5* The London West Hollywood

Hotel Erwin throws you straight into Venice Beach, with the boardwalk and sand less than a minute from the lobby. This is LA at its most colourful — skaters, surfers, street performers, bars and plenty of characters all sharing the same few blocks. Many rooms have balconies and ocean views, but the rooftop is the real highlight. Kassi Venice Beach combines cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired food with some excellent Pacific sunsets, so you don’t necessarily need to leave the hotel for a good evening. Abbott Kinney is nearby for shopping and restaurants, while Santa Monica is easily reached up the coast. West Hollywood is a completely different excursion. GayMapper tip: go for Venice energy, ocean sunsets and people-watching — not because you intend to commute to WeHo every night.

Few LA hotels embrace the full California beach fantasy quite as enthusiastically as Shutters on the Beach. It sits directly on the sand in Santa Monica, styled more like a very expensive coastal home than a traditional five-star resort. The Pacific is literally outside, with the pier just along the beachfront path and Venice easily reached by bike. There’s an oceanfront pool and spa, while Coast and 1 Pico mean you can happily stay beside the water for dinner too. West Hollywood nightlife is a significant drive away, so this is emphatically a beach holiday rather than a gayborhood stay. GayMapper tip: the serious Santa Monica splurge when morning walks on the sand matter far more than walking home from The Abbey.

Sitting right where Beverly Hills meets West Hollywood, Hotel Beverly Terrace gives you a quieter neighbourhood base without putting the gay bars too far away. Santa Monica Boulevard and the western end of the WeHo scene are comfortably walkable, while Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills lie in the other direction. This is a small mid-century hotel rather than a glossy resort, with just 39 rooms wrapped around a leafy courtyard. Café Amici downstairs is a popular neighbourhood Italian restaurant, and the roof terrace is a pleasant spot when you want some LA sunshine without committing to a full pool day. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops around Doheny and nearby Robertson too. GayMapper tip: particularly good if you want gay nightlife within walking distance but prefer a small, relaxed hotel rather than staying right in the middle of the party.

Ocean Lodge Santa Monica Beach Hotel has been sitting on Ocean Avenue since the 1950s, and its retro motel-style character is part of the appeal. More importantly, you’re just a few minutes from Santa Monica Pier and the sand. Rooms have been refreshed but remain fairly simple, with fridges and coffee makers rather than luxury-hotel extras. Restaurants line the surrounding streets, Venice is an easy trip south and the beachfront location means you can enjoy plenty of LA without getting into a car every morning. West Hollywood is another matter entirely, so don’t choose this expecting spontaneous nights on Santa Monica Boulevard. GayMapper tip: one of the better-value options if you want to wake up beside the Pacific and would rather spend your budget on the rest of the trip.

Kimpton La Peer West Hollywood sits in the Design District, where Melrose Avenue, galleries, restaurants and West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ nightlife are all close enough to make this one of LA’s more pleasantly walkable stays. The mood is stylish without being intimidating, with a heated pool, Mediterranean dining and a lively cocktail bar. Kimpton’s social approach also helps: the evening wine hour gives the hotel a friendly energy that can be particularly welcome for solo travellers. The Abbey, Micky’s and the rest of the Santa Monica Boulevard strip are only a short walk north. GayMapper tip: still our favourite LA all-rounder — smart enough for a special trip, relaxed enough to feel comfortable, and brilliantly positioned for gay WeHo.

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.