Best Downtown L.A. Luxury Hotels

This luxurious business hotel is located in the L.A. LIVE center, an enormous restaurant and entertainment complex that's helping to revitalize downtown L.A. But the Ritz's built-up surroundings belie the quiet, intimate luxury found within. From the wood-paneled lobby to the big, beautiful rooms, it's clear that no corners were cut at this 123-room hotel. It's the extras -- decadent bathrooms, orchids throughout the building, boldly colored modern art, sleek restaurant design, and rooftop pool with beautiful views of L.A. -- that make the hotel feel truly elegant. The location next to the Staples Center and Microsoft Theater make it a good option for leisure travelers as well.

The 877-room hotel JW Marriott is located in the L.A. LIVE center -- also home to the smaller, 123-room Ritz-Carlton -- as well as many restaurants, a bowling alley, nightclub, Grammy museum, the Staples Center, and the Microsoft Theater. The hotel is sleek and tastefully decorated, with an inviting and modern atrium-style lobby and splashes of color spicing up the predominantly white rooms. While it’s certainly a step up from a regular Marriott (as you would expect from the nicer JW chain), it falls short of being truly luxurious, like its neighbor the Ritz-Carlton.

The L.A. Hotel Downtown's upscale elegance is immediately clear -- impeccably manicured landscaping surrounds a sweeping reflective-glass facade. Inside, the expansive lobby is chic, with cream marble floors, large black columns, and multiple glass chandeliers. The 469 spacious rooms have a contemporary style with a soft color scheme that's contemporary and attractive, while not being over the top. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, but not minibars, like at JW Marriott. The hotel draws a business-traveler crowd, and the style is definitely a step above most corporate hotels, though couples are also frequent guests and can be seen congregating at the bar. 

The 176-room Luxe City Center Hotel is an upscale property that attracts business travelers as well as concert-goers because of its location in downtown Los Angeles, near L.A. LIVE and Staples Center. Its guest rooms are stylish and equipped with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, and spacious walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. The on-site restaurant and patio lounge offer scenic city views, and other features include a small gym and an on-call spa technician, but no pool. There's no outdoor pool or 24-hour fitness center here, like at L.A. Hotel Downtown, but that hotel charges for Wi-Fi (which is free in all areas of Luxe City Center).