The stunning, Philippe Starck-designed SLS Beverly Hills has slashed its rates by 30 percent.
In sunny Los Angeles, even the hotels are slimming down for summer: Seven of the city’s chicest hotels have shed up to 30% off their usual prices. So whether you’re seeking hot spot bars, high design, or a rooftop pool that’s open all night, you can sleep in style, for less.
$415 $290/night $122/night (30%) 4.5 Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Los Angeles
The Philippe Starck-designed SLS, opened in 2008, may dazzle — and possibly overwhelm — the senses with capital-D design. The rooms are sleek, luxurious, and spacious; its gym is enormous, and restaurants by Spanish chef Jose Andres are praiseworthy. But the high-design elements sometimes get in the way of comfort and practicality — neither of its two pools, for example, is deep enough for swimming.
$466 $350/night $96/night (25%) 4 Beaches – Santa Monica and Venice, Los Angeles
It’s best known for its sexy bar and pool scenes, but the Viceroy boasts substance as well: friendly service, an environmental conscience, and clean, comfortable rooms, many with ocean views. There’s even a library. The competition is stiff in Santa Monica, however, so be sure to check out rates at the many alternatives before booking here.
$478 $382/night $95/night (20%) 4.5 Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Los Angeles
Hidden away in a quiet residential section of Beverly Hills, this 119-room hotel pampers guests with extraordinary service (including a rare, flexible checkout policy), huge 650-square-foot standard rooms, and a 24-hour rooftop pool with 360-degree views. All in all, a hotel with few equals.
$264 $224/night $40/night (15%) 4 Hollywood/West Hollywood, Los Angeles
This 300-room Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, literally an L.A. landmark, combines the shimmer of silver-screen history with a cutting-edge party scene centered around a massive pool and bar. A terrific casual restaurant is open 24 hours, and service is surprisingly good. The rooms, though well designed, are smaller than average for L.A.
$269 $215/night $53/night (20%) 4 Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Los Angeles
Just three blocks from Rodeo Drive, this 110-room flashy Beverly Hills boutique features a guest-only rooftop pool and bar overlooking the Hollywood Hills, and high-design rooms with Italian linens, 37-inch flat-screens, and a minibar stocked with Dean and Deluca products. But Wi-Fi isn’t free, and partying at the sushi restaurant or rooftop bar can get pricey.
$460 $345/night $115/night (25%) 4 Beaches – Santa Monica and Venice, Los Angeles
Small, intimate, and beautiful, this Santa Monica hotel more than compensates for its lack of on-site features — no spa, a long walk to the beach — with great design in its large rooms, a welcoming atmosphere cultivated by personal service, and a relaxed, low-key vibe unmatched by its luxury rivals Fairmont Miramar, Shutters on the Beach, and Casa Del Mar.
$299 $224/night $74/night (25%) 4 West LA, Los Angeles
A W that boasts style and substance, this branch has it all: excellent service, amenities aplenty, a hip bar, and large, pimped-out rooms (including almost 150 huge suites). Westwood isn’t the most happening place, but it’s a fine base for exploring other areas, and the W itself compares favorably with its similarly priced competitors across the entire city.