As one of the largest cities in America, if not the world, knowing the best areas to stay in Los Angeles is something that can easily make or break your trip.
From beachfront paradises to hilltop hideaways for the rich and famous, the range of neighbourhoods on offer in Los Angeles is incredibly diverse.
With LA’s notoriously bad traffic, if you book a hotel on the opposite side of the city to the attractions you are coming to see, you are likely to spend as much time driving as you do enjoying your stay.
So, if you want to ensure you find a location that allows you to enjoy every second of your visit to “Tinseltown”, I highly recommend reading on.
Los Angeles: The City At A Glance
While the area on which Los Angeles sits was first settled in 1781, Los Angeles officially became a city in 1835. In the time since then, it has grown to be the second most populous city in the United States, as well as the 8th largest in the contiguous U.S by area.
In the early 1900s the city was at the centre of the movie boom, with production companies all vying for space in what was to become one of the most competitive markets on earth. To this day it maintains that reputation, accepted by many as the entertainment capital of the world.
Located in southern California, on the Pacific coast, it is well known for its fabulous climate and stunning beaches, as well as being a vibrant hub of celebrities and people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, people travel from all over the world to visit La La Land, as it is affectionately known. With a peak of 50 million visitors in 2018, it is the second most visited city in America, behind only New York City.
Best Time To Visit Los Angeles
One of the biggest selling points of LA is that it offers beautiful temperatures year-round, meaning there isn’t really a best time to visit Los Angeles. However, there is one period I would recommend avoiding, that being from late August to the end of October.
The reasoning for this suggestion is that this is the period when wildfires are at their greatest risk in southern California. While they don’t usually reach down into the city itself, they can cause significant disruption to your trip.
People being displaced from their homes in the hills can cause chaos in the city, while the smoke often has an impact on flights in and out of Los Angeles. So, while this is by no means a “no-go” period, it is still worth avoiding if you don’t have a specific time you need to take your trip.
Best Areas To Stay In Los Angeles
As we move on to our list of the best areas to stay in Los Angeles, I am now going to suggest a few options. Each will be ideal for some of the most common needs people have when travelling.
Hollywood (Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles For Tourists & Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles For The First Time)
Hollywood is undoubtedly one of the most famous neighbourhoods in the world and is usually the first place people think about when it comes to Los Angeles.
This easily qualifies it as the best place to stay in Los Angeles for the first time, as it offers almost everything you will be expecting to see. Located at the heart of the city, Hollywood is an area synonymous with the movie industry around the world.
Virtually as soon as movie theatres came into existence, many of the largest production companies set up shop in Hollywood, due to the pleasant weather on offer all year round.
To this day, almost all of the major players in the industry have studios here, most of which offer guided tours around their lots. This makes it an ideal destination for movie fans to come and learn more about the inner workings of the business.
The movie madness in Hollywood isn’t just reserved for the studios either.
For starters, the surrounding areas are some of the most popular places to shoot outdoor scenes, meaning there is a good chance fans can spot some of the locations from their favourite films and shows.
You then have the famous Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Stretching along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, the Hollywood Walk Of Fame is where legends of the entertainment industry are honoured and immortalised.
Gold stars are inserted into the sidewalk, featuring their name and an icon to signify what part of the industry they worked in. These include audio recording and music, broadcast radio, broadcast television, motion pictures, and theatre and live performance.
In rare instances, some people are even awarded multiple stars, to signify their impact across multiple industries. To date, Gene Autry is the only person to receive a star in every category.
The Walk Of Fame is a great place to take a walk and try to get a picture of your favourite star’s star, while walking past some of the city’s most iconic institutions.
The Walk Of Fame also leads up to a similar attraction at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Opened in 1922, the Chinese Theater is one of the most iconic theatres in the world.
Designed to resemble a Chinese pagoda, it has hosted countless prestigious events through the years, such as numerous Academy Awards ceremonies. It was the first movie theatre in the world to feature air conditioning and to this day has one of the largest screens in North America.
As much as the iconic façade of the theatre is an attraction in its own right, it is the Hollywood Handprints in front of it that draws in the majority of the visitors.
