Los Angeles has endless lodging options for visitors, but with its sprawling geography and limitless activities, it can be overwhelming to choose the best place to stay during a visit.
LA is a popular destination, and for good reason. Great weather, unparalleled shopping and boundless options for dining make this city worth coming back to again and again. With so much to offer, there is something for everyone in this thriving city.
While experiencing all that LA offers can be challenging without a car, several neighborhoods make excellent home bases for exploring the city on foot. Renting a car or using rideshare is always an option, but choosing an area with plenty to do within walking distance is one of the best ways to enjoy the city.
Below I’ve rounded up some of the best hotels (that also happen to be pet-friendly!) that are located in areas where you can get by without a car during a visit to Los Angeles. Centrally located, these hotels make exploring the area on foot a breeze, with coffee shops, bars, restaurants and markets just steps from your door.
Best Hotels in Los Angeles
Silverlake Pool and Inn (Silverlake)
Address: 4141 Santa Monica Blvd, Silver Lake, CA 90029
Phone: (323) 486-7225
The Silverlake Pool and Inn is a small boutique hotel and is one of the few hotel options in the Silverlake area. This 54-room hotel is part of the Palisociety Hotel management group, an award-winning company that dedicates itself to elevated hospitality and creates stunning spaces as showcased in their many hotels.
The rooms are delightfully spacious and decorated with soft neutral tones and a minimalist aesthetic. The sprawling layout of the hotel matches the easygoing feel of this serene establishment, and the ample patios encourage having a seat and taking in the beauty of the hotel. Large Agaves, Palms, and Birds of Paradise explode from every corner, giving this hotel its distinctly Southern Californian vibe.
Location
- Silverlake Pool and Inn is nestled just off of W Sunset Boulevard, east of the Hollywood district. The hotel is literal steps from Erewhon, the notoriously upscale grocery store. Having this asset- complete with attached wine shop- just a few minutes from the hotel is both exciting and dangerous. It’s absolutely too many expensive but wonderful items at your fingertips. But keep walking just a few minutes more up Santa Monica Boulevard and you’ll find yourself on W Sunset Blvd, with your choice of coffee shops, bars and restaurants in either direction.
- For coffee, you have excellent choices within minutes of leaving your room- Intelligentsia coffee serves up a delicious Matcha latte and they have an excellent nook of merchandise. If you walk a bit further, La Colombe coffee roastery has an brick and mortar- a shotgun, light-filled space with two patios- one out front along W Sunset and another up the stairs out the back. For lunch grab tacos at Taco’s Delta– you’ll get more food than you can eat. Stop in for a martini and dinner at The Black Cat, and make sure to take a walk down Sunset Blvd and stop into the Baggu store and Candid Home, a fantastic little shop for wonderful and strange gifts.
Amenities
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- The bathrooms are stocked with Diptyque Philosykos toiletries, making hand-washing and showering an added treat. The hotel pool and patio is adorable, and despite it being December when I visited, the pool loungers and tables were clean and available for sitting and enjoying the view of the pool. The hotel’s restaurant, Marco Polo, is an Italian trattoria and is open all day with a great Happy Hour. Make sure to order the Burrata and Prosciutto board- every element was delectable and could easily eat as a meal for one with the heavy portions.
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- The honor bar in the room was especially impressive. Stocked with a dizzying array of snacks and beverages, every element was beautiful enough to gift. The king size bed was exquisite- luxurious sheets and pillows where I could flail wildly in my sleep and never even come close to the edge of the bed.
The Shay Hotel is part of the Hyatt hotel family, and is a modern, design-forward and pet friendly hotel in downtown Culver City. Conveniently located along the metro line with a stop just out the hotel doors, it grants effortless access to the city. The 148 rooms have a modern, minimalist feel but remains opulent in its comfort and amenities. The rooms are bright from from floor to ceiling windows and the water pressure made for fantastic showers.
A standout feature of the hotel was the ample common areas throughout the hotel- aside from the ultra Instagrammable rooftop and patio, there are multiple areas on the main floor where you can sit, chat, read a book or just take in the views of people coming and going.
