and there’s no more a beloved waterfront spot than Shutters on the Beach. The elegant rooms, ONE Spa and 1 Pico restaurant were all designed by Michael Smith, who designed the private quarters of the White House for Obama, and areas of the hotel have been featured in shows such as Entourage.

Located on the beach in Santa Monica and offering trendy bathrooms with Italian marble and multi-jet tubs, a stay at boutique hotel Casa Del Mar is difficult to beat. Designer Michael Smith also had a hand in the hotel’s decor, though some aspects of this early 20th-century property long predated him – including the entrance, which features a sweeping staircase under an iron chandelier and stained-glass window.

Built in 1929, Chateau Marmont casts a striking figure above Sunset Boulevard and has welcomed everyone from Robert De Niro to Lindsay Lohan. Loosely modeled after a French chateau, the interiors are European in style, contrasting mid-century furnishings with Edwardian-style interiors. The pool is reserved for guests, and while it’s petite at best, it’s also prime celeb-spotting turf. Sitting high above West Hollywood, this castle on the hill comes, unsurprisingly, with brilliant views of LA.