Around 200 celebrities have placed their footprints, handprints, and autographs in cement blocks over the years, usually with elaborate ceremonies when they do so. This gives you the opportunity to see how you measure up next to Hollywood legends, both past and present.
While the Chinese Theatre no longer hosts the Academy Awards, they still take place at the adjacent Dolby Theatre.
So, if you happen to be around on the night of the Oscars or the premiere of a blockbuster movie, you still have a chance to catch a glimpse of some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
Speaking of which, truly dedicated fans will enjoy the tour buses that take groups of tourists to the homes of celebrities that live in the area, giving you a chance to see how the other half live in person.
Elsewhere around Hollywood, you will then find countless other famous locations to explore. You have bars like the Whiskey A Go Go and the Troubadour, where legends including Motley Crue and Elton John made their names.
The Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Hollywood Heritage Museum will help you learn more about the area’s past. The Hollywood Wax Museum and Madame Tussauds Hollywood will let you see faithful recreations of some of the world’s most famous celebrities.
Those actually looking to attend an event have iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Palladium, and El Capitan Theatre to choose from.
Meanwhile, the countless souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants give you plenty of places to dine, drink, and pick up a keepsake of your adventure.
While technically located in the hills above Hollywood, as opposed to in the neighbourhood itself, no trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a trip to the legendary Hollywood Sign.
Originally erected as an advertisement for the Hollywoodland real estate company, it is one of the most iconic locations on the planet and a can’t miss photo opportunity for anyone visiting LA.
With so much to see and do in a single area, it is no wonder Hollywood is considered the best place to stay in Los Angeles for tourists.
Stay In Hollywood If:
You want most of the city’s most famous locations within walking distance
You want to explore the Hollywood Walk Of Fame
You want to see the Hollywood Sign
You are attending the Academy Awards or a movie premiere
You want to take a tour around a movie studio or the houses of local celebrities
Nightlife is a priority
Best Hotel To Stay In Hollywood – The Hollywood Roosevelt
The Hollywood Roosevelt is a fabulous, 4-star hotel, perfectly positioned on the Walk Of Fame. Set directly across from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, it keeps you right in the thick of the action.
From the heated, Olympic size outdoor pool, state of the art fitness centre, and vintage bowling lanes, to a massage garden and choice of 5 onsite bars and restaurants, you will have plenty of options whether you want to stay active or relax.
Each of the spacious guest rooms is designed by the renowned Yabu Pushelberg team.
They feature luxuries like a minibar, flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning, as well as high-end furnishings, plush bedding and bathrobes, and free toiletries, to guarantee your every need is catered to throughout your stay.
Beverly Hills (Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles For Couples & Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles With A Car)
Located just to the west of Hollywood, connected by the world-famous Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills is one of the most affluent, upmarket areas in all of the United States.
A vibrant hub of celebrities, socialites, and the rich and famous, it is the best area to stay in Los Angeles for couples who want to truly spoil themselves and have a romantic getaway.
The heart of Beverly Hills is centred around an area known as Downtown Beverly Hills or “The Golden Triangle”. This is the part of Beverly Hills where you will find most of its most famous streets, packed full of iconic locations and things to do and see.
Perhaps the most famous is Rodeo Drive, a 2-mile-long street known primarily for a 3-block stretch filled with high-end boutiques. Considered the heart of the US Fashion industry, in addition to the stores you will also find the Rodeo Drive Walk Of Style.
The Walk Of Style features markers dedicated to people who have made important contributions to the costume, design, and fashion industries.
There are also a number of style-based festivals held here each year. These include the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, the Rodeo Drive Festival Of Watches And Jewellery, and Fashion’s Night Out.
Beverly Drive is where you will find most of the more traditional, upscale retailers, such as Pottery Barn, Sephora, or The Gap. Meanwhile, Wilshire Boulevard is where the only department stores in Beverly Hills are located, those being Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
While there are also a handful of restaurants on Beverly Drive, the bulk of the dining establishments in Beverly Hills are located on either Canon or Crescent Drive.
Iconic restaurants such as celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s “Spago” make this the ideal place to dine among the rich and famous a treat yourself to one of the best meals you will get anywhere in Los Angeles.
