4* Los Angeles Athletic Club

If beach time matters more than being close to West Hollywood, Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica makes life very easy. Santa Monica Pier and the beach are only a few blocks away, Third Street Promenade is practically around the corner and the E Line stops close to the hotel. That rail connection is genuinely useful in a city famous for making visitors sit in traffic, although getting to the gay bars in WeHo will still take some planning. Venice is much easier to reach if you want bars and nightlife closer to the coast. There’s an outdoor pool and hot tub, and the included hot breakfast helps make this one of the more practical Santa Monica options. GayMapper tip: a good-value beach base if your LA holiday is mainly about Santa Monica and Venice rather than nightly trips to West Hollywood.

The Hoxton, Downtown LA makes a convincing case for staying in DTLA rather than automatically defaulting to West Hollywood. Its historic Broadway building sits close to restaurants, theatres, the Fashion District and South Park, with Metro stations within walking distance. The ground floor is lively throughout the day, while the rooftop pool gives you skyline views and a place to switch off above the traffic. Rooms are stylish but intentionally compact, so much of the experience happens in the hotel’s shared spaces and restaurants. WeHo is a journey from here, but Downtown has its own bars and nightlife and works well if your LA plans stretch far beyond the gay strip. GayMapper tip: a good choice if you like busy neighbourhood hotels and want DTLA to be part of the experience rather than somewhere you merely visit.

The turquoise Art Deco façade of The Georgian has been watching over Ocean Avenue since 1933, and after a major restoration it once again feels like one of Santa Monica’s genuinely special places to stay. Inside, the design leans enthusiastically into old Hollywood glamour without feeling like a theme hotel. Some suites have sweeping Pacific views, while the restored Georgian Room and oceanfront dining give evenings here a sense of occasion. Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade and the beach are all within a few minutes on foot, so this is a very easy place to enjoy without a car. GayMapper tip: the boutique splurge if you want history, style and the Pacific outside rather than West Hollywood nightlife on the doorstep.

Tucked onto a quiet residential street just below Sunset Boulevard, Montrose at Beverly Hills keeps you close to West Hollywood while giving you considerably more space than many hotels in the area. The suite-style rooms come with living areas, fireplaces and, in many cases, kitchenettes and balconies. Up on the roof there’s a pool plus tennis and pickleball, with views stretching across the city. Santa Monica Boulevard’s gay nightlife is walkable, as are the Sunset Strip and restaurants around West Hollywood, so you can leave the car behind for a surprising amount of the trip. GayMapper tip: especially useful for longer stays or anyone who likes the freedom of a suite but still wants WeHo nightlife within walking distance.

Space is one of the big luxuries at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. Even the entry-level accommodation is suite-sized, and many rooms have balconies looking across Los Angeles or towards the Hollywood Hills. You’re at the western end of the Sunset Strip, with the gay bars around Santa Monica Boulevard an easy walk downhill. Beverly Hills lies just beyond the neighbourhood, so Rodeo Drive, WeHo restaurants and nightlife can all fit comfortably into the same stay. The rooftop pool has some excellent views, while breakfast is included — still surprisingly unusual at this end of the hotel market. GayMapper tip: particularly good for couples who want proper five-star space and service while keeping West Hollywood nightlife close enough to reach on foot.

The Delphi Hotel occupies one of Downtown LA’s best-known mid-century buildings, formerly The Standard, and still carries some of that slightly cooler-than-average DTLA attitude. You’re in the Financial District, close to museums, restaurants and several Metro lines, with Bunker Hill and the Broad easily reached. The rooftop pool and bar give you somewhere to escape the streets below, while the building’s 1950s architecture adds far more character than most downtown hotels. This is a central-LA choice rather than a WeHo nightlife choice, so expect to travel when heading to the main gay strip. GayMapper tip: a good base if your plans involve Downtown culture, restaurants and events — with West Hollywood saved for selected nights rather than every evening.