20 Cool Hotels in California

California is just about the coolest cookie under the hot sun, from San Francisco’s original cool, to Malibu’s vintage cool, the old skool cool of Palm Springs, and L.A.’s cool glamour, there’s not really anywhere cool enough to rival it! So if you’re coming to this cool state then our Hotel gurus figure why not stay in a really cool hotel? They've scoured the region and discoverd some truly unique properties to suit most tastes and budgets, whether you're looking for a stylish beach hotel with a surf vibe, glamping amongst the vines, a romantic desert hideaway or a hip urban hangout perfect for a quick city break. Use our guide and start planning your next trip!

For a Cool Escape

• Right by the entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park, Sacred Sands is an incredible, remote desert getaway with just two suites. Both have an outdoor bath and shower, and a daybed on a viewing terrace that allows you to soak up the view as you soak in the water — both day and night — and seriously chic architecture. There’s no restaurant, but there is a kitchenette, and the fridge comes fully stocked.
• Treebones Resort is a collection of 16 stylish yurts overlooking an incredible view of Big Sur. In addition to accommodation the resort offers fantastic organic food, yoga sessions and a pool and hot tub.

For Urban Cool

• Built in 1929 to a Mediterranean style guide, the Palihouse Santa Monica offers 36 welcoming rooms, with unusual, but homely decor. The family sized suites have self catering facilities, and they can accommodate furry friends too. The location is perfect for Santa Monica’s highlights.
• The Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa is a glamorous resort in rather glamorous Newport Beach. It’s not small, but the scale translates into great facilities, like a gym and spa, and a very California-cool pool. The 240 odd rooms and suites have similar decor — monochrome, with interesting photography and lost of natural light from big windows and balconies — but they feel far from cookie cutter.

For Cool Design

• The Galleria Park’s central San Francisco location is difficult to beat: it’s between Union Square and the Financial District. So the location is definitely cool, but we also rate the architecture (a mash-up of Art Nouveau and Art Deco), the art, the roof terrace and the French-style brasserie.
• The Hoxton Downtown LA is another cool offering from the Hoxton Group, offering a fantastic L.A. location paired with chic vintage inspired decor many of us would love to have hunted down for our own homes. The roof terrace is one of the hottest destinations in town, and the bar and restaurant are equally popular.

For Something Completely Different

• The Squibb Houses can be found on a charming street in Cambria: two beautifully restored houses, dating from the 1800s, turned into a elegant B&B. Each of the nine rooms has been individually decorated in a cosy, period style, which includes home-made quilts, wood beams and elegant beds. The owner also has a local antique store. You’re five minutes drive, or 45 minutes walk from the beach, and equally close to the wineries of Paso Robles.

For Cool Nightlife

• If you want to explore downtown Los Angeles after dark the Tuck Hotel is the place to stay. Not only is it in the perfect spot for after-hours bars, clubs and restaurants, its moody, Film Noir-esque decor really gets you ready — think raised beds, black walls and spot lighting that will make you think of Hollywood after parties. There are only 14 rooms, and it’s very well priced.

For Oceanside Cool

• The Surfrider is an uber cool boutique hotel right on Malibu beach, mere metres from the pier. Even without all the Scandinavian chic design choices, fascinating coffee table books on beautiful mid-century coffee tables, and farm-to-fork rooftop restaurant, the Pacific views from The Surfrider are so wonderful as to make the hotel cool on their own. These sunsets are unforgettable. And there’s nowhere better if you’re thinking about learning to surf.
• The Inn at Moonlight Beach is a luxurious, five suite inn just back from the beach at Encinitas. This property is all about tranquility, with some added spirituality: think minimalist decor, harvesting your own herbs and vegetables, in-room reiki massages and sound therapy machines, and yoga mats for all guests. Encinitas is considered by some to be the birthplace of yoga in the Western world. It’s also a fantastic spot for surfers.

