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Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles

Where to Stay in Los Angeles: Insider Guide to the Best Areas

Home » DESTINATIONS » Where to Stay in Los Angeles: Insider Guide to the Best Areas

Last Modified: July 13, 2022 //  by Anda //  17 Comments

If visiting Los Angeles is in your plans, your next important decision will be choosing where to stay in this huge metropolis. But it’s hard to know where to begin when you visit a city like Los Angeles for the first time. Unlike other big metropolises around the world, Los Angeles’ attractions are spread all over, which makes choosing the best places to stay fairly difficult.

aerial view of Los Angeles
Aerial vies of Los Angeles

There are some facts about Los Angeles that you probably already know about. But if you have never been here before, you can’t appreciate how massive and spread out L.A. really is. This fact alone will ultimately determine your decision about where to stay in Los Angeles.

Overview

  • Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles
    • Downtown Los Angeles (Best Place to Stay Without a Car)
    • West Hollywood (Coolest Neighborhood in L.A.)
    • Los Feliz (Best Place to Stay in Los Angeles on a Budget)
    • Beverly Hills (Most Luxurious Neighborhood in L.A.)
  • Where to Stay Around Los Angeles: 5 Best Suburbs for Families
    • Santa Monica
    • Long Beach
    • Pasadena
  • Where NOT to Stay in Los Angeles
    • Little Tokyo
    • Chinatown
    • Venice Beach
    • A Final Thought

Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles

As a 30-year resident of L.A. I know how difficult it is to visit this city, so I’m here to help. If you are looking for a good place to stay in Los Angeles, you must book somewhere with easy access to the sights and entertainment.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles
Looking for a place to stay in Los Angeles (Photo: Jeremy Bishop)

There are quite a few nice neighborhoods in Los Angeles that you can use as a base when visiting the city. So in this post I’ll give you an overview the best areas, as well as the ones that you should avoid. The latter ones may be popular places to visit during the day, but not the best areas to be around after nightfall.

Downtown Los Angeles (Best Place to Stay Without a Car)

This is one the best places to stay if you only have one day in L.A. and would like to take a self guided tour of Downtown Los Angeles. This area is also home to some of the best places to eat in L.A.

You could explore some of the city’s attractions, or do some shopping, so you won’t be needing a car. Downtown area is also home to some of the best bars and most upscale restaurants in L.A., as well as the famous Grand Central Market.

downtown Los Angeles walking tour
Downtown area, one of the best places to stay in Los Angeles

In terms of entertainment, there are plenty of opportunities here. From the world renowned Disney Concert Hall, and the Staples Center, to the Historic Theater District , and museums like The Broad, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), you have more than enough!

Downtown area is relatively equidistant from the coast, Disneyland, and other inland points of interest. Besides, it has good public transportation to many of Los Angeles’ attractions.

Best Accommodations in Downtown L.A.

There is a wide variety of accommodations to choose from in the Downtown area, from budget to midrange and luxury hotels. Some of the best and most centrally located are The Westin Bonaventure, citizenM, or Hotel Figueroa.

Hotel room in Downtown Los Angeles
Room at the historic Hotel Figueroa, in Downtown Los Angeles

West Hollywood (Coolest Neighborhood in L.A.)

West Hollywood is one of the oldest and most fashionable neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with a colorful and entertaining past. Back in the 60s and 70s, West Hollywood became a major gathering place for the unconventional culture, with hippies, musicians and artists flooding the streets. 

At present, West Hollywood is the hottest destination for the entertainment industry with its boutique hotels, celebrity-owned restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. From elite, trendy clubs to low-key casual bars, from gay clubs, to old school rock’n roll hangouts, and hotels with pool parties, West Hollywood has something for everyone.

West Hollywood at night
West Hollywood

People from all over the globe visit it for its iconic Sunset Strip and its historical connection to music, entertainment and fashion. Young actors tend to live out here, so this is the most likely place to see celebrities out on the street.

In terms of location, WeHo is very conveniently located within 20 minutes from the Valley, Downtown, Silver Lake, and Santa Monica (when there is no traffic).

Best Accommodations in West Hollywood

From residential suites with rooftop pools and private balconies to apartments or large rooms with balconies, boutique hotels, or pet-friendly hotels, you can find a wide range of accommodations in West Hollywood.