Towards the far end of Canon and Crescent Drive, as well as surrounding streets like Bedford, Camden, Linden, and Roxbury Drive, you will start to find smaller stores, primarily aimed at the local residents.
This makes it the ideal place for a slightly more relaxed shopping experience, where you can buy high-end goods, as well as everyday essentials, without being mobbed by groups of tourists.
Being a little further from the centre of the city, parking is also much easier in Beverly Hills, making it perhaps the best area to stay in Los Angeles with a car.
This means you can easily enjoy some of the city’s other neighbourhoods like Hollywood too, as well as the attractions in the surrounding area. Perhaps the best of these is the La Brea Tar Pits, located immediately on the outskirts of Beverly Hills.
A National Natural Landmark, the La Brea Tar Pits feature pools of tar that have seeped up through the ground over thousands of years. Present since the prehistoric era, they are filled with fossils of creatures long since extinct.
With interactive displays on animals like the Wolly Mammoth, new fossils being unearthed all the time, and the George C. Page Museum, it is a great place to learn about the vast history of the Los Angeles area.
Stay In Beverly Hills If:
Shopping is a priority during your trip
You are a couple seeking a romantic getaway
You are travelling with a car
You aren’t worried about money
You want a high-end location, where you can rub shoulders with celebrities and socialites
You are interested in the history of Los Angeles
You are a fan of fashion
Best Hotel To Stay In Beverly Hills – The Beverly Hills Hotel – Dorchester Collection
The Beverly Hills Hotel – Dorchester Collection is a world-famous, 5-star hotel, which perfectly combines both style and history.
Opened in 1912, it was built just 5 years after the first home in Beverly Hills was constructed and 2 years before the area was officially incorporated as a city.
With 210 guest rooms and 23 bungalows, it is a renowned hideaway for Hollywood stars or those looking to spoil themselves for a few nights.
Located on Sunset Boulevard, it is known as the “Pink Palace” due to its iconic pink and green exteriors, and was the inspiration for the legendary Eagles track “Hotel California".
Among the attractions of the hotel are a full-service spa, as well as a fabulous outdoor pool boasting underwater music, private cabanas, and poolside service. There is also a fully equipped fitness centre, which provides free fruit, juice, and water, to help you power though your workouts.
On-site dining options include The Polo Lounge, a restaurant popular with celebrities and Hollywood elites, as well as the Fountain Coffee Room, which boasts a 1950s style, and a poolside bar called the Cabana Café.
The rooms are all exquisitely designed and boast marble bathrooms, as well as luxuries like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a TV, and a minibar.
The suites are designed in a manner that pays homage to the history and reputation of the hotel, while the bungalows are all inspired by famous guests who have previously stayed in them.
Santa Monica (Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles By The Beach & Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles For Families)
Santa Monica is a community in western Los Angeles, featuring some of the most popular beaches in and around the city.
It is the best area to stay in Los Angeles by the beach for anyone who is looking for long stretches of golden sand, with plenty of things to do and see in close proximity.
The beaches themselves sprawl for miles in either direction. Some sections are notoriously busy, surrounded by amenities and abundant with beach vendors, activities, and accessories.
Meanwhile, others generally remain a lot quieter, giving you plenty of places to go and spend a relaxing day. This makes Santa Monica ideal for beach lovers of all types.
Whether you want to spend your days lazing in the sand, topping up your tan, or frolicking in the water, you a guaranteed to find an area to suit you here.
Perhaps the best-known attraction of Santa Monica is the Santa Monica Pier. Stretching out 1,600 feet into the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica Pier is a popular destination filled with food vendors and street performers, as well as stores selling souvenirs, fishing equipment, and surf gear.
In the middle of the pier, you have the Pacific Park amusement park. With a selection of rides that includes its iconic solar panelled Ferris wheel, it is a great place to have fun for all the family.
The rides aren’t all reserved for Pacific Park either, as you will find the Santa Monica Pier Carousel, a stunning, 1920s hippodrome carousel, at the front of the pier.
Next to the carousel, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium houses a collection of more than 700 animals for visitors to see and learn about.
