Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City

This 24-story hotel with a dazzling glass exterior buzzes with activity year-round, drawing tourists visiting Universal Studios and those attending corporate and social events. A 2016 renovation of the lobby created a bright and modern space, with light cascading in through multi-floor windows. There are vibrant accents and marble floors and walls, plus plush leather furniture that entices guest to sit and relax. Café Sierra, just off the lobby, was also renovated and is a highlight of the hotel, housed in a spectacular, polished steel and glass atrium. Its weekend seafood buffets draw big crowds, including lots of locals.

The Hilton is situated on a hill overlooking the Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk complexes, where a world of dining, shopping, and entertainment options await. It’s a five-minute walk to the Studios’ main entrance and about 10 minutes on foot to CityWalk. Guests also can take a free Universal shuttle that stops at the hotel. The Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Walk of Fame are about 10 minutes away by car, while Warner Bros. Studios is an 11-minute drive in the opposite direction (north). Staples Center and other destinations in downtown Los Angeles take about 20 minutes by car, while Venice Beach is a 40-minute drive. Depending on traffic conditions, Bob Hope Airport is 20 minutes by car, while Los Angeles International Airport is a 45-minute drive. 

Guest rooms were given a refresh 2016, with new carpet and wallpaper, but decor still has a dated look overall. There are white duvets, and reddish-brown wood furniture that includes headboards and glass-topped desks with office chairs. Brightly-colored, Impressionist-style artwork adds needed pops of color. Units are bright and have large windows, many of which offer panoramic views of Universal Studios, the Hollywood Hills, or the Los Angeles skyline. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, robes, slippers, safes, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. Wi-Fi is free only for Hilton Honors members. Executive-level rooms add free continental breakfast. Standard rooms aren’t overly spacious but they're comfortable, and even Double-Queens have upholstered armchairs, roomy benches, and small oval tables. Larger Corner rooms include queen sleeper sofas, and Suites have more attractive, contemporary decor. Modern bathrooms are a highlight. There's excellent lighting, tan marble vanities and floors, and they contain shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and Peter Thomas Roth products. Suites have elegant bathrooms, with walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs. Rooms are relatively quiet, given their location near major freeways and busy attractions.

This full-service Hilton offers all the amenities you’d expect to find in an upscale hotel, other than perhaps a spa. Café Sierra serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with American, Chinese, and Continental options. Breakfast includes hot and continental buffets, as well as an a la carte menu. The Coffee Corner serves espresso drinks along with to-go items like sandwiches and salads. The Lighthouse Lounge in the lobby features craft cocktails and live music. Poolside bar and food service includes a light menu of casual classics. Room service is available 24 hours. For wellness, the heated outdoor pool is spacious and surrounded by beautiful landscaping. It has several free cabanas and a 17-person whirlpool, too. There's also a well-equipped fitness center, with several Precor cardio machines, free weights, and weight-training machine. The hotel’s 35,000 square feet of event space includes a ballroom that can host 1,000 people. There's also a business center has multiple computers, but Wi-Fi is free only to Hilton Honors members. Tickets to Universal Studios are sold at the concierge desk, which also offers valet dry cleaning and laundry. Valet and self-parking are available, but it's a bit pricey. Other perks include a free shuttle to Universal Studios that stops at the hotel, and a gift shop and jewelry store in the lobby. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.