With a little grit and a little glamour, the pioneering
transformation of the United Artists Theatre by the Ace Hotel group
has turned a 13-storey, 1920s, gothic icon into a majestic
contemporary hotel. Since opening shop, this old theatre – which
once hosted the likes of Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin – has
been restored to its former grandeur, original murals and intricate
plasterwork included. Rooms start at “Medium” and range in size up
to sprawling suites, but all are kitted out with Noguchi lamps,
fibreboard furniture and the odd acoustic guitar. The hotel has two
restaurants: Upstairs, a rooftop bar serving a fresh all-day menu
beside the hotel’s pool (note: a happy hour runs Tuesday-Friday,
3-6pm), and, on the ground floor, LOAM, another all-day spot, which
serves tiptop breakfasts and LA-influenced dinners (think peri peri
blue prawns, braised winter squash and caper-dressed kohlrabi).

The 148-key Downtown LA Proper sits in LA’s South Park district.
Interior guru Kelly Wearstler has cast her well-honed eye over the
hotel, blending vintage pieces with modern lines and adding a
sprinkling of Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan design into
the mix (think tiled baths, warm, earthy colour use, and
terracotta-potted cacti on the window sills). There’s a trio of
drinking and dining spots to choose from: the lobby’s Caldo Verde,
the ground-floor speakeasy, Dahlia, and – on the roof – Cara Cara.
The latter’s city views, strong pours and rooftop pool make it a
firm favourite for a sundowner. The hotel also has a gym (perfect
for jet-lag-induced midnight workouts) and complimentary bikes for
heading out to explore the area.

Read our review here

“Italian inspired. Los Angeles curated”, goes the messaging at
this Downtown address, a vast, 241-room hotel housed in the former
building of the Bank of Italy on the appropriately named Olive
Street. Bold and beautiful in looks, a la dolce vita influence
imbues the design: it’s all Italianate ceilings, Bellino linens,
terrazzo shower floors, Murano-glass chandeliers, nearly enough
marble to line the streets of Rome, and a verdant, vibrant
restaurant, Per L’Ora, where we’d half expect to spot House of
Gucci’s Patrizia Reggiani lounging. There’s a rooftop pool and
cocktail spot, too, plus a coffee bar – and we love how the hotel
has incorporated the community into the project. Over 4,000
commissioned artworks showcase lesser-known corners of the Downtown
neighbourhood, and local food and drink brands can be found on the
menus.

On the corner of 11th Street and Broadway, tucked between
old-school theatres and cinemas, The Hoxton Downtown LA occupies a
handsome 10-storey beaux-arts building that was formerly the HQ of
Los Angeles Railway. The property’s 174 bedrooms (grouped in
“Snug”, “Cosy”, “Roomy” and “Biggy” sizes) are finished with
wood-panelled walls and chevron flooring in the group’s signature,
European-influenced style. Retro phones, rattan headboards and
local artwork on the walls complete the look. Communal spaces are
The Hoxton’s USP and they don’t disappoint in the ninth iteration
of the east London-based brand. On the roof (always the most
popular place to hang in LA), you’ll find Peruvian-inspired
restaurant Cabra Los Angeles, as well as a pool that is open
year-round. Downstairs, Café Basque, a nod to the south-west coast
of France, is well suited to bon vivants.

When this hotel originally opened, nearly a century ago, it was
commissioned as a “haven for professional women travellers” – a
progressive MO at the time. Today, the restored Hotel Figueroa is
an old favourite reborn. Reopened in 2018, the property maintains
its old-school vibes, with 268 rooms and suites set over 14 floors
showcasing contemporary Spanish design. The Parador Suite, complete
with terrace, fully stocked wet bar and a spacious parlour, is a
top choice. Other things to amuse and satiate you while here
include a coffin-shaped pool and a pair of atmospheric bars, Bar
Figueroa and Bar Alta. Feeling hungry? Head to Café Fig or
Sparrow.

This is a purse-friendly Downtown stay that won’t disappoint on
the design side. Rooms are pared-back, light and airy, with a
handful of well-curated little luxuries that set this Lucas Avenue
hotel a cut above your typical budget booking. Rainfall showers,
in-room hair straighteners and sleep sound machines come as
standard. Free coffee and fresh pastries from LA-favourite Homeboy
Bakery are served in the lobby between 7am and 11am daily (and they
don’t count the cups). On the move? You’ll have free access to
handy luggage lockers and there’s space to park up and charge
electric cars before hitting the road on an eco-charged west coast
road trip.