Best Luxury Hotels in California

The glamorous vibes of California attract the rich and famous, not least as this state is home to the international capital of movie-making, Hollywood, Los Angeles. The state manages to be simultaneously laid-back and perfectly polished, depending on where you choose to go. Come here to walk the steps of celebrities, get the Baywatch beach experience, enjoy a near-perfect climate, observe the latest trends in wellness, lifestyle, food and fashion, or to road trip the epic California coastline. Here are the hotels we recommend for your next west coast adventures.

California, San Diego, Downtown San Diego

Pendry San Diego

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 317 Guestrooms Including 36 Suites With Urban Coastal California Aesthetic.
Amenities Six Dining & Entertainment Venues Including Rooftop Pool Bar & Lounge, Full-Service Spa, 24-Hour Fitness Centre, Pet-Friendly Accommodations & Complimentary Chauffeur Service.
More Located In The Heart Of San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter Near Convention Center & Petco Park.

Set downtown in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, this smart 12-storey hotel opened in 2017. Geared toward a young and trendy crowd, it has a stylish rooftop pool house (the place to party on summer nights), a chic cocktail bar, a nightclub, multiple restaurants, a beer hall, coffee bar, Moët & Chandon champagne vending machine and a bijou boutique. Urban rooms have ocean-inspired artwork, vintage writing desks, 50” TVs and French macarons popped on the pillow during the nightly turndown service. On higher levels, guests can enjoy views across the city and toward the bay.

California, Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 123 Guest Rooms Including 13 Suites & A 3000 Square Foot Signature Suite.
Amenities Rooftop Pool With Panoramic Views Spa With Nine Treatment Rooms Multiple Dining Venues Fitness Centre & Club Lounge.
More Located In Downtown Los Angeles Within The L.A. LIVE Entertainment Complex Offering Proximity To Major Attractions.

A brand that needs no introduction, The 123 bedroomed Ritz-Carlton offers a British touch. This family-friendly property stands on the edge of the city’s downtown district. An in-house WP24 Restaurant by Wolfgang Puck serves fancy Chinese cuisine – and is one of the places to be seen in the local area. Or dine in one of its alternative cafes, eateries and bars. Take a dip in The Ritz-Carlton’s rooftop cabana-lined pool, or the outdoor hot tub, while soaking in the panoramic views of LA’s skyline. The spa is one of the largest in town and it has a state of the art fitness centre.

BOOK YOUR STAY
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

California, Los Angeles, West Hollywood

The West Hollywood EDITION

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 190 Guest Rooms Including 48 Suites & 2 Penthouses With Floor-To-Ceiling Windows & City Views.
Amenities Features Include A Signature Restaurant Serving Californian Cuisine, Multiple Bars, A Rooftop Pool, A Full-Service Spa, & A 24-Hour Fitness Centre.
More Located At The Intersection Of West Hollywood & Beverly Hills Offering Panoramic Views Of Los Angeles.

Located on Sunset Boulevard (a setting used by Billy Wilder for his 1950 movie by the same name), this glass-fronted hotel has a tiered, eco-friendly greenery-clad exterior. This was Edition’s first property on the West Coast, having opened in 2019 in collaboration with the Marriott group. It has 190 loft-like rooms with floor to ceiling windows, a basement, club, spa, two restaurants, a moodily lit rooftop pool, a screening room and oodles of artworks. 20 penthouse residences have been included in the build, for those who want to linger longer. There’s a focus on sustainability here, in a hotel that attracts cool, creative types.

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The West Hollywood EDITION

California, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 170 Luxurious Rooms & Suites Featuring Floor-To-Ceiling Windows & Private Balconies With State-Of-The-Art Technology.
Amenities Dining Options Include A Signature Mediterranean Restaurant, Rooftop Venue With Asian-Inspired Dishes, Stylish Cocktail Lounge & Lobby Lounge Offering Light Bites.
More Located At The Intersection Of Wilshire & Santa Monica Boulevards In Beverly Hills Offering Easy Access To Local Attractions

Towering above the neighbouring properties with its 12 floors, the Waldorf Astoria cuts a striking presence on Beverly Hill’s Wilshire Boulevard. As you may expect, this means it has the most breathtaking views around. Seek out its rooftop deck offering 360 degrees vistas – it has a hot tub, bar, a saltwater pool and a restaurant. Each of the 170 rooms has a private terrace and smart technology providing an extra wow factor. The hotel was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon featuring an epic three-story lobby. Guests are treated to the hotel’s Rolls Royce chauffeur service within the local area and can book divine treatments at in-house La Prairie Spa.

