Petit Ermitage – 8822 Cynthia St., West Hollywood – An eccentric alternative to the homogeneous luxury hotel scene, Petit Ermitage caters to a five-star-seeking clientele in an unconventional atmosphere. The 80-suite boutique takes cues from around the globe: Suites have a decidedly European vibe, while a “fire deck” for outdoor film screenings looks like it was plucked straight out of Morocco. Though the property positions itself as a “bohemian” enclave for “gypsies and wanderers,” don’t be fooled-it also houses an impressive collection of masterpieces by Joan Miro, Robert Rauschenberg, and Salvador Dali.
Nobu Ryokan – 22752 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu – Sushi master-turned-hotelier Nobu Matsuhisa is bringing Japanese hospitality to So Cal with his soon-to-open Nobu Ryokan. Once completed, the 18-room property-situated just steps from Nobu’s eponymous restaurant-will resemble a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan.
The Line – 3515 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown – You’d be hard-pressed to find a hotel as effortlessly hip as the Line. Since opening in early 2014, the industrial-meets-modem boutique has managed to put Korea town on the map as one of L.A.’s most buzzed-about neighborhoods. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Hollywood Hills and the Griffith Observatory, but the food and beverage offerings are arguably the Line’s greatest selling point: There’s a killer cocktail program (including the ’80s-themed speakeasy Break Room 86), plus two restaurants and a cafe, all helmet by Kogi barbecue king Roy Choi.
Chateau Marmont – 8221 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood – Between the literati who’ve penned novels here (Hunter S. Thompson, F. Scott Fitzgerald) and the rock stars and starlets who’ve moved in (Jim Morrison, Lindsay Lohan), the Chateau has cemented its status as the leading lady of L.A.’s hotel scene since opening’ in 1929. It’s an intimate yet high-profile haunt on the Sunset Strip with 63 accommodations, including’ bungalows, suites, and penthouses, each designed to give guests the feeling’ of Old Hollywood in a setting’ that’s more relevant than ever.
The London West Hollywood – 1020 North San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood – If you’re looking’ for the largest hotel suite in town, you’ll find it at the London West Hollywood. The property’s 11,000-square-foot penthouse (which starts at $15,000 a night) has two bedrooms and a bar, plus a sprawling roof-deck with 360-degree views, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit, and a rooftop shower. The standard suites, while not as over-the-top, are still some of West Hollywood’s best, and the hotel’s poolside cabanas offer an idyllic urban escape.
Sunset Marquis – 1200 Alta Loma Rd., West Hollywood – Staying at the Sunset Marquis is essentially a rite of passage for Hollywood musicians; the hotel has hosted rock ’n’ roll royalty like U2, Aerosmith, and the Rolling Stones. But common folk (or more specifically, common folk who appreciate the finer thing’s) will feel right at home here, too. The verdant, 3.5-acre property has 152 Mediterranean-style villas and a perfectly executed tagline: “Rock star to your left. Famous actor to your right. You’re either at the Sunset Marquis or in a rehab center.”
