The Standard, Downtown L.A.
Hip digs, reasonable prices, and a too-cool night scene are the draws at this André Balazs outpost. The trendy, whimsical interiors here are fun and don't take themselves too seriously: both George Jetson and Austin Powers would feel at home hobnobbing over cocktails in the canary-yellow restaurant, or lounging on the shocking-pink sectional in the lobby. Accommodations range from 280-square-foot "Cheap" rooms to 1,000-square-foot penthouses. With their platform beds, predominantly black-and-white décor, and abstract art, the hotel's 205 rooms are chic studies in minimalism. Funky design elements are everywhere, from the massive Roman foot sculptures in guest bathrooms to the bright-red podlike cabanas housing vibrating waterbeds that surround the pool. The Rooftop Bar, with its stunning downtown views, potent mojitos, and movies projected onto a nearby building façade, attracts the young, the beautiful, and the soon-to-be-famous.
Insider Tip: If you're looking for peace and quiet, book elsewhere—the nonstop party here will only annoy you.
Room to Book: Any of the 710-square-foot loft-style "Wow!" rooms, whose massive bathtubs are big enough for Entourage-style group soaks.