Los Angeles: Hotel Hot Spots
By Mar Yvette, Senior Editor
Room not required: Whether or not you're shelling out bucks for a home away from home, Los Angeles hotels have become the "it" spots for hanging out. From top-rated restaurants to sexy drinking dens, check out the hottest hotel action in Los Angeles.
-
Bar Centro at the Bazaar
465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
This cocktail-centric arm of the labyrinthine dining space at the new SLS hotel is where guests and non-guests alike can experience wild libations of Wonka-esque proportions: Edible, sorbet-like caipirinhas (made with liquid nitrogen, courtesy of a curbside "valet" mixologist) and margaritas topped with "salt air." -
ABH at Thompson Beverly Hills
9360 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
Who wouldn't want to sip a frozen guava margarita alongside a Swarovski-lined pool? Now part of the same hotel family as the Roosevelt, this rooftop hot spot is bringing in the same trendoids and exclusive 'tude of the Tropicana Bar. -
Skybar
8440 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
And they said it wouldn't last: Fresh from a makeover, the Mondrian's famed rooftop bar is still the Sunset Strip's reigning velvet-rope institution. -
Bar Marmont
8171 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
This recently reopened Hollywood hot spot has added a few modern additions while maintaining the lush environment of the original version. Expect the same A-list crowd to fill the red-hued space. -
The Penthouse
1111 Second St, Santa Monica, CA
Hello, gorgeous: In a town where looking good is king, the Huntley Hotel's 18th floor restaurant keeps the bar high with 360-degree views, pricey fare and more than a few royal cocktails. -
ADCB
8440 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
No attitude, no list, no problem: The Mondrian's new lobby lounge is bringing exotic cocktails and fusion tapas for those who don't want to deal with the velvet rope drama of its older, more aloof sister (yes, we're talking about you, Skybar). -
Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown
550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA
The benchmark for downtown cool, this rooftop bar is where in-the-know tourists and hipsters from far and wide flock for killer views, cool tunes, poolside action and space-pod waterbeds. -
Whiskey Blue at W Hotel
930 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA
A favorite of young Hollywood, this moody spot inside Westwood's W Hotel is known for good eats and a trendy after-dark scene. -
Bar Nineteen12
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
On-the-move hipsters and low-key A-listers sip on pricey cocktails while glancing over each other's shoulders at this luxe indoor/outdoor space at the Beverly Hills Hotel. -
Cameo Bar
1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA
Gorgeous and green: The Viceroy's stylish bar oozes Hollywood glam with a jolt of retro whimsy--the indoor area is perfect for cool nights although the exclusive poolside cabanas are where things really heat up.
-
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Pick your pleasure: This eclectic dining experience, weaving throughout the lobby of Beverly Hills' over-the-top SLS Hotel, offers a truly moveable feast with a three-in-one atmosphere and just as many menus. -
Blvd 16
10740 Wilshire Blvd, Westwood, CA
Those who want to keep a low-pro (while enjoying seasonal organic fare and potent cocktails) will dig this serene scene hidden inside Westwood's posh Palomar hotel. -
Asia de Cuba at Mondrian
8440 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
Check out the white-on-white fantasia that started the whole "Philippe Starck does L.A." craze. Trendy, spendy and splendidly offbeat island cooking is the order of the day. Bay of Pigs for dessert, anyone? -
Gordon Ramsay at the London Hotel
1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
Okay, so the eponymous chef of this much-hyped restaurant might not be in the kitchen, but this gold-and-pastel dining palace is still worth the price for the people-watching alone. -
Whist Restaurant
1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
Traditional elegance meets '70s kitsch at this Santa Monica hot spot inside the Viceroy hotel. Athough there are no ocean views, the New American cuisine and poolside cabanas keep well-heeled Westsiders coming back for more. -
Blue on Blue
9400 West Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
Tucked inside the 90210's best kept secret (shhh ... we're talking about the Avalon hotel), this retro-minimal poolside hideaway is where industry heavies, hotel guests and happy-hour revelers relax and rev up. -
The Standard Coffee Shop
8300 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
This 24-hour trendoid mecca heats up at night when runway-model waitresses serve after-hour clubbers jonesing for a late-night diner fix. Think "2001: A Space Odyssey" meets "Alice" on the Sunset Strip. -
25 Degrees
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA
This deluxe 24-hour burger joint inside the Roosevelt hotel (and across the street from the madness that is Hollywood & Highland) satiates both diner fiends and high-end foodies with its versatile menu and sophisticated wine bar.