For those seeking a slightly different interaction with the local wildlife, the Santa Monica Pier Fishing Platform at the far end of the pier allows anglers and fishermen to make use of all the equipment available in the surrounding stores.
The pier is even a popular destination for motor enthusiasts, as it is the meeting point of two of the most famous roads in the United States.
The legendary Route 66 terminates at Santa Monica Pier, and there are numerous markers and signs related to the road, as well as places to buy souvenirs dedicated to it.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Coast Highway, which starts a few miles south of Santa Monica, passes through as well. This makes Santa Monica a fabulous place to stay for anyone keen on taking a road trip on either of both of these roads.
To the south of the pier, you have a 1.6 mile stretch that incorporates part of the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Here, visitors can stroll between the two locales, browsing in unique shops, enjoying entertainment from the wide collection of street performers, and taking in the incredible murals and street art on display.
The boardwalk is particularly popular with those who like to stay in shape, and is a popular destination for joggers, roller skaters, and cyclists. There are even places to rent a bike for the day, so visitors can get in on the act themselves.
Speaking of the fitness community, one of the prime reasons Santa Monica’s popularity exploded in the first place was due to the bodybuilding boom of the 70s. This is where legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger trained to become world champions and international icons.
Committed weightlifters still come in their droves, either to train themselves or to see some of the top performers of all generations, many of whom still work out here.
Muscle Beach is located just beside the Santa Monica Pier and is an outdoor gym, where lifters can train in the sun while onlookers marvel at their incredible feats.
Meanwhile, Gold’s Gym Venice Beach is still considered “the mecca of bodybuilding” and is where anyone who is dedicated to the sport wants to train at least once.
While Santa Monica is best known for its oceanfront attractions, it also has plenty to offer away from the water as well.
Downtown Santa Monica is a hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment, with options to suit all tastes and budgets. No matter what you are looking for, you will have options to ensure you are well looked after throughout your stay.
When combined with its beautiful beaches and attractions, this makes Santa Monica the best area to stay in Los Angeles for families. You will have everything you need to relax and be entertained, without having to worry about dragging the kids all over town.
Stay In Santa Monica If:
You are a fan of bodybuilding or are into fitness
You are a motor enthusiast or are on a road trip
Spending time at the beach is the main goal of your trip
You are travelling with family
You want to explore Santa Monica Pier or the Venice Beach Boardwalk
You want a great range of shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, and amenities
You want to have fun at Pacific Park or the surrounding amusements
Best Hotel To Stay In Santa Monica – Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is a stunning, 5-star beach resort, overlooking both Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean. The rooms themselves feature a chic, contemporary style, complete with their own balconies.
Luxuries like Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat screen televisions, and a minibar will help maximise the enjoyment you have when in your room, while room service can also be ordered from any of the property’s dining options.
The 4th floor pool deck is ideal for those who enjoy the ocean views but aren’t a fan of the beach to take a swim or top up their tan, without missing out on their surroundings. It even features 13 campfire style fire pits, so is an equally beautiful place to relax of an evening as well.
Similarly, the on-site restaurant and coffee house will take care of all your food and drink needs, both night and day. Meanwhile, a choice of outdoor and indoor meeting facilities will take care of all your business needs just as well.
The expansive fitness centre is perfect for those coming to Santa Monica for its standing in the fitness community and even features personal trainers to really help you push yourself.
Downtown Los Angeles (Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles On A Budget & Best Area To Stay In Los Angeles Without A Car)
While the downtown area tends to be the central attraction in many American cities, Downtown Los Angeles often gets overlooked, due to the more famous locations surrounding it.
The central business district of Los Angeles, it is broken up into neighbourhoods based on what they are historically known for.
These include the Arts, Civic Center, Fashion, Financial, Flower, Jewellery, Theatre, Toy, and Warehouse Districts, as well as Little Tokyo and the Historic Core.
While the area went into a steep decline in the 1950s, it has been experiencing a revival since the early 2000s. Historic buildings have begun being transformed into luxury apartments, hotels, retail outlets, and businesses.
As a result, it makes Downtown Los Angeles the best area to stay in Los Angeles on a budget.
