The best hotels near the Hollywood Sign

It’s certainly a step up from the Best Western—this 1927 Mediterranean-style villa makes quite the impression from its perch in hilly Los Feliz. The allure is obvious: Tuscan-style gardens, a sprawling pool terrace, and cool cloistered walkways are just a few of the perks for guests (for an extra fee, the owners will throw in full maid service). Better yet, trails leading to the Hollywood Sign are less than a mile away. Though it bills itself as a retreat for plastic surgery patients, it’s clear anyone with a penchant for spa-size bathrooms and stone fireplaces will be at home here. It’s no surprise that GQ and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have usurped the Eden-like grounds for film shoots. For the same cost as a five-star hotel suite, you’ll get ten times the space, making this an easy pick for newlyweds, hard-to-please visiting parents, or staycationers looking to splurge.

Every hotel has a story, but nowhere is that story as pronounced than at Hotel Covell, a five-room boutique hotel in Los Feliz. Situated above Bar Covell (and owned by the bar's founder, Dustin Lancaster), Hotel Covell's rooms tells the story of George Covell, a fictional character, in various stages of his life. It starts at the very beginning, of course—Chapter One conjurs up images of George's origins in the American Mid-West; Chapter Two channels a 1950's New York bachelor apartment; Chapter Three, a Parisian love nest, which he shares with his French fling, Claudine; and so on. Each room has been meticulously curated by interior designer Sally Breer, capturing the individual themes with reading nooks and record players, claw-footed tubs and statement furniture. There isn't a pool or gym, but amenities come in other forms: an attentive concierge, an intimate rooftop deck, room service from Home State and Bar Covell (not to mention a bottle of wine from the downstairs bar upon arrival), and miraculously soundproof rooms that make Hollywood seem hundreds of miles away.

Off a quiet residential street, a 10-minute drive from Griffith Park, this charming compound is connected by narrow, leafy walkways and courtyards strewn with bamboo, ferns, and sycamores. The five distinct bungalows, named by color, provide kitchens and airy, handsomely-furnished living rooms. The vibe is significantly more personal than a traditional hotel (organic cotton sheets: check!), but the units still have useful amenities like iPod docking stations, free Wifi and flat-screen TVs. For a longer stay, try one of the two villas—a slightly roomier, more elegant versi

After a 2003 restoration by designer Dodd Mitchell, this 1927 landmark, a beautiful example of Spanish colonial design, once more welcomed the A-listers who frequented it during Hollywood's heyday. The hotel is at its most dramatic downstairs: in the Prohibition-era bowling alley, at the discreet Library Bar and around the pool, which boasts a restored underwater mural by David Hockney and an often-buzzing bar scene at the poolside lounge. Of course, even more prized than location—you’re 15 minutes by car from Griffith Park—is the building itself, which, along with the pool, have been designated Historic-Cultural Monuments by the city. The rooms are sleek, dark and, in places, showing a few signs of wear and tear. Look out for the occasional subtly placed photographic nod to the starry location. Make sure to stop for a meal at the 24-hour burger joint, 25 Degrees, and Public Kitchen and Bar.

Nestled in the heart of Hollywood, and directly above a Metro stop on the red line, this glitzy hotel pulls out the red carpet (literally) with its rooftop pool and lounge, grand spiral staircase, Bliss spa and famous Sunday night jazz in the Living Room lounge. For those that want to live like a star 24/7, there are permanent residences with all the hotel amenities. Framed portraits of A-listers line the hallways, and while you’re sipping a salted pretzel on the rooftop bar, you’ll even be able to spot the Hollywood sign. It’s even got a decent all-day restaurant, Delphine, with indoor-outdoor seating, so you won’t have to tear yourself away from twinkling Hollywood Boulevard for even a second.

For a first-timer to LA, the thrill of finding yourself surrounded by showbiz landmarks—like the Dolby Theatre and Chinese Theatre, both of which directly connect to the hotel—is hard to deny. Yes, you’re sleeping inside a mall, but even that has its advantages: Babylon Court, the building’s exotic centerpiece, is framed by a stone arch decorated with sphinxes and bejeweled elephants (an homage to a little-known 1916 silent film). With a rooftop pool, sun terrace and an offshoot of Exhale Spa, the 20-floor tower and its fully equipped rooms exude luxury.

Home-away-from-home may be a cliche, but for this collaboration between SBE Group and esteemed photographer Matthew Rolston, it's appropriate. The bachelor pad-cum-boutique hotel, which neighbors the iconic Capitol Records building off Hollywood Boulevard, features 57 generously sized rooms with paisley prints, old-fashioned English sofas and vintage record players (vinyl supplied). Modern amenities such as Blu-ray disc players, Wi-Fi and kitchenettes with microwaves and washer-dryers assures you'll want for nothing. Each room has a balcony, some overlooking the iconic Capitol Records building. Guests are given preferential access to other SBE properties, although with the Library Bar, Glade courtyard lounge and Cleo restaurant, why would they ever want to leave?