America’s wealth of disused and neglected modernist hotels and motels is a resource we’d like to see put to better use. So the Hotel Angeleno comes as a nice surprise. This cylindrical tower on the West Side was a Holiday Inn, from that middlebrow chain’s Sixties tower period — today, though, after what must have been a herculean renovation, it’s proof that in the right hands it’s a small difference indeed between hopelessly dated and charmingly retro.

Those hands, in this case, are those of Joie de Vivre, the San Francisco boutique group. Their philosophy and aesthetic survive the southward shift with ease; the clean lines and rich earthy tones look perfectly at ease in the LA sunshine, lending some grown-up gravity to this whimsical round building, and the typically friendly and attentive service doesn’t hurt either.

The location, overlooking the 405 freeway, could be more scenic, but in the land of the automobile, driving convenience is king. Windows are soundproofed, and some rooms face the Getty Center, a welcome distraction. If you’re not driving, the hotel’s car service is available for trips within the immediate area, and West, the hotel’s top-floor Italian steakhouse, is just an elevator ride away.

How to get there: Hotel Angeleno is a 20-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport but the trip can take over an hour depending on traffic. Valet parking is complimentary for guests.

Style: Modern Design

Atmosphere: Lively

209 Rooms - Rates start at US$ 136