California

From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

An extreme makeover has turned an aging Los Angeles icon, the 1971 circular tower at the 405 freeway's Sunset Boulevard off-ramp, into a sleek 209-room property, the first SoCal foray for Bay Area–based Joie de Vivre hotels. A thick steel-and-glass barrier minimizes the endless whoosh of traffic, and even during rush hour the intimate pool area with its outdoor fireplace feels as private as a Bel Air estate. Low ceilings and ice machines in the hallways recall the building's previous incarnation as a Holiday Inn, but the overhauled rooms pick up considerable height, and the masculine-toned space is softened by pillowtop beds and lots of sunshine. There's free Wi-Fi, and chauffeured Cadillac Escalades offer guests free lifts to the immediate surroundings, including the hilltop Getty Center. Staff are unfailingly friendly, including at the top-floor West restaurant.

When to go: Anytime but awards season—late January through mid-March—when prices spike and traffic is intolerable.

Which room to book: From floors 7 through 15, rooms ending in 14 and 15 have views of Sunset Boulevard and the 405. Rooms ending in 09 and 10 face the Getty Center.

Amenities: Bar/lounge, Gym, Pool

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