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Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

California, Los Angeles, West Hollywood

Mondrian Los Angeles

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 236 Rooms Including A Range Of Contemporary Suites With City Views.
Amenities Rooftop Pool With Loungers & Cabanas A Fitness Centre A Globally Inspired Dining Venue & Lounge Offering Seasonal Dishes & Drinks.
More Located On The Sunset Strip With Panoramic Views Across Los Angeles.

A four-star property situated on Sunset Boulevard’s lively strip, the Mondrian received a trendy makeover to the tune of 19 million dollars in 2019. Concrete and glass contribute to Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz’s bold design aesthetic, alongside whimsical features like the indoor swing and mushroom style reception desk. 237 soundproofed contemporary rooms are spread across 12 floors and a sleek swimming pool area is surrounded by teak decking. Seafood is the speciality at the hotel’s Herringbone Restaurant. Pets and children are welcome to stay here too.

California, Pasadena

The Langham, Huntington, Pasadena

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 379 Guestrooms Including 36 Suites & 8 Private Cottages Offer Classic Elegance & Modern Comfort.
Amenities Facilities Include A Wellness Centre With Spa Treatments & Sauna, Two Outdoor Pools, Fitness Studio With Classes, Three Tennis Courts, Multiple Dining Venues, Historic Ballrooms, Pet-Friendly Amenities, & Exclusive Club Lounge Access.
More Located On 23 Acres In Pasadena, The Hotel Combines Historic Charm With Lush Gardens & Proximity To Downtown Los Angeles.

A veteran of the LA hotel scene at over a century old, this grand hotel was rebuilt (to be earthquake-proof) in the 1980s. Flanked by the San Gabriel mountains, its 23 acres include Japanese gardens, a croquet lawn, a badminton area and an outdoor pool. Inside, guests can enjoy a European style vintage opulence. Chinese medicine-based treatments are offered at the Chuan Spa. And meals are taken alfresco on a poolside terrace, or in The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse, while an art deco era prohibition-style bar is a sophisticated spot for cocktails.

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The Langham, Huntington, Pasadena

California, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills

SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 297 Rooms & Suites Feature Custom Furnishings & Select Private Terraces.
Amenities Rooftop Pool Spa Fitness Centre & Multiple Dining Venues Offer Diverse Experiences.
More Located At The Crossroads Of Beverly Hills & Los Angeles Near Iconic Attractions.

For incredible views over Beverly Hills, head to the Altitude Pool and cocktail bar – in the summer, guests can take part in calming rooftop yoga by day and party with the Sounds Like Summer weekend DJ sessions by night. Seven categories of room are available in this large establishment (comprising a total of 297 bedrooms, 61 of which are suites). All of them come with a fully stocked minibar and Philippe Starck designer features. Its Ciel spa is one of the few in the city to offer the Biologique Recherche facial and anti-ageing treatments.

BOOK YOUR STAY
SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills

California, San Diego, La Jolla

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 170 Guest Rooms & Suites Designed In California Craftsman Style With Modern Amenities.
Amenities Dining Options Include A Fine Dining Restaurant Showcasing Regional Cuisine A Casual Eatery With Wood-Fired Dishes & A Poolside Bar Offering Craft Cocktails.
More Located Adjacent To A World-Renowned Golf Course Overlooking The Pacific Ocean In La Jolla California.