For Luxury Cool

• Yountville’s Bardessono Hotel and Spa is a beautiful pairing of eco-friendly values and luxury. It all starts with the hotel’s spa, which is heated by geothermal systems, which also heat the rooms, and the hotel’s other power requirements are met using solar panels on the roof. The bathrooms in each of the the 62 rooms and suites acts as a private spa, and all rooms have a private patio or roof terrace too. You’re within a relaxed stroll of several wine estates and vineyards, and the hotel offers a complimentary weekly wine tasting. The organic restaurant is highly praised, but there are plenty of choices nearby too.

For Cool Couples

• Small, chic and in East Hollywood, Gold-Diggers is inspired by music and invites guests in its 11 rooms and suites to create their own personal soundtrack to their stay on vinyl and cassettes. There’s a fantastic choice of bars and restaurants nearby, plenty of shopping opportunities, and many of L.A.’s sights. The decor features velvet in contemporary shades, and large scale art. And it’s affordable too.

For Cool Families

• The Carneros Inn is an 86 room hotel converted from farm buildings in the spectacular Napa Valley. The agri-chic aesthetic is slightly upstaged by some of the stunning art and immaculate decor, but that’s part of what makes this a cool experience. The cottages and suites have private furnished patios, and spacious interiors. We love the Napa Valley location and the views — especially from the three restaurants and three pools. And there’s loads to do here, including art, cooking and cheese-making classes.

For Retro Cool

• For the real deal in retro cool check out the Monkey Tree Hotel in Palm Springs! This small hotel built by architect Albert Frey, has recently undergone a very sympathetic renovation, and it's now as mid-century chic as it ever was, but more comfortable. The 16 rooms and suites are all different shapes and sizes, and whitewashed, to make the most of the modern art and vintage furniture. There’s a pool a Scandinavian spa too.
• Just outside the obvious bit of Palm Springs, the Villa Royale is a Spanish style post-war resort turned quirky boutique hotel. This combination of old Hollywood era glamour and contemporary boutique hotel art and decor feels fresh and lively, but it’s also comfortable! This is epitomised by the chic restaurant with its lavishly stocked cocktail bar, and oil paintings by former resident artists. The views of the San Jacinto Mountains from the three pools and collection of terraces will have you inhaling deeply.
• The Hotel Beverly Terrace occupies a white, mid-century building in the 90210 postcode, and has its 39 rooms charmingly decorated with retro and vintage finds. Most of the rooms have a view of the balmy, palmy, sun-trap of a courtyard. The bar is friendly and the restaurant is Italian. It’s not a showstopper, but that’s why we think it’s cool. It’s also friendly, and extremely affordable for the spot.

For Rural Cool

• Guerneville’s Autocamp Russian River is definitely glamping, rather than camping — the accommodation available comprising Airstream caravans or beautifully styled permanent tents, on the edge of a Redwood Reserve. If you like to sit out of an evening around your own fire pit, or a communal one, and maybe try some of the wine you’ve purchased from cellars during your daily explorations, then this could be your idea of heaven. There’s no restaurant, but there are plenty close by.
• The Senza Hotel is a trendy hotel in the Napa Valley, offering original artwork in its 41 rooms and suites, and private balconies overlooking the vines. The baths are big, as are the wine lists, and you’re close to cooking schools and local nightlife.

For Great Value

• The Basecamp Hotel in Heavenly, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, is perfectly positioned for incredible views of this spectacular area. It’s pretty chic inside, blending rustic chalet style with contemporary design, and resulting in 74 cool minimal rooms and suites featuring both wood and metal. This is a real activity hub, great for families, and outdoors folk.
• The Hotel Republic is a high-rise hotel in San Diego, with a fantastic roof terrace and cool city views. The 258 rooms and suites are stylish, minimal and monochrome, with rain showers and window seats-with-a-view. There’s a choice of bars and restaurants on site, but you’re close to the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy, so spoilt for nightlife choices.

Still not sure where to book?

• You could check out our article on the 15 Coolest Hotels in San Francisco
• or refine your search by location and consider our recommendations for cool Miami hotels, cool hotels in Los Angeles or quirky hotels in Healdsburg for example,
• you could expand your search to include ALL the best places to stay in California,
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.