Residential-style suite with rooftop pool in West Hollywood
Residential-style suite with rooftop pool in West Hollywood

Some of the best hotels include: Le Parc Suite Hotel, Sunset Marquis, and Mondrian Los Angeles.

Los Feliz (Best Place to Stay in Los Angeles on a Budget)

Los Feliz is a relaxed hillside enclave next to Glendale and encompassing part of the Santa Monica Mountains. Bordered by Hollywood to the west, Silver Lake to the south and Atwater village to the east, this hillside neighborhood is home to some of the most outstanding architecture in Los Angeles County.

Here is where you’ll find the Vista Theatre – a 1923 movie palace – and a pair of exemplary Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

Los Feliz, one of the best places to stay in Los Angeles
Vista Theater in Los Feliz Neighborhood

Los Feliz is the birthplace Mickey Mouse, one of Hollywood’s most iconic celebrities. Walt Disney was living in his uncle’s garage, on Los Feliz, when he first drew his famous character. The neighborhood is also famous for being next-door to Griffith Park, beloved for its hiking, the Greek Theatre and the famous Griffith Observatory.

Street in Los Angeles with a view of the Griffith Observatory in the background
Street in Los Feliz with a view of the Griffith Observatory in the background

Los Feliz has a cozy vibe. There are no tall, sun-blocking buildings here. Instead you’ll find charming homes, tree-lined streets dotted with restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and vintage stores. The neighborhood is pedestrian friendly, it has top-notch cuisine, plenty of entertainment, and is a hiker’s paradise.

Los Feliz is easily accessible via major thoroughfare streets and Interstate 5 to the east. So getting in and out of Los Feliz is easy, with quick access to Downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley and, with a little extra drive time, to the iconic L.A. beaches.

Best Accommodations in Los Feliz

There are plenty of old-school hotels and quite a few budget accommodations in Los Feliz. So if you are in a big group and you don’t want to spend a lot, you may find very decent prices here.

PodShare budget accommodations in Los Feliz neighborhood
PodShare budget accommodations in Los Feliz neighborhood

There are also fully furnished apartments for rent through VRBO, or boutique and luxury hotels.

Beverly Hills (Most Luxurious Neighborhood in L.A.)

With is central location, beautiful parks, fine dining, upscale shops and acclaimed hotels, who wouldn’t want to stay in Beverly Hills? Flanked on the west by Westwood, home to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and on the east by West Hollywood, the glitzy Beverly Hills attracts tourists like no other place.

Looking at where Beverly Hills is today, it’s hard to imagine that only 100 years ago these hills were home to a Mexican ranch where lima beans were grown.

Images from Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills

The elegant Beverly Hills is home to many rich and famous people who love shopping on Rodeo Drive. So besides being a great base to explore Los Angeles, Beverly Hills is also one of the world’s most fashionable places to shop.

Best Accommodations in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is renowned as a place of luxury, so staying here will ensure a hotel that matches the grandeur and glamour of the nearby mansions.

Maybourne BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL
Maybourne Beverly Hills Hotel

Aside from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel that remains popular decade after decade, there are some other posh establishments worth mentioning in this part of town. Like the recently renovated Maybourne Beverly Hills, or Viceroy L’Ermitage.

But not every Beverly Hills hotel must be outrageously expensive. There are some affordable hotels as well, like the Beverly Hilton, Sixty Beverly Hills, or Sonder The Crescent.

Where to Stay Around Los Angeles: 5 Best Suburbs for Families

The suburban areas in Los Angeles are as diverse as the City of Angels itself. A frenetic collection of small towns with very different lifestyles. Some suburbs are coastal, some are deserts, some are lavish, some are more rough. Staying in the suburbs is a very different experience. The suburbs are more affordable and laid-back. There are also many things to do with kids in this area of L.A., therefore it’s a better choice for families.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is one of the most iconic parts of Los Angeles, great for shopping and outdoor activities. It has an amazing coastline, with plenty of wide beaches, parks, bars, and restaurants. The town is very safe and it has great public transportation.

If you are visiting Los Angeles as a family and just like to get out and do different things, this is the right place to stay.

View of Santa Monica
View of Santa Monica

This beautiful town is walkable and bikeable and it’s only half an hour away from Downtown L.A. It’s also close to many attraction, like the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Getty Museum, Griffith Observatory, or the Sunset Strip. There are also great trails in Pacific Palisades which is a 10 minute drive away.

Long Beach

California is known for being one of the most expensive places in the United States. But fortunately, there are a few places that are still affordable, and Long Beach is one of them.

