Ace Hotel Downtown LA
We love the ethos behind the uber-cool Ace Hotels, which are always housed within repurposed buildings and given a hipster twist, in up-and-coming areas. The Ace Hotel in Downtown LA opened in 2014 in the historic Spanish Gothic-style United Artists building, which was purpose-built for the film studio in 1927. Our favourite part is the rooftop pool and bar area 'Upstairs', where you can find respite from that relentless Los Angeles heat, as well as DJs, pop-up stores and the odd yoga class. The hotel is also home to a carefully restored, 1600-seat movie palace from the 1920s. This place is so cool it actually hurts.
— 929 South Broadway. Acehotel.com
Bar Marmont
The Chateau Marmont hotel is one of the big daddys of the celebrity scene in LA, and where the stars both stay and play. Its Bar Marmont, with its classic old Hollywood decor (check out the taxidermied peacocks), dark and moody ambience, and excellent food and cocktails is a favoured haunt of many A-listers, with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp apparently making regular appearances.
— 8171 West Sunset Blvd. Chateaumarmont.com
The Line Hotel
Koreatown is the hottest neighbourhood right now in Los Angeles, and this is where you'll find The Line, by the owners of The NoMad Hotel New York, Freehand Miami and The Ned, a new 5-star hotel about to open in London. Its minimally fitted out rooms feature contemporary furniture, lots of polished concrete, big windows and super cool decor, from interesting lampshades and art to the odd boho feature including crystals. We'd recommend packing something with shoulder pads and heading along to on-site 80s-themed bar Break Room 86.
— 3515 Wilshire Blvd. Thelinehotel.com
The Ivy Restaurant
You would have seen dozens of paparazzi shots of the celeb set snapped as they're sitting/fighting/smooching on the patio at The Ivy Restaurant, and the chances are high that you've seen that patio and its classic ivy-covered white picket fence in a film or 10 as well. This is where you're likely to come across a Kardashian, Paris Hilton or Miley Cyrus, to name just a tiny handful of the stars seen there in recent times. If you're planning to head along, make sure you're flush — a plate of simple buttermilk pancakes will set you back about $35 — and that's before tax and a whopping tip.
— 113 N Robertson Blvd. Theivyrestaurants.com
The Hollywood Roosevelt
This luxurious and iconic hotel is situated right in the middle of the chaos that is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, just down the street from the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held each year. A must-see at The Hollywood Roosevelt is the eye-catching David Hockney-painted pool which you can lounge by with the beautiful people as you sip on a cocktail from the famous on-site Tropicana Pool Cafe.
— 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Thehollywoodroosevelt
The Brig
This is a wildcard, but we are digging the sound of The Brig down at Venice Beach, where it has been operating for more than 60 years. A dolled-up former dive bar, The Brig remains fairly relaxed, and features nightly entertainment including live sport and DJs, rotating food trucks, a busy pool table, and a mix of "futuristic and retro" decor with a mid-century vibe. It's said to be a favourite of the likes of Samantha Ronson, Ben Harper and Laura Dern, and Josh Brolin.
— 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. Thebrig.com
The Standard
The Standard hotel on Sunset Strip is another place to see and be seen in Hollywood. Among its stylish features: the Pool Deck, with its bright blue astroturf, ping-pong tables, heated pool, Richard Schultz loungers and inflatable water toys; the wavy mid-century modern facade; the exclusive nightclub mmhmmm which has a secret entrance; the acclaimed on-site restaurant Alma; and the Palm Springs-esque Cactus Lounge. It even has its own performance programme at The Box. In fact, there's so much good stuff going on here, actually leaving the hotel might prove difficult.
— 8300 Sunset Blvd. Standardhotels.com
