5 Iconic Hotels Los Angeles

Why it made the list: The 1912 'Pink Palace' on Sunset, all banana-leaf wallpaper and old-Hollywood glamour, where the Polo Lounge and the cabana pool have hosted stars for a century. It's the definitive LA grande dame, and even a drink there is an event.

Why it made the list: The castle-like 1929 hideaway above the Sunset Strip, famously discreet and endlessly mythologized, where generations of stars have hidden out in the bungalows and the garden. It trades on mystique, and it has it in spades.

Why it made the list: The 1927 Spanish-Colonial landmark across from the Chinese Theatre that hosted the very first Academy Awards, with a David Hockney-painted pool and a lively lobby-bar scene. It puts you right on the Walk of Fame, history and all.

Why it made the list: A serene mission-style retreat tucked into the canyons of Bel-Air, with pink stucco, a swan lake and lush gardens that feel a world away from the city. It's the quiet, discreet luxury pick, beloved for its hush and its grounds.

Why it made the list: A Cape Cod-style hotel planted directly on the sand in Santa Monica, with a cozy-coastal feel, a beloved beachfront bar and the ocean quite literally at the doorstep. It's the go-to for a stay where you can walk from your room onto the beach.