Los Angeles hotels: Lay your head in the lap of luxury

The Four Seasons pampers its guests something silly. From the fragrant, flower-filled lobby to the immaculate rooms, every detail is calculated to spoil visitors. Free cell phones and limos to Rodeo Drive are standard; on the rooftop terrace, cabanas come with TVs, phones and fully stocked refrigerators. Downstairs, the high-tech rooms feature balconies, marble-topped desks and Frette linens. The spa, though pricey, is a retreat unto itself with a variety of relaxing holistic treatments that serve to soothe the aching muscles of the big shots who call Four Seasons their home away from home. You'll see some of them power lunching at Culina, the hotel's sleek modern Italian restaurant.

Designed to look and feel like a private estate, the Peninsula exudes opulence. There are 193 rooms and suites—all recently renovated in 2011—and 16 detached private villas situated on the lushly landscaped grounds. There's also a fitness center, a world-class spa, a rooftop garden and a lap pool. Just off the lobby, the gorgeous Club Bar offers entertainment on most nights. The Belvedere, which serves classic American cuisine such as macaroni and cheese with a gourmet twist, is considered one of LA's favorite top-class restaurants. White-glove service throughout only adds to the high-end appeal.

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 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?

One of the many beautiful things about this Hollywood Hills fixture is that it's barely changed over the decades. The hotel still attracts the brazen and the beautiful (everyone from Led Zeppelin to Lindsay Lohan has stayed here; John Belushi OD-ed in bungalow 3); it still offers a quintessentially glamorous LA experience; and it still promises its guests absolute discretion.

It may have been daring for the Montage to unveil a temple to extravangance during the depths of the recession in November 2008, but if it can be pulled off anywere, it's Beverly Hills. The rooms don't quite have the wow factor of the public areas, but they're luxurious, with plush furnishings and marble and mosaic-tiled bathrooms. Further reasons to stay here include the lovely heated rooftop pool, with sweeping city views, the upscale Italian restaurant Scarpetta and the award-winning spa, a destination in itself. If a night here is beyond your budget, consider stopping by for afternoon tea in the soothing Lobby Lounge.

The famous pink stucco façade, the manicured grounds and the sumptuous rooms of the Beverly Hills Hotel look as fresh and fanciful as they did on opening day 100 years ago. It oozes exclusivity: every screen legend from Valentino to Arnie has slept in this fabled hideaway or held court in its still-popular Polo Lounge. The biggest draw are the bungalows, where Liz Taylor spent six of her honeymoons: No.5 has its own pool; No.7 is decorated to Marilyn's taste. These now almost pale compared to the two new Presidential Bungalows—the epitome of lavishness, and yours for a cool $9,000 (minimum). Take the time to hit backhands with the tennis pro (1959 Wimbledon champ Alex Olmedo) before hitting the suitably extravagant spa.

The Luxe on Sunset Boulevard is the sort of place you could sequester yourself away for days at a time and want for nothing. A true urban retreat, the Luxe is situated on seven acres of lush grounds, replete with a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, spa, on-site restaurant, lounge and generously proportioned guest rooms. Complimentary wireless, secretarial services and full laundry, dry cleaning and concierge services will keep any business traveler on top of their game, while dog-friendly accommodations, 24-hour room service and an onsite boutique allow vacationers to avoid contact with the real world. Should you choose to venture out, though, Luxe is located just off the 405 between Brentwood and Beverly Hills, the perfect perch from which to explore LA.

This elite and quietly decadent Mission-style '20s hotel, a deamy getaway on 12 fairytale acres of lush landscaping, reopened in 2011 after a major two-year overhaul. The additions—which include new lofts and hillside suites, a La Prairie spa (for guests and residents of Bel-Air only) and fitness center, plus upgraded room features—are impressive, but thankfully the overall vibe hasn't changed much: Guests still enjoy spending long afternoons by the pool, meandering through the gardens or subtly trying to spot which Hollywood player is sitting at the next table in the Wolfgang Puck restaurant.