Inspired by the Pasedenan Gamble and Blacker houses, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is family-owned and run by locals. Leather, dark woods, crisp white linens and vintage touches play heavily in the decor aesthetic. 170 rooms include mini-bars, complimentary shoeshine service and toiletries featuring the hotel’s signature scent. The lodge is found on the 18th green of the Torrey Pines South Course (once played by previous President Barack Obama). So it presents a prime location for those seeking to practice their swing in the finest of company – this year the same course hosted the US Open providing guests with grandstand views. The onsite restaurant is suitably high-end and the hotel offers delightful extras such as twice-daily guided hikes.

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The Lodge at Torrey Pines

California, San Diego, Carmel Valley

Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 249 Luxurious Accommodations Including Guestrooms Suites & Villas With Mediterranean-Inspired Architecture Overlooking Pools Golf Course Or Gardens.
More Located In San Diego's Coastal Canyon Offering A Serene & Exclusive Retreat.

An award-winning championship golf course, a Forbes Five-Star spa (with its own custom organic product line), four heated pools, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor gyms and a Michelin starred restaurant are just some of the facilities you can take advantage of when checking in here. It has 249 rooms and suites, with opulent marble bathrooms and balconies. The Spanish Mission-style property is surrounded by 400 acres of landscaped gardens and a wild coastal canyon. It’s easy to see why the Fairmont Grand del Mar was voted the #1 Luxury Hotel in California by Trip Advisor travellers.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Fairmont Grand Del Mar

California, Los Angeles

The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 195 Guest Rooms Including 38 Suites & 17 Private Villas With Italian Marble Bathrooms & Advanced In-Room Technology.
Amenities Rooftop Pool With Private Cabanas Spa Offering Diverse Treatments 24-Hour Fitness Centre Multiple Dining Venues Personalised Butler & Chauffeur Services Pet Friendly & Complimentary Local Transfers.
More Centrally Located In Beverly Hills Within Walking Distance To Rodeo Drive & Century City.

Previously named the best hotel in Los Angeles by readers of Travel + Leisure, this is the only hotel in the region to have received an AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star accolade every year since 1993. Offering an enhanced level of flexibility, check-in (and out) can be arranged at any time of the day or night as part of the brand’s Peninsula Time experience. Accommodating 195 rooms, suites and villas, it’s nestled in lush tropical gardens, with an additional rooftop garden home to a pool and dining area. The Peninsula is on Santa Monica Boulevard (an address made famous by Sheryl Crow’s song All I Wanna Do), which is a short walk to Rodeo Drive.

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The Peninsula Beverly Hills

California, Palm Springs

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

Hotel
(4 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 153 Guestrooms & Suites with Expansive Mountain Views
Amenities Multiple Dining options, Rooftop 4 Saints Restaurant, Rooftop Pool Experience
More Located in the Heart of Downtown Palm Springs

Rising six floors (very high by Palm Springs standards), this artful Kimpton hotel has a rooftop pool area – which feels a little like a cruise liner – with a view of the downtown area. On arrival, guests are greeted by a double-height light-filled lobby, with huge windows and a huge macrame owl. Beyond this, there’s the orange celinged Juniper Tree restaurant, the top floor 4Saints dining room, a fireside Window Bar and a poolside High Bar. Valet parking, a house car for short journeys, free bicycle hire and use of yoga mats are all included in your stay.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

California, Rancho Mirage

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 244 Luxurious Rooms & Suites, including Club Level Accommodations with Exclusive Lounge Access
Amenities Dining options Feature the Edge Steakhouse, a Comprehensive Spa with 16 Treatment Rooms, Two Outdoor Pools, Fitness Centre, Kids Club
More Perched on a 650-foot Bluff offering Panoramic views of Palm Springs & the Coachella Valley

Stay among the gated communities of Rancho Mirage, in this Ritz-Carlton property overlooking Coachella Valley — the hotel’s Edge Steakhouse offers some of the best vistas. The hotel opened in 1988 but has been modernised many times since. It has two restaurants serving seasonal dishes, two pools surrounded by plush exclusive cabanas and a high tech fitness centre. Its spa treatments take their inspiration from the surrounding land, using indigenous botanicals within the treatments. And guests can join yoga classes or request personal training sessions. Bedrooms exude a typical Palm Springs feel, with polished dark wood, offset by light-coloured soft furnishings.

BOOK YOUR STAY
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage




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