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Downtown’s first trendy hotel made an immediate splash when it debuted in 2002. The rooftop bar with its balmy pool and trendy scene is the place to be. Rooms are large with minimalist interiors.

The rooms seem an afterthought at New York hotelier Ian Schrager’s celebrity outpost. The Cuban-Asian eatery, pool deck, and hip Sky Bar provide stylish hobnob-bing territory.

Shag is back and the pool is cool at this good-value retro hangout on Sunset Strip. Party in the lobby, which morphs into a lounge at night with DJ-spun music. The pool, intriguingly fringed by indigo-blue Astroturf, is also good for loitering.

Standing next to the Mondrian, the Grafton has a more accessible and low-key ambience. The lobby is flanked by the fashionable Balboa Lounge and a steakhouse and leads to the pool.

This ultra-deluxe West Hollywood hideaway is a favorite with rock’n’roll royalty such as U2. The on-site recording studio is a major draw, but so are the luxurious quarters and the Whiskey Bar.

The lobby and lounge at this stylish outpost display the retro-cool look in vogue, while the rooms are done up in calming natural tones. It’s close to shopping and dining, but you could also order room service and pick a movie from the video library.

An intimate B&B in the former villa of silent movie star Lillian Gish, Maison 140 cleverly fuses French and Asian design accents. Every room is different, but all feature patterned wallpaper and European antiques. The seductively lit Bar Noir is great for a nightcap. Excellent value for money, close to Rodeo Drive.

This cool Beverly Hills hot spot has intimately lit cabanas that fringe the curvaceous pool. Rooms feature George Nelson lamps and Eames-style chairs. And don’t forget – Marilyn Monroe once lived here.

The chic W is full of surprises, such as the “waterfall” entrance steps and the table games in the lobby. Suites are fully wired for connectivity, and the Mojo eatery and lobby bar are weekend hot spots.

The couple behind the stylish Maison 140 and Avalon has created a fantasy environment that transports guests back in time to Colonial England. The decor mixes kitsch and sophistication, with a grown-up color palette of grey, bright green, and soothing cream.