Location
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- The Shay is a fabulous stay, especially if you’re on foot. Both Trader Joe’s and Erewhon are both a quick ten minute walk away, and just across the road from the hotel is The Platform, a cluster of upscale shops and restaurants that winds through a handsomely landscaped walkway. Roberta’s has a seasonally-inspired menu and mouthwatering pizza and cocktails, and Loqui is the spot for achiote chicken tacos, house-made totopos (corn chips) and fresh guacamole. Shops like Aesop and Maison Louis Marie will tantalize your senses and jewelers Kinn and Kinn will satiate anyone looking to add a little sparkle into their collection.
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- The Shay hotel is housed as a part of The Ivy Station plaza, so just a few steps outside and around the side of the hotel you’ll find other businesses like Equator coffee, YogaSix, and Milk + Honey Spa. You could theoretically spend days never having to venture further than a few blocks from this hotel if you didn’t want to!
Amenities
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- The 5,000 sf rooftop patio is expansive- the pool itself is a LA destination, showing up on sites like Resortpass for its ‘it’ status as the place to be. And for good reason-The rooftop at this hotel can’t be beat. With it’s birds eye view of downtown Los Angeles and Butterfly, the award-winning Mexican restaurant perched atop the hotel- you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more energetic and aesthetic place to spend your afternoon.
- The lobby is gorgeous- a crackling fire inside the black island fireplace is the centerpiece and plenty of cozy places to sit spread throughout the entire first floor. A bar serves up cocktails and coffee, and a fun vintage space with a pool table and handsome leather seating with bistro tables lies just beyond the bar. The fitness center while small, is well-equipped, and a second floor patio affords a quiet place to get some fresh air without leaving the hotel grounds. Zaytinya on the first floor is open for dinner every night of the week, serving Eastern Mediterranean cuisine in their bright and eloquent dining room.
The 1Hotel in West Hollywood is a knock-out hotel as far as design and luxury and should not be missed if the location works with your itinerary and it fits into your budget. This dreamy, LEED-certified sanctuary hides in plain sight on W Sunset Boulevard at the base of the Hollywood Hills. Shrouded by thoughtful landscaping and low-profile architecture, this upscale boutique hotel is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty.
West Hollywood—known as WeHo—is one of the most walkable pockets of LA. Sunset Boulevard is lined with hotels, bars, and restaurants, and just a few blocks south, Santa Monica Boulevard opens up even more places to eat, drink, and shop in either direction.
Location
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- West Hollywood is one of the most walkable areas of Los Angeles, making it an ideal neighborhood to stay without a car. Plenty of restaurants, bars and shopping galore within walking distance from the hotel, and it’s entertaining to see classic haunts like The Chateau Marmont if you head east on Sunset Blvd.
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- For a casual bite, grab hotdogs and burgers at Carney’s, a LA landmark built with two Pacific Railroad train cars, or treat yourself to mind-blowing Mexican fare (that also happens to be vegan!) at the stunning Gracias Madre. For menu recommendations please see my previous post on great things to do in Los Angeles.
Amenities
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- The 1Hotel West Hollywood has an elegant rooftop pool with expansive views of LA, gorgeous common areas like the Juniper Cafe and Lounge, a great fitness room, and complimentary group fitness classes from their partnership with Alo Wellness Club. Check the schedule here for regular events held at or near the 1Hotel West Hollywood.
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- The hotel features Brooklyn-based Bamford Wellness products, and their ultra-luxe robes had me seriously considering buying one for my home from their superb gift shop. Additionally, the FaceGym is a facial spa rooted in the powers of facial massage, and their partnership with this 1Hotel grants discounts at the facial spa that is just steps from the hotel doors. It’s a splurge, but I love to treat myself to their ‘signature sculpt workout’ when I’m in town- they knead and manipulate my face in ways I cannot do myself and I am glowing and lifted afterwards.