Long Beach is a large city that feels like a small town, with very distinctive neighborhoods. There are a lot of great parks and green spaces, lots of shopping areas and great restaurants.

View of the City of Long Beach
City of Long Beach

Long Beach is conveniently located, equally close to the beautiful beaches of Orange County and the City of Los Angeles. Public transportation is easily accessible and inexpensive. There are a lot of popular activities such as festivals, concerts, the Queen Mary, or the Aquarium. Of course, there are great bars and restaurants, as well as fun beaches.

Pasadena

Hidden in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just a few miles away from Downtown L.A., lies one of nicest towns in California: Pasadena.

Home to the famous Rose Bowl Stadium, Norton Simon Museum, and the Huntington Gardens, Old Town Pasadena is famous for its Victorian and Art Deco buildings, as well as shopping and dining district.

City of Pasadena
Old Town Pasadena

This is a great suburb to stay if you are looking for a quieter place away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. But rest assured that you won’t get bored here. There are theaters, concert halls, museums, botanical gardens, parks, and many other attractions in Pasadena. There are a bunch of restaurants, night clubs and such, but nothing too crazy. 

Restaurant in Old Town Pasadena
Restaurant in Pasadena

Pasadena is a very calm and quiet city and it is most definitely not like your typical Los Angeles County city. It’s clean, well organized and it’s full of students (home to Cal Tech, Pasadena City College, Art Center College of Design, etc).

Where NOT to Stay in Los Angeles

Most of L.A. is just as safe as any other big city in the world. There are of course some dangerous neighborhoods. But as a tourist, you won’t be going there anyway, so there is no point in mentioning them here. However, there are a few places in L.A. that are OK to visit during the day time, but are definitely not safe enough to stay or to walk around after dark.

Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is a historic Japanese district right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. Back in 1941 there were approximately 30,000 American Japanese living in Little Tokyo. But in 1942, as a result of the Pearl Harbor attacks by Japan, the Japanese population was incarcerated in isolated camps. After WWII they were all released, but unfortunately not many of them returned to this area.

Little Tokyo neighborhood during the day time
Little Tokyo neighborhood during the day time

If you drive through Little Tokyo during the day, you’d think there is no way this is the second most violent neighborhood in Los Angeles. But the numbers don’t lie. People are getting beat up here all the time and the overall crime rate in Little Tokyo is 668% higher than the national average!

Chinatown

Chinatown had a somewhat similar faith to that of Little Tokyo. The original Chinatown was demolished to make room for the Union Station, which was the transportation center back in the day. I’ve been to Chinatown more times that I can remember and never really saw any crime. However, I always made sure I was out of there by nightfall.

Los  Angeles Chinatown neighborhood
Los Angeles Chinatown neighborhood

Starting 1910, Chinatown starting to decline – symptoms of a corrupt Los Angeles. All the gambling houses, opium dens and gang warfare in the area made lots of people leave the neighborhood. The area slowly shrank and now is kind of rundown area with small Chinese business. The crime rate in Chinatown Los Angeles is 679% higher than the national average.

Venice Beach

Venice Beach used to be one of the most iconic and well-known places in Los Angeles. A lot of street performers, funky stores, nice cafés and chic boutiques. Pre-pandemic, the beach was definitely a worthwhile and unique place to visit.

View of Venice Beach pre-pandemic
Venice Beach pre-pandemic

But lately, it doesn’t have the same vibe anymore. The broadwalk in Venice Beach is now a “dangerous homeless encampment”, according to Eyewitness News. “Fed-up residents are calling for action amid a series of crimes and drug use in the area. On the sand, mixed with seaweed, you’ll find syringes, feces, broken glass and other trash. And the ocean has become the biggest outdoor toilet in the city.”

View of Venice beach during the pandemic
Venice Beach Boardwalk, June 14, 2021 (Photo: Sam Catanzaro)

Sadly, today Venice Beach is no longer a safe place to stay and unless the city of Los Angeles decides to take action, it’s even too dangerous to visit!

A Final Thought

Los Angeles is one the world’s most fascinating cities, so no matter where you choose to stay, you’ll have an amazing time. Because there is just so much to see and do here, you should plan on spending at least 3-4 days in L.A. And if you have more time, you can add some day trips or easy getaways from Los Angeles. There are so many beautiful places around!

Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles

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Category: California, DESTINATIONS, North America, United StatesTag: Destination Guides, Los Angeles

About Anda

Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. vigneshwartrixy

    June 7, 2022 at 11:42 pm

    Your article has some great information which helped me to choose the best place according to my intentions. It helped me a lot, so thanks for this detailed information.

    Reply
    • Anda

      June 8, 2022 at 1:04 pm

      I’m glad it was of help to you.

      Reply
  2. Ching

    May 16, 2022 at 3:10 am

    Thank you for letting me know about these nice places! I like your recommendation for LA 🙂

    Reply
  3. nicole

    April 24, 2022 at 5:35 am

    I think i’d love to stay in west hollywood but it’s great to know places like Los Feliz could be a cost effective option if that isn’t feesible.

    Reply
  4. Renee

    April 21, 2022 at 1:37 am

    Great round up of places of where to stay and not to stay in LA. I think I would go for West Hollywood, for its cool, retro vibes. I can see the appeal for families to stay in one of the neighbourhoods, but I would try and stay in a central spot close to the action.

    Reply
    • Anda

      April 21, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      The problem is that in L.A. the “action” is in many different places, lol. That’s why is difficult to know where to stay.

      Reply
  5. Subhashish Roy

    April 20, 2022 at 11:42 pm

    Love this comprehensive guide of places to stay in Los Angeles. It certainly provided a great insight. I love the feel of Los Feliz with all important locations in the vicinity. Also the fact that budget accommodation is what we first look at which is little away from the center.

    Reply
  6. Maria Veloso

    April 20, 2022 at 9:06 am

    I appreciate how you consider the tourists’ budgets, which range from low to high. In case I visit L.A. at night, I made a mental note of the less-than-safer areas. Thank you so much for providing some of the top lodging options – it’ll come in handy for anyone considering a trip to Los Angeles soon!

    Reply
  7. Arnav Mathur

    April 19, 2022 at 8:28 am

    I really liked how you’ve segregated the information, making it easier for people to choose where to stay and go to in this gigantic city. I am glad this blog mentions not only the must visit places but also, the places that are not so safe or dangerous, which I believe is extremely important for a tourist to know. Super excited to give your recommendations a try really soon! This is one of the perfect guides to know where to stay in Los Angeles and I would definitely be using it for my future travel.

    Reply
    • Anda

      April 19, 2022 at 11:12 am

      I’m glad my information was of help to you.

      Reply
  8. Ami Bhat

    April 19, 2022 at 7:12 am

    This is a great guide for first timers like me. Most often, I get confused as to which area I should look for when booking a stay. The post clearly tells me what would work the best. Seems like my first choice would be Downtown LA – given the proximity to places. And if I want a small change, I would pick Long beach.

    Reply
  9. Swati Jain

    April 19, 2022 at 5:25 am

    Got through your blog while searching for accommodations in LA and I must tell you that this is a really useful guide that will go to help plan their trip to LA, especially for the first time. I am surely marking this one as my referral during the visit

    Reply
    • Anda

      April 19, 2022 at 11:13 am

      I’m glad this was of help to you, Swati.

      Reply
  10. Jackie

    April 18, 2022 at 8:29 am

    My daughter lives in East Hollywood and I try to get out there from the east coast at least once a year. So, this is a very helpful guide for me as I plan future travel. Love Griffith Park and have been to Chinatown to grab a bite to go, as well as many of the tourist hot spots. ( So sad to hear Venice Beach is on the decline…) I guess I’ve gotten lucky with different hotels and hostels when I visit (my daughter’s place is tiny!) but it’s really good to learn your recommendation about places to stay and avoid. Otherwise, I’d be oblivious and perhaps not be so lucky. I appreciate your insights!

    Reply
  11. Sherianne

    April 18, 2022 at 5:35 am

    Los Angeles is such a great city but it sure is not tourist friendly. You really do need a car, and with the car a lot of patience! I love that you broke this down by area and listed the sites nearby. Even better that you listed where not to stay, I didn’t know Venice had become dangerous

    Reply
    • Anda

      April 18, 2022 at 1:14 pm

      Unfortunately some of L.A.’s neighborhoods are changing for worse, Sherianne.

      Reply
  12. Jennie

    April 7, 2022 at 1:29 am

    Thank you for this useful guide. We are planning to visit LA and stay in Santa Monica! I’m really looking forward to our trip to Santa Monica. I’ve heard it’s a wonderful place

    Reply

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