Best Luxury Hotels in California

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.

In possession of a salubrious address, this hotel is found right across the road from Rodeo Drive. At the centre of the property, is the hotel’s Mediterranean-styled heated pool and dining terrace, providing an opportunity to quaff cocktails and soak up some rays from your own comfy cabana. Michelin-starred cuisine is on-site, in the form of CUT, a seafood and steakhouse restaurant (also by acclaimed restauranteur Wolfgang Puck). Or watch the world go by from the front of the building, with a chic and healthy lunch at THE Blvd. Pets are made very welcome if you want to bring them along, with bowls and baskets provided.

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.

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.

For a full-on beach (or boating) holiday, choose this 439 room resort on the Coronado Peninsula. It has its very own full-service 80-slip marina offering gondola rides, surf lessons and sunset cruises. And there’s a beach shuttle – although it is just a five-minute walk along a private path from the resort to the sandy shores. This location does mean it’s a little further out from San Diego, but still within a 20-minute taxi ride. Pet and family-friendly, the hotel has a programme of events for kids, a teen lounge, three pools and a global fusion restaurant to keep all palates happy.

This Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond luxury resort has an enviable coastal location in a quiet neighbourhood, along with excellent amenities. There’s an 18-hole Arnold Palmer designed golf course, first-rate tennis courts, a spa with 20 treatment rooms, an adult-only pool and cabanas, waterslides for the kids, and a sociable programme of varied activities ideal for those travelling solo. The Park Hyatt Aviara is sizable – it has 327 spacious rooms and lots going on throughout the day and night. This makes it perfect for families – or single travellers – wanting plenty to do, both in and around the hotel’s perimeter.

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.

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.

Palm trees stand sentinel at the end of the pool, with neatly arranged plush sun loungers and angular parasols in front of a mountainous backdrop creating an aesthetic that wouldn’t be out of place in – not so far away – Los Angeles. There are another six pools at Solage – one for kids and five geothermal pools in the spa. Rooms here have a calming, minimal feel and botanical toiletries, while some have outdoor patios with sofas, fire pits and hot tubs. Farm-fresh fine cuisine is served in the restaurant, with snacks and drinks available on the terrace during the day.

Housed in a range of what were originally farm structures, Carneros rocks a kind of sustainably-minded agricultural chic. The spa carries this theme, with earthy natural ingredients, as does its lounge-style restaurant, The Farm. An infinity pool provides a wonderful spot to soak in the countryside (it’s adults-only, so you can enjoy some peace and quiet – there’s another pool for families). Choose to stay in one of 86 cottages on-site, all with their own gardens, patios and decks with gas heaters and outdoor showers.

Located in St Helena, a stroll away from shops and restaurants, this Hyatt hotel is linked via a wooden footbridge to the prestige Beringer Vineyards. Book a room on one of the upper floors to take advantage of the best views over the winery and a suite, if you want a space the size of an entire apartment (with an expansive terrace). The gym has Peleton bikes, or you can use one of the hotel’s Trek bikes to get outdoors and there’s a small outdoor pool, set into a sleek terrace. Acacia House is Alila’s restaurant and it’s open to the public. Order small plates like burrata and tuna tartare, with mains including diver scallops with smoked pork belly, local McFarland’s spring trout and California burger.

Opened in 2009, this 62 room boutique hotel and spa are set on a five-acre site in Yountville. The brand is committed to sustainability with reusable materials, including salvaged wood, found throughout the property. Bardessono Hotel may be eco-friendly, but it’s nevertheless extremely luxurious. The rooms teem with natural light thanks to large picture windows, fountains bubble outside and art adorns the walls. It has a heated rooftop pool with a hot tub and gym, yoga classes and complimentary bike hire for those who wish to get active. Guests seeking the VIP treatment can book a steam spa suite with champagne soaking tubs and massage tables. Many rooms offer 100% Egyptian cotton linens, gas fireplaces, REN toiletries and iPads for use during the stay.