L.A.'s top design hotels

Interiors diva Kelly Wearstler is behind the design here: sleek and chic, yet quietly playful, with modern amenities set amid an overall look that nods both to a camped-up British country-house aesthetic and the hotel's history (it was built in 1969).

Ace Hotel's DTLA digs are housed in the landmark United Artists building, and the hotel pays homage to L.A.'s blend of Art Deco noir and modern hip. Inside, the hotel has exposed concrete galore with sleek fixtures and furniture, plus a restaurant and rooftop bar that are destinations for locals as well as visitors. The adjoining theater has also been restored to its Gothic glory and presents a variety of concerts and events.

Less than four miles from Hollywood, LINE channels the vibrant, multicultural feel of its Koreatown location. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed by chic concrete show off the skyline of one of the city's densest urban neighborhoods; from the rooftop pool deck you can spot a massive Shepard Fairey mural commissioned for the side of the building. The bars and resturants on the property are overseen by L.A.'s chef Roy Choi (of Kogi fame) and include a casual Korean fusion cafe, high-design greenhouse resturant and a buzzing bar where you'll sometimes spot notable names from the hip-hop charts hopping behind the DJ tables.

Styled as a modern spin on a classic Parisian inn, this boutique hotel is all about creating a warm and romantic feel that will have you feeling a world away from the bustle of Los Angeles life. Tucked away in Beverly Hills and offering just 43 rooms, this spot is sure to make you swoon, but without falling victim to chintzy cliche.

Another Kelly Wearstler special, the hotel has recently been updated with a design that blends Old Hollywood with 1950's jet-set. The property features three bow-shaped buildings arranged around the retro-styled pool area and the California-chic new resturant Viviane.

The newest property from hip hotelier Avi Brosh, Palihotel sits in a slightly unexpected locaiton on Melrose Avenue's prime retail shopping strip. Inside you'll find 32 impeccably-designed rooms, indoor and outdoor lounge areas including an alfresco courtyard and upstairs salon, with the kind of whimsical decor details that will make you feel like you've walked into a Wes Anderson film. With the popular Southern-inflected restaurant the Hart & the Hunter serving all day long, you may never want to leave.

Owned by the same group as Viceroy and Avalon, but decidedly more discrete, Chamberlain is hidden off a quiet West Hollywood side street. Despite the scene being more low-key, it doesn't sacrifice anything in the style department, with a polished and elegant take on modernism. The rooms are a reasonable size and all come outfitted with large desks if you're here to work, but don't be surprised if you prefer to spend a lot of your time with cocktail in hand up in the atmospheric pool area.

This colorful, cheerful outpost of Philippe Starck's Paris-based chain is located in a vintage building near Hollywood's iconic Capitol Records tower. For those who want fun design without paying luxury prices, Mama Shelter is one of the best bets. Nonetheless, the hotel doesn't skimp on style or amenitities, including a rooftop lounge that has served as a backdrop for countless fashion blogs and Instagram photoshoots.

Built as an apartment building in the 1950s, this tower was converted into a hotel by Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck in the mid-1990s. It immediately became the hottest spot in the city and, even years later, still carries quite a bit of cache, particularly thanks to a recent redesign by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz that updated Starck's original design for today's tastes. Funky additions to the rooms include combined mirror/TV showpieces and sustainable bamboo flooring. Elsewhere in the hotel, Skybar still draws a star-studded crowd and the Agua Spa is sweet, if petite.

Palihouse arrives on the beach, inside a historic 1920s Spanish Colonial building, steps from the Third Street Promenade, this 38-room hotel brings Old Hollywood into the 21st century. Spanish tiles, a stone fireplace and original blown-glass doors and wood-beam ceilings are showcased alongside modern, fun and hip Palihouse touches. The apartment-style studios and suites are outfitted with vanity rooms—to prep for your close-up—and fully functional kitchens. Be sure to check out the Mediterranean-inspried outdoor patio and front lawn with bocce ball court and gurgling fountain.