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Housed in a grand French Beaux Arts building, once the HQ of LA Railway, the West Coast offering from this hip European hotel chain offers a first-rate example of the eye-catching architecture that the city’s Downtown area is known for.
With interiors designed by designed by AIME in collaboration with Soho House, the hotel has a distinctly clubby feel, with a living room-style lobby filled with reclaimed vintage furniture and creative types tapping away on laptops.
Its location in the Fashion District, among the city’s oldest theatres and movie palaces, makes it an ideal spot for exploring Downtown’s numerous art galleries and must-visit restaurants.
With the hotel located in the heart of Downtown, expect plenty of hustle and bustle, as well as spots that are more than a little rough around the edges – the vibe here is distinctly grittier than Beverly Hills, but all the better for soaking up the city’s vibrant energy.
Surrounded by handsome high-rises and soaring skyscrapers, this is one of LA’s only truly walkable neighbourhoods, with numerous coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants to explore nearby.
Up until recently, Downtown LA was strictly for business travellers, but these days you’ll find LA’s most talked-about new restaurants and contemporary art galleries in this bustling, skyscraper-filled neighbourhood. It’s one of the only truly walkable areas in LA, but be warned that the vibe here is distinctly grittier than Beverly Hills.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[8.3 miles]
The indomitable heart of the movie industry, where dreams are still made. See the star-studded Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theater – where the biggest premieres still take place – and the Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.6 miles]
The Art Deco observatory is one of LA’s most instantly-recognisable buildings, home to captivating exhibits, an out-of-this-world planetarium, and the site of some of the best views in Los Angeles.
Best for ages: 5+ | £6
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.7 miles]
A 20-acre compound of galleries and pavilions housing more than 100,000 works, from ancient Mayan bowls inscribed with bat heads and Japanese sculptures dating from 3000 BC to paintings by Rubens, Cezanne and Degas.
Best for ages: 13+ | £17
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.8 miles]
The world’s largest museum dedicated solely to the art of film, home to a collection of movie treasures, a rotating roster of exhibitions featuring industry creators and an experience where you can hold a coveted Oscars statuette.
Best for ages: 8+ | £22
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[1.5 miles]
This ever-popular food hall feels like a little slice of NYC in Downtown LA, with its neon signs and seemingly never-ending queues. Go hungry and try everything from wood-fired pizzas and fried chicken to spicy Filipino rice bowls.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[1.8 miles]
The most popular of Downtown LA’s contemporary art museums, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad as well as notable pieces by the likes of Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha and Basquiat. It’s always packed, so book in advance.
Best for ages: 18+ | £15
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[3.7 miles]
Inspire your kids with physics, biology and more, at this seriously fun complex with interactive with exhibits demonstrating how the world works.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.3 miles]
On Wilshire Boulevard, during the last Ice Age, asphalt bubbled from the ground, trapping sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths and giant sloths. Excavations continue to unearth new plants and animals and visitors can come to watch, or explore one of the world’s largest collections of fossils, on display in the museum.
Best for ages: 6+ | £12
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
California, United States of America (USA)
The bright lights of Tinseltown are home to surfer-filled beaches, glorious mountain hikes, glitz and glamour in spades and year-round sunshine.