The Sandbourne Hotel (Santa Monica)
Address: 1740 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 395-9700
The Sandbourne is a breathtaking Marriott beach front hotel sitting on prime real estate on Sunset Boulevard in Santa Monica. After a $20 million renovation, The Sandbourne was reborn in late 2024 with a fresher, more youthful vibe in comparison to the outdated Le Merigot which it replaced. The muted tones, potted plants and saturated couches give the lobby an upscale, vibrant energy that you can’t help but want to be a part of. This pet friendly hotel (there is even an on-site dog park!) is a true feast for the eyes- every corner is expertly decorated, every detail has been tended to. The fitness center is spacious and well-equipped, and the terraces and patios will lull you into taking a little break and take in the sea air.
Location
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- The Sandbourne Hotel sits beachfront on Sunset Boulevard, just south of the Santa Monica Pier. A supremely walkable location, this hotel is high on the list for guests who are looking for the best places to stay without a car, furry friend in tow. Santa Monica is extremely dog friendly and this hotel is no different- it even has its own on-site dog park, although beach access is just a minutes walk away.
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- The hotel’s location can’t be beat- restaurants, bars and shops litter the area between the hotel and the 3rd Street Promenade where you can find name brands like Urban Outfitters, Sephora and Free People. For thrift shopping recommendations please see my previous post.
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- A quick walk towards the water will put you onto the Oceanfront Walk where you can stroll south on a protected paved walkway amongst cyclers, roller skaters, and dog walkers all the way to Venice Beach. It’s incredible people watching and a great way to spend time basking in the southern California sunshine.
Amenities
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- The stunning lobby aside, the hotel terrace and pool garners its own fanbase- minimalist nooks and a sprawling patio offers guests a multitude of places to relax and take in the beauty of the hotel, abundant plants, a cocktail or the company of a friend. The terrace just beyond the doors of the lobby offers several tables and lounging areas complete with oversized umbrellas overlooking the pool. The pool is surrounded by white loungers and cozy cotton soft modular sofas that are begging to have you sink into.
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- The hotel’s restaurant, Marelle, is equally striking- the muted beige and terracotta tones pairs perfectly with the swaying reed pendant lights. Leaning into the modern Mediterranean feel of the restaurant, one side of the restaurant is completely open, bathing the space with warm, natural light.
The Eden in Santa Monica recently reopened in June of 2025 after a renovation and rebranding of the historic building. Originally built in 1939, design-lovers will love the preserved charm of the Streamline Moderne architectural style that defines the stately hotel on Sunset Boulevard. The rooftop bar is one of Santa Monica’s most famed spots for catching a gorgeous beachfront sunset- the panoramic views can’t be beat from The Velvet Rose.
Location
The Eden in Santa Monica recently reopened in June of 2025 after a renovation and rebranding of the historic building. Originally built in 1939, design-lovers will love the preserved charm of the Streamline Moderne architectural style that defines the stately hotel on Sunset Boulevard. The rooftop bar is one of Santa Monica’s most famed spots for catching a gorgeous beachfront sunset- the panoramic views can’t be beat from The Velvet Rose.
Amenities
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- The Eden Hotel’s lobby houses the flagship location of Coffee Manufactory, a roastery born from its partnership with San Francisco OG Tartine bakery. This handsome space on the south end of the hotel lobby is a polished space, outfitted with tufted leather couches, curved booths and Art Deco pendant lighting.
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- The ground-floor pool and patio exudes a classic Beverly Hills vibe- cabana black and white stripe loungers surrounding the year-round heated, salt water pool. The rooftop bar, The Velvet Rose, is a can’t miss for sunsets. Finally, luxuriate in the scents from bathroom amenities by Swedish company Sachajuan, a sustainable vegan body care company whose Shiny Citrus body wash and lotion had me chomping at the bit for my next shower.
Final Thoughts
Los Angeles is full of incredible places to stay, but choosing a walkable, pet-friendly hotel can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable—especially if you’d rather explore without a car. Whether you base yourself in Silverlake, Culver City, West Hollywood, or Santa Monica, each neighborhood offers easy access to restaurants, cafés, nightlife, and scenic walks. Each one of these hotels combine style, location, and comfort, giving you the perfect home base for experiencing the best of LA.
No matter which area you choose, you’ll discover that Los Angeles is far more walkable, vibrant, and accessible than most travelers realize. For recommendations on how to spend your time in Los Angeles, please refer to my previous post where I outline my favorite restaurants, Korean spas and bars for a top-notch experience.
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