Best Luxury Hotels in California

With 100 rooms and suites, The Exchange brings Hilton’s Curio Collection to a historic bank building in downtown Sacramento. Retaining the grand proportions of its early 20th-century architecture, the hotel now showcases industrial-chic interiors that mix exposed brick, steel detailing and sleek contemporary design. Its location places guests minutes from the Golden 1 Center and the vibrant restaurants of the city centre.

The hotel’s restaurant, Willie’s, is a local favourite for modern comfort food with a Californian twist, while the bar buzzes with craft cocktails and small plates. Guests have access to a fitness studio, and concierge staff can arrange transfers and experiences around town. This is a property that merges history with modernity, creating a boutique-style stay within an urban landmark.

With 172 rooms and suites, Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento captures the vibrancy of California’s capital with a playful design inspired by the city’s music history. Located just steps from Golden 1 Center and the Downtown Commons, the hotel is a stylish base for sports fans, concert-goers and business travellers. Interiors mix bold artwork, eclectic furnishings and musical references, creating a lively, contemporary atmosphere.

Dining is led by Dawson’s Steakhouse, where prime cuts meet Californian flavours, and the rooftop lounge serves cocktails with city views. A modern fitness centre is available, while the location provides easy access to Sacramento’s nightlife, Old Town attractions and the riverfront. With its boutique feel and cultural references, the property reflects both the energy and the creativity of downtown life.

With 196 rooms and suites, The Citizen Hotel blends the heritage of a 1920s-era skyscraper with the individuality of Autograph Collection design. Set in downtown Sacramento near the State Capitol, the property embraces its political past with curated artwork, vintage details and a stately, period-inspired style. Interiors combine original architectural features with contemporary comforts, creating a hotel that feels both nostalgic and cosmopolitan.

The on-site restaurant, Grange, focuses on seasonal California cuisine with produce from the Central Valley, while the lounge offers cocktails in a sophisticated setting. A fitness centre caters to guests wishing to stay active, and the hotel’s central location makes exploring Old Sacramento, the Crocker Art Museum and the riverfront effortless. With its historic architecture, strong sense of place and cultural context, The Citizen Hotel has become one of Sacramento’s most distinctive stays.

Indulge your inner Willy Wonka when you stay in this former chocolate factory. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are offered within the building, with round-the-clock butler and concierge services on hand. These come with fully equipped kitchens and entertaining areas, ideal for an extended stay. Decor is US loft-style, with polished wooden floors and internal brick walls. Guests can enjoy a drink on the terrace warmed by the glow of a fire pit while looking out over the city. There’s a trolley stop right opposite and direct access to the buzzing Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront area of San Francisco.

Walking distance to Stanford and the station, and a short ride from the airport, this eight-storey hotel offers California-cool bedrooms with Italian linens and balconies, proffering views over the Santa Cruz mountains. Its construction includes the local redwood, with nature-themed interiors and suitably mod cons such as an onsite media lab. Nobu of course is internationally renowned for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, incorporating subtle South American flavours. And here you can devour its signature dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a boutique property with a more intimate feel, but guests can access the health club next door.

Occupying 16 acres, this 2009 build (renovated in 2020), has a more resort feel, with sprawling grounds incorporating courtyard gardens, a chic pool terrace and low-rise accommodation. It has 121 bedrooms and a Forbes Five Star rating. Guest amenities include a Sense Spa, an Alex Chases Salon and meeting rooms including a glittering 2,800-square-foot ballroom. Madera is the hotel’s signature restaurant, with a wood-burning kitchen cooking up Bay Area favourites and private dining areas. Additionally, there’s The Library & Bar for cocktails and light bites and The Pool Bar & Grill for snacks, sandwiches and smoothies.

With just 23 one and two-bedroom suites, The Clement offers a more intimate experience, but with resort benefits; most notably a gorgeous rooftop deck with a lap pool (seductively underlit after dark), a hot tub, cabanas and an open fire, overlooking the downtown. It’s all been arranged with impeccable taste; there are paintings by the likes of Emil Lukas, Frette robes, Nespresso machines and organic ODE bath products. Guests have access to a cosy living room with a stone fireplace, a business centre and a fitness room — and don’t worry if you forget your sunscreen, it’s complimentary here.

Displaying a slightly bohemian, artistic flair, the Parker Palm Springs takes on Morrocan, maritime, pop art and retro American influences in its styling. The design plays beautifully with colour in the spaces and bedrooms are filled with unique, eclectic collectables. Guests can find nooks and crannies among the two swimming pools (one for families) croquet lawns, bocce courts, fruit trees and herb gardens; lie in a hammock, play ping-pong, play tennis, sip on boozy fresh lemonade and dine in the two restaurants. Those arriving at the wellness centre – The Palm Springs Yacht Club – are furnished with white cotton terry robes, flip flops and a thimble of cucumber-infused vodka.

For more than 90 years, this iconic hotel with its vibrant turquoise exterior on Ocean Avenue has been a crossroads of exceptional art, music, design, and gastronomy. Constructed in 1933, it quickly became a favoured haunt of Old Hollywood luminaries such as Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin. The renowned design firm, Fettle, has thoughtfully and innovatively revitalised the building, preserving its original Art Deco elements. Its 84 rooms, adorned in subtle yet elegant coastal hues with distinctive Deco features, offer guests breathtaking views of the ocean. The hotel boasts two exquisite dining establishments that delve into Italy’s opulent culinary traditions: The Georgian Room, an Italian steakhouse combined with a cocktail and piano bar known for its intimate ambience, and The Restaurant at The Georgian, managed by Chef David Almany, a beloved spot for brunch that features beautiful sea views.

This LEED Silver Certified European-style hotel has 188 guest rooms and suites spread across seven floors. Its meeting rooms, 24-hour fitness centre with Peloton bikes, clutter-free sleeping areas, sleek in-room workspaces and on-site parking make it popular with business travellers. Similarly, the ample alfresco socialising space, restaurant ‘kitchen’, swimming pool, outdoor fireplace, lounge seating, curated library and welcoming pet policy make it appealing to leisure visitors. Bedrooms are comfortable, practical, functional and elegant. This is one of 150 properties in Marriott’s AC portfolio and is found in the city’s downtown area across from the Sunnyvale Ponds.

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.

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.