While not the overall cheapest part of the city, it has more value options for accommodation than many of the more famous neighbourhoods. Combined with the quantity of amenities and attractions on offer, this makes it a destination that offers incredible value.
Perhaps the most visited attraction in Downtown Los Angeles is the Staples Center. A 21,000-seater indoor arena, it plays host to many of the major concerts, shows, and sporting events that take place in Los Angeles.
It is also the permanent home of the Clippers and Lakers of the NBA and the Kings of the NHL. This makes staying nearby a great option for anyone coming to Los Angeles to watch a basketball or ice hockey game.
In front of the Staples Center, you also have Star Plaza, where statues of some of the most famous sports stars in Los Angeles history are displayed.
It includes statues of Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Luc Robitaille, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Oscar De La Hoya, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wayne Gretzky, among others.
The Historic Core is another of Downtown Los Angeles most popular draws.
The largest concentration of movie palaces and former department stores and office blocks in the world, it gives visitors the opportunity to catch a show while taking in an abundance of stunning early 20th century architecture.
In fact, the Broadway Theater District located within the area is the oldest and largest theatre district listed on the National Register Of Historic Places, with 12 movie palaces located in a 6-block radius, as well as additional theatres in the surrounding areas.
It is also the only remaining large concentration of movie palaces left anywhere in the United States.
You then have the nearby Little Tokyo Historic District, the cultural centre for Japanese Americans in southern California, and the home of the largest Japanese population anywhere in North America.
With art galleries, gardens, museums, and theatres, as well as countless Japanese shopping and dining outlets, Little Tokyo is a fabulous place to learn more about the history, culture, and cuisine of the Japanese people, while picking up some fantastic souvenirs at the same time.
Aside from the specific attractions, Downtown Los Angeles also features an incredible collection of amenities like shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels, making it an incredibly convenient destination for visitors to stay.
It is also the main hub of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, as well as having connections to the Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink networks.
This means it is incredibly easy for visitors staying in Downtown Los Angeles to explore the rest of the city, as well as get in and out of town if you are travelling by train from somewhere else in southern California.
Combined with the direct shuttle links to LAX Los Angeles International Airport, it makes Downtown Los Angeles the best area to stay in Los Angeles without a car.
Stay In Downtown Los Angeles If:
You don’t plan to use a car and want great public transport links
You are travelling on a budget
You want to explore the largest concentration of movie palaces in the world
You are interested in Japanese culture
You are attending a basketball or ice hockey game, or another event at the Staples Center
You are a fan of historic buildings
You want a great selection of bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels within walking distance
Best Hotel To Stay In Downtown Los Angeles – Omni Los Angeles Hotel California Plaza
The Omni Los Angeles Hotel California Plaza is a picturesque hotel, located atop the historic bunker hill. Its opulent interiors and grand style make it the perfect representation of everything Downtown Los Angeles stands for.
The on-site restaurant offers Neo Bistro cuisine in a romantic setting, while the bar boasts a menu featuring a wide range of martinis and wines, all of which can be enjoyed while taking in the stunning views from the outdoor patio.
There is also the Club Lounge, where guests can enjoy breakfast each morning, as well as cocktails and hors d’oeuvres of an evening.
Spa services and a 24-hour front desk ensure you stay relaxed and taken care of throughout your stay, while a fitness centre and heated outdoor pool are perfect for more active guests.
There is also a free sedan shuttle service that will take guests anywhere within a 3-mile radius of the hotel.
The rooms themselves are exquisitely designed with deep blues and browns, as well as granite and marble fittings.
The comfortable furnishings blend with luxurious extras like a lighted makeup mirror, plush bathrobes, a 42-inch flat screen TV, coffee maker, hairdryer, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi.
This all combines to create a destination that feels like a real treat from the beginning to end of your stay.
Conclusion
Los Angeles is a fabulous city that has more than earned its reputation as one of the best places to visit in not just the United States but the entire world.
While the people and places found throughout the city are both incredibly diverse, this article should have given you more than enough information on the best areas to stay in Los Angeles to ensure your dream vacation to the city of angels goes exactly as you planned it.
Now, with the incredible number of people that visit LA each year, you need to make sure you start getting things booked as quickly as possible, so you don’t risk missing out to someone else.
